Bonhams Sells Historic Vincent and Another Steve McQueen Indian

The functional sculpture seen here recently sold at a Bonhams auction held Sunday, 28 April, in at the International Classic MotorCycle Show at the Staffordshire County Showground in the U.K. This 1952 Vincent Black Shadow is a historic machine in so many ways, it actually set eight new records while attempting to set a 24-hour endurance mark in France. The main goal was not achieved, unfortunately. The Black Shadow was already a legend before it ended its production run in 1955, and this specific model has an incredible provenance - about £113,500 (~US$176K) worth of historic appeal, to be precise. Steve McQueen's 1914 Indian Model F also changed hands, this to the tune of £32,200 (~US$49,750). There is more, so check the links:

http://tinyurl.com/cy39jkv

http://tinyurl.com/buu2cvb

More News from JC Current...Please CLICK!

There has been an enormous amount of news coming from the world of two wheels lately. It is the end of the racing season, the musical chairs that are professional racing, the beginning of the 2011 models, new gear and accessories - and plenty of shows which bring much of this together in one place. EICMA is running in Milan, Ducati has released their 'fat-boy' Diavel, MV Agusta has shown their new F3 triple, Triumph's new Tiger 800XC and Daytona 675R, Yamaha's Super Tenere, and many more.

I have some stories here which may have slipped past you, or you may simply want to know more. Some are a bit old, but they are still current (pun intended)...please take a look.

2011 Master of the Mountains Schedule

The Middle Kindom Ride - China on BMWs

The New Brammo Enertia Plus

The 2010 Africa Concours d'Elegance in Kenya

The All-New Honda CBR250R Coming to US

The Renard Grand Tourer - Estonian Beauty

Honda's Moto3 Machine - NRS250

BMW R1200GS Triple Black

Chicago's Isle of Man

Gilera GP800 - World's Most Powerful Scooter

dediKato Auction (Ends 8 November 2010)

Nick Nichols Has Shed This Mortal Coil

Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show and Bonhams Auction

Suzuki GZ250 Price Dropped $1000!

Guy Martin to Ride Relentless by TAS Suzuki at 2011 Isle of Man TT

Scott Redding to Ride Suter/BMW MotoGP Machine

2011 FIM Speedway GP and Speedway Cup Schedule

Team Canada Heading to Latin American Championships

AMA Crowns Hillclimb Champions

Well, there are a few more, but that will do for this post. I am also working at the Portland Examiner as well and have at least one published article there...once I get that link, I will post it here too...Until then, please take the above links - every click helps!

Even MORE News - Father and Son AHRMA Effort & Two Auctions!

Art Delor and his son, Alex, will be competing in the Daytona Bike Week AHRMA races in Florida this week (starting today, actually). Delor races a historic Indian and even takes it as far as wearing an authentic Indian racing uniform and keeping his 1939-40 Indian logbook. His 17-year-old son Alex is his pit crew, and he has over 9 years of experience with helping his father race. There is more after the links.

http://tinyurl.com/ycgtgh2

http://tinyurl.com/y9eea2b

With results from Monday: http://tinyurl.com/yd649ee

Bonhams managed to clean out the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK. However, they were selling motorcycles from history, not British aerial warfare artifacts. The Pampalona Collection was up for auction with over 100 machines, mostly pre-1950, and 88% of the items offered were sold. For some details about the event, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9gdoxu

The Daytona Antique and Classic Motorcycle Auction will be held on Saturday 6 March 2010 at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. There is not much detail beyond that after the link, but at least you can get the address.

http://tinyurl.com/yfzeub4

Early photos from the event: http://tinyurl.com/y8qj4zh

MORE Afternoon Moto News - Yamaha Celebrates & Bonhams Vintage European Auction

Yamaha Motor Company has released some videos to celebrate their 2009 racing season. Champions Ben Spies, Cal Crutchlow, Tony Cairoli and James Stewart and their race machines are featured in these highlight videos from last season. Yamaha has a way with these things and they are well worth watching.

http://tinyurl.com/yarmqy2

At the Bonhams sale of An Important European Collection of Pioneer, Vintage and Collectors’ Motorcycles at the RAF Museum, Hendon on 27 February 2010, a selection of small and some strange European motorcycles will be auctioned. They will have everything there from a three-seater 1937 Böhmerland 603cc Langtouren all the way to a "penny farthing" - which is a converted bicycle. For more information, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhy473o

Thursday Has Even More Moto News for Us - Historic Auction, Desmosedici and AHRMA

Coming up at a Bonhams auction in Stafford, England, on 25 April 2010, a model from the very first production motorcycle batch will be auctioned off. The 1895 (circa) Hildebrand & Wolfmüller is considered by experts to be the first motorcycle built on a production line and it was also the first two-wheeled vehicle to be called 'motorcycle' - actually, it was the German 'motorrad'. The estimate is between £110,000 to £300,000!

