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kafercup55
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2006
Posts: 37
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 Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 9:54 am Post subject: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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Hey everyone. My family and I are moving to the Reno / Sparks area in the next few months, and I wanted to know what the VW scene was like up there. We're moving from Huntsville, AL and to be honest, I have been a bit spoiled. Being friends with the Krew from AirKooled Kustoms in Hazel Green has exposed me to a LOT of awesome VW cars and people down here.
I'm hoping the baja / offroad scene is better up there as most down here are daily drivers / campers.
Any info you all could provide on shops, events, groups, people, etc. would be really awesome. Thanks everyone! |
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kafercup55
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2006
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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| Welllp... this is either indicative of The Samba, or of the Reno VW scene. Either way, I'll bump it and see if anyone responds tonight. |
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Angus II
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2016
Posts: 707
Location: Mammoth Lakes Ca. 93546
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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Hello,
There is a lot of open land in NV. You'll be in offroad heaven. There is a very popular recreation site just north of Reno/Sparks area for 4x4ing.
I don't know about the "VW scene" (I'm three hours south), but I'm sure there are people that enjoy their VWs and would like to gather, like anywhere else.... Birds of a feather, flock together.....
Oh Man, are you in for some culture shock by the way... that's for sure. |
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jsturtlebuggy
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2005
Posts: 4496
Location: Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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Yes Reno has many VWs owners, both street and off road vehicles.
Fibercraft in Reno is one of the shops that has parts and does work on VWs.
And there is Hot August Nights there the first part of August. Hot rods of all kinds take over the town.
Summit Racing has a store in Sparks which is next to Reno.
Also they have a Smog Check program. Might want to look it up to see if your Vehicle will have to have one.
_________________
Joseph
Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
Elrod Motorsports
Motion Tire Motorsports
Having fun with Dune Buggies since 1970
Into Volkswagens since 1960 |
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Lmvandiepen
Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2018
Posts: 11
Location: Reno NV
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 9:36 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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| I'm in Reno, and honestly, there's a pretty small VW scene from what I can tell after living here a year. But roll down to Sacramento and there is lot's of stuff going on. As stated above, lot's of outdoor and off roading options. |
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kafercup55
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2006
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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Oh wow, great replies everyone! So, I'm also a Jeep guy and am really looking to explore the offroad parks up there.
My current plan is to fly out there in a few weeks before the family to get set up, and I might buy a bug as a daily to get around. I'll ship the rest of the vehicles up once we officially move.
As for culture shock - I'm ready for it! I'm originally from CT - moved down to Huntsville, AL about 6 years ago (it's actually a very busy little city) and am looking forward to the move to Reno / Sparks.
Who knows, if the group is small up there, maybe I can kick something off and get more people involved. |
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Snerk
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2018
Posts: 25
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:08 am Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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| kafercup55 wrote: |
Oh wow, great replies everyone! So, I'm also a Jeep guy and am really looking to explore the offroad parks up there.
My current plan is to fly out there in a few weeks before the family to get set up, and I might buy a bug as a daily to get around. I'll ship the rest of the vehicles up once we officially move.
As for culture shock - I'm ready for it! I'm originally from CT - moved down to Huntsville, AL about 6 years ago (it's actually a very busy little city) and am looking forward to the move to Reno / Sparks.
Who knows, if the group is small up there, maybe I can kick something off and get more people involved. |
Honestly from what I've seen/known about Reno in general is that for the most part, people there piggyback off of Sacramento. It's about a two hour drive to get to Sacramento so it's not uncommon to see a fair bit of Nevada plates at Sacramento events. Bugorama, The Ranch Run, etc. all have/had a fair share of Nevada people.
Sacramento metro area has about 4x the people of Reno and aside from the "Nevada Factor" (read: Slot machines at the gas stations and lax gun laws), it feels like the town doesn't have much to offer, honestly.
But like I said, Sac is close and there's heaps of VW people in NorCal and Sacramento. |
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static
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2002
Posts: 1831
Location: The High Desert
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 9:07 am Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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| Snerk wrote: |
Sacramento metro area has about 4x the people of Reno and aside from the "Nevada Factor" (read: Slot machines at the gas stations and lax gun laws), it feels like the town doesn't have much to offer, honestly.
