Leno V-Max Auction Raises $120,000
Leno V-Max auction raises $120,000
The V-Max was sold at the Barrett-Jackson classic car auction Oct. 10 at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas. All proceeds from the auction will support Baileys Café, an inner city community arts program based in New York City founded by Stephanie Siegel, a college friend of Lenos.
The comic and talk show host did more than merely donate the motorcycle. Leno used his star power and charisma to increase bids.
Leno rode the V-Max himself onto the auction stage where bidding quickly reached $60,000. When the bidding seemed to stay around that level, Leno increased the value of the lot by adding a Garmin GPS system, his own Alpinestars jacket and Arai helmet and a personal tour of his garage. Leno switched between serious pleas and stand-up jokes, drawing in higher bids.
After bids topped $70,000, Yamaha s Bob Starr announced the companys musical instrument division had donated six guitars and a drum set to Baileys Café.
The auction finally ended with the top bid of $120,000, nearly eight times the manufacturers suggested retail price.
Baileys Café uses art to build a sense of community in inner city neighborhoods. For more information on Baileys Café, visit http://www.baileyscafe.org/.
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