Mecum Auctions annually stages its most historic collector car sale in Indianapolis, and Dana Mecum leads the club that preserves the vintage Indy racing cars built by Harry Miller. The auction house isn’t involved only in historic Indy events but also in the latest in Indy competition, and again will sponsor the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entries in the 2018 500-mile race.
Technically, Mecum is listed as “foundation partner” with the racing team for its entry of Sage Karam and J.R. Hildebrand in the 102nd 500-mile “sweepstakes” event.
The drivers will be Chevrolet-powered cars wearing the numbers 24 and 66 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Mecum began its relationship with Dreyer & Reinbold in 2012, when Oriol Servia finished fourth in the 500. Karam won the “Hard Charger” award at the Speedway in 2014 and last year finished among the top-10 in the race.
“Mecum’s annual 2,000-vehicle collector-car auction in Indianapolis each May is always a huge event, and our auction ties well into the biggest show in racing, the Indianapolis 500,” Dana Mecum was quoted in the company’s news release. “Between our tremendous Indianapolis auction and the Indy 500 association with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, this month of May is annually one of our most exciting celebrations. I can’t wait to put a Mecum ‘SOLD’ sticker on the bottle of milk in Victory Lane with DRR this year.”
As the Mecum news release noted, the Dreyer & Reinbold family’s relationship to Indy racing dates to the 1920s and famed car-builder Floyd “Pop” Dreyer. Dennis Reinbold, Dreyer’s grandson, has been an Indy entrant since 1999 and has had 37 entries qualify for the race.
“Mecum Auctions’ big show annually at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is a spectacular presentation and fits in well with the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ just a week later,” Reinbold said in the news release. “Thanks again to Dana and his entire crew for their support over the years. I’d love to put Mecum Auctions in the winner’s circle on May 27 with Sage or J.R.”
Karam noted that he watches Mecum Auctions on NBCSN. “I’m a car guy like most of the people in the Indy 500 garages. I can tell you that the Mecum sponsorship gets me very excited because of my interest in their cars. To work with a partner which has some very historic and amazing machinery is very cool for me.”
The 31st annual Dana Mecum’s Original Spring Classic auction is scheduled for May 15-20 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.