Lapham's Winter Party IV

Bill and Erika hosted another annual winter party pitch-in to help break up the winter blahs, and it was very successful. Nearly 40 members made it out on the balmy for January 17 evening. This was a nice change from the icy roads of last year. The food was plentiful as we were treated to three different types of meat balls, chips and dip, wonderful desserts, and much, much more. The Barrett-Jackson auction from Scottsdale was taking place on the big screen TV in the lower level. That provided for much discussion about the vehicle prices from the Ron Pratte collection. The highlight of the auction was the 1950 GM "Parade of Progress" Futureliner, one of only twelve produced. It was expected to bring big bucks for the Armed Forces Foundation, and it did not disappoint. A phone bidder outbid Rick Hendrick with a hammer price of $4 million. Jim A was our photographer for the evening and snapped a few photos from the big screen TV during the auction along with group shots. One photo that caught his attention was of Rick Hendrick following the Futureliner sale. If you look closely at his bidders ID, his bidder number is 427 (not a coincidence). After the excitement of the Futureliner sale subsided, the auction continued with more mundane vehicles selling for $200-400k, and more. As in other years the 4 theater seats were well occupied, even with a nap being taken in one. With seating space at a premium some of the members even headed upstairs where the auction was on to make use of the seating there. As the evening wound down members started to leave with several professing that it was already past their normal bedtime. Even the late stayers were gone before the predicted nights rain started, with everyone now eagerly awaiting the next Winter party of the season at the Noelle's on February 28.