Cars, trucks and motorcycles came from all parts of the western United States to converge on Mesquite for Mesquite Motor Mania 2026 last weekend.

Produced by the Las Vegas Cruise Association Car Club and sponsored by the Mesquite Resort Association, the event saw over 200 vintage, classic and custom vehicles roar into the parking lot of the CasaBlanca Hotel and Casino to show and shine.

This year’s show included competitions such as “Roaring Engines,” “The Slow Drag,” “Crowd Pleasers” and “Ladies’ Choice.” A total of $15,000 in prize money was awarded in each of these categories, but by far the crowd favorite for the show was the “Burn-Out” competition.

This year, four drivers brought their “babies” into the burn-out shoot. After a cup of water was spilled under each of the car’s back tires, the judge hit the green light. Engines roared, and smoke filled the air. Each car put on a show, but in the end, the crowd awarded the first-place trophy to Tom Thiessen, who blew away the competition with the red and blue smoke that surged from his ’67 Chevy Camaro.

One of the classics in this year’s show was a 1966 Chevy Nova owned by Bob and Teri Keysaw from Lake Point, Utah.

In 1986, when Bob was 20 years old, he owned a ’66 Nova and took it to a local auto shop in Salt Lake City. One day the shop owner called Bob and asked why he had taken his car from the shop. Bob didn’t have any idea what the shop owner was talking about. Racing over to the shop, Bob found that his prized Nova had been stolen. It was never recovered.

For the next 40 years, Bob kept his eyes open for another Nova, but marriage, kids and work were always a higher priority. Then, about 10 years ago, he came across another ’66 Chevy Nova in the Salt Lake area.

Bob met with the owner, telling him the story of his missing Nova. Tears filled the eyes of both men. The owner told Bob that his father, Robert Jones, had died recently, but everyone knew him as “Bob.” It was meant to be, and Bob Keysaw drove away with his new Nova.

Bob said that he put $30,000 into the restoration of his new baby. During every car show, Bob displays a sign next to his car. On the sign is a dedication to the first owner of the Chevy Nova, Robert Jones.