San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY MUSEUM AUCTIONS CARS, LOOKS TO REINVEST PROCEEDS
Dozens of cars in the basement of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum are being auctioned off as the facility continues to revamp its collection.
Since mid-may, the museum — dedicated to preserving the history of automobiles and auto racing — has generated about $320,000 after selling 14 vehicles, the Indiana Business Journal reported.
Most of the vehicles were early 20th Century cars and Ford Model T’s that had not been used during races.
More than 70 cars are expected to be sold through the end of 2021, with proceeds to be reinvested in the maintenance of the museum’s remaining vehicles in addition to obtaining new memorabilia.
Last week, a 1939 Bantam roadster purchased by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation in 1967 was on the block before it sold for $8,600.
“We think this can be a $1 million exercise between the end of this year and next year,” said Bill Oesterle, a board member who is serving as the museum’s interim president. “We have a world-class collection — truly unique across the world — and we can use those dollars to take care of this collection and to add to it.”
Oesterle, chief executive of local tech firm tmap LLC and a founder of Angie’s List, said the funds will help the museum amplify the history of the speedway and its drivers.
The museum, through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation Inc., generated revenue of $4.75 million last year, up from $4.1 million in 2018.
The museum has partnered with San Franciscobased
online auction site Bring a Trailer, which has more than 145,000 registered users, to sell the cars. The platform uses a variety of media to disseminate information about the vehicles available, including photos and videos.
One of the cars already sold was a 1907 Franklin Model G, a four-passenger touring model the Speedway Foundation bought in 1961. The Franklin Model G was sold for $51,111 on June 26.
The museum closed for several months earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but reopened in July.
Car Calendar
Oct. 9: Barona Friday Night Street Legal Drags, 5-11 p.m. Barona 8th Mile, 1750 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. Spectators $10, kids 10 and under free. Info: baronadrags.com or (619) 607-5449.
Oct. 10: Renegade No. 5 / Test and Tune, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Barona 8th Mile, 1750 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. Spectators $15, Kids 11-17 $10, kids 10 and under free.