Mecum Auctions: 101

Tips for buying a car at a Mecum Auction

Mecum came to Houston for the first time last April and rolled about 600 cars through in two days.  Since they're returning this year with three full days of auctions I thought I'd pass on a few tidbits of information in case any of my friends were planning on attending.  I suppose these tips could apply to any auction house (Kruse, RM, Barrett-Jackson), but Mecum is the most popular in the country so I'll focus on them. 

Branelle at her first Mecum Auction last year in Houston.

Over the years I have bought and sold - mostly bought - countless cars at auctions.  I think they're a blast!  A number of those purchases were at Dealer Auctions, but they're a different animal and not open to the general public so there's no point in wasting time with them.  Public auctions are fun and exciting, but can be a bit overwhelming if you aren't familiar with the scene.  Nobody in the country sells more vehicles than Dana Mecum.  They put on a fairly friendly show and usually have something of interest for everybody.  Here are a few tips geared towards the average person for making a smart purchase and enjoying the auction experience:

• Come Early - Stay Late

The best deals are almost always either at the beginning of the day or at the very end.  There are a couple of logical reasons for this.  One, there are usually a lot less people around to bid, especially late in the day.  A lot of people have spent their $$ already or have simply worn down and gone home before the last hour or so of a day's run.  Branelle and I spent 14 hours at the auction last year on Friday, but we basically stole a great little car in the last hour for our efforts.  The second reason that early and late work better for deals is that Mecum will stack higher dollar cars in the middle of each day and sort of just "stick" cars from people they don't know very well around that middle block.

We came home with this great little Jensen-Healey last year.  It was very well bought because it was at the end of a long day and no one really knew what it was.

• Be Camera Shy

This is sort of like the last tip.  Virtually every Mecum Auction is televised nationally for anywhere from 4 to 10 hours a day.  They usually only have cars going through with a minimum value of $25,000 during the televised portion.  A lot of dealers and collectors just love being on TV.  If you really have your heart set on a car that's going across in "prime time", you may find yourself bidding against guys with big bank rolls that want to put on a show. 

• Don't Be Charitable

Inevitably, there will be a number of vehicles that go across the blocks for some charitable cause.  It's a good thing, but don't waste your time trying to buy one of these rides unless you have money to burn.  These auctions are for the big money collectors who will always overpay by some ridiculous amount in the name of…whatever it is.  So, unless you want to buy a $100,000 Harley-Davidson, don't waste your time.

• Research - Research - Research

The Mecum folks do an excellent job of cataloging the vehicles for months leading up to the auction.  Spend some time going through the list and have cars on your radar with prices in mind that you think they're worth.  I had a binder last year with every car listed (with photos) and priced so I would be ready if something I wanted stayed low.  There will always be a few last minute additions when you get there, so if you have a friend (Barry - be ready again this year) sitting near a computer you can call to do a little research, great.

• Inspection Time

Another good reason to hit the auction early is to inspect the cars you're interested in.  When they're in line to roll over the block, you won't be able to really look at them like you'll want to.  I like to take my time and really go through the cars I want so when they roll through, I can sit in the back and calmly focus on bidding.  Bring a flashlight, preferably LED, so you can look for fluids on the block or rust underneath.  Sometimes you'll even find the owners by their cars and you can chat with them about the history and condition of the vehicle.

Using my LED light to inspect a clean little Lotus Twin-Cam Engine.

 

• Don't Get "Shilled"

If a vehicle has a reserve and it's not up to it yet, the auction company will sometimes raise the bid artificially to try to get it to the reserve.  It’s legal, but to me it's the same as "shill" bidding - bidding up your own item.  If I'm bidding on a vehicle and someone bids against me, I always make sure I can see who it is before I place another bid.  I'll even ask the ringman who's taking my bids "who placed the last bid?".  If I suspect the auction company is upping the bids against me without a legitimate bidder I walk away from that car immediately.  Like I said, it's not illegal, but I just find it a little dishonest. 

