Auctions America by RM Gears Up for Labor Day Weekend Tradition With Exciting New Events for Attendees

AUBURN, IN – August 9, 2012 – (Motor Sports Newswire) - Stars, seminars and sales will captivate automotive enthusiasts at Auctions America by RM‘s annual Auburn Fall collector car weekend, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, at the Auburn Auction Park in Indiana. As part of the longest running automotive event in collector car auction history, Auburn Fall will feature activities for all ages, including a seminar highlighting 50 years of Shelby American, and celebrity appearances by Barry Weiss from A&E’s TV show “Storage Wars” and three-time Indy 500 champion Bobby Unser.

“The Auburn Fall collector car weekend is our most celebrated event each year, attracting enthusiasts from around the world,” said Donnie Gould, Auctions America by RM president. “With over 1,200 collector cars scheduled to cross the block, we’re making this year’s event our biggest yet with an exciting range of automotive-themed activities designed to celebrate the hobby.”

In honor of Carroll Shelby, well-known SPEED commentator Dave Despain will host a one-hour “50 Years of Shelby American” seminar on Friday, Aug. 31, at 9 a.m. EDT. Panelists will share personal anecdotes about Carroll and offer market insights into the collectability of vintage and new Shelby vehicles. Entry is included as part of general admission.

The panel includes:

• Original Shelby Factory Team Driver Allen Grant, who was involved in early development of Shelby performance vehicles;
• Shelby American Vice President of Operations and test driver Gary Patterson; and
• Auctions America by RM’s own resident Shelby aficionado and President Donnie Gould.

The seminar acts as a prelude to the weekend’s auction program, which will feature the sale of a 1980 Honda Twinstar Motorcycle, a 1972 Honda 175 and a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL, for charity. The company will team up with honorary celebrity auctioneer Barry Weiss on Sunday, Sept. 2, to offer these lots, with funds raised benefitting the family of U.S. Army Sgt. JaBraun Knox, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 18, and the Fort Wayne Base Community Council Military Support Fund, which supports current, non-deployed military members and their families in times of need in Northeast Indiana.

Besides supporting important charities, Barry Weiss will also participate in autograph sessions on Saturday, Sept. 1, from 2-3 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 2, from 1-2 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. Other celebrity appearances include automotive racing icon Bobby Unser who will be on-site throughout the weekend. In addition, unique rides such as the Decoliner and three versions of the Batmobile will be on display. The event will also feature a swap meet and car corral, hosted by Carlisle Events, along with monster truck and helicopter rides.

Full event details are available online at www.auctionsamerica.com or by calling Auctions America toll free at 877-906-2437.

About Auctions America by RM
Formed in July 2010, Auctions America by RM specializes in the sale of American classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods, customs and collectible motorcycles. To learn more about Auctions America, visit www.auctionsamerica.com.

SOURCE: Auctions America by RM

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Motorcycles From Michael Jordan Motorsports Join Starting Grid for Auctions America by RM’s Las Vegas Sale

AUBURN, IN – December 28, 2011 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Auctions America by RM will raise the green flag on a winning line-up of competition motorcycles from the esteemed Michael Jordan Motorsports (MJM) race team when its inaugural Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction gets underway Jan. 12 – 14, 2012, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Founded by NBA legend and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan in 2004, MJM is a respected competitor among factory-owned teams nationwide, having enjoyed significant success and numerous podium finishes. The collection is presented for auction by Upper Deck Authenticated, “The World’s Greatest Memorabilia™ Company,” which acquired the bikes directly from the Michael Jordan Motorsports team over the past eight years. These five bikes from the team’s formative years will return to the limelight next month, joining the starting grid at Auctions America’s highly anticipated Vegas sale.

“We’re both honored and excited to have been entrusted with the presentation of these select Michael Jordan Motorsports team bikes for the first time at a public sale,” said Donnie Gould, president of Auctions America by RM. “Each represents an important chapter in MJM’s history and, in turn, presents an exclusive ownership opportunity for savvy collectors.”

Leading the collection across the podium is the race-winning 2008 Suzuki GSX-R1000 AMA Superstock from the 2008 Superstock season and autographed by Michael Jordan. Presented in the MJM team color of Carolina blue, this Suzuki was not only ridden by Aaron Yates (#20) and Geoff May (#99), it claimed the 2008 Superstock Championship, the first for the MJM race team. Another highlight from the MJM racing stable is a Yamaha YZF-R1 AMA Superbike, ridden by Montez Stewart (#123) during the team’s first year in the 2004 AMA Superstock class.

“Upper Deck Authenticated prides itself on offering collectors the most premium and authentic collectibles in the market. We are pleased to provide five remarkable, unique, one-of- a-kind motorcycles from Michael Jordan Motorsports to the public for the first time and excited to be teaming up with Auctions America to offer the bikes at their debut Las Vegas sale,” said Jason Masherah, vice president of marketing and business development of Upper Deck.