http://tinyurl.com/ylhwzgd

Ducati has now decided to explain why they have changed the firing order of the cylinders of the Desmosedici GP10. It is often referred to as a 'big bang' engine and Ducati has done it to make their MotoGP bike easier to ride and, thus, race. They have also had to update almost all parts of the engine internals to improve the engine life to meet the new 6 engine limit for the season.

http://tinyurl.com/ylnbuxx

The AHRMA has selected Bubba Blackwell to be Grand Marshall for the 2010 Road Racing Events at Daytona International Speedway. Blackwell has a long list of race victories, was "AMA/CCS Heavyweight Superbike National Champion" and then went into doing stunts around the US on a H-D XR-750. You can be a part of the events 1 - 2 March 2010 at the Speedway.

http://tinyurl.com/ychnbmw

Monday Afternoon Moto News - Comoto and a Bonhams Auction

From the minds at Hirsch Design comes the 2010 Comoto. Yes, it will be for sale this year, and not too far away from now. This electric motorcycle (cum mountain bike?) machine is certainly for off-road only, but it does have the tools to make it fun. The bike only weighs 118 pounds and can go more than 40 mph for about 30 miles on one charge. No word on pricing yet...


http://tinyurl.com/yd6gknn

Another big auction is coming our way, but it is in England at the RAF Museum in Hendon (London). Over 100 rare and even pre-20th-century motorcycles will be for sale - all are pre-1950. This is part of the Pampalona Collection which normally resides in Spain. You do not want to miss this one!

http://tinyurl.com/yjsoval

Willy Neutkens' Extensive BMW Collection Now 100% Sold

Bonhams handled the auction - and it is good that they did as the bidding was frantic and there were interested parties from all over the world. The original estimate for the total value of the sale was at €590,000 (US$884,145); in the end, though, it turned out to be a €1,038,400 (US$1,556,094) auction - almost double the estimate. Neutken's collection was vast and included just about every important model of BMW since the marque was born. Now it is all in the hands of some very satisfied buyers...the sour economy is not holding everyone back, some are doing just fine. You have to take the link as there is just too much information for me to post it all here...

http://tinyurl.com/yk8cvqq

http://tinyurl.com/yf734q4

Even more information - and a picture! http://tinyurl.com/yaoec3s

McQueen's 'Hollywood Bike' Rakes in US$99,450

It was Steve McQueen's 1940 Indian Motocycle Chief - white in color - which sold at the Bonham's Auction for a record price of US$99,450 - and, that was a record. Other items were also auctioned off including 33 motorcycles from the Forest “Woody” Shrider Collection, which sold 100% of item in that lot. Bonham's called it the "Classic California" auction and it was held last weekend, 14 November 2009. Take the link and see more of what was sold and how much money changed hands.

http://tinyurl.com/yenh8nm

Bonham's Auctions Collectible Motorcycle Auction at Staffordshire County Showground

The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show had the Bonham's Collectible Motorcycle Auction event and the buyers showed up with chequebooks in tow. An example is the 1948 Vincent-HRD Series-B Rapide (at right) which sold for an amazing £57,600 (US$93,956)! The economy is not hurting some people, obviously. A full 74% of the 470 machines on offer were sold, and they pulled in a total of £981,638 (US$1,601,160) at the weekend. Just being there would have been an experience...

http://tinyurl.com/ylgw2lr

Bonham's Auctions to Host Collectible Motorcycle Auction at Staffordshire County Showground

Over 190 classic and historical motorcycles will be there along with memorabilia from the moto-stars of the past. Some very well-known and many unknown bikes will be present for sale - including a 1974 Kawasaki Z1A and a Vincent-HRD and the 1949-50 Velocette 348cc KTT pictured here. Around 1500 enthusiasts are expected to attend, but you could make that at least one more. If I lived in the UK, I can assure you that I would attend. The auction will be held on Sunday, 18 October 2009 at the Staffordshire County Showground.

http://tinyurl.com/yl5kqwv

Another Chance to Own a Piece of Steve McQueen Memorabilia

Bonhams and Butterfields auction house will be auctioning off another piece from the life of the film legend and all around cool guy Steve McQueen. He gave a men's silver and turquoise bracelet to David Foster, the producer of the film The Getaway in 1972; that bracelet will be auctioned along with several historic and classic autos and motorcycles on 14 November 2009 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

http://tinyurl.com/ylenskt

HUGE BMW Collection Going Up for Auction in Munich

At the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany, the Willy Neutkens Collection of Important BMW Motorcycles will be auctioned off on 28 November 2009. Neutkens passed away last year - very sad - which has led to this auction. He collected almost every single model of BMW motorcycle from the first one produced in 1923! This collection is even in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest single marque collection.

http://tinyurl.com/yb366pc

BMW acolytes must attend!