• Deal(er) Or No Deal

Vehicles running through the auction come from one of two places:  Dealers or Individuals.  It's not impossible to get a great deal on a dealer consigned vehicle, but realize that these people aren't in the business of losing money.  They know how much cars are worth and how much they have in their car, and they usually won't let it go for less than that number.  While doing your research on cars you can usually figure out which ones are coming from dealer stock.  I would suggest focusing more on cars from individuals.  The sellers have already paid at least $500 to consign their vehicle whether it sells or not, they're being pressured by the auction company to drop the reserve because Mecum makes a lot more money on sold cars, and many times they just want the car gone so they can buy something else for the garage.

Diving Miss Nelly!  This Caddy would have been fun, but Sterling McCall is one of the largest dealers in the country, so I knew they weren't giving anything away.

• Don't Get Handled

The auction company has what are called "ringmen" patrolling the arena to help wrangle bids.  If you want to bid on a car, you'll get their attention one way or the other and from that point on you guys are in it together.  They're necessary - there is no way the auctioneer could see every bid if they weren't there to relay them to him.  They're also usually very nice and helpful.  Just remember though, they work for the auction house and they are really good at getting you to spend your money.  I've been "handled" by some of the more famous ringmen over the years, and they all have unique styles.  Amy Assiter has helped me a few times in Dallas and she's very calm and friendly - sort of makes you forget you're bidding.  Jessie Cobb helped Nel and I in Pennsylvania once and he was a little more "matter-of-fact" about our bids.  "Chicken" George Boswell, on the other hand, is high energy and fun.  If you aren't careful with him, he'll work you up into a bidding frenzy and there's no telling what you'll end up with.

"Chicken" George Boswell is a lot of fun, and he's happy to help you spend your money.  SOLD - SOLD - SOLD!

• Don't Forget The Fees

If you buy something, you'll pay a fee to the auction house.  Mecum makes it pretty simple, but some places use a percentage method.  Don't forget to consider this extra cost when bidding.  I like to make a small sheet that tells me what to add at each price level.

• Don't Get Numb

"Expensive" is a relative term.  Some heavy hitters drop millions at an auction without flinching, others have $10K or less and are nervous about spending any of it.  My wife and I have the same money, but we have very different views of what's "expensive".  Regardless of your bankroll, it's very easy to sort of get numb to the amounts floating across the screen all day long.  If you sit there and watch hour after hour of cars selling for $50,000, $60,000, and $70,000, it's real easy to look at $20,000 as a drop in the bucket.  Stay grounded and don't get numb to the real values of the cars.

Here I'm realizing, sadly, that I don't really fit in a Triumph TR6.  Don't forget to have fun!

 The Mecum Auction is a fun experience and a great place to buy unique cars.  If you take the time to come prepared, you won't feel overwhelmed and might just roll out with a new toy (or two). 

1998 Porsche Boxster

Random Vehicle Blog:

1998 Porsche Boxter

I certainly have a thing for Porsche's, probably due to the fact that my first car was a triple black 944 (or perhaps my first car was a result of my love for the brand).  Regardless, it's quite surprising to me that prior to purchasing this Boxster I had owned only two Porsche's, and both of them were front engine cars.  I plan to have owned every single Porsche model before I'm done.  Well, you can check the Boxster off my list.

This car was a 5-speed , and was in very good condition.  The Boxster handles great, and is rather quick too as long as you aren't comparing it to a Viper or a Vette (we'll leave those to it's turbo charged 911 big brother).  The car had a lot of style and was a blast to drive.  Due to a bit of overselling in the US market, they are actually quite affordable now.  You can pick up higher mileage drivers for less than $10K today, and even when I bought this car good ones could be had in the low $20's.

When I finally sold it, this car went to a very nice gentleman in Colorado.  I might purchase another Boxster someday.  I think I would prefer this one in an automatic, and perhaps a "louder" color, and would also certainly prefer the "S" version.  It's a car that everyone can drive.  It does everything well without doing anything great.  The Boxster is a legitimate candidate for the title of 'Ultimate Weekender'.

