Don Smith collection auction
 

Don Smith's Terre Haute collection up for auction
www.njgallivan.com/auction/330679/the-donald-e-don-smith-collection/?utm_source=Gallivan&utm_medium=SM&utm_campaign=Do nSmith
If could only hit the lottery before then!

Re: Don Smith collection auction
 

There are so many historically significant open wheel cars in this collection. I sincerely hope the cars got to collectors that will take care of these cars.

Re: Don Smith collection auction
 

Wow.... that guy has some awesome stuff! Must be a zillionaire....
Should I max out my credit cards buying Powerball tickets & head out there???? ;)

Does he have any surviving family members? Seems lIke someone would like to have some of these things.

Re: Don Smith collection auction
 

He had a nephew that ran the 500 wheels museum in Terre Haute but most of the stuff was also his.

It's a shame this has to be broken up. It's such a eclectic and neet collection. Four pole barns all security. Everything in em that could be inured was. Buildings had halon fire protection. Custom artwork and a bunch of gags inside and a secret Crow them that his artist did. Inside and out.

My facebook pictures has a album of some of the stuff as does Keiths. We were lucky enough to visit and visit him when he was still somewhat spry about six years ago.

First building had Several old racecars, A couple recreations, Mears Backup Penzoil indy car.
Second building had all the old pace cars he used at Terre Haute, Mainly caddy and Lincoln Convertables.

Third had anything and everything non race car. Delorean, A VW bug with 12 miles on it. Preditor, viper. BOSS HoSS V8 Bike.

Fourth had TQ's to WoO a couple fire truck and even a Sleigh or two. A Kinser, Bobby Davis, Dave Blaney and Swindell Late 80s WoO cars.

Just neat, Did the 500 wheels museum a few years back as it was open a Terre Haute USAC day and it has a backroom with some more pace cars. Superbird, Super Bee, Charger and some other neat stuff.

I didn't see much of anything on the list that I saw at the museum last summer. Hopefully it will still exist after the auction.

Re: Don Smith collection auction
 

I took a look through the rundown of the items for sale and it seems to me that there are some cars missing, most notable the Black Deuce.

Re: Don Smith collection auction
 

Originally Posted by Speedwrench:
I took a look through the rundown of the items for sale and it seems to me that there are some cars missing, most notable the Black Deuce.

They are not auctioning off everything by a long shot. The top line cars in the 500 Museum of Wheels (including the Black Deuce among many others) aren't on the list.

https://sites.google.com/site/500museumofwheels/home

Re: Don Smith collection auction
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
He had a nephew that ran the 500 wheels museum in Terre Haute but most of the stuff was also his.

It's a shame this has to be broken up. It's such a eclectic and neet collection. Four pole barns all security. Everything in em that could be inured was. Buildings had halon fire protection. Custom artwork and a bunch of gags inside and a secret Crow them that his artist did. Inside and out.

My facebook pictures has a album of some of the stuff as does Keiths. We were lucky enough to visit and visit him when he was still somewhat spry about six years ago.

First building had Several old racecars, A couple recreations, Mears Backup Penzoil indy car.
Second building had all the old pace cars he used at Terre Haute, Mainly caddy and Lincoln Convertables.

Third had anything and everything non race car. Delorean, A VW bug with 12 miles on it. Preditor, viper. BOSS HoSS V8 Bike.

Fourth had TQ's to WoO a couple fire truck and even a Sleigh or two. A Kinser, Bobby Davis, Dave Blaney and Swindell Late 80s WoO cars.

Just neat, Did the 500 wheels museum a few years back as it was open a Terre Haute USAC day and it has a backroom with some more pace cars. Superbird, Super Bee, Charger and some other neat stuff.

"He had a nephew that ran the 500 wheels museum in Terre Haute but most of the stuff was also his."... I visited that museum & met him a while back, nice guy, invited me to sit in some of the cars & took pictures ( l looked pretty silly, like an overgrown kid! :31:)
What kind of business was Don Smith in? LOTS of great stuff!

Re: Don Smith collection auction
 

Don Smith was bank president of first national bank of terre haute. He was also a long time promotor of Terre Haute Action track. He sponsored many racers and tracks over the years.

The Long Standing belief in Terre Haute is that Mary Hulman (Clabber Girl) owned North Terre Haute and that Don Smith (first) owned South Terre Haute. Him AJ Foyt and others were friends for a long time and would visit and hunt on his Riley In property.

Don told us on our visit that he didn't make Terre Haute Action Track Famous, The Racers did. Its still that way, just not connected to Indy Car.

It was a couple years after we toured the Riley collection that I got to see the 500 wheels museum and the guy that was there gave me tons of old Terre Haute and Indy Mile Programs, Gave me his card and said call anytime you want to visit. I live a half mile away.

Figured I would post that it is a few weeks until the car auction. Don’t expect to be able to just go to watch it either. The auction company is charging $200 advance tickets to go. $25 if you want a seat. You also have to park at the airport and take a bus there. Also have to pay that to go to the preview. It is $300 the day of the auction.

They supposedly got most of the non race cars running. I get the door entry fee to keep the gawkers out but seems they only want high rollers. I was interested in the Jeep he had if it was right priced but knowing how much they’re worth and the entry fee, I will get a fixer upper later in my life.


EDIT: 500 Museum of Wheels is 100% empty of cars. Everything is gone, only things left is some signs, the slot car replica IMS track and a few other things.

Just did Speedy Bill's museum in Lincoln,NE. Incredible, a must do. Hope the Smith racing collectibles get to a similar place where the public can have access. Preserving history of any kind is best done when everyone can experience it.

I learned that the preview day is free to see. It is the 22nd. You might have to park at the airport and take a bus to the property. Drive by the property today and a lot of the classic cars are right at the entrance to the property.