Bert, Thanks for the input, and keep suggestions coming.
BJ has not been interested in supporting our charities, been there, tried that twice. BJ has a list of their own special charities they promote and support and that is their position. They will be glad to auction the car as any other seller, No discount on buyer/seller/auctioneer premiums, etc. Do you (or anyone) have contacts at BJ that might change their mind - maybe some people who know people? Direct them to the TTA web site! Maybe now after the drive is over and publicized and the web site is up and running again they will pay attention and support it. I could easily get UJ to Phoenix for the January / February auction though if they would put it in the preferred/elite auction tent and I could get some VIP passes to keep it all pristine looking, put all the magnets back on, etc.. Maybe third time is a charmer.
We also could not get Hagerty Insurance to be interested in sponsoring UJ's drive either, even though most of the Triumphs that participated in the caravans are Hagerty customers! Part of that disconnect was Chuck Kittelson suddenly passing in July who was my main publicity and corporate sponsor guru for the TTA drive and was working with sponsors.
We did have Kruse interested, but they are in financial straights with pending bankruptcy so the decision not to use them was made - and we could not bet the car to Hershey in time from SLO. Chuck Kittelson had two casinos in Vegas interested in paying a cool $1million for the car but the economy took a dump as we were kicking off the drive. I will be pursuing this avenue again as we ramp up the auction site and publicity.
For coverage on national TV, John Macartney was interviewed on many local TV stations, many local radio stations and many newspapers and car magazines over the course of the drive. Press releases were sent to all the major broadcast medias, none on the national ones were were interested. As an example, our local newspaper car guy at the Denver Post was more enamored with the 4 supercars (google Bertone Mantide and revin' on earth) spending tens of thousands in costs to drive them coast to coast with a gaggle of mechanics and semi's full of parts and a mobile service garage, for the sole purpose of personal satisfaction of one the drivers millionaire Dan Watkins, and his 3 other buddies, than a cause covering all of North America traveling through Denver to raise awareness and charity money for PTSD.
If you got it, flaunt it I suppose. -- Glenn A. Merrell TTA North American Drive Coordinator 2009 www.triumphtransamerica.org Skype,Twitter,FaceBook: StagByTriumph Bert Saxby wrote:
Why not take it to Barrett Jackson? I'm sure they would get on the charity bandwagon and you almost never see a Triumph roll across the stage.
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