DALLAS, TX.- Memorabilia from the great names and great days of America's most famous auto race, The Indy 500, will thrill race collectors and fans alike on June 18, 2015, at
Heritage Auctions as the company presents its Auto Racing Sports Collectibles Catalog Auction, featuring the Dr. Harlen Hunter Collection.
"Hunter's collection is the most extensive of its kind in the world," said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. "For years, Dr. Hunter had access to the greatest drivers and race tracks in the world. In that time he amassed a deep and far-reaching collection of important race-used material."
Chief among Hunter's treasures that race fans will have access to is a program from the inaugural Indy 500 in 1911 signed by the legendary Ray Harroun, the first winner of America's greatest race. It is estimated at $2,000+. Indy 500 fans will also thrill at the inclusion of a set of "Gasoline Alley" Garage Doors, used at the Indianapolis Speedway from the 1930s to the 1960s, estimated at $3,000+.
"Little could be more evocative of the Indy 500 than these historically significant, vintage Indianapolis Motor Speedway doors," said Ivy. "These hung at Garage #2 in the original Gasoline Alley area and have not been repainted since they were removed. What gearhead would not want this as a prize?"
Hunter's collection also includes a complete set of signed Daytona 500 winner's photographs, 1959-2009, including the great Fireball Roberts, all of them pictured with the trophy. The album, with a $2,000+ estimate, features all the legendary names of racing, including Bob Welborn, John Beauchamp, Jeff Bodine, Bobby Ellison, Bill Elliott Jr., Fireball Roberts, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Tiny Lund, Richard Petty, Lee Petty, Buddy Baker, Leroy Yarbrough, and many more.
Not all of Hunter's collectibles relate exclusively to Indy, as evidenced by Mario Andretti's 1969 Daytona 500 Race Worn Helmet, estimate $2,000+, with superb notation on helmet from Andretti stating that he ended up "upside-down" in this helmet. AJ Foyt's 1967 Trenton Speedway 200 Mile USAC National Championship Race Winner's Trophy, estimated at $2,000+, is another important highlight from one of the greatest names in the sport, while an extremely rare 1916 Harvest Auto Racing Classic program, from the non-500 event held at the Speedway between 1911-1994, should thrill collectors of racing esoterica and ephemera, with an estimate of $1,500+.
The Hunter Collection, while making up the bulk of the June 18 auction, is not the only car on the track, as key items from other collectors offer collectors once-in-a-lifetime changes to acquire material from some of the most important racers, in some of their most important races.
A.J. Foyt's 1970s-era Race Worn Fire Suit is one such lot, estimate at $20,000+. The off-white suit, signed by Foyt on the right side, bears the International Race of Champions insignia on the right upper chest and was likely used by Foyt in 1976 and in 1977, when he won the IROC series.
Of particular note is Mario Andretti's 1969 Fire Suit, worn in his only career Indianapolis 500 victory race, estimated at $10,000+, the crowning glory of the season that was arguably the greatest of Andretti's storied career. Andretti's 1970 Formula 1 Race Worn Fire Suit, also estimated at $10,000+, used by the great driver for most of the Formula 1 season that year a year when Andretti was not only racing's biggest star, but one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet an represents Andretti when he was in his prime.
Modern race fans will be particularly intrigued by the 2004 Race Worn Fire Suit from 2015 Indy winner Juan Pablo Montoya, estimated at $8,000+. The suit was worn by Montoya during the 2004 BMW Williams season.