MidAmerica rocks Vegas with Motorcycle Auction, Races and Celebrities:
Extravaganza features Steve McQueen’s widow and platinum artist Shane Evans

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 4th – The wheels are in motion and the music is cued up for MidAmerica Auctions’ 22nd Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction and Races on Jan. 10-12, 2013, at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

More than 600 antique and classic motorcycles will be up for auction. Kicking off the event, Shane Evans, former drummer of the platinum selling rock group Collective Soul, will serve as the musical guest at the Jan. 10 Children’s Hospital Benefit Dinner Auction featuring 75 premium motorcycles. Evans will sign CDs, photos and memorabilia as well as greet fans throughout the weekend. As a co-founding member of Collective Soul, Evans drummed on seven No. 1 radio hits (“Shine”, “The World I Know”, “Heavy”), 19 Top 40 singles, and sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. It will be his first public appearance in seven years.

“I’m looking forward to playing music again for a cool crowd in a fun city,” said Evans from his Georgia residence. “I hope to visit with a lot of fans and let them know how much I have appreciated their support over the years.”

MidAmerica Auctions will be featuring several exciting private motorcycle collections available for auction, including three motorcycles owned by legendary actor and biking enthusiast, Steve McQueen. Serving as guest of honor is his wife, Barbara McQueen, who will share memories of her famous husband and sign copies of her 2012 book, “Steve McQueen: The Last Mile...Revisited.” Joining her will be McQueen biographer Marshall Terrill, who’ll also sign copies of his two books on ‘The King of Cool.’

“Steve loved collecting antique motorcycles and these were the types of bikes that were in our garage and hangar,” said Barbara McQueen. “He loved kicking back with a couple of brews with like-minded people, trying to talk somebody out of a bike or part. I find it humorous and a tad ironic that I am doing the same thing almost three decades later.”

The life and career of Steve McQueen is a classic example of the American dream made real: of a small town boy from a broken home triumphing over adversity to become one of the richest and most sought-after superstars in the world. McQueen lived every day as if it were his last, and by doing so he lived an extraordinary life, both on screen and off.

On display and for sale will be McQueen's 1941 Indian 741 military Scout, which comes with a 1976 photo of McQueen with the bike on the set of his movie “An Enemy Of The People” as well as a signed check with the power of attorney. Since then the rare bike has been featured in military parades, museum displays and mock warfare. A video of the motorcycle can be viewed here. Two other Steve McQueen motorcycles – a 1938 Triumph Speed Twin and a 1940 Indian Four Cylinder – are also on the auction block.

MidAmerica Auctions is also proud to announce the offering of the world renowned MV Agusta Collection. Formerly offered as a single lot, motorcycle enthusiasts and collectors will have the rare opportunity to obtain a piece of treasure from this prized collection as it will be offered as seventy-one individual lots. Other rare bikes that will be auctioned include: 1925 N.U.T. V-twin; 1936 Harley Davidson VLH-CHP; 1949 Vincent Rapide Custom; 1953 MV Augusta 125 Bialero Grand Prix; 1961 Cotton Continental; 1963 BSA Rocket Gold Star Spitfire Scrambler and a 1975 MV Augusta 750S.

Barbara McQueen and Shane Evans will be at the opening event dinner on Jan. 10 and available through Jan. 12 to sign autographs and greet fans. For information or questions, please contact MidAmerica Auctions at 651-633-9655 or by email at midauction@aol.com  

Schedule of Events for 22nd Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction: 

• Thursday, Jan. 10, 5 p.m. Children’s Hospital Benefit Dinner Auction featuring guest of honor Barbara McQueen and musical entertainment Shane Evans; 6 to 10 p.m. auction of 75 premium vintage and collectible motorcycles.

• Friday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., auction of 300 vintage and collectible motorcycles; 7:30 p.m. Championship Indoor Short Track Series.

•Saturday, Jan. 12, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. auction of 225 vintage and collectible motorcycles; 7:30 p.m. Championship Indoor Short Track Series.

About MidAmerica Auctions
St. Paul-based MidAmerica Auctions is the world's largest seller of antique motorcycles and has sold more than 16,000 bikes since 1990. Their Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction has become a mecca for antique motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide and sets more world records for motorcycles than all other auctions companies combined. Please visit www.MidAmericaAuctions.com for more information.

220 San Bruno Avenue
San Francisco, Calif. 94103
For Immediate Release
16 November 2012

Steve McQueen's Husqvarna to Headline Bonhams' Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction

San Francisco – In the archives of popular culture, one thing On Any Sunday and Sports Illustrated have in common is the motorcycle upon which the King of Cool rode: a Husqvarna. And now Bonhams, the premiere auction house most closely associated with all things Steve McQueen, will be offering the Hollywood icon’s very own ‘Husky’ at its 3rd annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction in January.

Through best friend Bud Ekins, McQueen became associated with Triumph in the 1960s. But when the lightweight, powerful and nimble Swedish-made Husqvarna was introduced to America in 1970, it quickly became McQueen’s preferred mount. Subsequently, it was this marque of motorcycle McQueen rode on numerous, highly publicized occasions.

On January 10th, at Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Bonhams will offer for sale this genuine 1970 Husqvarna 400 Cross owned and ridden by the legendary actor. The motorcycle comes with an exhaustive quantity of documents supporting its provenance and authenticity and is sure to take center stage in what promises to be another stellar Bonhams sale. McQueen’s Husky will be joining an already impressive auction line-up, such as the quartet of BMW racing motorcycles – including the very rare and highly desirable Kompressor – and the original condition 1902 Rambler from the Indian Motorcycle Museum.

Owners interested in consigning special motorcycles to this anticipated auction may contact:
• Nick Smith, West Coast: 323-436-5470 / Nick.Smith@Bonhams.com
• Evan Ide, East Coast: 917-340-4657 / Evan.Ide@Bonhams.com 

Additional information about the Las Vegas auction, including bidder registration and catalog purchases, may be found at Bonhams.com/Vegas.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the US; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com 

It's not every day you come across a bike on eBay that was owned by Steve McQueen. McQueen had a lot of bikes throughout the years, and while they come up for sale now and then, they often command high prices and are sold through auction houses. And while this one may bring good money, the fact that it's being sold through an online auction can make things easier for buyers in some respects.

The bike is a 1951 BSA C11. It has a 250cc engine, and according to the listing, it has been "completely and authentically restored, and has traveled just 246 miles since... It was owned by the famous Hollywood star and motorcycle enthusiast Steve McQueen at the time of his death. His widow Barbara kept the bike for many years thereafter before selling it. We have a copy of the signed Idaho title in Barbara McQueen's name from their home in Ketchum, ID."

The bike is being sold by Monte Shelton Jaguar, a Jaguar automobile dealership, in Portland, Ore.

To visit the auction, go here.