Thu, 1 Dec 2005, 12:01 PM Special CARA Charities Autoweek Auction Brings Impressive Motorsports Collectibles

Courtesy of Tom Blattler Car Parts, Uniforms, Helmets, Autographed Racing Art Up For Grabs Starting Nov. 28

SPEEDWAY, Ind. --

Capps with crank shaft.

The annual Autoweek Magazine racing auction for CARA Charities brings some of the most impressive motorsports memorabilia for the enthusiast.

And the 2005 auction is no different.

In addition to making your racing fan's holiday season with a special "one-of-a-kind" gift, the proceeds from the auction will go to a great cause with CARA Charities, one of auto racing's leading charitable organizations. Assisting needy causes from children's charities to racing ministries to school scholarships, CARA Charities has donated more than $4 million since founder Betty Rutherford began the charitable group 25 years ago.

The list of items in this year's Autoweek auction will make any racing fan's mouth water when the collectibles become available on Monday, Nov. 28. Bids will conclude on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at noon (EST). To place a bid in the CARA Charities' Autoweek Auction, send a bid to Darleen White at http://dmwhite@crain.com. Highest bidders will be notified by White and must send a certified check or money order to Autoweek by Friday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m.

Now comes the most important information - the coveted collectibles up for auction.

* Glass table made from the crankshaft of the Brut Funny Car engine of driver Ron Capps and Don Schumacher Racing. The crankshaft was actually used in Capps' car at the Mile High Nationals in Denver.

* Formula One Post Race Photo of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello and autographed by both drivers.

* A 2005 Pacific Care MOMO driving uniform of Champ Car driver Bruno Junqueira.

* An Autographed Helmet of the entire field of the 2005 Freedom 100 Infiniti Pro Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It marked the first competition at the famed racing facility for drivers Marco Andretti and Al Unser III.

* A camera shroud from the Marlboro Team Penske Toyota Indy car driven by Sam Hornish Jr. It is signed by Hornish and teammate Helio Castroneves.

* A Toyota RV8F Cam Cover (made of billet aluminum and mounted on plexiglass) from the 2002 Champ Car season, last of it kind. The same type of Cam Cover that led to the Manufacturers Championship and Driver Crown (Cristiano da Matta).

* A framed Randy Owens Lithograph of the Top 10 Drivers in the 2004 IRL IndyCarR Series and signed by the artist and the Top 3 drivers (Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon and Buddy Rice).

* Framed event tickets (some autographed by the winner) of each race on the 2004 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford. Autoweek and CARA Charities will pay for postage and handling of the gifts. Each year the Autoweek Auction produces some of the unique gift for the racing fans and helps collect needed funds for a variety of causes through CARA Charities.

For additional information, contact CARA Charities at (317) 299-2277 or http://carachar@aol.com.