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40 nMarch 2017n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS the stage on Friday afternoon and was the last-known example of an original Henderson Four left in America. The fi rst-year 1912 Henderson had orig- inal paint and tires, was unrestored and was estimated to bring between $450,000 and $550,000. Attendees and staff alike cheered as the gavel came down on the $490,000 sales price and the graceful old lady was carefully wheeled off to meet her new family. In between sales were daily charity auctions to raise money for Curing Kids Cancer, an organization whose mission is to fund innovative research and treatments to fi nd cures for childhood cancers. Milwaukee art- ist Mathew Hintz had donated one of his original paintings for the charity. In a booth set up with easel and paints, Mathew worked his magic to paint more original "gas-n-oil" works over the course of the weekend as specta- tors looked on. Mathew's painting of a 1938 Indian Model Four brought in $3,250 of the almost $16,000 in total donations to the CKC foundation. As an off year for the now-famous Motorcycle Cannonball Run, regis- tered riders were on hand to see what could be purchased for the next race. The close-knit and ever-growing family of adrenalin junkie daredevils roamed about the property for the entire four days, meeting up in small groups and at the Cannonball booth to fi nd new and old friends, riders, hopefuls and hang-arounds. The group tends to turn the auction into their own private family reunion and the energy of the clan adds a layer of excite- ment to the whole event. Motorcycle Cannonball owner Jason Sims and his wife LeeAnn could be found throughout the weekend mingling with friends and rehashing the summer fun of traversing the country from sea to sea with their riding buddies, but in between all the socializing, Jason was busy doing business. Pulling into Vegas with a goal of reducing his inventory, he arrived with 12 motor- cycles to sell. Somehow focus was lost and the South Dakota resident rolled home with 16 bikes in tow. But for those who couldn't quite fi nd their perfect mate among the offered machines, there is still time. Shoppers looking for the perfect bike to make the 2018 Motorcycle Cannonball trip planned from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, are in luck. Mecum has arranged for another bike-buying binge. A summer auction is planned back at the South Point in Las Vegas June 1–3, so there's still time to fi nd that special machine to get a Cannonball hopeful across the country. Mark your calendar and we'll see you there! If you're not a Cannonballer, that's OK, too. It's all about the love of the motorcycle and there is plenty to love at Mecum's. (www.mecum.com/motorcycles) 4 Top 10 sales at the Mecum Las Vegas 2017 auction 1. 1912 Henderson Four (Lot F129) at $490,000 2. 1913 Henderson Four (Lot S163) at $150,000 3. 1913 Henderson 4-Cylinder Deluxe (Lot S108) at $127,500 4. 1928 Excelsior Big Bertha Hillclimber (Lot S 162) at $117,500 5. 1949 Vincent Black Shadow (Lot F180) at $110,000 6. 1923 Indian Chief with Princess Side Car (Lot S 179) at $100,000 7. 1914 Flanders Model D Twin (Lot S 111) at $95,000 8. 1931 Henderson Four (Lot S151) at $95,00 0 9. 1929 Cleveland Tornado (Lot T183) at $91,000 10. 1941 Indian Four (Lot S201) at $90,000 Smart buyers scope out the bikes tire to tire. It pays to do your homework in advance and the catalog provided by Mecum makes the process even easier The Motorcycle Cannonball clan turns the Mecum auction into a family reunion as they gather to discuss motorcycling along America's back roads on ancient iron Auction Continued from page 36