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STEVE DAVIS’ BEHIND THE SHADES: Mile Markers Along the Road to Las Vegas
Barrett-Jackson President Steve Davis.

Steve Davis’ dark glasses protect his eyes from a light sensitivity condition – but that doesn’t hinder his vision of the collector car market.

The SB 42 celebration in the Visalia Motorsports Festival program.

Can you believe it? The milestone events are coming at us fast and furious. We no sooner wrapped up our 20th year in Palm Beach then we turned our attention to Las Vegas, where we’re proud to be hitting our 15th year. On top of that, all throughout 2023 Shelby fans are celebrating the centennial of Carroll Shelby’s birth in 1923. While Carroll is no longer with us, his legacy definitely is, and that legacy is tied up with both Barrett-Jackson and Las Vegas. Thinking about these turns of the wheel, I can’t help but contemplate how many Shelby moments we’ve had on our Las Vegas stage.

One in particular stands among my favorites.

But before I get to that, some background first. I really got to know Carroll closely and we became friends in the 1990s. I worked with Shelby and his organization when the Series 1 project was being introduced. I put together an event where we took the Series 1 to Road America and got the top clients of investment firm Merrill Lynch to drive the car. I helped move Shelby American from their original Vegas location to their facility at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I also worked with Carroll on his charitable foundation, and he supported me in my efforts to have the 1997 grassroots petition drive to exempt 1973 and older autos from stringent new smog restrictions in California. This effort became known as SB 42, and if it had not passed, the collector car business as we know it could have been eliminated in California. In celebration of this, he helped me get a motorsports festival for charity off the ground in Visalia, California, that included a reenactment of a prewar road race in Los Angeles in 2000.

Carroll at the Las Vegas 2008 interview going over the 1949 MG TC roadster.

When we decided to hold our inaugural auction in Las Vegas, the Shelby connection was key. The excitement of Vegas is obvious to anybody who has ever been there; it’s one of my favorite cities. I love the 24/7 lifestyle and excitement. But it was also the home of Shelby American, which is not just significant to me personally, but to millions of car enthusiasts around the world.

As Barrett-Jackson was building up to this first Las Vegas Auction, I was really searching for something that would be the centerpiece. And lo and behold, we came up with this little 1949 MG TC roadster. Not just any MG, but Carroll’s first actual race car. It quickly became the poster child for our inaugural event.

When finalizing the consignment for this MG and we were executing all the pre-event marketing, I went to Las Vegas with a camera crew, as I wanted to do everything I could to celebrate Carroll, the car and all the things he represented, particularly in Shelby American’s hometown. We did an in-depth interview with him that was amazing, and had him autograph the car.

The stories Carroll could tell were legendary, but on this occasion he was more reflective. The MG meant a lot to him. He was driving it for his friend Ed Wilkins, and it represented an opportunity to drive a real race car – and he took his first checkered flag in his first race. It was the starting point for everything that came after. At that time in his life he was not the legend we know today, and to take the checkered flag in Norman, Oklahoma, in that moment in that car, inspired him and lit that fuse of excitement and desire to do all the things he eventually did. It was a humbling conversation. He kind of went back in time to 1952 and was that young guy again, taking the first step of an incredible journey.

Aaron Shelby.

Carroll was unable to join us on the Las Vegas auction block for that sale in 2008, but his presence has been felt many times in Vegas. In 2009 he appeared onstage with drag racing Hall of Famer Don “The Snake” Prudhomme for the sale of the original concept car for the Prudhomme Edition Super Snake Shelby GT500. And how could I forget selling my personal Shelby Super Snake for $1 million for charity to support the first responders following the terrible 2017 mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino?

It is fitting that so many significant Shelby moments with Barrett-Jackson happened in Las Vegas. We still enjoy a great relationship with the Shelby organization. Gary Patterson, the president of Shelby American, has been on stage with many Shelbys as we sell them on the block, as have Carroll’s grandsons Aaron and Shawn Shelby.

