Pictures and Photos by Marty Proctor, South Lake Tablet
At 10 am on Wednesday, January 4th, Mecum Auto Auctions opened with its theme song “Thunder” by AC/DC. The auctioneers and crowd stand up, shout and even dance to the strains of Angus Young and the boys cranking out this great classic tune. What better way to start a classic car auction than with a rock and roll anthem and crowd-stirring energy? The day also starts with a welcome of all service veterans to the auction block thanking them for their service with a stirring, professional rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”.
Mecum comes to Kissimmee this year with a record number of cars consigned to the auction block. The 4000+ vehicle auction stretches 12 days over a 2-week period. The action starts every day at 10:00 am and runs until the last car is sold. Every day features a wide array of newer and classic cars and trucks from all around the world with a heavy emphasis on American Muscle.
Attending this event is like going to the best car show you will ever attend and while you’re there an auction breaks out. The entire event is extremely accessible and provides a great opportunity to see literally thousands of cars available for sale up close and personal. You can be assured that you will see cars that you’ve never seen before and others that you may never see again.
When asked, Dana Mecum, founder of Mecum Auto Auctions, simply replied “this is what we do.” While that may be a true and straightforward response, the Mecum team creates a fun and exciting environment for car enthusiasts and auction fans of every age. The easy access to the auction floor, event space, food options and other featured activities ensures that everyone will get a chance to enjoy a beautiful day, rain or shine.
One of the free activities is the Dodge Thrill Ride, where attendees have the opportunity to ride with a professional driver on a closed course. The ride uses Dodge Charger and Challengers with up to 800 horsepower. The riders hear the roar of the engine, the screaming of the tires, and feel the thrill of sliding sideways in a true performance car.
Mecum Kissimmee 2023 goes on through January 15. The event is held at the Osceola Heritage Park 1875 Silver Spur Lane in Kissimmee. The gates open daily at 8 am and the auction starts at 10 am and continues until the last car is sold. General admission tickets cost $30 and children 12 and under can enter for free. There are various bidder packages available. More information is available at mecum.com.
