Excitement:It's Almost Collector-Car Auction Time!
Story by Maria Celeste
Barrett-Jackson, Russo And Steele are coming to brighten our winter!
12-14-07: If you have ever been to an auction, not just any auction, but an AUTOMOBILE auction specifically….then you don’t need to be told that it’s an electrifying event. For the automobile enthusiast,
there are few things on this Earth more riveting, than being surrounded by sheet metal that growls loud
enough to make your ears ring after a few hours and produces an intoxicating aroma that is,
well….nearly intoxicating in itself after a few hours.
Combine those things with the unparalleled thrill of seeing your fellow man (or woman) scream, yell,
jump, push, and…oh yes, BID…with the enthusiasm of a starving lion taking down a defenseless gazelle
in the middle of a field, filled with other lions trying to decide whether to jump in his way and go after it
themselves…or just STAY THE HELL BACK, and wait for the next one for fear of becoming the gazelle.
Well before I sub reference again…lets just move on to the point shall we?
Here in Arizona, the blessed month of January is about to fall upon us. While this time of year, children have sugar plums dancing in their heads, and twinkling bells playing in the background of their dreams…we have cars and horsepower numbers dancing in our heads, with the ever intense background sound of that one auctioneer that yells at the top of his lungs “ SOLD IT….SOLD IT….SOLD IT….” louder than any of the others, and just makes you want to jump out of your seat and shout YEEEAAHHHHH!!! WOOOOO!!!!….even though your not sure why.
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Again slipping off track, let’s refocus our attention here. We are all aware of the fabulous Barrett-Jackson auction that graces us with it’s presence once a year…and somehow makes the passing of Christmas, almost bearable. The excitement of trying to catch a passing glimpse of that glorious tent coming alive, like a giant marshmallow being attacked by a swarm of ants, from flying by on the freeway. (at a completely legal, non radar camera attention-getting 65 mph of course)
.
So there we have the excitement building for the intensely satisfying “Barrett-Jackson” even, that NEVER fails to amaze and intrigue people from all over the USA, and the world…year after year. Well now there may be a new kid in town. Well, maybe not a new kid…but an 8 year old who has been hanging out near the court, dribbling his ball just outside the chain link fence, but hasn’t exactly leaped into the game with both feet and a buzz cut.
The 8 year old’s name is Russo and Steele. It has been designed to be an alternative to “other” auctions. The Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auction will run from January 16th through the 20th. OK….let me remove the “reporter” hat for one second. I have this overwhelming feeling of a deer in
headlights not knowing where to go, or which way to run. The Barrett-Jackson auction, unless I’m
mistaken, (which I’m not…part of that reporter thing) is January 12th through January 20th. Ok. Now. I’m no rocket scientist (obviously) but if the 8 year old kid keeps playing basketball in the driveway alone, and gets good enough at those free throws without anyone noticing…he just might jump right past that chain-link fence, sporting a uniform, a buzz cut AND a can of “whoop-ass.”
Now this could really cause some serious action here. (slipping back to the visual of the whole lions and gazelle thing…but I digress) Russo and Steele will feature 5 action-packed days, with over 500 cars…and get this….in Scottsdale. Hmmmm. Isn’t the other auction in Scottsdale too? Heck Martha, I say we park the car and strap on the Nikes! We can just run back and forth.. all day… FOR FIVE DAYS!
There just may need to be some choices made here! It’s one thing to have two giant auto auctions in the same month…yet another in the same month, in the same city….but I say…to have both of them, in the
same month, in the same city, with competing dates? That might just be enough pressure to push some of
us car junkies over the edge! Like sensory overload! Not only to you have the fierce battles of the bidders
that spawn every emotion imaginable…but there might just become some fierce battles between…dare
I say....the middle aged guy and the 8 year old.
Granted, right now the little fella loiters and watches,,,but 8 year olds get big…and fast! Russo and Steele will take place just south of the loop 101 and Scottsdale Rd. at 18601 N. Scottsdale Road. General admission is only $20.00 and the gates fly open with reckless abandon at 10am on Wednesday, January 16th. If you would like to bid (and who wouldn’t) then you can find the bidder’s registration application at
the auction house websites. Also remember you will need a bank letter of guarantee to qualify …just a standard requirement…a mere penny in the pond of excitement that awaits you as a bidder.
Either way..whatever you choose…be there…and then be over there…then back here again…then back over there….AHHHH!! WE WILL!!
