The band plays a favorite from the early ’60s – “Darlin’, save the last dance for me” – as couples swing-dance amid a sea of sparkling ’57 Chevys and vintage Fords. For a few precious moments, they’re at the high school prom and the last several decades are a dream from which they’ve awoken – young and vibrant and flushed with anticipation of all life’s possibilities still ahead.
More than just a car show, Hot Summer Nights in Danville is a blissful journey back in time for many faithful devotees.
Ed Chase makes it to the event from Alamo every year. He strolls Hartz Avenue peeking under hoods and admiring classic cars from his youth.
“I’m in my 50s, so it’s good to go back 45 or 50 years,” he says.
Hot Summer Nights was conceived 11 years ago by three friends and car enthusiasts who got together and thought out loud: “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a car show in Danville.” Tony Carnemolla, David Allen and Jim Wadsworth decided to make their vision a reality by working with the city and downtown merchants to create the popular show. (Allen later dropped out and was replaced by David Miller.)
“We decided on Thursday night because Thursday nights used to be the quietest nights in Danville,” says Carnemolla, the 70-year-old owner of Dad’s Locksmith downtown, who is distinguished as much by his passion for cars as his prominent gray mustache and glasses.
Not anymore. These days the event draws thousands of people and hundreds of cars to Danville for the four alternating Thursday summer evenings that it is held. The momentum builds throughout the summer and the last event, on Aug. 25 this year, usually draws 12,000-15,000 people and up to 300 cars.
“The event is very well-known,” says Carnemolla. “I’ve been told many times it’s probably one of the best shows outside of Reno’s Hot August Nights. I get phone calls as far away as Oregon, but the furthest call I ever got was from Switzerland. A lady called me and said she was at the show last year, but wouldn’t be in the States this year, so she gave me her VISA number and ordered two T-shirts.”
Unlike many other car shows, there’s no fee for spectators to enjoy the cars, the ambience, and the three live bands that play ’50s and ’60s music. Car owners pay $5 to display their beauties that must be pre-’60 vintage automobiles. Although the event is nonprofit and completely organized and operated by volunteers, each show costs $5,000 to produce, including payment to the bands, radios for the volunteers, port-a-potties, printing, advertising and a clean-up crew. Sponsorships from new car dealerships and donations from local merchants support the show.
When asked how much time goes into producing Hot Summer Nights, Carnemolla responds simply, “A lot.” The planning begins about two months after the last show ends and involves several meetings with the town. On show days, “We’re on the streets at 2:30 and we don’t stop until 11 at night,” says Carnemolla. “We’re fortunate we have a lot of volunteers.”
The dedication of volunteers like Sarah Mokma is the heart of the show. “My neighbor is Tony’s son and he got me started last year. Now I rearrange my work schedule so I can help out,” says Mokma. “I love looking at the cars. The time and money that people invest in these cars is amazing – some of them are absolutely beautiful!”
The cars are investments that pay dividends in both joy and financial appreciation. Carnemolla, who now owns a ’29 Ford sedan, remembers his first classic.
“When I got back from Korea, I had a ’36 Ford convertible. It was a beautiful car – a rumble seat in the back and the whole bit. I wanted to buy a ’48 Studebaker, so I sold that car for $150. Do you know what that car is worth now?! $35,000-$38,000!”
Steve Hart from Concord has devoted a lot of cash and sweat to his ’32 Ford. He bought the body for $500 seven years ago. It was recently appraised at $36,000. Hart put five years of loving labor and $30,000 into the car to make it the showpiece it is today.
“It’s an investment, but more importantly it’s a great hobby and you meet really good friends. People really help you out,” says Hart.
And figuratively, if not literally, it keeps you off the streets?
“Yeah, if you have a wife who’s worried about you, she’s happy you’re spending so much time in the garage,” admits Hart.
The value of the cars on display can be astounding. “Last year we had this Cadillac here where everything was completely chromed – you didn’t see one wire,” says Carnemolla. “It had a value of about $500,000. On the last night of the shows, I would say, without exaggerating, you’re probably looking at $25 million-$30 million worth of cars on the street.”
Despite the dedication of the car enthusiasts, Hot Summer Nights has gotten a bad rap among some Danville residents and businesses. This dissension may go back to the first show 11 years ago.
When the first event was held, nobody realized that Danville didn’t have a law to prohibit drinking on the streets.
“The first show was fabulous for the number of cars and people, but catastrophic for the amount of drinking,” says Carnemolla. The organizers almost gave up their dream, but, with the help of then-Councilman Mike Doyle, they worked through the town to pass an ordinance that would prohibit drinking on the streets of Danville.
“Now there are no open containers allowed. The bands stop playing at 8:30 and cars must be ready to move by 9. We do everything we can to make it a fun, family event and it’s worked out well,” says Carnemolla. “There is a presence of a lot of police officers and some undercovers to discourage problems. We’ve had a few incidents, but nothing big.”
Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office’s Tom Gill and Bill Howard, on duty at the July 28 show, agree.
“There’s no drinking on the street allowed. We very rarely have a problem with someone drinking,” says Gill.
“Everywhere you look you see families, you see people dancing. It’s a wonderful community event,” adds Howard.
The Colemans of Danville are one family that enjoys the event every year. Keith brings his children Alyssa, 3, and Austin, 5, two or three times a summer to hang out with friends, see the cars, and eat pizza at Primo’s. “It makes a nice evening,” says Keith.
David Suit of Concord is a charter member of Hot Summer Nights.
“I’ve been coming since they started this show. This (a ’54 Chevy Bel Air) is the third car I’ve shown,” he says. “Why do I come? Do you want the truth? To look at the good-looking ladies and the good-looking cars. I enjoy the whole everything!”
While most of the cars are for display only with “Please do not touch” signs on their dashboards, Kendall Langan is delighted to let kids climb into his lemon-cream ’47
Ford Woodie.
“Son, you should never get in a strange car unless your mother says it’s OK,” he warns one admiring young boy. “But, if it’s all right with mom, you can get behind the wheel,” he continues as he opens the door wide.
Langan and his wife Karen own two Woodies and their classics are not just for looks. “This car is a driver,” says Karen. “We drive around town in Moraga. When our daughter comes home from college we let her and her friends drive around in it.”
“This is the car that won the Second World War,” boasts Kendall. He explains how Ford shut down his factory to donate all his wartime production to making vehicles to be used in the war. The Woodie’s design of wood and canvas was used to make 4,500 gliders flown in the war.
“In the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans were pounding against the Americans and there was a stalemate. The Americans brought in 3,000 gliders with 45,000 men and this devastated the Germans because all of a sudden the balance of power was tilted,” says Kendall. “That’s how the war was won.”
History, passion and nostalgia are a powerful mix for the Langans and the rest of the car enthusiasts at the show.
“People come up and cry,” says Kendall. “They say, ‘My grandpa had one of these. He used to take me fishing in it.'”
Don’t miss upcoming car shows
Two more Hot Summer Nights will be held – Thursdays, Aug. 11 and Aug. 25, on Hartz Avenue. For more information, call Tony at 820-5750.
