Monday, April 19, 2010

VINTAGENT NEWS...


BONHAMS ASSEMBLES TEAM OF MOTORCYCLE EXPERTS
Formidable new “arsenal of three” to augment Bonhams’ American market.

For immediate release. 20 April 2010 – San Francisco – Bonhams is extremely proud to announce the assembly of a new team of experts for their North American motorcycle sector. Augmenting the Motoring Department’s existing line-up of respected specialists are three incredibly talented and experienced motorcyclists. They are:

David Edwards is the well-known and widely esteemed former Editor-in-Chief ofCycle World – the largest motorcycle magazine in the world. His hands-on knowledge of motorcycles of all makes and models, his insight into the industry, and his adventures on two wheels are world renowned. Furthermore, his personal collection of bikes is as diverse and exciting as his career, with examples having been selected for the seminal Guggenheim Museum exhibit, The Art of the Motorcycle.

Paul d’Orleans, a native of San Francisco, is a true steward of motorcycle history. As a rider, collector and recognized expert, he is a passionate advocate for old motorcycles and regularly writes, consults or commentates for numerous websites, magazines, auctioneers and club journals worldwide. He is perhaps best known as the author of one of the most widely respected moto blogs on the internet, The Vintagent, and is currently launching another site, Caferacers. He has been a six-term president of the Velocette Owner’s Club of North America, a three-time judge at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours, founded the Yerba Buena Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, and is host of the soon to be released cable series Classic Motorcycle Roadshow.

Jamie Karrick has been servicing, repairing and restoring British and Italian motorcycles for well over 10 years as a senior technician and manager at a prominent dealership in California. Experienced with both modern and vintage machinery, he has been a two-time judge at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours and spends much of his free time working on restoration projects, one of which was included in the ground-breaking Guggenheim Museum exhibit, The Art of the Motorcycle. As an avid rider he enjoys extensively exploring the trails of California and Mexico as well as pushing his limits on the racetrack.

Under the direction of Mark Osborne, head of the Bonhams Motoring Department, which oversees all motor vehicles, and Nick Smith, head of the division’s Motorcycle Department, the new team members will begin work immediately.

Says Osborne, “As one of the world’s foremost motor vehicle auctioneers, Bonhams has a long and successful track record with rare and important motorcycles. And bringing these men onto our team will significantly add to this collective expertise, allowing us to maintain our leading edge, grow from strength to strength, and offer our clients – both buyers and sellers – the very best service anywhere.”

Bonhams’ next auction of motorcycles is scheduled for Saturday, May 8th at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California, to be held in conjunction with The Quail Motorcycle Gathering. Owners interested in consigning motorcycles to this sale should e-mail usacars@bonhams.com. Buyers interested in registering to bid may go to http://www.bonhams.com/quailbikes

For general information about the 217-year old firm of Bonhams and its 50 specialist departments worldwide, visit http://www.bonhams.com          

For press inquiries specific to this announcement, please contactpress@dravcarn.com.