The Williams Lake creators of the world鈥檚 fastest log car are celebrating the fact it sold for $350,000 US at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona Friday evening.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit emotional,鈥� Bryan Reid Sr. of Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. told the Tribune from Arizona. 鈥淚鈥檓 here with Gerald Overton Sr. We put thousands and thousands of hours into the car over the last four years. Two years building it and two years taking it out and exposing it to bring awareness that all the money raised would go toward veterans groups.鈥�
The log car, known as the Cedar Rocket, actually sold three times during its turn on the auction block Friday.
鈥淥ne person bought it and donated it back,鈥� Reid explained. 鈥淭he second person bought it and did the same and then a third person bought it. That鈥檚 a first for Barrett-Jackson.
Each car is on the auction block for about three minutes, but because the Cedar Rocket was auctioned three times, it was up for almost five minutes.
In the end, it was purchased by the owner of a car museum in Virginia Beach, VA.
鈥淗e wants to have it on display in his museum,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淗e has the Batmobile and some other exotic cars so it鈥檚 going to be in good company.鈥�
Joining Reid and Overton was Louis Horschel from Buffalo Turbine who had donated the turbines for the Cedar Rocket.
鈥淗e flew in from New York to join us,鈥� Overton said.
鈥淲e had a lot of soldiers at our booth and an honour guard that came up with us on stage,鈥� Reid added. 鈥淎nd there were Canadian and US flags in front and back of the car. That鈥檚 another first for Barrett-Jackson.鈥�
Describing the experience as electrifying, Reid said there were Canadians and Americans in the crowd cheering them on and they received a standing ovation.
鈥淚t was an amazing crowd,鈥� Overton added. 鈥淚t was just fantastic.鈥�
A great moment at the auction was when retired United States Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Henry Brady made a speech.
鈥淗e talked about citizens as well as military and citizens that recognize what the military is doing and do things like we did to help the military,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淚t was a very wonderful speech. I believe he鈥檚 the highest decorated living soldier living in America today.鈥�
Reid encouraged people to research Brady鈥檚 accomplishments, noting he flew more than 2,500 helicopter missions in Vietnam and evacuated over 5,000 wounded combat soldiers.
鈥滺e鈥檚 a hero鈥檚 hero,鈥� Reid said of Brady. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honour and is the former president of the Congressional Medal of Honour Society.鈥�
Proceeds from the car鈥檚 sale are going to the Congressional Medal of Honour Society, the Boot Campaign out of Texas, Yellow Ribbon America out of Southern California and the Royal Canadian Branch 139, Reid said.
鈥淭his is truly one of the highlights of my life,鈥� he added. 鈥淕erald custom built the frame and suspension, and was totally responsible for the mechanical aspects of the car. Without him, these great organizations wouldn鈥檛 have got these donations.鈥�
Thankful to the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, Reid and Overton said the company did not charge the seller or the buyers anything meaning all of the money went to the veterans.
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