Collectables – Rolex 24 At Daytona – Barrett-Jackson Auction

Editor note, Eddie LePine has been a driver, photographer, collector and dealer of motorsports memorabilia for the last 20 plus years. We welcome his insights on racingnation.com

December, 31, 2007 – Orlando, Fla. – Over the last ten years of collecting a variety of motorsports memorabilia, I have seen it become a fast and growing hobby. From baseball cards to race cars and driver related items, the casual fan and the hard-core collector are collecting items they desire. Whether it?s because they like the player or driver or for its investment value, the collector tends to focus on one or several subjects. EBay has helped in the growth of colleting but it has also hurt because of the plethora of fakes and counterfeit autographed items. It?s hard to police and many collectors are turning to authenticators to make sure what they have purchased is what it is. It is now possible to get race used items such as gloves, helmets and racing suits and it gives the collector a piece of history. It?s even more valuable if it?s from their favorite driver or player. It?s impressive to point to something on your shelf and say ?that was worn in the Indianapolis 500? it?s just like having a baseball that was hit for a game winning home run. There are instances in which the items up for auction are being used for charity and the monies raised go for a good cause. Either way, America is a country in which someone wants it, there is a way to buy it. Happy collecting.

Final testing for the 46th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona (scheduled for January 25-28) is next Jan. 4th, 5th and 6th. There are currently 66 entries for the open test with a variety of road racing, open wheel and NASCAR drivers entered, it should be another great kickoff to Daytona Speedweeks in 2008. With 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Jimmy Johnson being in the red GAINSCO #99 that won the Grand-Am championship last year (Alex Gurney and Jon Fogerty) he should have good shot at winning the race. 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner and Indy Car Series champion Dario Franchitti is teaming up with last year?s winners Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Pruett in the Target-Chip Ganassi entry. Alex Jobe is going to have a new driver line up with Bill Auberlein and Joey Hand with American factory-Porsche driver Patrick Long doing the ?24? this year with them. Also, Team Penske will be fielding a car with Ryan Briscoe, Kurt Busch and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ champion Helio Castroneves. The Racer’s Group (TRG) once again looks to be one of the favorites in the GT class. TRG has been on the podium five of the last six years, including winning once in class and once overall. TRG has strengthen themselves with the addition of four factory Porsche drivers to the their roster. Romain Dumas, Emanuel Collard, Richard Westbrook and Martin Ragginger will join the team to assist in the effort at Daytona. This race will be 24 hour sprint race and should be the closest in history. Next week should show who will have the upper hand for the race.

Looking forward to going to the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, AZ in a couple of weeks. Look to this column for reports on the auction. I?ll let you know about the ?big ticket? items that will draw a crowd as well as some of the interesting race cars that come across the stage. I?ll let you know what interesting automobilia items one can find in the desert as well as some the interesting characters I encounter.

Once again the auction will be live on the SPEED Channel. It is one of the most anticipated and unique features on SPEED. The auction will have five days and 39 hours of live coverage. The auction kicks off with five hours of live coverage on Tuesday, January 15th through Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET. On Jan. 18 and Jan. 19, ten hours of live coverage begins each day at 2 p.m. ET, with another four hours slated for Jan. 20 starting at 2 p.m. ET.

2008 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event Program Schedule

Jan. 15 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Jan. 16 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Jan. 17 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Jan. 18 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
Jan. 19 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT

Eddie LePine

Eddie has been involved in motorsports for over 30 years as photographer, columnist, and driver. Eddie also is now a retired racer (well, retired unless a good ride pops up).

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