Need For Speed

You don’t have to be a gear-head to enjoy Family Day at the Barrett-Jackson car auction

Much like New Yorkers who never bother to visit tourist favorites such as Times Square or the Statue of Liberty, Valley residents don’t always take advantage of our most famous attractions. Take the flurry of high-end car auctions powering into Scottsdale this week. Sure, it can seem like a bit of a boys club—with rich guys smoking cigars, talking in codes (RPM, GTO, SS 454) and jockeying to see who has the largest engine under their hood. However, there’s something undeniably awesome about seeing thousands of these swooping, snarling and flat-out sexy cars lined up one after another.

Even better, today is Ford Family Value Day at Barrett-Jackson, meaning kids under 12 (as well as all military personnel) get in free until 5 pm. While there, be sure to check out highlights such as a 1930 Ford Model A used by gangster John Dillinger to escape a shootout with the Feds (pictured), and a rare 1949 Hudson police cruiser (aka the grizzled cop character from the movie “Cars”). And when you tire of looking at tires, drop by The Garage tent where the animal rescue organization, Liberty Wildlife will be exhibiting live reptiles and birds of prey, as well as releasing a rehabilitated hawk into the wild. There will even be a kids fashion show presented by the New School for the Arts and Academics.