The ‘Super Run’ Returns

By AMY DAVIS

The Progress

Make room on the road! Cherished classics, vintage beauties and even some new vehicles were on display for car lovers of all ages last weekend at the Casablanca Resort. The Las Vegas Crusin’ association returned to Mesquite for the 3-day event called the “Super Run” which went from Sept 17-19.

This family-friendly event included music, vendor booths, food, drinks, roaring engines, slow drag competitions and $15,000 in cash drawing prizes to car show participants.

Spectators were treated to a view of the outsides and insides of vintage, classic, rat rods, race cars and more. Guests were encouraged to vote for their favorite cars as an award show on Sunday recognized a people’s choice award along with 260 other awards given out.

“We have been working with the Las Vegas Crusin’ association on two car shows a year for the past 13 years,” said Christian Adderson, Corporate Sales Manager for Mesquite Gaming. “They do a fantastic job and are very well respected in the car show community.”

Dave Brian, of Las Vegas was in attendance at the Super Run. Brian travels all over to different car shows to display his cars with his wife and their friends. This year he brought his 67 Chevelle 300 Deluxe with a pearl white paint job.

“They only made a limited number,” Brian said fondly. “These are the one the drag racers used to use because they have a real strong top on them and a side post for reinforcement.”

Brian reminisced about his old high school days when cruising Fremont Street was THE thing to do. “It was just like the movie, American Graffiti,” said Brian.

When Brian first bought his Chevelle, it could barely run, but he has since given it a few upgrades.
“I put a big Merlin 509 600-horsepower engine in it,” he said. “The whole drive train is bullet proof. It has a TCI Turbo 400 transmission and 12 bolt rear end with the aftermarket axles and locker assembly. 4-wheel disc brakes, custom steering, and suspension. It cost a lot of money!”

The car show is so much more than just beautifully polished cars. Each vehicle on display seemed to have a story. And their owners are almost always eager to share. Some cars were rebuilt from the bottom up, some were passed down from father to son and some car stories even end up in marriage.

“I fell in love with his car before I fell in love with him,” saidDela LaFever who has been married to Les LeFever for 50 years now.

What caught Dela’s eye first was a 67 Nova SS. When Les was 19-years-old he went to help a buddy who had broken down on Fremont street. He saw a group of girls on the side of the road and one of them just happened to be Dela. One thing led to another and Les and Della found themselves chatting in the back seat of his car listening to music before heading to the Blue Onion for a Cherry Lime Ricky. They were married one year later.

Les brought his 1932 Ford 3-window coup to the car show. It is currently for sale, but if it remains unsold, he and his wife plan to drive to Deuce Days in Victoria Lake British Columbia. It would be a 3500-mile round trip.

“My mom asked me if I was ever going to grow out of this car thing and I said, I sure hope not,” Les said. “It has been a lifelong love.”

This was a special car show for John Diaz and his mother. John’s father passed away in January and they were in Mesquite to display his dad’s 67 Chevy 350 with 300-horsepower. Diaz’s father built the car from the ground up.
“My mom and I just drove it to Reno, it purrs like a kitten,” John said.

Following his father’s Death, Diaz ordered a license plate that reads: “DAD 67.”
“My mom and dad were married for 73 years,” he said. “Dad drove this car for 25 years. This car will stay in the family forever. It ain’t going nowhere.”