moxey63 1,785 Posted June 8, 2019 (edited) I must admit feeling a little frustrated, finding out Tommy Knudsen's racing gear (which he kindly donated to the Speedway Riders' Fund) is being auctioned off to a small gathering in Coventry next week when, ideally, it should have been offered to a wider audience and, in the process, increasing proceeds from it. eBay is the first port of call. As it is, I can see some unscrupulous dealer getting their hands on items and they themselves making maximum profit by putting it, for example, on the aforementioned auction site. I know this post is going to attract criticism of me. But, Tommy's superb act of generosity, I fear, isn't going to reap maximum potential. I hope I am wrong. If it was a time thing, I for one would have volunteered to do the ebay selling for the fund. Edited June 8, 2019 by moxey63 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryW 1,178 Posted June 8, 2019 I hadn't read anything about this before now, bit if what you say is true I also find it a little surprising and disappointing. You would think that they would be looking to get the most money possible and limiting the potential buyers would seem to go against that aim. I guess it's possible they have done their research and believe that doing it this way will bring the most but I'm not convinced! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeilWatson 1,988 Posted June 8, 2019 52 minutes ago, moxey63 said: I must admit feeling a little frustrated, finding out Tommy Knudsen's racing gear (which he kindly donated to the Speedway Riders' Fund) is being auctioned off to a small gathering in Coventry next week when, ideally, it should have been offered to a wider audience and, in the process, increasing proceeds from it. eBay is the first port of call. As it is, I can see some unscrupulous dealer getting their hands on items and they themselves making maximum profit by putting it, for example, on the aforementioned auction site. I know this post is going to attract criticism of me. But, Tommy's superb act of generousness, I fear, isn't going to reap maximum potential. I hope I am wrong. If it was a time thing, I for one would have volunteered to do the ebay selling for the fund. 9 minutes ago, HenryW said: I hadn't read anything about this before now, bit if what you say is true I also find it a little surprising and disappointing. You would think that they would be looking to get the most money possible and limiting the potential buyers would seem to go against that aim. I guess it's possible they have done their research and believe that doing it this way will bring the most but I'm not convinced! Perhaps asking Nick Barber to auction them at Cardiff? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moxey63 1,785 Posted June 8, 2019 (edited) For those who can make it, the auction is this Thursday (8 pm), June 13 @ NUNEATON SPEEDWAY SUPPORTERS' CLUB, BRANDON CLUB, MAIN STREET, BRANDON, COVENTRY, CV8 3HW The club states it isn't an auctioneer and doesn't have electronic facilities and therefore is only open to attendees on the night. They add that anyone who can't make it, ask someone on their behalf whose attending to make a bid. Former riders Joe Owen, Lawrence Hare and Bruce Cribb will be in attendance. Edited June 8, 2019 by moxey63 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CountyGround 75 Posted June 8, 2019 Great gesture from Tommy, surely the thing to do would put a sensible reserve on all items. Any item not making the reserve then place it on evil-bay............ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moxey63 1,785 Posted June 8, 2019 They could have even accepted email bids leading up to the evening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted June 8, 2019 The items look far too good to be sold off line. Ebay charge a 10% sellers commission compared to 20% for buyers and sellers on auction sites like the saleroom. Ebay has a worldwide audience to maximize funds for any good causes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moxey63 1,785 Posted June 8, 2019 The way they are selling them is pretty naive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
full-throttle 182 Posted June 8, 2019 I'm pretty sure telephone bids would be accepted, This may help you get more information 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,953 Posted June 9, 2019 Some really unique items up for auction on Thursday! Lot 12 is Tommy's No 5 racejacket from 1979. He would have worn this on October 13, when Coventry Bees beat Hull Vikings by 42-36 to clinch the British League championship in front of 20,000 spectators. Tommy beat World Champion Ivan Mauger in Heat 9 on that huge evening. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted June 9, 2019 4 hours ago, lucifer sam said: Some really unique items up for auction on Thursday! Lot 12 is Tommy's No 5 racejacket from 1979. He would have worn this on October 13, when Coventry Bees beat Hull Vikings by 42-36 to clinch the British League championship in front of 20,000 spectators. Tommy beat World Champion Ivan Mauger in Heat 9 on that huge evening. I was there and although it was the league decider Hull were up against it and had lost it earlier in the season due to the unprofessionalism of certain riders. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WalterPlinge 657 Posted June 9, 2019 This does seem a very naive way of auctioning off potentially valuable items, which would certainly have raised more money if put to a worldwide audience (very easy to do in this internet age). But if it's true that " They add that anyone who can't make it, ask someone on their behalf whose attending to make a bid. " then surely anyone can contact the auctioneer and instruct him to make bids on their behalf up to a set amount. A cynical person might think that the people organising this auction are purposely restricting the audience to try to increase their chances of snaffling the goodies for themselves on the cheap. If they refuse to accept advance bids via the auctioneer, then you know something underhand is going on. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,953 Posted June 9, 2019 Advance bids are allowed, but there's no guarantee that someone there on the night won't outbid it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WalterPlinge 657 Posted June 9, 2019 38 minutes ago, lucifer sam said: Advance bids are allowed, but there's no guarantee that someone there on the night won't outbid it. That's fair enough as long as people are allowed to place an advanced bid up to their own maximum limit. (Still would have been better to do it online too) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Odds On 373 Posted June 10, 2019 is there somewhere I can see the items online anywhere? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites