[swazworth]

It’s All Over Now — For IROC
IROC auctions off its assets to officially end an era.


IROC's race cars were among the first items to be auctioned over the weekend.

By Walter Elliott
TINTON FALLS, N.J. — The International Race of Champions headquarters, with two of three scheduled auction days held Friday and Saturday, is on its way to becoming a memory here.
Most of IROC’s contents, including 13 Pontiac Firebird stock cars, parts, tools, machinery and memorabilia — were bidded away by Eatontown auctioneer Stephen J. Miranti. Some items, with several requiring dismantling, remained at the 20,000-square-foot shop Monday morning, waiting to get picked up by their new owners.
Miranti has a 10 a.m. Saturday bidding start set for shelving and office equipment.
IROC President Jay Signore and his remaining employees will then leave 45 Park St., down to its bare walls with documents and memories of the 35-year-old series.
“People have asked why we didn’t go to the Indianapolis or Charlotte area,” said Signore. “We have transportation access since we’re near Garden State Parkway Exit 105. I’ve always liked living in New Jersey.”
Jay and Barbara Signore oversaw a staff of 25 employees, mostly mechanics and technicians from the local area. Some staffers had experience racing at nearby Wall Township and New Egypt speedways.
“Some have already gone south to work and a few have decided to stay in New Jersey,” said Signore. “We did everything here, including the marketing and sponsorship.”
Signore said that sponsorship searching was the hardest aspect of the business. Finding a successor to Crown Royal when that series contract expired in 2006 led to his canceling the 2007 series.
That lack of sponsorship eventually caused Signore to announce IROC’s end last autumn and schedule the auction. Auction proceeds would defray the cost of keeping his staff for the last year. Signore contrasted the closure to when the series went on hiatus from 1981-83.
“I wasn’t that involed with IROC then,” said Signore. “I understand that it had to do with Chevrolet being late in introducing its new Camaro in 1982.”
Roger Penske and Riverside (Calif.) Int’l Raceway President Les Richter created IROC as an all-star series to help determine who is the world’s best driver. Mark Donohue won the initial four-race series in 1973-74 aboard Porsche Carerra RSRs. Penske Racing switched to Z28 Camaros the next year through 1980.
Signore first used the IROC Camaros in the revived era and moved on to Chrysler Daytonas and Avengers. Pontiac permitted use of its Firebird Trans-Am bodywork in the final years. Five of the Firebirds faced an audience of 400 in the headquarter’s largest room Friday.
All cars had authenticated records of who raced and/or practiced in them going back to 1996. The cars were among the first lots to go. Five-time IROC titlist Mark Martin’s No. 30, as Lot 249, reportedly drew $73,000. Car No. 8, driven by the Earnhardts (Dale, Sr. and Dale, Jr.), went for $68,000.
The five 350 General Motors V-8 engines — built with $2,500 in parts and originally valued at $50,000 — went for around $7,500 on average. The $45,000 to $60,000 paint booth was sold for $5,500. At least one poster autographed by one year’s series drivers and valued at $100, went for $900.
About 100 people who had paid admission to bid or spectate were at the auction floor around 2 p.m. Saturday. Signore mostly stayed in the large-parts room, fielding questions or personally watching a bidded object leave. There were several times where he turned away from an item going out the loading dock.
“It gets hard,” said Signore. “Barbara and I are holding on to the records and take it one day at a time. I believe that three doors open for every one that closes. IROC may be back one day.”

a moment of silence.............. here is the link
http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...-2014-for-iroc