Rotarians, residents celebrate annual Wurstfest

By Cassie Tomlin

Published Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008 | 9:55 p.m.

Updated Monday, Sept. 29, 2008 | 6:29 p.m.

Bert Hansen's 1938 Buick Century got its name because it can go 100 mph.

Since Hansen got the classic blue car, he wouldn't dream of reaching those speeds. He does cruise around town once a week, at the speed limit.

On Sept. 27, Hansen showed off his parked "banker's hot rod" at the Hustlers Las Vegas car show during Wurstfest.

The annual Rotary Club festival raises money for local charity efforts, chiefly the all-night graduation party for seniors of Boulder City High School.

Eric Estes, the Rotary's treasurer, said this year's Wurstfest raised about $60,000. The graduation party costs about $30,000.

Rotarian Mark McGinty said the club cooked about 4,000 bratwursts and estimated 14,000 people visited throughout the day.

Hansen, a Sunrise Rotary Club member, usually grills during the fundraiser, but sat out this year to show off his newly purchased ride. He said he bought the Buick a month ago.

Hansen's was one of only two Buicks on display. Of 114 automobiles shining on the downtown lawn — including a classic Rolls-Royce and new Lamborghinis — Gerry Bonar's 1948 Buick Super convertible, which he bought last year, was the only other one in the show.

The friends are members of the Southern Nevada Buick Club.

"I like old things," Hansen said. "It isn't that I personally remember this car. It's just all the things I like come from 70 to 80 years ago."

The car is 70, two years older than Hansen is, he said.

Bonar admired his friend's acquisition.

"It's pretty gutsy," Bonar said.

Nearby, Jim Goldheimer fielded questions about his 1950 Ford convertible, an immaculate car restored only once 20 years ago, and in its original color, sportsman's green.

"He's an elitist," his friend Andy Wirsing said. "When he collects cars, they're stocked like they just left the showroom."

Goldheimer said he was born in time to have driven the car when it was new, but couldn't have afforded the $3,000 price tag.

He invested about 10 times that much last year to buy the convertible.