Wilber Shaw's Leather Jacket Auctioned

[cosworth151]

A leather jacket presented to Wilber Shaw by the Champion Spark Plug Co. is being auctioned. The jacket is for the Champion 100 Miles Per Hour Club.

The unique jacket was presented to Shaw and 11 other Indianapolis 500 drivers by Champion spark plug ad executive, M.C. deWitt for being the first to surpass an average of 100 miles per hour during the Memorial Day weekend classic. DeWitt founded the ''Champion Spark Plugs 100 mph Club” in 1925. Shaw was the twelfth and last recipient of the special jackets. The brown leather jacket is fully lined and features a yellow club applique embroidered with Shaw’s name.

Shaw went on to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1937, 1938 and 1940 and would become president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945. He died in a plane crash in 1954. Also featured in the February 27 auction is a trophy awarded to Shaw for winning the 100-mile race at the Northampton track in 1926, when he was just 24 years old.

Bids are being accepted on line. I'll bet I'm not the only Indy fan here who would love to have this. I'll love to even just see it in person!

http://natedsanders.com/Wilbur-Shaws-1935-Indianapolis-500-Jacket----Give-LOT25583.aspx

[Dare]

minimum bid $12,500 

I don't like near that much

[Scott]

Na, looks a bit too worn to be worth all that 

[lkjohnson1950]

Maybe the Speedway museum will put in a bid, that would be a great place for it.

[John S]

Maybe the Speedway museum will put in a bid, that would be a great place for it.

Maybe it's them that's selling it, I've heard the speedway needs to improve it's cash flows.            

[lkjohnson1950]

No, it's part of the Shaw estate. The family is selling.