Saturday night's all right at Barrett-Jackson auction

Auction company Barrett-Jackson has a long-standing tradition of selling cars with no reserve--meaning the car is sold to the highest bidder regardless of price--but a change in that policy saw several million-dollar sales Saturday night at the annual extravaganza in Scottsdale, Ariz. While most of the cars crossing the Barrett-Jackson auction block continue to be sold at no reserve, the auction giant offered up several classics with a reserve and the results were impressive. The top five sellers all eclipsed the magical million-dollar figure with the auction broadcast live on Speed TV.

LA Motor Show: Subaru WRX gets downsized engine

SUBARU has revealed a production-ready version of the WRX concept first seen earlier this year. The latest edition of the performance saloon may not be coming to the UK at all, but Subaru has finally given the 268bhp machine the go-ahead for Japan and North America. A new 2.0-litre ‘boxer’ engine carries on the brand’s tradition, bringing with it the same low centre of gravity as the old 2.5-litre unit but with greater environmental credentials.

Richard Childress of NASCAR celebrates five years of making top-notch wines

Richard Childress didn't know what to expect when he and longtime friend and business partner Greg Johns began planning their small vineyard in central North Carolina in 2003. Childress knows racing--witness his Chevrolet-based teams' 89 major stock-car wins and six NASCAR championships since 1983. But even Childress realized he was a rookie backmarker when he opened Childress Vineyards in October 2004 along Route 52 south of Winston-Salem.