Tag Archives: 2014

Barrett Jackson Auction Tops Records in Las Vegas

top-5-at-barrett-jackson-bannerBarrett-Jackson

Congratulations to our friends at Barrett-Jackson who took Las Vegas by storm with another record setting auction at Mandalay Bay on September 25-27, 2014. During those three days Barrett-Jackson had the largest number of vehicles in their Las Vegas history, with more than 700 vehicles offered up with sales exceeding $33 million.

Besides the volumes of cars, being Las Vegas meant plenty of celebrities and quasi-celebrities were there. Last year was packed with stars and more were seen this year

Barrett Jackosn in Las vegas
US flag at Barrett Jackson

Charity Cars at Barrett-Jackson

As is the case for all the Barrett-Jackson auctions, some cars were auctioned off to benefit specific charities. The auction house always waive their fees, so the full amount goes to the charities. You might have heard that the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat sold for $825,000. In addition another group matched that bid so the local charity received $1,650,000! Rick Hendricks bought that car, like he has bought numerous charity cars at the auctions. That’s the most money raised for charity from one car at any of the Barrett-Jackson auctions ever.

Las Vegas welcome sign
Welcome Car Auctions

Future Auction Coverage

This auction also marks the end of the Barrett-Jackson auctions being broadcasted by the Fox Networks. After years of being on SPEED and Fox, in 2015 the auction will now be covered by the Velocity Channel, part of the Discovery brand.

Can’t wait until January when all the auctions converge in Arizona! What about you?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

Scion Coming to SEMA

SEMA Signage
SEMA Show in Las Vegas

Toyota’s Scion brand is prepping for the upcoming SEMA Show in a big way by teasing out two sketches of some customized, tricked out Scion’s. Scion will showcase in Las Vegas at least two models; a Slayer Mobile Amp tC themed after trash metal band Slayer and a Riley Hawk Skate Tour xB named for the pro skateboarder.

Scion

Scion’s have always branded and positioned themselves as an entry market for coming of age drivers and buyers and offer many ways to customize the cars right off the dealer’s lot.
Last year Toyota had some neat racer inspired cars plus a “Tanked” Highlander which we showcased here. Now we’ll have to be sure and check out the Scion cars this year!

Scion SlayerSlayer

You’d expect a Slayer dedicated show car to focus on the music and you wouldn’t be wrong.

The music is going to be pumping out of this tC for sure. Slayer is a California formed heavy metal band and has won two Grammy awards. It will be interesting to see if any of the four band members make it out for the debut of this Scion.

Riley Hawk

Riley Hawk’s ride, an xB, will present a flashback to the 70’s van craze. His ride will have shag carpet, bubble windows and wood paneling on the interior. Can’t wait to see it in person at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. There is bound to be enough room for his skateboard in this tricked out Scion!Scion Hawk

Riley Hawk is the son of Tony Hawk, who revolutionized skateboarding on the West Coast. Riley is only 21 years of age and is already an award winning skater, but suspect Dad had to explain what shag carpeting was about!

SEMA

The sketches are a bit limited in presenting what the final version will look like, but can’t wait to see the outcomes in a month at the SEMA Show. We’ll keep our eye peeled for more progress updates.

 

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

Artwork courtesy of Toyota ©

 

GearWrench Gimbal Ratchet

Gearwrench Gimbal Ratchet Closeup

GearWrench makes some great tools. It is known for their time-saving closed end box wrenches and we previously posted about there two Gimbal Ratchets.  Now we show you how effective and helpful they can actually be.Gearwrench Gimbal Ratchet

Gimbal Ratchets

These ratchets debuted at last year’s SEMA Show and we were mesmerized by the engineering and thinking behind these ratchets. Unlike a typical thumb drive ratchet, the GearWrench Gimbal Ratchet floats inside two rings, so that like a gyroscope, you can tweak and twist what plane these ratchets match up to.

The beauty of these two ratchets,  in both 1/4″ and 3/8″ drive, is they can always easily line up with the fastener you are working on, regardless of where they are in a car or other application.

