SCOTTSDALE — Auctioneer Russo and Steele shut down its auction here after a major storm hit and knocked down two of the large canopies covering cars participating in the event on Thursday night. The Scottsdale fire department has taken control of the auction site and it remains closed today. The auctioneers are expecting to be kept out of the site until at least this afternoon but say they still hope to resume the auction for the weekend.
The Associated Press reported that Arizona Highway 101 was shut down in both directions between Scottsdale and Hayden on Thursday night because of "debris in the road from the tents." The Arizona Republic reported Friday that the 800-foot-long tent itself had actually blown onto the road, "leaving hundreds of valuable collector cars uncovered in a pounding rainstorm." It said tent poles struck some of the cars.
An insurance representative cited by the Arizona newspaper said he believed as many as half of the cars involved in the auction had sustained damage with "dents and scratches from tent poles and debris" and estimated there could be $1.5 million in damage claims.
The auction had been slated to run from January 20-24. Among the cars on site are a 1955 Porsche Carrera Speedster that is the third of 151 factory-built examples, a 1948 Tucker 48, a 1958 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda that's one of only 50 made — some 600 vehicles in all. On Sunday, the auction firm is slated to host a champagne brunch as part of the closing festivities.
Inside Line says: Scottsdale would have seemed to be among the last places a "pounding rainstorm" would be expected. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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andys120 says:
06:36 PM, 01/24/2010
Russo & Steele is the best auction for spectators as the cars are always of high quality and admission is half what it costs at B-J. I am not affiliated w R&S in any way but I go every year because it's the best and I've been to almost all of the Scottsdale auctions.
I had a great time today even if some of the damaged cars were a sad sight (vast majority were unharmed).
BTW- it's much easier to get close to the cars and the auction action than at B-J.
chromelady says:
11:31 AM, 01/23/2010
Just went out to the Russo and Steele auction with consigner friend and guess what? Things are not as bad as the media made them out to be, so don't hesistate to head back out there!! Yes, some cars had damage but most of them were ok and are going through the auction tomorrow and Monday. It was amazing to see all the people and their looks of relief when they saw their cars were ok. The line to keep their cars in the auction was long. Despite the delays, the show will go on. I'm headed back out tomorrow morning. See you there!