And that MG TC? It was later sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction in 2015 when Ron

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By: Barrett-Jackson
Title: STEVE DAVIS’ BEHIND THE SHADES: Mile Markers Along the Road to Las Vegas
Sourced From: www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/steve-davis-behind-the-shades-mile-markers-las-vegas-2023/
Published Date: Wed, 31 May 2023 21:41:16 +0000

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BEYOND THE STRIP: Discover the Cultural Gems of Las Vegas

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BEYOND THE STRIP: Discover the Cultural Gems of Las Vegas

Written by Barbara Toombs

Fremont Street in the heart of downtown Las Vegas.

Millions of visitors are understandably attracted to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas’ renowned Strip each year, where world-class resorts, casinos, shows and incredible dining options are the name of the game.

What many don’t realize is that there’s another fascinating side to the Entertainment Capital of the World, headlined by two cultural districts known simply as Downtown and Chinatown.

Downtown Las Vegas (also known as DTLV) is really where this unique desert city got its start. In 1931, construction began on what is now known as the Hoover Dam, attracting thousands of workers to a site just east of the city. To capitalize on this growing workforce, savvy businessmen began building casinos and showgirl venues along Las Vegas’ only paved road at the time: Fremont Street.

Today, DTLV is comprised of three distinct districts. Many visitors to the city are already familiar with one of them: the Fremont Street Casino District, which contains museums, restaurants and bars, as well as the original Las Vegas casinos, including El Cortez, Golden Nugget and Golden Gate. Here you’ll also find the renowned Fremont Street Experience, which debuted in 1995. This pedestrian-only thoroughfare is covered by a canopy of more than two million LED lights and a state-of-the-art sound system that comes to life every night for a spectacular sound and light show called “Viva Vision.”

The Arts District

A popular attraction in this district is The Mob Museum (the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement), which showcases intriguing tales and the age-old dichotomy of good guys versus bad guys. Explore at your own pace, go on a guided tour or uncover museum surprises as part of a group scavenger hunt. Want a literal “taste” of old-school Las Vegas? Plan to dine at Top of Binion’s Steakhouse, perched on the 24th floor of Binion’s Gambling Hall. The restaurant dates back to 1965 when it was known as Top of the Mint, the signature dining spot at The Mint hotel tower. The interior design (and menu – think steak, prime rib, lobster and even Baked Alaska) is a throwback to an earlier era when the mob ran much of Las Vegas, but the real draw is the spectacular view through dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows.

Built in 2002, the Fremont East Entertainment District (FEED) is a six-block area that stretches from Las Vegas Boulevard East to 8th Street and from Ogden Street South to Carson. FEED is pedestrian-friendly, offering diverse street life and many eateries, cafes, bars and lounges, as well as ample shopping opportunities and lively entertainment. A must-see attraction in this district is the Downtown Container Park – a dining, shopping and live music venue made of 45 colorful repurposed shipping containers, all fronted by a two-story, fire-breathing praying mantis who made its original debut at Burning Man. Nearby is the popular Bin 702 – one of many great dining choices in the area – featuring a great selection of beer and wine, as well as a tantalizing choice of charcuterie and cheese, sandwiches and small plates for sharing.

18b sign in The Arts District.

In recent years, The Arts District – or the 18b as it’s also known (a reference to it occupying 18 blocks of Downtown Las Vegas, loosely outlined by Commerce Street, Colorado Ave, Fourth Street and Hoover Avenue) – has been growing in popularity. Its monthly “First Friday” block party and art walk features food trucks and live music, serving as a backdrop for artists showing their works off at a variety of open-air and indoor galleries. These include The Arts Factory, home to over 30 artists and art galleries, and ArtSquare, a hip establishment that houses design stores, designer’s studios, wellness spots, and food and drink outlets. Behind The Arts Factory sits one of many great dining choices in The Arts District: Taverna Costera, serving up delicious Coastal Mediterranean fusion that draws inspiration from coastal Spanish, French, Italian and Greek cuisines and beyond.

