Barrett-Jackson and thoughts on SPEED network

[sjordan2]

This began as an advisory on reruns of Barret-Jackson auctions on SPEED at 8 pm Eastern, July 10, on SPEED, but has resulted in some conversations about the strengths and weaknesses odf SPEED, which I think should be of interest to modelers, especially regarding their emphasis on muscle cars. I find the Barrett-Jackson auctions to be of value, though others do not:

Personally I despise Speed for reruns of old auctions over and over and over again. I wish they'd just call themselves what they are, the "Pinks, NASCAR, and Barrett-Jackson" network and be done with it.

:lol:

Additionally, I once e-mailed Meguiar's "Car Crazy" and asked if they couldn't spend more time showing off the cars in more detail. They responded that their format was working well for them and they didn't intend to change it. The result is nothing but a weekly infomercial, and I haven't watched it since.

On another note and in defense of SPEED, they presented one of the best automobile documentary series ever, "Victory by Design," hosted by Alain de Cadenet. In each show (Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Aston, Alfa and Jaguar), he found survivors of these marques and traced their history up to 2004 by taking them out on the road. One of its greatest advantages was that the narration would cease so you could ride in the car and listen to the sounds. Lots of detail shots. Finally available on DVD, but at a mind-boggling $114 for the series. Unfortunately, SPEED has never seen fit to repeat the series.

And I must say, that I find even the oldest repeats of "Overhaulin'"to be instructive.

Edited July 9, 2010 by sjordan2

[jeffs396]

Sure there's alot of reruns on SPEED, but where else can you get F1 coverage?

[sjordan2]

Sure there's alot of reruns on SPEED, but where else can you get F1 coverage?

That, too. I watch it on cable and online.

[Rob Hall]

Too much NASCAR and silly 'reality' shows on Speed for my tastes, but at least they have F1, Grand Am, Le Mans, ALMS,and Rolex Sportscar racing...would like to see WRC also.

[sjordan2]

Too much NASCAR and silly 'reality' shows on Speed for my tastes, but at least they have F1, Grand Am, Le Mans, ALMS,and Rolex Sportscar racing...would like to see WRC also.

No network has everything that appeals to everyone. I agree with all the offerings you mentioned. The online part of it also makes 24-hour races much more involving. I've always enjoyed Le Mans, et al., but never so much as this year.

[MikeMc]

Too much NASCAR and silly 'reality' shows on Speed for my tastes, but at least they have F1, Grand Am, Le Mans, ALMS,and Rolex Sportscar racing...would like to see WRC also.

No network has everything that appeals to everyone. I agree with all the offerings you mentioned. The online part of it also makes 24-hour races much more involving. I've always enjoyed Le Mans, et al., but never so much as this year.

I do not agree completely with Bob.....but between Skip , Rob, and Bob, Speed does have some great moments.....but I don't need them 200 times.

And ESPN, ABC,CBS,NBC,................. Do not show racing on a regular basis so Speed wins by default

Edited July 9, 2010 by MikeMc

[sjordan2]

I do not agree completely with Bob.....but between Skip , Rob, and Bob, Speed does have some great moments.....but I don't need them 200 times.

And ESPN, ABC,CBS,NBC,................. Do not show racing on a regular basis so Speed wins by default

That's a very nostalgic thing to me. When I was growing up, ABC Wide World of Sports was the place that had Le Mans, Grand Prix of Monaco and great announcers like Jim McKay leading the TV team. Never mind that in many cases the action wasn't live, it was riveting, and the sportscasters were among the best that ever played the game.

[Rob Hall]

That's a very nostalgic thing to me. When I was growing up, ABC Wide World of Sports was the place that had Le Mans, Grand Prix of Monaco and great announcers like Jim McKay leading the TV team. Never mind that in many cases the action wasn't live, it was riveting, and the sportscasters were among the best that ever played the game.

Watching WW of Sports and reading Road & Track at an early age in the late '70s hooked me on Indy, Le Mans, and F1 racing...

Edited July 9, 2010 by Rob Hall

[Foxer]

Too much NASCAR and silly 'reality' shows on Speed for my tastes, but at least they have F1, Grand Am, Le Mans, ALMS,and Rolex Sportscar racing....

Exactly ... then there's the remote, but where else can you see these!

[LVZ2881]

don't even get me started on the Barrett-Jackson thing and how badly that's affected peoples reality.

Dave

I couldnt agree more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tony T]

I haven't been able to watch SPEED since they moved it up into the premium cable at further added cost...

