I Went to Barrett-Jackson And Then Went Insane

"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
02/02/2016 at 16:00 • Filed to: Barrett-Jackson

There are moments in our lives that humble us to our core. The birth of a first child. Realizing how large the universe is. Getting our first real career. Add another one to the list: attending the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

So I got a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to the event this weekend and was PUMPED. It was settled that I would take ALL the pictures of ALL the cars, and see ALL THE THINGS!! And then we arrived from the hotel, on a shuttle, to the event and I immediately knew that I was wrong about everything.

I gave it the old college try, though. As soon as I walked into the front door, my iPotato 6S was working overtime. Here are the first few pics within the first 20 yards of the first tent:

I was so overwhelmed that I forgot to take pictures of the new GT350R sitting beside the Raptor. And I don’t suck at taking pictures; it was impossible to back up enough to take a clear photo of most cars there. I’m already trying to act cool to cover my giddy excitement, and I haven’t even come CLOSE to the auction area yet.

The next picture (giggle snort):

Who wants some $KAYBAIT WITH GULF LIVERY?!?!

At this point, I’m still keeping it together, so I was doing better than !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but not by much. But then I turn a 180 and...

Many more pictures were taken. MANY more. But I’m not going to post them now. Eventually throughout the evening, it became evident that it was better to actually experience the event through one’s own eyes rather than to record it on a camera. So let me TELL you of my experiences from here on out.

After walking only about 1/5th of the cars under 1/4th of the tents, we moved outside to the large vendors. There, Shelby American was showing off their cars right across the aisle from a lesser known group shilling ten Shelby Cobra replicas. Superformance was there doing the same, and they get bonus points for putting a great air conditioner into their GT500E car. But what fun is one of the world’s greatest auto auctions if you don’t get to see the ACTUAL auction?!

Moving inside, I was able to find a great spot at the place where the workers move the cars towards the end of the bidding process. Right in the heart of the action. Jason Sehorn, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart were sitting together in an elevated area just over my left shoulder. Jeff posted a picture of the event on Twitter from his vantage point and I’m in the picture. My back was aching, feet were hurting, and I was coming down with a cold, but I moved not; this was amazing. And then Burt Reynolds took the stage with his personal Trans Am and sold it for over half a million smackaroos to some guy sitting right beside Smoke. I’m losing my shit at this point.

After a while, we walk the concourse, hellbent on seeing every car there was. I almost ran into actor Eric Bana as we passed each other, both of us too busy excitedly shuffling between one dream machine to the other to notice obstacles in our path. I’m in nirvana now, somewhere between reality and a dream, life and death, sanity and insanity.

We saw them all. We walked every tent. We ate up the ambiance and regurgitated rainbows as a result. For a true car enthusiast, this event is truly what cements a love for cars. Every new sight is a new fantasy, a new yearning, a new drug to fuel our addiction. We want more, and there is more. Constantly more, around every corner.

So you want to go to a Barrett-Jackson event after this ridiculous analogy-filled rant, huh? Wear tennis shoes and shorts. Bring a camera, but know when to put it down. Prepare your mind and your body, because I assure you that you will underestimate the experience, no matter how grandiose you believe it to be. If you have the dough, opt for a package that gets you a seat on an elevated platform.

But most importantly, soak up the experience and emerse yourself in the action. Losing yourself to the event is the best part of all.

DISCUSSION (25)

For Sweden > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:04

But what did you buy?

CALUSA > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:04

Wear tennis shoes and shorts. Bring a camera, but know when to put it down.

The shorts or the camera?

PatBateman > For Sweden
02/02/2016 at 16:05

My wife wanted to buy a 2007 Roush Mustang convertible, but they had already sold them a couple days previous.

So I bought nothing.

PatBateman > CALUSA
02/02/2016 at 16:06

The camera, although the urge to drop trow in the middle of all those cars is huge.

Wacko > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:06

that and bring money, lot’s and lot’s of money.

I watched a few hours on tv and holy shit balls cars are expensive.

those dream muscle cars when I was a teen in the 90s, at that time my goal in life was to own one of those cars by the time I am my present age, and nope, still no dream muscle car.

what was once 20000-30000 cars are now 100000-250000 cars.

For Sweden > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:06

Your wife has good ideas and plans

CALUSA > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:11

Haha, that’s right.

PatBateman > For Sweden
02/02/2016 at 16:11

I agree whole heartedly.

wiffleballtony > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:14

“I was so overwhelmed that I forgot to take pictures of the new GT350R sitting beside the Raptor. And I don’t suck at taking pictures; it was impossible to back up enough to take a clear photo of most cars there.”

Same exact thing I experienced. I have similar awkward pics of the same GTs.

Kinja'd!!!

$kaycog > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:15

OMG! Two Ford GTs! Also, there are some other awesome vehicles there.

PatBateman > wiffleballtony
02/02/2016 at 16:44

If you back far enough up, you take pictures of people’s butts.

wiffleballtony > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 16:46

Which is a high point of any photo.

PatBateman > $kaycog
02/02/2016 at 16:46

There were MANY awesome vehicles there. Also, many other GTs.

Kinja'd!!!

Future next gen S2000 owner > Wacko
02/02/2016 at 16:48

A gentleman, down the road from where I grew up, was the proud owner of a one-owner, fully restored, 454 SS 1971 Chevelle with a four speed. He brought it to my HS graduation party. He did the resto - frame off in his garage, he did good work - and the reading on the odometer isn’t correct, it broke in the 70s or 80s and it show 50K or so, but everyone laughed when I told them it was a 100K car. This was over 10 years ago. I can’t even guess what that car is worth now.

Future next gen S2000 owner > $kaycog
02/02/2016 at 16:48

Is it wrong to want to have carnal relations with the new GT?

$kaycog > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 17:04

Beautiful! I probably would have cried.

$kaycog > Future next gen S2000 owner
02/02/2016 at 17:05

Yes.

#LMAO

PatBateman > $kaycog
02/02/2016 at 17:07

I thought of you when taking the pics. Thus is why I made sure to take individual pics of each (especially the Gulf Livery GT, which sold for over $500k).

$kaycog > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 17:09

$500k..........just wow! You’re very thoughtful................thanks so much!

Future next gen S2000 owner > $kaycog
02/02/2016 at 17:26

Booooo.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 17:45

Loved your recollection of the event. I could actually feel your excitement through reading it. Reminds me of when I went to last year’s Monterey car week. I was pretty much between you and Orlove in terms of losing my mind. These types of car events are so much more special and awesome than the average cars and Coffee events.

PatBateman > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
02/02/2016 at 17:51

I'm glad my sentiment translated. This is definitely more than just about any C&C event I know of.

Matt Nichelson > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 19:17

Looks like you had an awesome time. I’m glad you got to go and live the dream. Yes, I still hate you. ;)

PatBateman > Matt Nichelson
02/02/2016 at 19:20

Thanks, I did have an awesome time (with the exception of my cold, which I'm still trying to get over today).

Matt Nichelson > PatBateman
02/02/2016 at 19:26

Eh, I imagine it was worth it.