Sellers, collectors converge for auction

In Las Vegas, the end of a hot summer and beginning of cooler fall days means the calendar quickly fills in with car shows and related automotive events.

Next week, the fourth annual Las Vegas Cruise-In car show kicks off activities leading up to the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event (www.barrett-jackson.com) Sept. 22-24 and its fourth visit to the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Cruise-In car show will be held Wednesday at Gaudin Ford, 2121 E. Sahara Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon and is free and open to the public. Local car clubs will display their classic and antique treasures and all will be judged by Barrett-Jackson President Steve Davis and Gary Bennett, vice president of consignment.

The actual auction starts Thursday morning at 11 a.m. and continues through Saturday. Admission prices to attend the auction start at $15 per day, with a three-day pass available for $40. To actually bid on vehicles, it'll cost $350 to preregister and $400 if you sign up at the auction.

Barrett-Jackson's lineup of vehicles for the stop in Las Vegas is always impressive and this year's event concludes the auction's year-long 40th anniversary celebration. To mark the occasion, Davis is putting his prized 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 on the auction block with no reserve to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation, a national nonprofit that provides support for wounded service members and their families. The Foundation will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale and Barrett-Jackson will waive its commission on the sale as it has on all charity sales in recent years.

Restored and painted with Sherwin-Williams Planet Color Barrett-Jackson Collector Color Series, the updated Fairlane hardtop is part of Davis' personal collection and has toured the country as a show car with Sherwin-Williams. The Fairlane makes a bold statement in the Red Hot Chili Pepper color from the Planet Color collection.

"I have the utmost respect for the tireless effort and sacrifice by members of our country's armed forces, particularly during these difficult times," Davis said. "Our men and women in uniform are on the front lines every day, and their families are continually called upon to put others first. That's why we at Barrett-Jackson feel so strongly about this incredible group of people and this amazing charity, and that's why I am willing to give up one of my prized possessions to show how thankful I am."

Davis has owned the car for some time after acquiring it from a friend as "just a body with a rear axle under it," he said. "Hundreds of hours went into restoring the car and the level of detail is what I am very proud of."

The task of restoring the Fairlane was assigned to Roush Performance, which fitted the classic with a Tremec TKA 600 McCloud dual-disc transmission, a Mose/Roush 9-inch custom rear end, Wilwood rear brakes and a Roush 427 IR engine, capable of producing 522 horsepower.

Inside, Roush added a custom console, retrofitted from a 1966 Mustang and modified 1966 Mustang bucket seats.

More than 350 vehicles are already listed on the Barrett-Jackson website for auction in Las Vegas and organizers expect the number could exceed 400.

On the same weekend, the city of Henderson is hosting its annual Super Run 2011, right on Water Street.

The 12th annual Super Run Classic Car Show starts Thursday with a kick-off event at The District at Green Valley Ranch and continues through Sunday in downtown Henderson.

More than 1,000 street machines, hot rods, motorcycles, classic, vintage and antique cars will be on display in and around the Henderson Events Plaza and Water Street District competing for trophies and other prizes.

Touted as Southern Nevada's largest car show, the event will also feature live music and entertainment, food and beverage booths as well as merchandise vendors. This year's lineup of live concerts includes The Temptations Review, featuring Dennis Edwards, on Sept. 23, and country group Against the Grain on Sept. 24. Admission to all activities is free. For more information, visit www.SuperRun.com or call 643-0000.