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True, but it has gotten a hell of a lot better in the last decade. There are plenty of worse places to live (Oroville!).
Reno now has plenty of interesting, ethnic restaurants (at least two Vietnamese and at least one Korean) plus (of course) Basque. The coffee scene has improved immensely. There are multiple Vegetarian restaurants. There is a hotel just for rich hipsters (Whitney Peak Hotel) with its own external climbing wall.
If you live in Reno, you are already right on Hwy 395. We Sacramentans have to drive a long way just to access that highway, the highway that leads to all the fun places. There is even good, community radio.
There is enough of a VW scene that the Dubs Around The Lake folks have a meetup spot to caravan to the event.
In any event, welcome to Reno (which is almost Sacramento). |
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Snerk
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2018
Posts: 25
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 11:30 am Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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| static wrote: |
| Snerk wrote: |
Sacramento metro area has about 4x the people of Reno and aside from the "Nevada Factor" (read: Slot machines at the gas stations and lax gun laws), it feels like the town doesn't have much to offer, honestly.
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True, but it has gotten a hell of a lot better in the last decade. There are plenty of worse places to live (Oroville!).
Reno now has plenty of interesting, ethnic restaurants (at least two Vietnamese and at least one Korean) plus (of course) Basque. The coffee scene has improved immensely. There are multiple Vegetarian restaurants. There is a hotel just for rich hipsters (Whitney Peak Hotel) with its own external climbing wall.
If you live in Reno, you are already right on Hwy 395. We Sacramentans have to drive a long way just to access that highway, the highway that leads to all the fun places. There is even good, community radio.
There is enough of a VW scene that the Dubs Around The Lake folks have a meetup spot to caravan to the event.
In any event, welcome to Reno (which is almost Sacramento). |
I went recently (about two/three years ago) and didn't care for it, honestly.
But then again, I'm probably spoiled considering I live a half hour from the beach, an hour from SF, an hour and a half from Sacramento and I'm smack-dab in the middle of Wine Country.
The biggest things that stood out about Reno to me:
- Junkee, the thrift shop. Awesome place. Like half thrift, half antique shop. And it's big.
- I forget the name of it but there was this little deli place on the outskirts that was bicycle themed and had amazing ice cream. I got "Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milk" flavored ice cream and it was awesome.
- There was also a really good breakfast spot in downtown that I forget the name of, but it topped all the lists we searched on for breakfast.
- There was this real hole-in-the-wall El Salvadorian place up the street from our hotel that was amazing. |
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74 Thing
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004
Posts: 7390
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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Reno has lots of development going on downtown by the river.
Automatically when you think of Reno you think of dirty, run down cheap casinos. You forget that Nevada offers some fantastic outdoor activities, but if you are not much in getting outside and enjoying the outdoors then it may not be for you. |
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Snerk
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2018
Posts: 25
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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| 74 Thing wrote: |
Reno has lots of development going on downtown by the river.
Automatically when you think of Reno you think of dirty, run down cheap casinos. You forget that Nevada offers some fantastic outdoor activities, but if you are not much in getting outside and enjoying the outdoors then it may not be for you. |
Hell, I didn't even know Reno had a river...
I'm not a big outdoorsman but I've heard that from lots of people. Either people who live in Reno/Sparks or people who live in the outskirts. I have a friend who says she pays an insanely low rate and lives by herself, way out in the middle of nowhere where she can play her music as loud as she wants and jump her trucks over bushes or shoot at things or whatever the hell it is she feels like doing. In that regard it sounds pretty fun.
Oh, and Summit is in Sparks. Summit is pretty neato. |
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static
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2002
Posts: 1831
Location: The High Desert
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| Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 8:36 am Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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| Snerk wrote: |
I went recently (about two/three years ago) and didn't care for it, honestly.
But then again, I'm probably spoiled considering I live a half hour from the beach, an hour from SF, an hour and a half from Sacramento and I'm smack-dab in the middle of Wine Country. |
The guy is moving there for work. I am sure that he would have preferred Rohnert Park. Empathy would be helpful.
| Snerk wrote: |
The biggest things that stood out about Reno to me:
- I forget the name of it but there was this little deli place on the outskirts that was bicycle themed and had amazing ice cream. I got "Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milk" flavored ice cream and it was awesome.
