Mesquite Motor Mania Celebrates 11 Years

By CATHERINE ELLERTON

Moapa Valley Progress

It was all bright sunshine and warm temperatures last weekend for the 11th Annual Mesquite Motor Mania which was held Jan. 18-20. Mesquite Gaming, the Mesquite Resort Association and the Las Vegas Cruisin’ Association worked together to make the show memorable for approximately 1,000 participants.

Collectible cars were scattered across Mesquite, from the CasaBlanca to the Virgin River and on to the Eureka. Events were scheduled at each venue throughout the three days.

There were many vendors present offering car supplies, miniature cars, Women’s Defense Preparation information, clothing, cigars, jewelry and fast food. All of this helped to fortify spectators as they wandered through the many cars and attended some of the competitions including roaring engines, slow drags and burnouts.

To cap it all off there was a Open Headers Cruise to all locations with evenings filled with entertainment by “Men of Soul-Motown Review”, “Led Zepagain” and the “Terry Wayne Project.”

Fords were in large supply at the show. A few included a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL, a 1934 Ford Pick-Up and a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe.

Corky Miller from Pleasant Grove, Utah, who is in his second year at the show, said that Fords maintain their value throughout the years. He was showing his 1937 Ford, a 1935 Ford Station Wagon and a 1935 Woody.

Many of the car owners also displayed storyboards that tell of their cars’ history. A 1947 Chevy truck board explained it was built after WWII. The owner, “Grandpa Jess,” died in 1950 and for 40 years the truck sat behind a shed, home to the birds and kittens and used for target practice. Then its circumstances changed and it was given a new lease when the Robert Millers from Centerfield, Utah, began to restore it.

Denny Williams entered a dragster in the show that previously ran in the 70’s and was a survivor of the Hawaiian Island Drag Strip. According to Williams, Jim Davis built only three and this was the only one remaining after retiring in 1987. It was previously a 150 to 250 mph award winner.

Another award winner was a 1953 Buick Resto Rod that owner Bob Harris saved in 1970 from a wrecking yard and has been restoring. It was the winner of the Buick Club of America Gold award.
The mid-life crisis of Dean Sutton was a 1932 Ford Roadster, according to his wife Liz Sutton of Las Vegas. He added a 1999 custom chopper as an extra bonus.

One unique vehicle is owned by truck driver Jeff Rexrode of Cedar City, Utah who wanted something different to take to car shows. For the last two years he has been building a wooden car that continues to be a work in progress. He is also working on a wooden truck to tow the wood car with.

The event was a well attended success that brought friends old and new together by the past.