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. As evening settled in and the blistering daytime temps at Laguna Seca cooled, the action continued at the second annual event, which saw particularly strong results for road race offerings amongst a host of other ultra-collectibles in mint, as-raced, or begging-to-be-restored condition.
The massive tented pavilion adjacent to Fisherman’s Wharf was packed for the highly anticipated appearance of Capirossi’s Sepang-winning Desmo, which garnered bids of over $200,000 before being rolled off unsold. However, new owners of other pristine machines were abundant. Jordan Suzuki’s ’05 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 ’79 BMW made race-ready by Reg Pridmore and put through its paces in the early ’80s Battle of the Twins events before being exhibited at the AMA’s American Heritage Museum.
Other MCBA ’06 highlights included successful bids for a ’76 Yamaha TZ750C in flawless condition courtesy of a Steven Wright restoration, and for a screaming yellow 2001 Ducati 748RS put on the block by Wendell Phillips, who then donated the proceeds 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.
National Powersport Auctions provided world champion auctioneers, a bulletproof tracking system, and even a free downloadable software program that enabled to Internet bidders to 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 some distant computer screen.
Those onsite at the event were treated to first-hand vehicle descriptions by such industry luminaries as Mert Lawwill, Gary Nixon, Mitch Boehm, Steve Huntzinger, Troy Lee, and Jesse Rooke, whose custom-built X-1 garnered a whopping $80,000 on Saturday night. Other familiar faces dotted the capacity crowd. Jeff Ray, from the legendary Barber Museum in Alabama, was an active bidder, winning a ’98 Bimota Trofeo Factory race bike, possibly the last ever produced. Vintage Iron’s Rick Doughty was also an active participant this year and reported having a positive experience.
“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 MCBA 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.”
Details are being firmed up now for MCBA 2007, and those interested in staying informed need only send an email to [email protected] to receive news and updates. Meantime, look for complete auction results to be available online in mid-August at www.montereyclassicbikeauction.com.