The Sistine Chapel

100 Places To See Before You Die:

The Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel not only contains Michelangelo's famous ceiling fresco, it also functions as the site where a new Pope is selected, making it both an artistic and a religious wonder.  

The chapel was built between 1473 and 1484 at the behest of Pope Sixtus IV after whom it is named.  It forms part of the Papal Palace - the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City - and was designed to match the dimensions of the Temple of Solomon.  What it is most renowned for, of course, are the Renaissance paintings created by Michelangelo on the 63-foot high ceiling between 1508 and 1512.  This series of paintings depicts nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the most famous, God creating Adam, which shows the hand of God giving life to Adam.

Michelangelo painted using the Fresco method, which is basically applying paint to damp plaster.  Nearly 20 years after painting the ceiling, he painted "The Last Judgement" behind the chapel altar.  These are among the most treasured frescoes in the world.  There are other works in the chapel as well including Botticelli's "Temptation of Christ" and Perugino's "Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter". 

I could give you lots of historical info, but you can simply Wikipedia that and learn a lot more than I could relay here.  I'll mention a couple of facts that I find interesting though.  Michelangelo didn't want to do the painting at all.  He was a sculptor primarily and had little interest in leaving Florence for this job.  Pope Julius II, the "Warrior Pope", wouldn't take no for an answer though.  Once committed, Michelangelo designed his own scaffolding system that also caught any plaster that would drip.  And, contrary to some belief, he didn't paint the ceiling lying down.  He stood and painted looking straight up.

My attempt at sneaking a picture without a flash - and without being yelled at.

"The Last Judgement" is my favorite piece in the chapel if for no other reason than Michelangelo painting the faces of some critics of the work, such as the Pope's own Master of Ceremonies Biagio da Cesena, in a less than flattering manner.  Cesena had claimed that all the nudity was "disgraceful in such a sacred place".  For his comments, Michelangelo used his donkey-eared likeness to represent Minos at the gates of Hell.  When Cesena complained, the Pope said his jurisdiction "did not extend to Hell", and the painting remained.  After Michelangelo's death in 1564, an artist was tasked with covering all genitalia with cloths.

On a side note, when you visit the Vatican Museum, it's interesting to note that the "nudity" issue has taken many turns over the years.  At one point almost all sculptures included genitalia, but at different times and through different Popes, odd things have been done.  At some point, all of the male "bits" were removed and small fig leaves were placed where they used to be.  There is a restoration process currently ongoing to return all of the "bits" to their rightful places.  One of our guides once said "if you can imagine it, they just have this one room full of male genitalia and they're spending years trying to figure out where it all goes".        

Visiting the chapel means heading to Vatican City, the smallest country in the world.  Vatican City, of course, is right smack dab in the middle of Rome, so there's no shortage of things to see and do in the area.  A trip to the Vatican can take at least a full day, and you won't even come close to seeing everything.  The Vatican Museum has almost certainly the greatest collection of art in the world.  National Geographic said that if you looked at every piece of art here for 20 seconds without stopping, it would take you over 13 years to see everything.  I believe them.

Everybody who visits the Vatican views the Sistine Chapel, but don't miss St. Peter's Basilica (which also has it's own spot on the "100 Places To See Before You Die" list).  The biggest problem is the crowds.  Branelle and I have been to the Vatican twice in the last few years and both times it was a nightmare.  On our most recent visit it was so crowded in the Chapel that you legitimately couldn't move without shoving someone to make a path.  You aren't really supposed to talk or take pictures, but everybody does.  The guards will just tell everyone to stop every few minutes.  My friend Andrew took a night tour and said they had the place nearly to themselves.  It wasn't offered when we've been there, but I would think it would be worth the money if you get the opportunity. 

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71

Random Vehicle Blog:

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71

When Chevy first introduced the Avalanche, I thought they were hideous.  They were wildly popular, however, and started showing up all over Texas.  It took a while, but they finally grew on me enough to purchase one, more out of curiosity than anything else.

