I’ve been asked by Heritage Auctions to help with a motorsports collectables auction this summer. Most of the items belong to one guy who was a serious autograph and photo collector. My guess is he is 70 plus years old. He did collect a variety of other things as well.
My question is do you think current race fans are still interested in collectables and memorabilia? I’ve been hanging around this site a few years (because I enjoy non-wing sprints and midgets) and you guys seem like very dedicated fans.
Therefore, I am interested in your response. Not specifically if you are into ticket stubs, programs or any certain thing but more the idea of memories attached to an item tied to motorsports.
A simple reply. There are items in my collection i will never part with, not because of worth, but of the memories. A Hoosier 100 program signed and handed to me by a grimey Jim Hurtubise or a pair of drivers gloves with the knuckles worn thru from a local hero. I know old farts like me who are taking grandsons to the races now to continue this regeneration of race fans. As far as race memorabilia auctions, i will always attend, ya can't have enough old black and white race photos or auburn rubber race cars, bob.
I have a very large collection of Pat O'Connor photos. I will not part with them. It has been almost 58 years since he lost his life at Indy, but I continue to add to my collection whenever I can. Last summer Kim and I made the 500 mile round-trip to North Vernon to attend the dedication of the memorial there. We met Pat's widow and his son. I got Pat's autograph in '57 at Du Quoin. A short time later, another fan offered me $10 for it. Thank God I did not accept his offer.
Memorabilia and memories attached to it is very important, especially to those of us who are well into the senior citizen ranks.
it just depends on the object and the person. I have a signed IndyCar die cast with Danica Patrick's autograph on it that really doesn't mean anything to me. It's from when she drove for Rahal-Letterman before a lot of people were familiar with her. I have a couple signed Racing Champions (if anyone remembers those) somewhere that don't mean much either.
On the other hand, I have a worthless ticket stub from years and years ago to Eldora that's virtually worth nothing to a collector but ill always hang on to it because it's from the first race my dad ever took me too there.
