Mesquite Motor Mania, giant doubleheader chili cook offs invade Mesquite Jan. 13-15
If there is anything better than a good old-fashioned car show, it’s the addition of a huge chili cook off at the CasaBlanca Resort the weekend of Jan. 13-15.
The Smokin’ Big Chili Challenge II back-to-back International Chili Society Regional Chili Cook Offs scheduled for Jan. 14-15 will team up with the fourth annual Mesquite Motor Mania car show on the same weekend in what has become a wildly-popular gathering of gear heads and chili heads.
The chili cook off spectacular will attract teams from several states competing in Red Chili, Chili Verde and Salsa categories.
Mesquite Motor Mania will enter its fourth year and is expected to attract about 600 classic cars to the grounds of the CasaBlanca, Oasis, Virgin River and Eureka hotel casinos.
According to Art Kam of the Las Vegas Cruisin’ Association, this year’s show should be even better than the three previous events that have been lauded for both the classic cars and the attendants who bring their vehicles.
“It’s a very good show,” said Kam. “People come down from many surrounding states including Idaho, Utah, Colorado, California, and New Mexico; along with Nevada.”
Kam said Mesquite Motor Mania is especially popular with the residents of Las Vegas. This year, he said people are also coming from as far away as Hawaii.
“Many people plan their vacations around Mesquite Motor Mania,” Kam said. “With the addition of the back to back chili cook offs, our people love going over to taste the variety of chili offerings. The chili cook off is an additional event and we all think it’s very neat.”
Chili cook off enthusiasts from several states will be competing with cooks coming from as far away as Galveston, Tex. and Bakersfield, Calif. along with others from Canada and Colorado.
“We had a very good turnout last year and we’re hoping for even more cooks this year,” said Bob Dinneweth, the chief judge for the Jan. 14 competition. “The competition should be very good especially considering that we have back-to-back competition.”
Dinneweth said the competition has been going on for about 40 years. He and his wife, Louise, have been participating in the competition for about 20 years.
“We just love the chili and the cooks,” he said.
Further information regarding the chili cook offs can be found by visiting www.mesquitechili.com, or by calling Michele Evans of Mesquite Gaming at 888-711-4653, ext. 14.
Further information regarding Mesquite Motor Mania can be found by visiting www.mesquitecarshows.com or by calling 702-643-0000.
CONTACTS: Michele Yegge Evans, Mesquite Gaming, 888-711-4653, ext. 14; Art Kamm, Las Vegas Cruisin’ Association, 702-643-000; Mike Henle, The Idea Company Public Relations, 702-279-3483.
