SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — A cool breeze swept through the Tahoe trees Friday morning while the summer sun glinted off of hundreds of classic cars. Hot August Nights officially launched at one of its new venues — South Lake Tahoe.

“I think it is going to do Tahoe a lot of good,” said Bud Byrnes of Reno as he showed off his pearl red 1967 Mustang in the parking lot of the Mont Bleu Resort Casino.

The glossy red Mustang and its proud, nostalgic owner were surrounded by more than 650 classic cars, polished to perfection. About 6,000 collectors and their cars will rumble into Reno and Sparks Monday for a week’s worth of cruising and ’50s-flavored fun.

Looking out over the first day of the Tahoe event, the 10-year Hot August Nights veteran Byrnes said he wasn’t quite sure what all the “fuss” was about when the classic car event announced it would be adding other cities to its list of venues.

Typically a Reno-Sparks staple, Hot August Nights introduced the South Lake Tahoe event this year along with plans to add an event in Long Beach, Calif. in 2011. The move had local politicians worried about HAN spreading its large economic impact to other areas.

“But it’s not about competition among shows,” Byrnes said. “We go to cruises all over (northern Nevada). Long Beach is just too far away. We will absolutely be in Reno next week.”

One row of cars over, however, Bobby Eidem and his 1951 Chevy convertible were ditching the Reno event and going to Long Beach next year. While the event has been an annual tradition for Eidem since the day it was born in 1986, the drive from Fullerton, Calif. is just getting to be too much.

“It’s not that I didn’t enjoy all these years,” he said. “But why drive all those miles and spend all that money on gas? It’s not that we don’t have a good time but the economy is the way it is.”

Eidem said he probably spends more than $1,500 on Hot August Nights between his gas bill and gambling tab. The Chevy only gets 13 miles to the gallon and uses premium gas, he added.

“My wife hasn’t worked in two years and all this cruising gets expensive,” he said. “Plus, that’s about 10 or 12 hours without air conditioning.”

The Mont Bleu, however, was thankful for out-of-towners, such as Eidem. The hotel that served as the epicenter of the event had its rooms almost booked to capacity.

“We are looking strong for tonight, tomorrow and Sunday,” said Mont Bleu spokesman Mike Donovan. “The casino is really busy as well. We are looking really great this year and hopefully we can keep it coming back for years to come.”

Hot August Nights executive director Bruce Walter claims that the event normally brings about 800,000 visitors to the Truckee Meadows area and leaves a $350 million economic impact. The data is currently being evaluated by an outside marketing firm, Martec. HAN spokeswoman Nicole Maddox claimed the registration numbers for the Reno/Sparks event were just as strong this year, even with the added Tahoe venue.

“Things are hoppin’ this year,” she said, adding that 6,000 cars were registered for the event with more on the waiting list.

Byrnes will be one of those cruisers, making his way to Reno after he is finished in Lake Tahoe.

“I can’t wait for the cool nights and to grab an A&W root beer,” he said with a smile.