MOTORHEAD BABY-BOOMERS WITH DISPOSABLE INCOME ARE IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN this weekend, attending one of the four collector car auctions in Scottsdale.
39th ANNUAL BARRETT-JACKSON AUCTION
The largest and longest-running auction is the Barrett-Jackson affair, with marathon live coverage from SpeedTV. It has become a lifestyle event (magazine HERE).
Processing almost 2000 vehicles in the six day event, Jackson-Barrett operates “the world’s largest tent” at the Westworld site. Over a quarter mile long, a football field wide, 283,140 square feet.
THURSDAY TORNADO
A winter storm with strong winds entered the metro Phoenix area Thursday, from a Jackson-Barrett press release:
As the storm approached Thursday morning, we met with city and county officials, as well as representatives from the local police and fire departments to coordinate our plans to prepare for the high winds and rain on the way,” continued Jackson. “Our crews mobilized immediately to inspect all aspects of our auction site, check the tents and poles, and strategically place additional equipment that might be needed during the storm. (entire press release HERE)
Glenn Creno, reporting in yesterday’s Arizona Republic reported that the severe Thursday storms killed a six-year old boy, damaged roofs in Flagstaff and forced the evacuate of 500 Wenden residents (HERE). Governor Jane Brewer declared a state of emergency Thursday evening, with a report of a tornado touchdown in north Scottsdale.
RUSSO AND STEELE
Running actions for ten years, Russo and Steele‘s location was much closer to the reported tornado touchdown. Pete Corbett, reporting for the Arizona Republic:
The storm left close to 750 cars stranded in the rain, some pelted by debris and tent poles. A collector-car insurance executive estimated the damage at more than $1.5 million.
Chuck Favour, Hagerty Insurance vice president of claims, said his company insured about 125 of the cars at Russo and Steele. After viewing the auction site, he estimated that about half the cars were damaged with dents and scratches from tent poles and debris. (entire article HERE)
YouTube of tents as they start to fail:
Sports Car Market, reporting from the auctions, found a video showing the site minutes after the tents were blown off:
Morning after drive by:
Lynn Ducey, reporting in the Phoenix Business Journal reports that Russo and Steele will reopen today. (HERE)
UPDATED: item posted @ 12:35 by Sports Car Market:
SCM’s Senior Auction Analyst, B. Mitchell Carlson, made his way out to the Russo and Steele auction site early this morning. He reports that only consignors are being admitted, and that Drew Alcazar and the Russo staff are meeting with them to determine whether they wish to continue with the sale. No auction will take place today (Saturday), says Carlson, but Russo has every intention of starting up again Sunday and, depending upon the number of cars remaining, they may add a Monday date as well.
Mike “FossilMedic” Ward
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