12-11-2013 My best find to date!

[RJGMC]

Hey Dylan! Might have just hit a home run or at least a triple with this one! Let me know how this turns out.

RJGMC
HI BOB!

 

[pescadore]

That's an awesome find .. Congratulations on the silver !!!

 

[insontis]

Very nice find! There has always been fierce competition between Firestone and Goodyear when it comes to tires and Auto racing. There has been one of these that have sold at auction, with the same inscription. It may have been the actual one you own. Of course your in Missouri and it was sold in Ohio but how many winners could there have been for the 1962 Indianapolis race Firestone sales drive. Unfortunately it sold for less than scrap prices at the time it was sold, $350. Still a piece to be proud of finding. AuctionZip.com - Live Auction Locator - Fast,Easy, and Free! it's under STERLING FLATWARE, HOLLOWARE, JEWELRY, WATCHES:10 1/4" Gorham sterling bowl 1379, engraved Firestone 1962 Indianapolis Race Sales Drive Winner.

Wow thanks for the information. It does sound like what I have. Hopefully that was just a bad auction day and someone just bought it to scrap! I wonder if it would do better sold on ebay if I couldn't find an interested buyer elsewhere? Fees aside, I'd probably find a lot more interested buyers that way.

 

[insontis]

If you want to try to learn more about the piece that you have, post a question here:

Eagle104's Nostalgia

Some of these guys have unbelievable knowledge about the Motor Speedway, and the Indianapolis 500.

Just be respectful and willing to learn if you post there.
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BTW, there are dealers that only deal in Indy 500 and IMS stuff, and there is one big swap meet every May that only deals in 500 collectibles.

Thanks! I just registered for their forum and hopefully they will have some more details about the origin of the piece. If I'm really lucky I may find an interested buyer. Either way I'd love to know where this piece came from & its history.

 

[CladSpends2]

Wow thanks for the information. It does sound like what I have. Hopefully that was just a bad auction day and someone just bought it to scrap! I wonder if it would do better sold on ebay if I couldn't find an interested buyer elsewhere? Fees aside, I'd probably find a lot more interested buyers that way.

Here is just an idea: After a little more research to prove to myself it wasn't a $2000 item, which apparently it isn't, I would next list it on Craigslist in the Indianapolis area in the collectables section for twice spot and see if anyone bit. That would save you all but shipping and paypal fees. Just a thought, but try local, someone might want dad's or grampa's award back or just be a collector. The other place to try would be wherever a Firestone factory might be or have been. Using craigslist again, someone who is affiliated with the factory, management, ex employee etc. might be a Firestone collector. If you think about it a bit more, I am sure you can make other connections to collectors, better ideas than mine. Good luck with it.

T.

 

[inspectorgadget]

I'm jumping man!! That's fantastic. Btw, there probably was no event at the race. It was most likely a sales promotion at a dealership ran in conjunction with the 1962 Indy race. Very cool!

Ya there were no other races or events here in Indy from like 1911 till like 1994 when NASCRAP started racing here. Had F1 for a few years since then & Moto GP now races here & next year there will be 2 Indy car races but in 62 it was the Indy 500 only!

You lucky dog!!!!

I doubt a Nascar/taxi cab fan would want that, but an Indy car fan would.

I think it is a sales award for selling the most tires.

The winner of the Indianapolis 500 has his name and face put on the Borg-Warner trophy, which is probably the most well known trophy in motor sports. This trophy is owned and kept by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Borg is made of sterling silver too, and was created by Gorham, so I would guess that is why Firestone chose to give a sterling award created by Gorham. If I recall correctly Gorham is still the supplier for the trophy, and casts the face each year for the new winner.

The winner of the Indy 500 receives a 'baby Borg' trophy that he can take home and keep. If you ever find a baby Borg, you could come close to paying for your kid's college tuition.

Rodger Ward won the '62 Indy 500, if you were wondering.

I was wondering why he felt a NASCAR person would want this? Everything you said is correct & I believe those were given by state or region for selling the most Firestone tires! I've seen one once before but not sure of the date that it was from.

Aw, a sales promo isn't as exciting. There's still some connection though I guess. That being said, hopefully there is more value here to a collector than to the refinery. I imagine a Nascar fan might have a home for it?

