Motor Mania, The Wheel Deal

By JIM LUKSIC

The Progress

Mesquite Motor Mania made its presence felt throughout Virgin Valley last weekend, Jan. 12-14, when the rubber met the road.

The annual showcase, marking its 16th year, boasted more than 900 vintage vehicles – customs, hot rods, motorcycles, and dragsters – occupying CasaBlanca Resort Casino’s parking lots.

“It’s our biggest car show and the first of its kind in the West in 2024,” said Christian Adderson, assistant GM at CasaBlanca, which hosted the spectacle in conjunction with Las Vegas Cruisin’ Association (LVCA).

The nonprofit group’s promoter, Art Kam, was quick with a quip when asked the main difference between Motor Mania and September’s annual Super Run.
“The temperature,” he replied on Friday, when it was a crisp 47 degrees. “But it’s also a different crowd than Super Run’s, with many visitors from other states” – including Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.

The tepid temperatures didn’t deter countless attendees from checking out the shimmering assortment of classics. Adderson said CasaBlanca and LVCA have been “very fortunate” with January conditions and never had to change plans due to inclement weather.

Along those lines, Kam said that everybody on hand “Just wants to be happy.” He pointed out the variety of models and asserted that, unlike modern-day cars, those at Motor Mania have distinctive character.

As Adderson put it: “I always say if you are a car fan, this is the show to be at, because you can see everything – including under the hoods.”

What’s more, members of the public voted for their favorites. Tim McNees of Scenic, Ariz., won the People’s Choice Award and $1,000 for his 1930 Ford Coupe.

In the midst of it all stood Vegas resident Billy Soehngen, who quaffed a beverage while displaying his 1941 black Dodge truck, a beefy piece of work that looked like it meant business. Soehngen became its owner after his wife’s uncle died eight years ago.

“We’ve come to this event at least a dozen times,” he said, in reference to his friends known as Buddy & the Lights, while music blasted from the vehicle’s stereo. “It’s fun, and CasaBlanca does a great job.”

Among the unique amenities that adorned Soehngen’s pride and joy: A padlock from Alcatraz on the front bumper and a miniature skeleton hanging from the rear-view mirror.

Elsewhere in the extensive lot was Kevin Fitzgerald, who put the finishing touches on his gleaming 1969 yellow Dodge known as “Killer Bee,” which he obtained a few months ago.

Fitzgerald, who hails from Utah, was making his maiden voyage to Motor Mania. “I just decided to come this time,” he said. “It’s a big deal.”

That’s the case because, according to Addison, the three-day event features crowd-friendly spectacles like an open-header cruise, burn-out competition, plus show-drag and roaring-engine contests.
“All of it gives a sense of nostalgia, to pass down stories from generation to generation,” he said. “It’s magical.”