Toyota Camry

Camry Firewall

Now I love my tools but before adding to my inventory, the tool has to prove its worth.  Here is a real world application.  On the firewall of a 2012 Camry is a bolt, arranged around a variety of metal  tubing and some slightly flexible rubber tubing.

Camry Firewall Closeup

Clearly a box or open wrench will not fit.  A typical socket wrench will need a few extensions and flexible joints to make it work and even then you’re going to have to be a contortionist to get decent use and leverage on that fastener.

Gearwrench Gimbal Ratchet

Gearwrench Gimbal Ratchet on Fastener

Now the GearWrench Gimbal Ratchet can easily reach the fastener without any more extensions or flexible joints. The two gimbals allow the ratchet to clear the metal tubing without any worries and your hand can control the exterior drive mechanism easily with your hand (and body) in a convenient place.

Gearwrench Gimbal Ratchet with hand

Gearwrench Gimbal Ratchet in use

You can order these ratchets directly from GearWrench or find them at your favorite tool dealer.

Gearwrench Gimbal Ratchet Obstructed

 

Do you have another favorite tool from GearWrench?  Let us know.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Encinitas Classic Car and Truck Cruise In and Show

Encinitas, California is located just a short hop up the San Diego coast and offers a laid back surfer vibe.  It is known not only for the surfing action and fish tacos, but also local one of a kind shops and furniture showrooms.  But twice a month during the summer months the downtown streets come alive with  a classic car show.

EncinitasThursdays are for Cruising

On the  third Thursdays in the summer, from May through September, the Encinitas downtown group sponsors this car show along historic Pacific Coast Highway 101.

Woodie for the SurfAlong with the cars, bands can be heard performing and of course cars are always cruising the main drag. Plus many adjacent bars and restaurants are open with specials offered for the onlookers.

Classic Cars and Trucks

Now being a surfer city you just know Encinitas will dust off a few woodies for the show.  But all varieties of classic cars and trucks come out for this once a month laid back car show.Cadillac at Encinitas

Pacific Coast Highway

The car show spans the 101 Highway, from D to J Streets, along with some adjacent parking lots from cooperative shops.  Portions of the Ppacific Coast Highway 101 hug the coastline of California.Pacific Coast Highway 101

Unlike other local events there is no signage reserving the on street parking for the classics so you often get a mix of classic Detroit Iron next to a plastic swoopy car!  Awards are given out but there is more interest in the cars presented than the picks and awards.Corvette at Encinitas

Cruisers

Now parking for the public is a bit intense so if you go, plan on your own “cruising event” looking for a parking spot, but you’ll be rewarded with a sweet show.  The season, alas, has ended for the Encinitas show, but you can relive the fun times with our pictures.  Enjoy the snapshots and let us know your favorite.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

El Cajon Classic Car Cruise

El Cajon Cruise Night Street SignEl Cajon

During the summer, downtown El Cajon, CA sponsors a free car cruise-show each Wednesday night. There is a theme each week spotlighting select cars or car clubs. The main street through downtown is reserved for classic cars and trucks. A DJ spin some classic rock and folks have a chance to see some great looking cars.

You get all variety of cars and trucks and best of all some will cruise the streets so you can see them in action.

This tricked out rod was done with a sense of humor and style.El Cajon Cruise Night Salt Driverand it obviously is not a trailer queen as evidenced by these deals on the rear window.

El Cajon Cruise Night Decals

Cruisers

Did we mention cars cruise down the streets?

El Cajon Cruise Night CruisersEl Cajon Cruise Night Cruising

Where else can you see a CamaroEl Cajon Cruise Night 68 Camaroand a Rolls Royce at the same event?El Cajon Cruise Night Rolls Royce

Enjoy the pictures and it is not too late to take in this show if you are in the San Diego area on a Wednesday night!  It runs through October 29, 2014. Many restaurants stay open and there are usually some sidewalk vendors as well.Cajon Cruise 2014

Here are some selected pictures of some classics? Which is your favorite?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

 

SEMA Car Cruise Ignited

SEMA’s Friday Night Cruise

SEMA Cruise

SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) is the car show of all car shows, held in Las Vegas each year.  But because SEMA Show is a trade show, only qualified attendees may go past the security guards.

