Page 8 - Experience Magazine Spring 2023

IT’S LIKE A KID GOING FISHING WITH HIS FATHER
Steve Davis
BEHIND THE
SHADES
STEVE DAVIS’ DARK GLASSES
PROTECT HIS EYES FROM A LIGHT
SENSITIVITY CONDITION – BUT
THAT DOESN’T HINDER HIS VISION
OF THE COLLECTOR CAR MARKET.
8 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE
The thought of heading into Barrett- represent Palm Beach in my mind
Jackson’s 20th year in Palm Beach, was going through John Staluppi’s
on the heels of another milestone museum for the first time; selling
Scottsdale event, is just amazing for his collection at our Florida event
me. I’ve been working with Craig for was another significant moment.
nearly 30 years, and my association I treasure all these memories, but
with Barrett-Jackson goes back what’s more important is to keep
nearly 50 years, from when I was our eyes on the future and what we
first a consignor. That’s a lot of time must do to maintain the passion for
with an organization. Reflecting
collector cars. Obviously, that is to
on that and how the company has make the next generation as excited
grown just crystallizes in my mind
the passage of time and the decades about these old cars and the culture
surrounding them as we are.
that have come and gone.
I think Barrett-Jackson has a rich
What a ride! The Barrett-Jackson
history of doing that, as well as a
auction experience has grown in
rich history of family engagement.
every way you can measure ‒ the
It’s common to walk through
number of people through the gate,
our massive auction sites and see
the number of cars sold, the sales
multiple generations of families
results, the number of sponsors and
coming together at Barrett-Jackson,
the hours televised live.
sharing experiences and talking
It’s hard to believe we’ve been in about the cars. We’ve been on
Palm Beach for two decades. I television for more than 25 years,
remember so clearly when Craig so when you see those multi-
and I went on a scouting mission generational families walking the
for Palm Beach and got stuck on the grounds and enjoying the festivities,
tarmac in a torrential thunderstorm, you realize that many of the fathers
with the aircraft being battered and carrying children on their shoulders
blown around. It seems like just were once kids themselves watching
yesterday that I and my wife Janie, Barrett-Jackson.
along with the consignment crew, That generational connection was
were loading our bags in a pickup brought home in a very personal
truck at 3 a.m. to go to the airport way for me at the recent Scottsdale
for that first auction. Auction. I have a photo in my
Some of the greatest cars we’ve office display case from the Barrett-
ever sold crossed the block in Palm Jackson Peterson Museum Auction
Beach. I remember being on the many years ago. My grandson Blake
phone with Ron Pratte when we (upper right) had just been born.
sold him Howard Hughes’ 1953 When my daughter brought him to
Buick in 2005 after an incredible the auction, I had a bidder badge
bidding war. Ron also bought the made for him and had that photo
beautiful 1947 Bentley Franay at taken, showing me holding him.
Palm Beach in 2006. One memory
Fast-forward 19 years. Blake (center
that stands out and will always
right) is now a grown man who
SPRING 2023