NASCAR? That would be like trying to sell a baseball collector football related stuff! Sales promotion item or not that is a great score! I have a friend who collects Indy 500 stuff, I'll ask him what his thoughts are on it!

There has only been one race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until the track ownership allowed the taxi cabs (Nascar) to run in 1994.

If we are splitting hairs, there were multiple races in the very early years of the track, dating back to the 1909-1911 era.

In '62, there was only the Indy 500.

Being a life long fan of "the track", as it is known around here, and the Indianapolis 500, it is very common to see references to Indy and the 500 without using those terms. The Speedway owns the rights to 'Indy 500', and has been protecting them for years.

You in or near Indy Clovis? "the track" is indeed 100% politically correct in these parts so I know you gotta be or once were. I've been to more than I can count on my fingers & toes Indy 500 races! The night before the race on Georgetown Rd. is some of the most fun times I have ever had anywhere! I'm so glad they got Tony George outta there as he almost single-handedly killed Indy car racing! Watching NASCAR "taxi cab" races here is horrible, I've been to 4 of them & I wont ever go back for another! This track was built for open wheel cars that could go 230+MPH not big old taxi cabs that do 180mph & can't pass each other! Attendance at the Brickyard 400 is plummeting big time because it sucks so bad! Indy is back on the rise with T. George gone & its headed back to the way it used to be now!

 

[insontis]

Finally have an update for this - and a great one at that! I had this item listed on eBay for a few months now at around 480-550 OBO. I've gradually lowered the price every month or two until I started getting attention. I've had a watcher at two times and an offer of spot price. A few days ago I lowered the piece to 439.99 BIN shipped. This morning I arrived home to find it sold & paid for! As happy as I am about the sale, its kind of bitter sweet to me. I was actually content with holding onto it - especially for the price I was selling it for - just because its the biggest chunk of silver I own. That's okay though, I'll just have to find another!

 

[insontis]

This reminds me - is anyone familiar with the best method for shipping a large plate?

 

[RJGMC]

NICE JOB! Now to find the next treasure. Treasure hunting is kind of like bass fishing, treasure in many forms and bass, are where you find them!

RJGMC
HI BOB!

 

[insontis]

NICE JOB! Now to find the next treasure. Treasure hunting is kind of like bass fishing, treasure in many forms and bass, are where you find them!

RJGMC
HI BOB!

Thanks Bob; good to hear from you.

 

[diggummup]

This reminds me - is anyone familiar with the best method for shipping a large plate?

Shouldn't be too hard, it's not fragile. I'd wrap it in bubble wrap and pack in a box. It doesn't look that big. One of those flat rate medium boxes might fit, the flat ones not the square cube type. Just make sure you insure it (I prefer ebay's shipcover ins.) and send it with signature confirmation.

Here's the box, dimensions are- Size: 13 5/8" x 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" You could always cover it with brown paper to disguise it, if you don't want to ship it flat rate. Maybe cut the box down a slight bit so it isn't the exact size they use, if you choose to disguise it and ship it cheaper.

 

[insontis]

Shouldn't be too hard, it's not fragile. I'd wrap it in bubble wrap and pack in a box. It doesn't look that big. One of those flat rate medium boxes might fit, the flat ones not the square cube type. Just make sure you insure it (I prefer ebay's shipcover ins.) and send it with signature confirmation.

Here's the box, dimensions are- Size: 13 5/8" x 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" You could always cover it with brown paper to disguise it, if you don't want to ship it flat rate. Maybe cut the box down a slight bit so it isn't the exact size they use, if you choose to disguise it and ship it cheaper.

Thanks! Do you know the cost to ship using the flat rate box you mentioned? I do have a box Ivan use to ship it, but am not sure what shipping method to use as far as what's cheapest. Is first class the way to go still?

 

[jerseyben]

Thanks! Do you know the cost to ship using the flat rate box you mentioned? I do have a box Ivan use to ship it, but am not sure what shipping method to use as far as what's cheapest. Is first class the way to go still?

You know, you can get real time price quotes directly from usps.com...

 

[diggummup]

You know, you can get real time price quotes directly from usps.com...

I just use the master list... DMM Notice 123 Price List