Four weeks ago, Gardnerville businessman Mike Schiller came to the Minden Town Board offering to take over the Main Street Event annual car show from the Valley Cruisers.
On May 14, Schiller was critically injured in a single-vehicle accident and remains hospitalized at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.
Rather than drop the 23-year-old event, Minden businesses and car enthusiasts have stepped up to partially take over the August celebration.
"We have a mailing list of hundreds of people. We don't want to see this go away," said Tumblewind owner Roxanne Stangle. "It's good for the community and we want to do something on a smaller scale."
She told the Minden Town Board on Wednesday that Schiller's sons were too busy with keeping their father's business - Golden Nugget Automotive - running and with his recovery to plan the event.
"We want just to have a small event on Friday night (Aug. 20). Maybe next year, we can get it back to the scale it was before," Stangle said.
The Friday night event on Esmeralda Avenue in the past included a barbecue at the CVIC Hall and a street dance.
Town Manager Roger Van Alyne and board member Steve Thaler - both classic car enthusiasts - offered to help.
"We want this to stay," Thaler said.
Stangle said she would bring additional details to the July 7 board meeting.
"Mike has a long road to recovery," Stangle said.
Schiller, 54, was injured when he was ejected from a Shelby Cobra he was driving on Kayne Avenue in the Johnson Lane area.
He suffered injuries to his face, left arm and left leg. Schiller has undergone multiple surgeries and remained in the intensive care unit.
Family members plan to attend the Friday night event, Stangle said.
Anyone who wants to help is asked to call Stangle at 782-2444, evenings 782-4227, or Van Alyne at 782-5976.
