Looking back, it seemed as though records were destined to fall throughout the first half of the 2022 auction season. Without blinking an eye, Wisconsin-based Mecum Auctions returned to Indianapolis, Indiana, for what the company bills as its Spring Classic sale. This year marked the 35th such occasion on May 13-21 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The nine-day event offered 2,504 vehicles alone, as well as a wide assortment of period automobilia.
The gavel action started strong and stayed that way, while anticipation for several collections grew. Not least among them were 32 vehicles, and one engine, from former NASCAR crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham’s collection. Nearly all of them were historically significant vintage race cars, one of which raced its way straight to the top of the sales ladder: the 1965 Brawner Hawk Ford Indy car driven to back-to-back national championships by Mario Andretti. Discussed in a little more detail elsewhere in this report, it achieved $2,220,000 (all listed results include a buyer’s premium). Another was the 1969 Eagle Weslake Ford “Santa Ana” Indy car — long believed lost to time — that was driven by Dan Gurney to a second place finish in the 1969 Indianapolis 500. It brought
