Canceled car cruise quiets August night
RENO -- Downtown Reno was quiet for a change on the final night of Northern Nevada's biggest annual tourism event.
Hot August Night's climax, the Saturday night cruise of classic cars in the downtown, was canceled for the first time since 2000 to avoid possible gang trouble.
"I'm dumbfounded," police Sgt. Dave Evans said. "In past years, there would be wall-to-wall people down here. Now, nothing is really going on."
Participants instead flocked to nearby Sparks, where a peaceful cruise was conducted on its downtown drag Saturday night.
The 21st edition of the 10-day celebration of classic cars and music ended Sunday after a two-hour parade of classic cars in downtown Reno.
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell has said there have been enough problems with gang members to prompt the cancellation of the Saturday night cruise in his city.