This one was almost new when I got it and was basically in perfect condition.  It was a 4-wheel drive model (as signified by the Z71), and kind of a mid-level package truck as far as options were concerned.  Looks aside, one impressive aspect of the truck was immediately apparent - it was easily the best riding truck I had ever driven at the time.  It rode like a luxury car.  Bumps went unnoticed as it chewed up even the worst roads around.

You probably won't remember, but the Avalanche was heavily advertised for it's unique ability to change its configuration in the cargo area.  They used to run commercials where some guy would walk up to an Avalanche owner and say "Change for a dollar?"  The owner would say "ok", hop out and "change" the truck then take the guys dollar.  I got the "change for a dollar?" thing twice (and was a little slow getting it both times).  I didn't think I would ever have a reason to open the truck up, but it came in handy a couple of times.

 With everything sealed up it was like a locked trunk.

Removal of the panels was fairly simple.

More panel removing.

The rear glass could be popped out and stored for an open-air experience.

Fully opened.

Set up as a regular pickup truck.

The Avalanche made a great passenger vehicle and a great pickup truck, but it really lacked as an SUV.  As a dog owner, it just wasn't what I needed.  The back seats folded down, but they didn't have a smooth or useful enough area for a dog to lie down in.  

Other than that, I loved the truck.  It was well designed and well thought out.  I'm still more of an SUV guy to this day, but I wish they could all ride like that Avalanche.

Hobby Lobby vs Obamacare

Hobby Lobby vs. Obamacare

A lot of my Facebook peeps have been posting in support of Hobby Lobby and their lawsuit against specific sections of the Affordable Healthcare Act.  While I make it a rule (for the most part) to stay out of politics on this blog and on Facebook, I thought I'd write a quick one on this issue simply because I don't think people have thought this through.

Hobby Lobby's suit asserts that the religious beliefs of its owners should relieve them from providing contraception and the "morning after" and "week after" pills to their employees, as required under Obamacare.  They aren't the only ones taking issue with this provision.  A number of lawsuits (now up to 45) have been filed against the rule in the Affordable Care Act that requires employers of 50 or more full time employees to cover contraception, including emergency contraception, with no cost-sharing. While the DOJ has announced that new rules would be released in the first three months of 2013 offering further exceptions to the rule for religiously affiliated organizations, they have made it clear in oral arguments that the government does not intend to allow for-profit business owners to deny their employee’s contraception coverage due to their personal religious objections.

My Opinion:

From a legal standpoint, I think the courts and the DOJ are 100% correct.  Making the case that Hobby Lobby is a religious organization based on the beliefs of its owners and that they play Christian music and close on Sunday's is ridiculous.  Hobby Lobby is a "for-profit" business.  If you aren't sure about that, just check the Forbes list where you'll find founder and CEO David Green at #79 with a net worth of around $4.5 BILLION!

But that's not really the biggest reason to hope the Supreme Court upholds the Appeals Court ruling against Hobby Lobby.  Keep in mind that the laws of this country are very clear when addressing religion in that ALL religions are covered.  If you allow Hobby Lobby to make their own rules based on the Christian beliefs of their owner, then you MUST allow other organizations to do the same based on THEIR owners beliefs.  Just Google "Sharia Law" and see if you can find a few things in there that might not jive with the Affordable Care Act or a number of other legislative pieces.  And Islam is just one of the religions that would be drooling over a high court ruling that softens the "separation of church and state".  Nightmare!

Additionally, before you start feeling sorry for Hobby Lobby, keep in mind that what they're suing to prevent, they've been providing ALL ALONG!  Their company health policy has provided the same contraceptive drugs and procedures for years that they are now railing against in the Affordable Care Act.  

