Classic cars from the region attract crowds to Mills Park

Classic cars galore filled Mills Park and the streets of Carson City Saturday, some from down the block and others hailing from across the Sierra Nevada.

Norton Pickett, a retired Nevada state administrator for mine safety, said his 1957 Ford Retractable Skyliner Fairlane 500, replete with fold-up hardtop that goes in the trunk, was a pristine replica of its original state.

"I did everything back to original," he said, smiling when asked if even the burnished two-tone blue and white paint job was the same color. It is.

Pickett said he has owned the car six years and took three years to restore.

Halfway across the park sat John and Anita Rhoades, a couple from Pine Grove, Calif., near Jackson and Sutter Creek. They were showing off their 1936 Ford five-window coupe. Their five-window reference distinguished the sunburst copper-colored car from three-window variety.

Rhoades said he did all the work after the body, which was riddled with bullets on the driver's side, sat for years on a flatbed truck under and oak tree.

He said he has had it nearly a decade and has been restoring classic cars or working on vehicles since he was 14. He is a retired diesel truck mechanic.

They said they love coming to the Silver Dollar Classic Car Show in Carson City because Mills Park is pleasant. "It's our favorite car show," said Anita Rhoades.

The couple said they used to go to Reno's Hot August Nights later in the month each year, but don't now.

Not far away were Mo Sciaroni, who has homes in Pacifica and near Jackson in California, and Tom Pawloski, now from Jackson, both retired firefighters.

Sciaroni said he might attend Hot August Nights this year, but wouldn't take his car because the entry fee is up to $175.

Pawloski who will go to Reno for the event, said he wouldn't enter there either, though he has previously.

"This is the first year in probably six years we haven't planned on taking our car," said Pawloski.