Friday Night Cruise

But one of the secrets of SEMA is the cruise out on Friday night.  For years the Las Vegas locals would hang out at the driveways of the Las Vegas Convention Center to see the cars and trucks roll out from the convention floors.SEMA Cruise 32

A few years back, SEMA latched on to this phenomenon and made an official event for the cruise starting at 4 PM on Friday, the last day of the SEMA Show.  Last year was a hoot as we mentioned in this article.

SEMA does it right with bleachers brought in specifically for the cruise.  Mix in a DJ, an emcee and some personalities like Chip Foose and you have all the makings for a fun event.  Chip Foose at SEMA Cruise

And nowadays every event needs at least pone drone sighting!SEMA Cruise 38

 

SEMA Cruise 2014

SEMA just announced that for this year, the vehicles will cruise over to a lot at the “Linq Promenade“, where the public is invited for one last change to check out the cars.  SEMA is calling this event the SEMA Ignited and promises to be a nice event with manufacturers getting one more chance to promote their products, cars and gear.

While not all the thousands of vehicles inside the SEMA Show go out in the cruise, those that do make for an awesome display of lights and sounds.

Here’s just some of our favorite car shots from last year’s Cruise

Which is your favorite?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Drew’s Garage Spotlighted with 68 Charger

Drew’s Garage in Tempe, AZ is featured in the August, 2014 issue of Performance and Hot Rod Business.  Our friends at the publication did a nice feature on this local garage.

logo for Drew's Garage

Here’s a link to the six page article.

We recently featured Drew’s Garage with this article on Larry Fitzgerald’s 1968 Dodge Charger.  Here’s the link as well.

Rear end of 68 Charger

In the article. the owner Drew Tennant discussed the origins of his shop and how showcasing his cars at Barrett-Jackson and Goodguys Rod and Custom helped his business grow.  It is interesting to read that most of his employees are auditioned and hired from out of state.

Nice compliments to a true class act.

 

Pratte Collection Selling Soon

As we previously posted here, Barrett-Jackson sources confirmed that they are selling Ron Pratte’s collection of classic cars and automobilia in January during their auction in Scottsdale, AZ.

Car Collection of Ron Pratte

Ron Pratte

Ron Pratte has amassed an impressive collection of classic cars over the past few years.  He has been a fixture at the car auctions, but rarely opened his collection to the public for viewing.  But we were able to get some exclusive photos of just some of his massive storage warehouse.

Barrett-Jackson officials haven’t yet confirmed the details of which cars will sell or how they plan to package these classics during the January, 2015 auction.

Automobilia Sign Collection from Ron Pratte

Here’s a link to the first of our 2 eBay articles on Ron Patte’s collection.

 

Studebaker and Suburban Featured in Hot Rod Magazine

Studebaker rearHot Rod magazine’s August 2014 highlighted two cars that we first saw at the SEMA Show.  Funny how some cars just stand out and end up being touted by all?  Out of the thousands of cars at SEMA, some just naturally are just dang drop dead perfect and deserve detailed views and attention.

66 Suburban

Our friends at Hot Rod Magazine For August, 2014 devoted three pages (page 108-110) on Mr. Gasket’s Lime Crush – a 66 Suburban.  We gave you our view of this awesome build here.  Great attention to detail and just about every body panel was massaged to some degree.Lime Crush Low Shot

51 Studebaker

In the same issue, they take a look at a 51 Studebaker owned by Dennis Varni.  It too was at the SEMA show and drew plenty of admiring glances in its prime aisle spot.  Eight pages don’t do it justice, so we had to add our pictures too.

The Studebaker actually passed through three sets of hands before completion.  It sits on an Art Morrison frame.  A Ford 427 engine has fuel injection and uses a GM 700R4 transmission.  The wood work is spot on beautiful.  Lots of onlookers took double takes trying to figure out if Studebaker ever made a woodie!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.