The Saturday night car show at the "Rock 'n' Roll McDonalds" located at the Scottsdale Pavilions in Scottsdale, Arizona began back in April 1990 with 10 to 12 cars. Today, car aficionados can expect 500 to 1000 classics, muscle cars, hot rods and exotics accompanied by scads of motorcycles every Saturday night during the cool fall, winter and spring seasons.

During each Saturday of every month, the cruise-in showcases special makes or models of cars, such as Corvettes, Mustangs, Pontiacs, Chryslers, Olds, etc. Although the cruise-in has no set hours, most car owners start arriving about 3 p.m. and depart around 9 p.m.; however, real diehards come around noon and stay until the hollowing coyotes chase them home. Johnny B provides your music enjoyment on a weekly basis through a sound system strategically placed for your listening pleasure on the towering McDonalds’ roofline.

I frequently like to checkout the McDonalds cruise-in with camera in hand before heading out for a night of country-western dancing or other activities. Although many cars are repeats from week to week, new and different cars show up weekly. And wintering snowbirds bring new and different cars each year, so one never knows what to expect. Activity at the McDonalds cruise-in peaks between January and March of every year when Arizona’s winter tourist season is at its crescendo, with the biggest cruise-in night the Saturday during the annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in January.

The main challenge when photographing cars at the McDonalds cruise-in during daylight or twilight hours is to not blowout the bright Arizona skies. However, starting around sunset, the parking lot’s high-pressure sodium (orangish) vapor lamps cause havoc with color temps and white balance settings. Consequently, the only way to shoot under the difficult sodium lights and still capture acceptable color renderings is to shoot RAW using a custom white balance setting.

Since our Arizona temps are finally tapering off, last night’s cruise-in came to life after a terse summer sabbatical in the low Sonoran Desert. Although I typically photo the cruise-in using a Canon 24-105/f4L IS lens because the IS provides roughly three additional stops of light, I shot this gallery using my Canon 16-35/f2.8L lens that has been collecting dust. All photos were taken hand-held under ambient light. Hope you enjoy them.

And while you’re here, don’t forget to checkout my other Rods and Classic Cars galleries.

Cheers,

Denny_D


-:) Saturday Night at the Scottsdale "Rock 'n' Roll McDonalds Cruise-in: Be there or be square......