Big plans for a new sale site
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• Mike Gray doesn't lack courage. The former Commercial Vehicle Auctions executive has set up a new sale at Donington Park, next door to the famous motor racing circuit, under the TruckAuctionsUK banner. He's worldng in partnership with Andrew Walker, who has been operations director at National Car Auctions and remarketing manager at Mann Egerton Vehicle Contracts.
The partners are also involved with car and motorcycle auctions under the umbrella of The Auction Group.
Gray contends that there is plenty of room for another truck auction, despite the stiff competition.
"We aim to provide a higher level of service to both vendor and buyer than the opposition, especially when it comes to, for example, vehicle preparation," he says. "We've already received a tremendous amount of interest in what we are doing."
Sales are being held once a month, always on a Monday, with an anticipated 150-200 entries. They will include trucks and light commercials, although Gray plans to hold separate van auctions in a few months' time.
The regular venue will be Donington Park's exhibition centre, where vendors will include a number of well known leasing companies, says Gray, including Lex Transfleet.
Aside from the magic of the name ("it's one hell of an address", he remarks), Donington boasts acres of space, top-notch security and easy access: it's a few miles from Derby, close to Junctions 23A arid 24 on the Mr and virtually next door to East Midlands Airport. That should help the new sale attract overseas buyers, Gray believes.
"A lot of Irish buyers have already rung me to inquire about future sale dates," he adds.
Sales are scheduled for 17 July; 14 August; is September; 16 October; 13 November; and II December.