- There was also a really good breakfast spot in downtown that I forget the name of, but it topped all the lists we searched on for breakfast.
- There was this real hole-in-the-wall El Salvadorian place up the street from our hotel that was amazing. |
| Snerk wrote: |
| Hell, I didn't even know Reno had a river... |
https://www.visitrenotahoe.com/event/reno-river-festival-event-2018/
Last edited by static on Tue Jul 10, 2018 7:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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kafercup55
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2006
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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Actually this is all super helpful. I’m moving into the area with my family and we need suggestions. Downtown by the river walk seems most interesting to us. We also want to check out Carson City and other surrounding areas. Drove out to Spanish Springs but that was a little too clinical for us. We love the outdoors so this place is heaven to us. Lakes, skiing, etc. yes the casino element is there but I have been surrounded by redneck backwards southerners in Alabama for the past 6 years. I’ll take slot machines any day. My company is downtown in the industrial district but I’m willing to drive 30-40 minutes if it means living in a cool place.
As for Reno overall, I can tell it’s changing. The old is getting pushed out for sure. Lots of revitalization happening. |
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Bones 53
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 661
Location: Reno NV
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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I have resided in Reno for 66 years - born here. Reno has tons of recreation, 10 world class ski areas, lake tahoe and lots of wilderness. The casinos are for tourists - locals don't frequent the casinos. As far as the street VW scene its not too much. As mentioned Fibercraft is the local VW parts store and has been around since the early 70's. There are a couple of shops that work on VW's - Reno buggy barn and Scudder's performance.
Hot August Nights (HAN) is huge here about 5000 cars and runs from the first part of August for about a week. Fibercraft puts on a BBQ and does a cruise through downtown and through the HAN venues on the open cruise night during HAN. Last year there were around a 100 cars. Sac is about 2 hours away. Sand Mountain is about 60 miles away and offers huge off road stuff.
There is vast amounts of off road here.
All in all VWs are not real big here but they're around. There have been tries to start clubs but they fade away.
Reno is growing leaps and bounds from Tesla, google, Apple, switch, panasonic etc. It estimated there will be 100,000 more people here in the next 10 years or so. Property prices and rents are outrageous. Traffic sucks since we have no infrastructure to support this growth. |
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kafercup55
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2006
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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Whew, just got back from our family trip out to Reno. All I have to say is that we loved it. The downtown is a little rundown, but the classic casino vibe is wonderful. We explored all over and even hit up Carson City and Tahoe.
As for the dub scene, I have not seen more awesome running dubs ever! the number of Bajas, Syncro vans, bugs, busses, etc. was crazy! Having a lot of experience starting and managing clubs in the past, maybe I can bring something new to the area.
I'm actually considering building up an "overland" bug to make the initial trek before my family joins me. 3 days on the road in a bug could make for a great life adventure (or nightmare!).
If any of you are still in the area, I'll be up there in the next few weeks. Maybe we can meet up for a beer?
Cheers,
Thane
| Bones 53 wrote: |
I have resided in Reno for 66 years - born here. Reno has tons of recreation, 10 world class ski areas, lake tahoe and lots of wilderness. The casinos are for tourists - locals don't frequent the casinos. As far as the street VW scene its not too much. As mentioned Fibercraft is the local VW parts store and has been around since the early 70's. There are a couple of shops that work on VW's - Reno buggy barn and Scudder's performance.
Hot August Nights (HAN) is huge here about 5000 cars and runs from the first part of August for about a week. Fibercraft puts on a BBQ and does a cruise through downtown and through the HAN venues on the open cruise night during HAN. Last year there were around a 100 cars. Sac is about 2 hours away. Sand Mountain is about 60 miles away and offers huge off road stuff.
There is vast amounts of off road here.
All in all VWs are not real big here but they're around. There have been tries to start clubs but they fade away.
Reno is growing leaps and bounds from Tesla, google, Apple, switch, panasonic etc. It estimated there will be 100,000 more people here in the next 10 years or so. Property prices and rents are outrageous. Traffic sucks since we have no infrastructure to support this growth. |
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ronjonlasvegas
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2004
Posts: 899
Location: Las Vegas, NV
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kafercup55
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2006
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: Reno, NV VW Scene |
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You rock. Just joined the groups. Thank you!
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