Trip to Barrett-Jackson

[spencerforhire]

I'm going to be in Arizona for the Scottsdale auction from January 15th to 19th; are there any members of the Forum in the area that are also going? Or if you're not going to the auction itself and would like to meet up for beer & bench racing or simply show off your cars I'd be up for that as well.
Before anyone gets the idea that I've got big money to spend on a classic car, I'm only going to the auction as an observer not a buyer. I think it will be a great automotive spectacle, and something that's been on my "bucket list" for a while. I'm actually tagging along with my wife who is coming to Tempe for a business conference that happens to be on at the same time. When your wife comes to you and asks "When is that Barrett-Jackson auction that you watch on TV every year? And would you like to go?" What was I supposed to say, no?
I have a couple of car collector customers that are going as well, and I believe they're also going to the Russo & Steele auction so I'll probably check that out, too.
I doubt if there will be any Vegas in the auction; probable a good thing so I won't be tempted.
So please contact me by PM if you're interested in meeting up while I'm there.

[v8astregt]

Hey Spencer. I got your email. I'd possibly be down for a meetup. I don't do the Barrett-Jackson thing too much anymore, it's just gotten waayyyy big for me. I can remember when it was just an auction, and not as much of a spectacle. But I do usually check it out on a weeknight when tickets are reduced so I can take a glance at the top cars.

And I do still have my Astre, never gonna sell that! I'm a long ways away from Scottsdale so I don't think it'd be worth the drive for you, about 45 minutes. But I'll see if any other AZ people chime in. I'm not 100% sure what my schedule is yet as all my time now is being spent on restoring a 66 Mustang I hope to have done in April. But I'll keep tabs on this topic, see what becomes of it.

[spencerforhire]

Our plan is we fly in on Wednesday, do a little sightseeing that evening and on Thursday(I've never actually seen mountains or desert) and hit the auction for the first time Thursday night. Friday and Saturday my wife's in meetings all day in Tempe, so I'll probably spend most of that time at the auction as well. I will have both US data/airtime on my phone while I'm there so I will be able to email/call/text anyone.

[spencerforhire]

We'll be staying here-
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/p ... niversity/
Which is right in downtown Tempe; I'll have a 25-30 minute drive to the auctions(going to the Russo&Steele as well), but that's a whole lot closer to Gilbert. So I might just get to see a certain white Astre GT in person.....
I'm starting to get excited about the trip; I checked out the auction lists and there no Vegas or Monzas(except a couple with the motor in the wrong end), but there's a ton of stuff I want to see up close.
Another thing that's contributing to my looking forward to a trip to a warmer place is the weather up here; we just got done digging out from a real blizzard. The foot of snow that fell Friday plus high winds and bitter cold temps(-18c/0f) has made me want to get out here even worse than usual.
I had a sort through the Forum members list and found quite a few regulars from the Phoenix area- Aside from V8astrgt, I found rob, AZRick, djv8ga, 72vega5.3 and 72 SS PNL. Hope I can meet up with any and all of you while I'm there.

[Kenova]

RideTech is putting their '33 Ford up for auction. Check it out if you get a chance.

Ken

[spencerforhire]

I've seen that thing on TV in the Ultimate Street Car competitions; a real departure from your average street rod.
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/applicat ... 86&aid=525
Looks like it will be up sometime Saturday morning.

[Kenova]

It is a big departure from the original spec Factory Five kit also. The entire front suspension and steering system has been re-engineered.
If you are going to look for it I should mention that it is going to be a different colour. I haven't heard what colour Brett and the boys are painting it but I'm sure it will be hard to miss.

Ken

[v8astregt]

You'll sure have picked a great time to come down here, 70's all week long! And nice hotel location, right on Mill so you can party with all the ASU kids on Mill Ave. and be able to stumble back to your room! Good idea, I should try that sometime, haha.

And maybe on the Astre. It's actually at my dad's house since my garage stalls are each filled with current projects. But he's still in Gilbert, and actually several miles closer than my house in Gilbert.

I'll probably be up there next Wednesday. I got free tickets and I'll be taking off early Friday. I like to avoid the crowds during the primetime hours (Fri/Sat).

I might add as well, it would be worth it for you to stop by the Scottsdale Pavillions Saturday night before 8PM as it's the largest and longest weekly car show in the nation, and being Barrett-Jackson weekend it will be PACKED. Perfect if you're in a rental, but too full for me to drive a car to show, as people will start parking there 10AM that weekend. It's a couple miles south of Westworld. Take the 101 south to Indian Bend, and turn West, and look for the Rock N Roll McDonalds.

[Kenova]

If you are going to look for it I should mention that it is going to be a different colour. I haven't heard what colour Brett and the boys are painting it but I'm sure it will be hard to miss.

Ken

Looks like I was half wrong. I saw some updated pics of the '33 last night and it it still black. This time it's reeeeeeaall shiny.

Ken

[spencerforhire]

Starting to get really excited about my upcoming trip to Arizona for the Barrett-Jackson auction; all my "car guy" friends are seriously jealous. This is a real Bucket List trip; maybe next year I'll find a way to go to the SEMA show in Vegas......
Just checked the weather forecast for this week in Scottsdale; sunny and 23c(73f) every day with nights down to 8c(46f). I may never come home; we've been experiencing one of the worst winters in recent memory with everything from blizzards at -20c(-4f) though large amounts of freezing rain to torrential rain at +10(50f) like it's doing right now.
And yes, Ken I will try to take some pics of the RideTech Ford.

[Kenova]

........ maybe next year I'll find a way to go to the SEMA show in Vegas......

You own a business so it should be relatively easy.

Ken

[spencerforhire]

The more I think about it, the less I want to go to SEMA in December 2014; I don't gamble so Las Vegas holds no interest for me, plus there's a lot of stuff there(tuner & FWD, car care, appearance accessories, etc.) that I can live without. I think a better idea would be the PRI(Performance Racing Industry) show in Indianapolis in November; "hard core" performance is it's primary concern.

[spencerforhire]

Anyone who wishes to contact me while I'm in Arizona has various methods available to them;
email- spencerforhire@ns.sympatico.ca
2nd email- spencer4hireauto@gmail.com (not sure how my Canadian Outlook Express account will work in the US)
phone- 1-902-499-2261(texting might me a better option)
Facebook- spencer.phillips.549(send me a friend request)
The flight gets in mid-afternoon on Wednesday and we leave Sunday morning.
I will have a rental car and my schedule is pretty flexible, especially Friday and Saturday; I can't see me spending 2 whole days at the auction drooling over cars I can't afford. I like Josh's suggestion of checking out the car show at Scottsdale Pavillions Saturday night.
Another thought- Is there any drag racing going on in the area?

[Monza Harry]

The more I think about it, the less I want to go to SEMA in December 2014; I don't gamble so Las Vegas holds no interest for me, plus there's a lot of stuff there(tuner & FWD, car care, appearance accessories, etc.) that I can live without. I think a better idea would be the PRI(Performance Racing Industry) show in Indianapolis in November; "hard core" performance is it's primary concern.

I know what you are saying Spence but there are some big "reveals" that happen there from Ya' Who's backyard Garage all the way up to the Big Three's performance divisions! I know Ford did a Mustang (Version unknown it was a Ford what did I care?) in the last two years. I still think it would be good even with the "undesirables" you listed and the PRI sounds Good Too! Harry

[spencerforhire]

After a very long day(almost 7 hours in the air) we're here in beautiful Tempe. Too tired to do much tonight. So far the plan is to do a little sight seeing tomorrow morning and then hit the auctions tomorrow evening.