Additional highlights include:

• a unique 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 AMA Superstock, ridden by Stewart during the second year of MJM and featuring detailed graphics of the Air Jordan XX shoe, inspired by Jordan’s celebrated career;
• a gold-and-black 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000 AMA Superstock, ridden by Jake Holden (#59) in MJM’s third year and presented in the team’s 2006 “Gold Medal” color theme signifying Jordan’s achievements with Team USA in the ’84 and ’92 Olympic Games; and
• a royal blue-and-white 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 AMA Superstock, ridden by Holden during MJM’s fourth year in the 2007 AMA Superstock class.

The MJM bikes join more than 400 collectible motorcycles expected to cross the block at Auctions America’s Vegas sale. In addition to the auction, the event will include celebrity appearances and an exclusive seminar featuring motorcycle experts from across the country.

For further information visit www.auctionsamerica.com or call toll free 877-906-2437.

About Auctions America by RM

Formed in July 2010, Auctions America by RM specializes in the sale of American classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods, customs and collectible motorcycles. To learn more about Auctions America, visit www.auctionsamerica.com, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @auctionsamerica.

SOURCE: Auctions America by RM

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Historic 1894 Roper Steam-Powered Motorcycle Expected to Set New World Record at Auction

 

• Auctions America by RM presents inaugural Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction, January 12 – 14, 2012
  
• One of the world’s oldest motorcycles, 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle expected to establish a new world record for a motorcycle sold at auction

AUBURN, IN – October 26, 2011 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – A historic 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle is expected to establish a new world record* for a motorcycle sold at auction when it crosses the podium at Auctions America by RM’s debut Las Vegas sale, January 12 – 14, 2012.  The multi-day auction will feature an impressive docket of over 400 collector motorcycles.

The second of just two steam-powered motorcycles built by Sylvester Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts, arguably one of America’s first auto manufacturers, the 117-year-old motorcycle is regarded as one of the world’s oldest, predating early examples produced by Orient, Indian and Harley-Davidson.

“We’re delighted to have been selected to present this historic motorcycle at our inaugural Las Vegas sale in January. A significant piece of Americana, it is arguably one of the world’s most important motorcycles. We anticipate strong interest in its sale,” says Glenn Bator, Head of Auctions America by RM’s Vintage Motorcycle Division.

Based on the frame of a Columbia bicycle, the Roper Steam Motorcycle’s revolutionary design features a compact rectangular boiler, burner and grate, and a small steam engine on the right side. A water tank is located directly over the boiler, from which a smoke vent exits at a rakish angle. All controls are located on the handlebars. In keeping with the true definition of a motorcycle, it was completed without pedals.

In addition to its pioneering design, the Roper Steam Motorcycle boasts a remarkable provenance from 1894, including a known, unbroken history from new. Regularly used by Roper, it averaged a record speed of 40 miles per hour on the Dorchester Road in Boston for a measured mile in May 1896.

Following Roper’s passing, it was sold by one of his heirs to a Long Island museum and after moving through a series of other museums, formed part of two prominent private collections. The current owner acquired the historic motorcycle in 1996 and has seldom lent it for display. Most recently, it was shown at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, where it helped to celebrate the induction of Sylvester Hayward Roper, America’s first motorcyclist. Presented in its original black stove livery, the upcoming auction represents the first time it has been offered at a public sale (Estimate available upon request).

“With the only other Roper motorcycle ever built on long-term display at the Smithsonian Institution, the upcoming sale of this example presents an exclusive ownership opportunity for serious collectors,” Bator adds.

For full event details visit www.auctionsamerica.com or call Toll Free 877-906-2437.

SOURCE: Auctions America by RM

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Auto Auction House RM Acquires Bator Vintage Motorcycle

April 7, 2011 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – In a continuing effort to diversify its operations, the classic-car auction company RM Auctions says it agreed to acquire Bator Vintage Motorcycle Auctions. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal, which marks a somewhat rare coming together of vintage-motorcycle and collector-car culture.

Glenn Bator, who has run the company formerly known as Bator International Inc. for more than 20 years, will continue to lead it as a division of  RM. Based in Ojai, Calif., Bator International was a longtime specialist in the restoration and sales of classic motorcycles.

RM says it will have its first major motorcycle auction during its second-annual Auburn Fall Collector Car Auction in Auburn, Ind., Sept. 1-4. The company says it is getting into the collector-bike business in part because of increasing interest from its collector-car clients.

“The establishment of a dedicated motorcycle division for our company is in direct response to our clients’ interests and requests,” states Donnie Gould, President, Auctions America by RM. “We’re thrilled to have Glenn Bator on board. His extensive industry knowledge will make Auctions America by RM events the premier venues for both buyers and sellers of classic two wheelers.”

Bator says the move to RM will be a good development for the classic motorcycle business which has rarely had as much money behind it as collectible cars. RM’s resources and broad customer base will help move old motorcycles onto the radar screens of more collectors and help generate more, bigger and better auction events, he says.

Bator knows a bit about presenting old bikes for auction. He is well-known for having organized motorcycle shows and sales at major venues including the Barber Vintage Festival and the Daytona Classic Motorcycle Auction held during Bike Week. Previously he was curator, restorer and general manager of the Otis Chandler Vintage Museum.

SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

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