August 8, 2006 – By any measure, this year’s edition of
the Monterey Classic Bike Auction, which took place July 21-22 during
MotoGP week, made a quantum leap from its quite respectable 2005 debut.
Twice as many nights (from one to two). Double the floor
space, moving out of the Portola Plaza Hotel into a massive tented
pavilion between the hotel and historic Fisherman’s Wharf. More
than twice as many bikes, with an average value far exceeding last
year’s.
And what bikes they were: A MotoGP-winning Ducati,
untouchable under any other circumstances. The first bike to be
auctioned out of the famous Chandler Collection – a pristine 1903
Fabrique Nationale – in a preview of the full Chandler auction coming
this October.
Two Jordan Motorsports race bikes and their street-legal
identical twins. The first-ever Jesse Rooke creation to be offered
for sale … the stunning “X-1” he built before our eyes on Speed TV last
year. Plus a host of other ultra-collectibles in mint, as-raced,
or begging-to-be-restored condition.
In 2005, the inaugural MCBA set a new standard for the
consignment and acquisition of collectible motorcycles. Highlights
included bids approaching a half-million dollars for a KR Proton Moto
GP, as well as active bidding for such one-of-a-kind collectibles as a
factory fresh KTM 950 Supermoto and a fascinating pre-war Simplex.
This year’s edition moved the bar even higher, with
a spectacular roster of specimens from around the world lined up to go
on the block.
The 2006 selection included vintage, rare and
custom bikes from the worlds of Motorcycle Road Racing, Motocross, Street and more,
plus collectible artwork and memorabilia that can be found nowhere else.
As evening settled in and the blistering
daytime temps cooled, the auction sessions got underway
on Friday and Saturday with British motorcycle experts
Gavin Trippe and Mike Jackson tag-teaming the emcee
duties, providing colorful descriptions and histories
for each vehicle as it reached the block.
In some cases they were joined by the seller, builder or
restorer of the bike in question, including such industry luminaries as
Mert Lawwill, Gary Nixon, Mitch Boehm, Steve Huntzinger, Troy Lee, and
Rooke, whose custom-built X-1 garnered a whopping $80,000 on Saturday
night.
The bidding proceeded flawlessly thanks to world
champion auctioneers, ring-men and a bulletproof system, all provided by
National Powersport Auctions, which also offered a free downloadable
software program to Internet bidders so they could participate in real
time via live simulcast. The result was often interesting, as
onsite buyers were suddenly confronted by raised stakes from a competing
bidder sitting in front of a distant computer screen.
Familiar faces dotted the capacity crowd inside the MCBA
auction pavilion. Jeff Ray added a few bikes to the legendary
Barber Museum in Alabama, including a beautiful ’98 Bimota Trofeo
Factory race bike, possibly the last one ever produced.
Paul Crandall of Red Bull USA relaxed and chatted after
long days at the track. Even longtime aficionado Ian Ziering of
“Beverly Hills 90210” fame was spotted raising his paddle on a few
machines. Vintage Iron’s Rick Doughty was also an active
participant this year and reported having a positive experience.
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Ducati GP5 Desmo |
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“The Monterey Classic Bike Auction is hands-down the
best motorcycle auction I have attended and holds the potential to
become the Barrett/Jackson equivalent for motorcycles,” commented
Doughty. “The BA team has put the ‘class’ back in classic bike
auctions with their high standards and attention to detail. This was my
first year attending as a seller, buyer and spectator and it's already
on my 2007 calendar of must-do events.”
Although a few unique pieces were rolled off with unmet
reserves – including the Ducati GP5 that Loris Capirossi piloted to
victory at Sepang last year despite bids well over $200,000 – the bikes
that changed hands were plentiful.
A Michael Jordan Motorsports ’05 Suzuki AMA Superstock
racer and its identical street-legal twin were snapped up as a
his-and-hers pair by an ecstatic Bay Area couple.
The “Paul Smart
1000 Limited Edition” Ducati found a new home, as did the Chandler FN,
an elegant ’76 Benelli 750 Sei from the John Goldman Collection, and the
perfectly stock ’75 Honda Goldwing GL1000 that Craig Vetter used to
create his famous Windjammer fairing.
A couple of sales resulted in charitable donations by
the sellers. Lockhart-Phillips honcho Wendell Phillips earmarked the
proceeds from his screaming yellow 2001 Ducati 748RS to help support the
recovery of Lockhart Phillips Team Privateer Manager Aaron Lephart, who
was seriously injured in an April motorcycle crash near Palm Springs.
And Bubba Shobert’s amazing 110-inch Custom Street Bike – signed by
racing legends Roberts, Spencer, Lawson and Rainey – generated some cash
for the Downed Rider Foundation and motocross legend David Bailey.
Motocross bikes linked to superstar riders were also
well-represented, starting with the Team Troy Lee Designs ’04 Honda CRF
450 Supermoto that Jeff Ward piloted to his record-setting eighth AMA
championship, now headed for a place of honor in the Barber Museum.
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Paul Smart (L) and Gavin
Trippe |
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The keys were handed over for an ’03 Honda XR 50
sporting a Mike Metzger graphic treatment and autographed by the
Godfather himself.
And a gem from Doughty’s Vintage Iron
Collection also inspired some active bidding: a works-laden 1979 Suzuki
RN 400 Gerrit Wolsink re-creation meticulously built in tribute to the
legendary multiple Grand Prix winner and teammate to Roger DeCoster.
That one-of-a-kind beauty is on its way to the private collection of
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Team Manager Paul Denning in the UK.
Other notable sales included a splendidly race-worn ’63
250cc Greeves TE Scottish Trials bike that’s begging to be restored
and/or run at the next vintage race; a lightning-quick ’04 50cc Derbi
Senda, a rare DRD Edition that is one of only a dozen to be found in the
U.S.; and a pair of hard-to-find ’81 Maicos – a 400 and a 490 – whose
next appearance will only come after a ground-up restoration befitting
these classic MX racers.
“We’re certainly pleased to have found such enthusiastic
participation and acceptance for our event in just the second year,”
said MCBA Marketing Director Tim Hackett after the dust had settled on
Sunday. “We are poised to grow again with next year’s edition and
cement our place as the premier auction for collectible motorcycles and
memorabilia.”
Details are being firmed up now for MCBA 2007, and those
interested in staying informed need only send an email to auction@resmarket.com
to receive news and updates. Meantime, look for complete auction results
to be available online in mid-August at the
Monterey Classic Bike Auction website
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