2011 TACA Education Fund Auction - URGENT

[ebres63081]

Dear Members:

Every year during the convention TACA holds an auction to raise money for the education fund. Typically items come from the Tucker Club store or HCL historical library. At the moment the hosts have not received ANY items.

If you would like to make a donation of an auction item(s) please contact the convention host at tingoose47@yahoo.com. Items can be anything Tucker related from vintage magazines, parts, historical documents or accessories.

I am going to start the fun by donating an original Tucker brochure from the Latrobe Dealer in PA.

Regards,
Eric

PS: There is also a show and swap sale that same night. You can also contact Martyn for table space!

[kitfoxx]

I bid on (and won) a ride in Tucker No. 1038 at the 2008 convention in Ypsilanti, MI. Would you be willing to make Tucker No. 1031 available for a ride? I promise I'll let someone else win this year.

[Tucker Fan 48]

Sounds interesting. Can anyone post more information about how the fund works and maybe who all the past recipients have been? That might get us all in a more giving mood

[ebres63081]

KIT:

You gotta deal...

Live Auction Item #1 - DRIVE A TUCKER.... You and a companion can come out to the Breslow Collection on a pre-agreed weekend day and be driven in Tucker 1031. Then I will switch with you and let you pilot the Tucker around our extensive complex!

Value: PRICELESS!

[Tucker Fan 48]

Live Auction Item #1 - DRIVE A TUCKER.... You and a companion can come out to the Breslow Collection on a pre-agreed weekend day and be driven in Tucker 1031. Then I will switch with you and let you pilot the Tucker around our extensive complex!

Value: PRICELESS!

Chances are this will be the only chance you'll ever get to drive a Tucker in your lifetime. That should get a few people that didn't want to pay the $190.00 admission to the Convention to reconsider. If you want to bid you'll have to attend.

Remember not only are you going to drive a Tucker. You'll be driving Preston and Vera Tucker's personal car. This is like driving the Batmobile and Magnum's Ferrari all rolled into one.

[Prototype]

"Remember not only are you going to drive a Tucker. You'll be driving Preston and Vera Tucker's personal car. This is like driving the Batmobile and Magnum's Ferrari all rolled into one."

I wish I could attend Since I've driven both the original Batmobile and Magnum's Ferrari! When I lived on Maui, I went to Honolulu to Diamond Head Studios and sitting in the corner was the Ferrari and McGarrett's Grand Marquis. The latter in a pretty forlorn state.

While doing some pre-production work for the pilot of "Fantasy Island" in 1997. I got to drive it, since it was parked in the way of where we were working. The Ferrari wasn't the hero car, but a "double" used for driving and action scenes and it too was in pretty bad shape for a Ferrari. The actual Hero car, belonged to Tom Selleck, whom sold it when he sold his house on the Kahala Coast of O'ahu in the late '90's.

I went to California to visit friends in 2000, we stopped in to see George Barris. We were fortunate to see not only George, but Gene Winfield, Bill Hines and Larry Starbird were there as well....all in the same place. Having known George for many years (I first met him when I was 12), I have on more than one occasion (3, I think) had the wonderful opportunity to drive the original Batmobile that once was the Lincoln Futura Concept car from 1955! I have not, however, ever driven or ridden in a Tucker! Hopefully someday, I will. Even if it's Ricardo's creation, I would love to ride in one.

[Clem]

This is the opportunity of a lifetime for a Tucker lover. All I can say is that Eric is the most gracious owner and I encourage everyone going to the convention to first empty their piggy bank and get in line when the bidding starts. 1017 gives rides but Eileen takes care of the driving. Since I have never driven 1017 maybe I better get out my piggy bank. I am thinking that the idea of driving may change Kit's mind about bidding.

Clem

[TuckerCar]

I think paying for a ride in a Tucker is only legal in the state of Nevada

[Tucker Fan 48]

Too bad it's not in Nevada. Driving #1031 down the strip in Las Vegas sounds like a blast to me!

