Bator International New Owner of Daytona Classic Bike Auction

By Richard Backus
Published on December 11, 2008
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For the past 21 years, classic and vintage bike fans have looked forward to the annual extravaganza of Daytona Bike Week for more than racing, anticipating the annual J. Wood Daytona Antique and Classic Motorcycle Auction. Much more than just an auction, the J. Wood sale has become an integral part of Daytona Bike Week and an event unto itself. That made J. Wood’s late November announcement they were cancelling the 2009 auction more than a little disturbing for the classic bike crowd. No Daytona classic bike auction? How could this be?

Jerry Wood blamed increasing bureaucracy for the decision, citing among other things that Florida law mandates he act as a dealer for all bikes sold, including processing titles for new owners. That and the general stress of running a consignment auction had convinced him and his wife (and partner), Dee, that it was time to call the Daytona auction quits. “It’s no secret that we’ve been looking to back off,” Jerry says. “Dee and I are 62, and the stress level is extreme when all that stress of running the auction falls on two people.” Money wasn’t the issue, he says, noting, “The event has always been successful and paid its bills, but we used to say, ‘wow, that took five years off our lives,’ and we don’t know how many five years we have left in us.”

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