Barrett-Jackson 2009

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by some.guy

I am thinking of going not as a bidder, but just to check out all the great cars. For those of you who have been before, what is it like? Are there areas set up similar to a car show where you can walk around and just check out cars, or do you pretty much have to sit and watch the auction to see the cars? Are there other interesting activities there?

That is exactly how it is set up, some.guy.

Prior to their actual auction, all, or at least most, of the vehicles are "staged" in a huge open tented area for inspection or basic drooling. Also, there are lots of vehicle related vendors plus plenty of food and drink options available.

Definitely worth every penny . . . Good Luck

[nitram]

Originally Posted by some.guy

I am thinking of going not as a bidder, but just to check out all the great cars. For those of you who have been before, what is it like? Are there areas set up similar to a car show where you can walk around and just check out cars, or do you pretty much have to sit and watch the auction to see the cars? Are there other interesting activities there?

As bummer mentioned there is a huge tented area where the actual car auction is held. Next to that tent are other tents with vehicles to view and many vendors selling both auto related and other goodies. Lots of food vendors too.
Outside the tented areas there's about 5 more acres of all types of cars, trucks, sportcars, buses and airplanes to view up close and personal. You can get right next to them, some will let you inside them, plus you can take all the pictures you want. Each will have a auction number on them if your interested in buying.
The event takes on the atmosphere of a huge car show and State Fair combined.
Everyone will enjoy it. It takes on the average of about 6 hours to see everything. Go to Barrett Jackson's web site and you'll get information about the vehicles being auctioned, entrances prices etc.

[some.guy]

This sounds great. Thanks for the info, I will definitely take my family with me then!

[some.guy]

I have another silly question about Barrett-Jackson: where in Scottsdale does this take place? I have scoured their website and come up with nothing about where it actually is!

[nitram]

Just off the freeway at Westworld
westworld scottsdale - Google Search

[Todd TCE]

I'll be working it again this year (Ford) and we had our participation cut from 8 days to 3 days this year. On one hand it's good to know they are reigning in some spending as they should, on the other it's coming at my expense- a local who for the past few years made some money working the event. Tough gig.

[KarmaPhx]

I am hoping to one year have a car of my own to add to the auction. I am working on my 67 chevelle right now, but it's not going to be a show car, more of a drag car.

I worked at B-J last year at a concession stand, my friends grandparents own one of the companies that caters most of the shows there, it was cool to be able to see all the cars, lots of VERY nice cars.