Twitter is one of those social internet products that comes out of nowhere but changes everything. At first, when no one used it, it seemed like one of those web fads, destined to fail – the ultimate “vox clamantis in deserto” (“a voice crying out in the wilderness”). But once people adopted and used Twitter, its value as a social and communication medium soared. Now almost everyone uses it, from politicians to celebrities, and it is rare to find a day when you don’t hear about something that was “tweeted”on Twitter. And on rare occasions, a passing tweet can be a catalyst for change. This is what happened when race car driver Graham Rahal tweeted about auctioning off one of his helmets to benefit fellow driver Dan Weldon’s family.
Dan Wheldon was an Indy car driver who lost his life on October 16th when his car crashed and flipped over as part of a tragic 15-car pileup. When Graham tweeted that he was going to place one of his helmets up for auction, with the proceeds benefitting Dan Wheldon’s family, others joined in to help. The result is the Dan Wheldon memorial auction, with 100% of the benefits going to the Dan Weldon Family Trust Fund. There are many interesting and remarkable items being sold on the auction, and we wanted to tell you about a few of them.
According to our internal data, the most popular auction is for a Firestone Tire Table Signed by all 2011 Indianapolis 500 Participants.
While there are other auctions with higher bids, this one has garnered the most attention. From the auction description:
Signed by all 2011 Indianapolis 500 participants. Item has a glass top, to act as a table. It is set up like a table and has a real glass top. This is a display tire and not an actual race tire. It’s signed by all 33 Indy 500 starters from this year, and a handful of Indy Lights drivers as well.
Next up on the list is one of several helmets on auction. This one is for the Race Worn Jimmie Johnson Helmet (2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase).
Helmets are unique to the driver and are highly collectible items. Jimmie Johnson is a five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (2006 – 2010) and is currently placed 6th in the 2011 season. The helmet will only be available to the winner of this auction after the end of the current season. The price of the helmet is currently $20,000.
The second most expensive item on auction during this auction for the Dan Wheldon family trust is also a helmet. This one is the Dario Franchitti 2011 Championship Helmet from the World Championship in Las Vegas.
The auction description notes that this is a rare helmet, one of four in public circulation, and one of ten worn by Dario this year. The current price for this helmet is $12,000.
As expected, there are many racing items up for auction, but interestingly, there are many other remarkable items that have been donated by others as well. There is a surfboard from Kelly Slater, soccer player Hope Solo’s signed jersey, and even an Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning signed jersey.
Twitter has become a place where people go to galvanize like-minded individuals to support different causes. But it is also a place to express yourself, and people have indeed come to use it to document minutia in their lives, sometimes to the exasperation of friends and family. Dan Wheldon himself used it extensively to communicate with his fan base.
His final tweet on the day of the race that would take his life? “Green!!!”
This is a fantastic idea. What a great way to help the family.
I would like to post a Memorial Auction to help the family of my friend that was murdered in the Seal Beach, Ca. Salon Shooting on Oct. 12 2011
Friends, Land Rovers gather for shooting victim
Dave Caouette, 64, was parked in a lot outside the Seal Beach salon, shot through the windshield of his Land Rover.
SEAL BEACH – Land Rover drivers from as far as San Diego and Kern counties lined up their trucks in front of Patty’s Place Restaurant on Monday to pay tribute to Dave Caouette.
A longtime Land Rover and off-roading enthusiast, Caouette, 64, was sitting inside his customized truck Wednesday afternoon when, police say, Scott Dekraai shot him through the front windshield and passenger window of his Land Rover Discovery.
Caouette, a Seal Beach husband and father of three grown children, was the last of nine people shot in Orange County’s worst slaying, in which eight people died. Friends said he had just pulled into the parking lot to visit Patty’s, one of his favorite restaurants and next to the salon where the shootings occurred.
Outside, friends and fellow Land Rover enthusiasts had called upon other off-roaders to show up with their vehicles in the parking lot in a show of respect for Caouette and his family.
At least 18 responded to the call, lining the parking lot around the empty space where Caouette had been parked – a space now adorned with flowers, candles, photos and a toy Land Rover.
“(The) Southern California Land Rover Club is a pretty tight-knit group,” he said. “And this is a big loss. We wanted to be here for his family.”
Way to hijack the response, Darrin.
As for the Wheldon auction, it’s cool that people want to help out his family. Just realize that his net worth was in the millions of dollars…I think the guy had a car collection worth more than a million dollars, not to mention property, insurance payouts, etc. His wife and kids are not going to do without, now or in the future. I understand that this auction is more for sentimental reasons than money. I’m saying this to wake up the ones who think that his family is suffering financially, because with a rumored net worth of over $15M, I guarantee you that they aren’t. His wife could sell that car collection for more than it’s worth and have more money than most of his fans will make in 25 years. Donate your money to a charity that actually needs the money, and send his wife your condolences.
To the person below – Frank
Don’t judge until you’re in their position.
She shouldn’t have to change her lifestyle because she lost her husband.
You go Graham! Great job with the auction.
I am interested in Dan’s book LIONHEART.
are there any Weldon memorial car stickers to be had
@Alan: Take a look here. Thanks!.