THE GOING’S GOOD AT ASC

…and Bicester and Sandown Park, as live sales continue with caution

Classic fans will still be able to bid on cars in-person at auctions over the next few weeks, despite Boris Johnson tightening up social distancing rules.

The government’s introduction of the ‘rule of six’ on Monday

(14 September) and the legal requirement for businesses to support track-and-trace makes it illegal for groups of more than six to gather indoors or outdoors (full story, This Week, page 4), but auction houses have told Classic Car Weekly that they plan to continue with recently reintroduced in-person bidding due to their existing COVID-19 safety measures.

Barons’ Tim Gascoigne says the next sale, at Sandown Park on 22 September, will be going ahead.

He said: ‘The July sale worked very well, so we’ll be following the same plan for this one.

‘However, we’ll have to closely monitor the situation in case there are further changes from the Government.

Baron’s July sale, the first where bidders could attend, saw a one-way system in the sale hall and a need for face mask wearing, along with gloves to examine the history file.

Tim added: ‘Admittance into the auction hall will be limited to registered bidders plus one once the sale begins.’

Bonhams also said that it was continuing with plans to hold its MPH sale on 20 September sale, which will include on-site bidding as part of Bicester Heritage’s Classic Car Drive-In Weekend. A Bonhams spokesperson said: ‘I can confirm that the MPH September sale will go ahead as planned as a live drive-through auction, respecting social distancing and all Covid guidelines.

‘There will be extra PPE available on the door and a marshal to try to ensure people keep to groups of six or less.’

Historics, which trialled a socially distanced sale at Windsorview Lakes in July, said that it is continuing with its plans to return to Ascot Racecourse, where it traditionally held classic auctions before the COVID-19 outbreak.

An auction spokesman said: ‘The latest dialogue with the venue has not necessitated a change to present plans to hold a live auction there on 26 September. ‘Prevailing circumstances are being monitored constantly with regular discussion between the two.’

But other auctioneers are sticking to online-only formats, which have proven successful throughout the lockdown so far.

Speaking just after the changes were announced, H&H auction manager Damian Jones told CCW: ‘ We will naturally abide by the ‘rule of six’ – we were already offering pre-booked time slots for viewing at Duxford, and it looks likely the sale will now be held behind closed doors too.

‘Our regular ABC online sales – catering for automobilia, bikes and cars - are compliant.’