Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Bidding in the Air Fence Fund benefit auction on a made-to-order set of Barnacle Bill motorcycle leathers has reached $1325. The announcement that the winning bidder would receive half-a-page of exposure in Roadracing World magazine, in addition to the suit, drew out new bidder allan99acr, but outrace still holds the highest bid as the auction enters its final hours. The auction is due to end at 2:37 p.m. Eastern Time Friday, February 8.
Shortly after the close of the Barnacle Bill leathers sale Friday, the next item to benefit the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund will go on the auction website eBay.
Custom leather suit maker “Barnacle Bill” Burns has donated a custom-made set of his motorcycle leathers (in road race, flat track, speedway, drag race or street style) to be auctioned off with the proceeds, minus the cost of the eBay service, going to the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund.
Burns is offering to make a suit to the specifications of the winning bidder, as if they were a customer ordering one of his standard racer package deals, and Burns says, “The most important suit that I will ever make is the suit that I make for you.”
All of Barnacle Bill’s suits are custom-made from hand-selected 3.0-3.5-ounce leather, feature triple-stitched and glued seams from the inside of the garment to increase durability, come with plastic composite body armor, have optional venting, an optional aerodynamic hump, includes the rider’s name on the front and back and road race suits come with knee sliders. Additional lettering is available at an additional cost.
Virtually any design, color or combination of colors is available to the winning bidder. And the suit can be made in either a one-piece or two-piece design.
After their bid is received, the winning bidder’s name will be forwarded to Burns by Roadracing World. The bidder and Burns will then begin to work on the winning bidder’s new suit. Burns says that the suit will be ready to wear in approximately four weeks, if not earlier.
“Hurt racers don’t come back as customers,” said former racer Burns on why he is donating a suit to the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund. “I’ve hit something solid before, and it doesn’t feel good.”
Custom-made leather suits typically range in cost anywhere from $800 to well over $2000.
Although leathers are the most effective safety clothing worn by motorcyclists on the street and the racetrack today, sometimes well-made leathers are not enough. As a result, the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund was established to raise money to purchase and deploy Air Fence* and Air Module soft barriers to protect crashed riders from hitting walls and other hard objects at racetracks.
To go directly to the auction on eBay, click here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1802522825
*Air Fence is a trademark of Airfence Safety Systems of Australia