[kitfoxx]

I bid on (and won) a ride in Tucker No. 1038 at the 2008 convention in Ypsilanti, MI. Would you be willing to make Tucker No. 1031 available for a ride? I promise I'll let someone else win this year.

Ooooh, I may have to reconsider.....

[TuckerHCL]

Hopefully I can help answer a couple of questions and clairify some.

The annual TACA auction that takes place at each auction is a fund raiser for the Preservation Fund with is actually a combination of the Education and Historical Collection and Library Funds.

Nearly all of the items offered during the auctions are donated by the TACA membership with most members bringing items with them to the convention. At the Ypsilanti convention RM Auctions surprised club attendees by driving Tucker #1038 on the streets of Ypsi and having the car parked in the street in front of the former Tucker home. They graciously offered a ride for auction. At a past Las Vegas convention rides were offered on the Las Vegas Speedway and in Grand Rapids, MI rides in Tucker #1046 were offered to all new members during the public showing at the Gilmore Car Museum.

Occasionally several of the same items are donated in one year, such as duplicate Tucker brochures or magazines, and those are often offered at the auction following year. There have been a few times when TACA would purchase items just to offer at the auctions such as factory photos, a rare brochure or wood model of a Tucker.

The few times items from the Tucker Historical Collection and Library have been offered they were duplicates such as photos, grab bags of photocopies, dash plaques, and magazines. Typically the Tucker Online Memorabilia Shoppe (TOMS) – TACA’s online store - will bring items to sell outright prior to the auction. At times a close out item like a shirt or key rack has been offered but that is not typical.

The items Barbara and I would bring from the HCL or from the online store often depends on it we are driving or flying to a convention. When we flew to Reno we took nothing that I recall but last year we drove to Atlanta and brought several store close out items. In fact, Last year we had one of the few Tucker denim shirts for sale at the TOMS table for $12 for the hour prior to the auction. We had no takers but Barbara was able to get the bidding to $28 a few minutes later at the auction!

TACA depends on the generosity of items members and that’s what makes the auctions fun. You just never know what might show up.

In the past TACA has provided funds to McPherson College – Auto Restoration School (several years), The Collector’s Foundation, The Ypsilanti Tech Center – Automotive Program (Preston and Vera’s Hometown) as well as annually to individual Jr and High schools attending state, regional or national History Day or teaching classes in which they cover the Tucker saga. We also use the funds to provide sevaral schools with Tucker DVDs, books, reproduction sale brochures and blueprints, diecast models and CDs of photos and historic documents.

This is an opportunity for club members to donate to the club’s efforts to help share the Tucker story with a new generation by bringing items for the auction or bidding on the items. It is also a great chance to find some rare Tucker collectibles.

Hope that helps.

Jay Follis – TACA President

[ebres63081]

Jay:

Thank you for the clarification and help. For all your wonderful volunteer contributions you and Barbara can have a ride in 1031 anytime your out in Los Angeles.

So what exciting items will you be UPS-ing in for the convention this year or do we have to wait and see!?

Regards,
Eric

[Prototype]

Too bad it's not in Nevada. Driving #1031 down the strip in Las Vegas sounds like a blast to me!

Def, Def, Definitely drive slow in the driveway.......Jeez, sitting in the driver seat with somebody pushing would suffice for me...at least I could say I steered a Tucker!

[Tucker Fan 48]

Just realized I have something to offer up that nobody has except for my friend Richard Jones. It's not a ride in a Tucker but I do have a copy of the Brazilian Magazine I've been working with on Tucker #1035. There is an 11 page article about everything we've tracked down. It's written in Portuguese so I'll have to translate it for you. A great edition to your Tucker Memorabilia Collection.

Vou até autógrafo-lo para o vencedor!

Vemo-nos na Convenção

[TuckerHCL]

Tucker Fan 48,

Might you be willing to donate a copy or two of the Brazilian magazine and the translation to the club's Tucker Historical Collection and Library - so we have this research in the Tucker archives for future generations?

If you decide to donate copies they can be shipped to:

Tucker Historical Collection and Library
6865 Hickory Road
Hickory Corners, MI 49060

Thanks
Jay