When I was able to watch it, some of my favourite programs were the de Cadinet series mentioned, as well as the series "Car and Track", which had great early NASCAR coverage, as well as other forms of racing, not to mention their road tests of new cars! What a blast! I really liked the early coverage of the B-J auctions, even the repeats back then. "Behind the Headlights" was another one. With so much ###### on TV, I've missed it, but not that much!!

[MikeMc]

I couldnt agree more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you GO there (Palm Beach) the prices are real....There are the nonsense , no mile $$$$$$$$$$$ cars BUT...we saw more than 25 cars go in the 15 to 20 K range and every one even with buyers premium were well bought....quite a few great deals!!!

The whole market of Customs and Bikes had to back track to reality and looks like it has bottomed out finally, although the BIG BOYS still pay ridiculous prices for COPO Camaros....but a lot of that is just the drama of TV...I was surprised up close and will go again next year. The show is worth the entry fee!!!

[DAYTIME]

I like the Barret and Mecum auctions. I like seeing the rare and low milage cars. That's where the dvr comes in handy. I have it set to only record the new episodes.....dvr is a great thing!!!

[iBorg]

Speed has it moments both good and bad.

Barrett-Jackson has ruined to collector car market. I remember looking at a '69 Mustang that thuded in the rockers and rear wheel arches with bondo. The under hood wiring would make you want to keep a fire extinguisher strapped to the transmission tunnel AND the fire department on speed dial. Asking price? $25,000. What? "Well I saw one on Barrett-Jackson that was a little nicer I think it was one of those Boss Mustangs for $125,000. This one has to be worth at least $25,000." I also almost cried when one of Lil' John's cars, the 1926 Ford sold for $42,000. How can a common production car be worth six figures and a hand built classic built by one of the leading craftsman of our times not be worth at least fifty grand?

Speed had the audacity to air the Junior Earnhardt's stupid attempt to modify the classic Car and Track with Bud Lindemann. At one time Speed would run the originals which were great history lessons about racing in the last golden era. Now we have Daddy's Coattails trying to be cute in a way that belittles these individuals who did more to earn their place in history in a season than Little Talent has done in his career.

Too many shows are informercials disguised as a TV show.

Pinks (not all out) was an enjoyable show that sadly seems to have faded away.

Dave Despain is one of the best motor racing journalists out there. His Sunday evening show is a great overview of the events in the racing world.

The Nastrucks is currently the best Nascar racing.

It beats the heck out of Disney, Disney XD, Nick and normally Animal Planet.

Mike

Edited July 10, 2010 by iBorg

[highway]

Too much NASCAR and silly 'reality' shows on Speed for my tastes, but at least they have F1, Grand Am, Le Mans, ALMS,and Rolex Sportscar racing...would like to see WRC also.

I'm not sure what shows you are calling "silly 'reality' shows", but I will tell you at least two of them, "Wrecked" and "Dangerous Drives" are as REAL as you can get! I drove trucks for 12 years, and still have my CDL (Commercial Drivers License for those who may not know), and 2 of those years was driving the heavy duty wreckers like the one in my avatar, which just so happens to be one from "Wrecked". Yeah, some of the shop footage may be a little overdone for TV sake, but the footage of recoveries and even normal run of the mill towing is as REAL AS REALITY GETS!! Believe me, I know the danger of the job, I've been on the side of the interstate hooking up to a broken down tractor trailer, with traffic wizzing passed at 70 MPH inches from my head! I've been under the trucks chaining them to the tow truck praying another tractor trailer doesn't hit the tow truck or the truck being towed and crushing me underneath. "Dangerous Drives", at least the ones having to do with trucking, also does a nice job showing the dangers of driving a truck. These shows highlight two of the most thankless jobs in the nation, and shows what it's really like to do those jobs. I could write pages of experieneces I alone have had on the road, both driving 18 wheelers and towing them, but I won't. I do ask you this, though, the next time you see a tow truck, or even a police car with a traffic stop or just a car with a flat tire, on the side of the interstate, please change lanes so there is at least one lane between you and the vehicle stopped on the side of the road. This lessens the danger and increases the chance that driver will get home to their family, and is the LAW in many states! Also, the next time you get a loaf of bread, remember that loaf of bread was delivered by a truck driver, and you have no idea what dangers that driver may have faced to make sure you had that loaf of bread to feed your family. WITHOUT TRUCKS, AMERICA STOPS!

Anyway, back to the topic, I personally like watching the Barrett-Jackson auctions, not to see how much the cars will sell for, but I have gotten many nice ideas for future builds from the cars there. I've downloaded quite a few pics from their site because I seen a certain car I want to build someday.