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There’s A New Kid ‘On The Block’ ESPN
Show Goes Inside HAN

(Article courtesy of The RGJ Custom Publishing Group) By Paul G. White

Hidden inside rickety old barns or parked for decades in weed-choked fields across America, a select few vintage vehicles are being rescued from the car crusher and restored to their original luster to be sold this summer at Hot August Nights in Reno. These cars, which are in various states of disrepair, will be the stars of a new reality-based television series to be broadcast on ESPN HD and ESPN 2 before an audience of more than 91 million viewers.

“This new series, called ‘On The Block,’ follows classic cars as they go through the restoration process,” said Howard Lipkint, executive producer for ESPN. “‘On the Block’ explores the unique world of classic car restoration and collector car auctions where they are found and sold.” Hot August Nights, now in its 21st year, is an annual celebration of America’s love affair with classic cars and rock ’n’ roll. It has become one of Reno’s most popular events. Bruce Walter, HAN’s Executive Director, said the ESPN television series will give Hot August Nights a big boost in additional national exposure. “Its impact is absolutely phenomenal for our event,” Walter said. “It’s exciting to have all of this coverage for our event, as each of these shows reaches 91 million homes.”

The first of the 12-episode series of one-hour programs aired July 15; the episodes are running on ESPN HD and ESPN 2. Several segments of the series were filmed at B&T Custom Rod & Restoration in Sparks. Camera crews have been recording the progress of the complete restoration of a two-door 1957 Chevrolet — which was recovered from a field in Waddell, Ariz. — and a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle.

TV crews also are documenting the restoration of vehicles in Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and several other locations on the West Coast. Camera crews from Focused TV Productions, based in Tampa Bay, Fla., will document buyers as they scour the country looking for that perfect classic vehicle that is ready to be restored and sold to the highest bidder. “It’s a chess game where the seller wants the highest bid for his creation and the buyer wants the best price, as the collector cars go ‘On The Block’ at Hot August Nights,” Lipkint said “This series will demonstrate to viewers the fun, excitement and pressure it takes to sell your collector car to the highest bidder.”

Mitch Silver, a veteran in the collector car auction industry based in Spokane, Wash., has rounded up a colorful group of buyers and sellers to tell their story as it happens. His flagship Hot August Nights Auction has been a key element of the popular celebration for many years. His first auction in Reno originated in a cow barn in the Livestock Events Center and has evolved into collector car extravaganza at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, where buyers and sellers gather in search of vintage automobiles. During Hot August Nights week, an estimated 800,000 car enthusiasts from the United States and around the world will come to watch an assortment of parades of more than 5,500 nostalgic cars thunder through the streets of Reno and Sparks.

“The series is going to lead to the final auction at Hot August Nights, where Silver’s Auction, in partnership with B&T Custom Rod, will auction off more than 1000 cars, including several featured in the TV series,” Lipkint said. Viewers of “On The Block” will have the opportunity of getting up close and personal with these beautiful classic cars, as the show will be produced in high definition for simulcast on ESPN HD and ESPN 2. ESPN is complementing its extensive coverage of NASCAR and all racing coverage in 2007 with a new block of programming dedicated to the automotive and motorsports world.

This 2-hour block on weekend mornings will satisfy automotive enthusiasts from nearly every facet of the industry. “On The Block” episodes will be broadcast during this motorsports time period, with multiple airings later in the week. “Hot August Nights is a great, well-run event,” Lipkint said. “This show will put the Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe areas in the best light.” Subsequent episodes of “On The Block” will air from Oct. 20 through Jan. 1, and a DVD of the series is planned. To see a preview of the show, log on to www.ontheblocktvshow.com.

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