Hot Nights Keep Lewiston Cruisin’
Photos & Story by Annette Barton & Sandie McCollum
Lewiston, Idaho — Aug. 21 – 23, ’08 were the dates we had circled for the 23rd Annual Lewiston’s Hot August Nights. We haven’t missed one in 15 years. We finished installing the Griffin radiator in the R/T late on Aug. 21, still hadn’t test run the car and missed the Roger’s Motors Tune-Up Show n’ Shine that day to boot. The Tune-Up Show brings out some of the Valley’s finest handiwork so next year we hope to attend.

Friday, Aug. 22, we fired up the car, loaded the boxes of CruZin’ Magazines, a few tools (hey, it’s a Mopar) and headed south. We found the registration booth to be expertly handled by friendly volunteers who sat right out in the thick of the exhaust and tire smoke from cruisers. By 3 p.m., folks were already setting up chairs along the cruise route waiting for the action to begin four hours later. The cruise was well done, with good flow and no detours to get us out-of-towners hopelessly lost in the residential area. Our CruZin’ hats were off to the organizers and the Lewiston Police Department for allowing the cruisers to show off “just a little.” The band Starship (some of us remember them originally as Jefferson Airplane) pulled in a huge audience for the Friday night concert up in Pioneer Park.

Saturday morning brought clear skies and a whole lot of cars firing up in motel parking lots. By 6:30 a.m. several car clubs, including the Cascade Cougar Club and the Walla Walla Cruisers, were ready to be greeted by Hot August Nights director Dan Dorman with organizers Jim Ziegenfuss and Dan Lantz, among others, directing parking. The Lewis and Clark State College Auto Technology Advisory Committee sold hot breakfasts with proceeds going to the LCSC Automotive Students Scholarships fund. Rivers of spectators flowed through the downtown area looking over the 321 registered entries and shopping the many businesses. Saturday night was filled with impromptu cruises and another outdoor concert starring Peter Noone, former frontman for the band Herman’s Hermits.


We can’t say enough about the HAN committee and the work they have done each and every year to attract such a diverse group of vehicles and people whose entry fees help local charities each year. Check out this show in August 2009! Contact the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce for information, and watch for it in the CruZin’ Magazine Calendar of Events!