Just a couple of miles east of the Strip, along Spring Mountain Road (roughly between Rainbow Boulevard and Interstate 15), lies the city’s amazing Chinatown, which has grown in leaps and bounds over the past two decades. Here you’ll find the largest collection of Asian businesses in Southern Nevada, including a multitude of authentic Asian restaurants, gift shops, a hair stylist, a reflexologist, home decor, an Asian supermarket and the only Chinese bookstore in Nevada.

At Chinatown’s heart is the enormous and ornate Chinatown Plaza, featuring a colorful, dragon-adorned, Tang Dynasty-inspired gate and gleaming

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By: Barrett-Jackson
Title: BEYOND THE STRIP: Discover the Cultural Gems of Las Vegas
Sourced From: www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/beyond-the-strip-discover-the-cultural-gems-of-las-vegas-2023/
Published Date: Fri, 19 May 2023 18:07:14 +0000

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2024 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe – No Reserve

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2024 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe – No Reserve

This red 1967 Corvette custom coupe received a complete custom restoration at Springfield Motorsports in Peachland BC, Canada. The build consists of a completely new jig-mounted tube chassis with C4 corvette front upper and lower control arms riding on coilover shocks and power rack & pinion steering. The rear differential is a custom narrowed 9-inch Ford with aluminum Dale Gerry center section with Wilwood disc brakes on all 4 corners. Filling out the wheel wells are custom offset Fikse wheels.

K&S machine in Kelowna, British Columbia took the 454ci engine and machined it to 496ci it is equipped with Comp Thumper camshaft and 800cfm carburetor and it creates a true hot rod sound through the ceramic-coated exhaust. Lee Baxter upholstery created the one-off hand-stitched red leather interior with a rear storage area. It features Vintage Air, Digital gauges, power windows and a leather-wrapped vintage-style steering wheel.

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By: Barrett-Jackson
Title: 2024 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe – No Reserve
Sourced From: www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/2024-scottsdale-auction-1967-chevrolet-corvette-custom-coupe-no-reserve/
Published Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:52:01 +0000

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From Hamamatsu to Lisbon: A Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition

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Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition
The Honda CBX 1000 was only in production for four years, but that was enough time for it to leave a lasting impression on the motorcycle industry. First released it in 1978 as a screaming six-cylinder naked superbike, it later faced stiff competition from its stablemate—the equally iconic CB900F. So the Japanese marque redesigned it as a sport tourer, halfway through its tenure.

The updated ‘CBX-B’ had a touring fairing, optional panniers, and Honda’s new-at-the-time Pro-Link mono-shock setup. It was a hair less powerful than before, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a legend in its own right. If you park a CBX and CBX-B next to each other, you could argue that the latter has more presence.

Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition

It’s that mystique that prompted the owner of this 1982 Honda CBX 1000 Pro-Link to buy it. Enamored with the fusion of modern technology and ancient traditions found in Japanese cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, he was on the hunt for a classic motorcycle that embodied that philosophy. When he found the CBX, the sheer brutalism of its six-cylinder engine was impossible to ignore.

“In the eyes of this enthusiast, the engine wasn’t just a mechanical marvel; it was the soul of the motorcycle, much like the heart in a human body,” says Tiago Gonçalves, founder of the Portuguese custom shop, Unik Edition. “This revelation laid the foundation for a transformative project, one that would honor the motorcycle’s origins while infusing it with a new identity.”

Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik EditionRead More

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By: Wesley Reyneke
Title: From Hamamatsu to Lisbon: A Honda CBX 1000 restomod by Unik Edition
Sourced From: www.bikeexif.com/honda-cbx-1000-restomod
Published Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2023 16:34:54 +0000

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