Full Disclosure:  I think the Affordable Care Act - "Obamacare" - is a HORRIBLE piece of legislation for many reasons - I'm certainly not defending it.  Also, I like Hobby Lobby - we shop there all the time.  I couldn't care less that they operate with "Christian Values" (in fact, it's kind of annoying because they close on Sundays), I just think they have a nice selection of frames and their garland is a little fluffier than the stuff at Garden Ridge.

Water Leak

Water Leak

I walked into the house one day in December after lunch and Gracie, one of our cats, was sitting on a built-in counter in our living room watching a puddle of water.  She can be a bit "free-spirited" at times, so my first thought was "What the hell did she get into now?"  Nel has a snow globe on one of the shelves above, but it was still full.  I finally noticed a little drop of water running down the wood from a small seam above.  Leak!

I couldn't really figure out where it was coming from but I knew it was in the ceiling between the first and second floors.  It didn't seem to be leaking any more so I sat down for a minute and then heard the unmistakable sound of water pouring out of the speaker in the ceiling.  Ugh.  

We were supposed to have a Christmas Party at our place in just a few days, and I'll admit that my first thought was "This might get me out of having to go through with that".  I have a plumber that I use from time to time but he wasn't answering his phone.  I had no choice but to go to the phone book and call one of those big companies.  I don't mind them - they usually do good work, but they bill with an extra digit compared to your average private plumber.  Regardless, I had no choice.  

They showed up in about an hour and ripped into the ceiling.  What they discovered was a pin-hole leak in a hot water line that was located in about the worst possible place it could be.  There was no attic access and it was right between a stud passing between two walls.  Our house was built in 1980 and back then they used galvanized pipes.  It's really only a matter of time before you start having these types of issues.  They replaced about a 10 foot section of pipe and had to cut out ceiling sections in two rooms to do it.  They did a good job, cleaned up, and charged me a fortune.  Exactly what I expected. 

Drywall repair starts with a patch.  Sanding and texture follow.

Our leak was now fixed, but that was only part of the problem.  Now I had holes in my living room and dinette ceilings and a party in two days.  Fortunately, our painter has a good drywall guy who agreed to come over after his work day was done and fix our ceiling on his own time.  He came two nights in a row and did a great job.  Drywall itself isn't really that hard, but sanding and matching texture perfectly is an art form.  

He got it done and you can't really even tell there was ever a problem.  I still need to paint the patches to match the ceiling but our guy mixed a little paint in with the texture so it doesn't show up that badly in person - although it's more obvious in these pictures with the flash.

Pirates's Cove Adventure Golf

Pirates Cove Adventure Golf

Brainerd, Minnesota

 

In the summer of 2008 I had the chance to play the Black Beard’s Challenge Course at Pirate’s Cove in Brainerd, Minnesota.  Pirate’s Cove is a national chain with about 25 locations.  The one in Brainerd was very nice and included a sweet go-cart track and two separate 18-hole courses.  In the years since, I've played there a number of times.

Foreshadowing - I would end up hitched to this chick a couple years later.

Our outing in '08 included seven people.  In addition to Nel and me we had (from left to right): Mr. Cibuzar, Andrea, Aiden (or half of him anyway), Mrs. C, and Ari.

The course is very well kept and quite interesting.

I had to go "pool cue" on this one in '08 because there was a headstone in my stance and my competitors wouldn't give me relief.  I made it!

Same problem in 2010, but different approach. 

The 2010 round included Mrs. Cibuzar, Nel and I, Barry & Gina, and Mr. C.

I had a great time in 2008.  My only complaint is that my group was adamant about everyone playing each hole at the same time.  That meant there were 7 balls on the hole and you had to play around them.  On the 2^nd hole this cost me as I was blocked from an easy 2 by other balls.  I tried to jump and ended up pouting and taking a 5.  It cost me the match as I continued pouting for a number of holes before I realized I was the only idiot that actually cared who won.

Here's Branelle "pencil whipping" me after the round - I'm sure of it.  How else could I have lost?!? :-)

 

Pirate’s Cove is great.  I will definitely hit it again the next time I’m in central Minesoooooota.  They even give you free hats!