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.
