ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 2, 1996 TAG: 9604020059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
From a pair of custom-made ostrich skin boots to the home in which he raised his children, much of Bobby Allison's memories have been sold at auction.
Rocky Neason, of Trussville, Ala., paid $210 for the boots. He said the size 10 would fit him, but he planned to display them with other racing collectibles.
James and Kathy Bennett bought one of 14 wide and smooth racing tires signed by the racing legend.
The Allisons, whose lives on the racetrack have been filled with tragedy, auctioned off much of their personal property to pay for his medical bills after a career-ending crash. The couple is also considering a divorce.
Judy Allison stood solemnly with friends in the carport of her mother-in-law's house, watching neighbors and strangers casually inventory the contents of her family's home and life.
Auctioneers began by selling the furniture that had filled their ranch-style house in Hueytown, Ala. It was there that Allison built the racing empire that claimed the lives of their two sons and nearly claimed his.
``Its an emotional time,'' Mrs. Allison said.
The five-bay garage that produced some of the fastest cars on the NASCAR circuit served as the warehouse for the bidding.
Racing memorabilia and miscellaneous items from bran muffin and hot cocoa mixes to plastic mugs and used running shoes, were displayed on rows of tables.
Allison recovered from severe head injuries sustained in the 1988 crash at Pocono, Pa., but his hospitalization and rehabilitation were long and costly.
Mrs. Allison said it consumed all of their savings.
About 300 people showed up for the auction.
Everything but the five-bedroom, four-bath house and its 1.5 acres on a lot sloping down to a small lake was sold to the highest bidder. The Allisons' neighbor placed the highest bid on the house, but they reserve the right to refuse the bid.
Lee Roberts said he expected the couple to accept his $250,000 bid. He built the house for them 26 years ago.
The retired builder said he wanted to buy the house so he could have some control over what happens to it. He plans to resell it.
``Bobby and Judy are both such fine people. I think they need each other now more than ever,'' Roberts said.
Roberts was not the only one with a personal connection to the Allisons who came to buy Saturday.
Charles L. LeCroy of Hoover, Ala., paid $2,000 for the 1940s Brunswick pool table in the Allisons' basement, where the leather-padded bar and the wall of trophy cases stood empty.
LeCroy found the table and moved it into the basement for Allison years ago. Allison paid $450 for it at the time, LeCroy said.
LeCroy insisted on having bid number 22 for the auction.
While Allison was best known for his No.12 Buick, his lone Winston Cup Championship came in 1983, when he was driving car No.22.
Fourteen racing tires signed by Allison sold at a clip. Those with gold rims sold for $90 each.
One very personal memento for the Allisons wasn't auctioned away. The handprints of four children, Davey, Clifford, Bonnie and Carrie, pressed into the drive when the house was being built, will be dug up for their parents to keep.
The youngest of the two sons, Clifford, was killed in a crash while practicing in August 1992 at Michigan International Speedway. Davey died in July 1993 after his helicopter crashed at Talladega Superspeedway.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB