If you’re a fan of Easy Rider, Long Way Down, Mike Hailwood, bike racing or just rare bikes, then get ready to open the purse strings and buy yourself a belated Christmas present.
Charley and Ewan work on a bikeBikes belonging to Easy Rider stars, photos from Ewan McGregor’s and Charley Boorman’s Long Way Down, a Mike Hailwood bike and other historic and rare racing bikes will be up for auction in Las Vegas from Thursday (January 8).
The fifth annual Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction in Bally’s casino usually features an eclectic mix of items for auction which attracts worldwide attention and sets world records.
This year there are several motorcycles from the estate of the late, great actor Dennis Hopper who was also Easy Rider director, including a 2003 Indian Chief and 2006 Harley-Davidson VRSC “V-Rod”.
In keeping with the inseparable link forged between Hopper and Easy Rider co-star, a special edition 2007 MV Agusta F4-1000R superbike has been consigned by Peter Fonda.
Fellow Hollywood star Ewan McGregor features in a 32-piece framed collection of photos from the Long Way Down that are being auctioned with proceeds going to UNICEF. The photos capture scenes of the duo’s 2007 14,000km odyssey from Scotland to South Africa and is estimated to fetch up to $US7000.
Mike Hailwood’s MondialThe stellar motorcycle auction will also feature legendary racer Mike “The Bike“ Hailwood’s race-winning 1957 FB Mondial 250 Bialbero grand prix bike, a 1971 Ducati Desmo 450 “Silver Shotgun” and 1995 Ducati Supermono from the legendary Silverman Museum Racing collection.
There is also a big collection of rare Harleys including the earliest known Sportster, some race-tuned 1970s Daytona-racing BMWs, and a 1947 Vincent Rapide owned by larger-than-life British war hero “Mad Jack” Churchill.