FRANKLIN, Tenn. -

With headliners such as REO Speedwagon, the Steve Miller Band and Travis Tritt, it’s certainly a music-filled summer at four ServNet auctions. Three operations already conducted special events where guitar music filled the air while yet another site is rolling out the final plans for tunes to be the focal point of entertainment.

One of the largest events held annually is the Rock & Roll Sale at DAA Northwest in Spokane, Wash. DAA Northwest’s signature promotional event featured REO Speedwagon and local favorites The Cronkites on July 17.

The two-event event began with a fleet/lease and select dealer consignment sale that featured a closed Ford factory sale, bikes from Harley-Davidson Financial Services and vehicles from Bank of America, Avis Budget Group, Ally Auto Remarketing, U.S. Bank, Santander Consumer USA and more.

That evening, DAA Northwest’s gates opened and guests poured in for complimentary appetizers, beverages and a night of rock 'n'  roll. Vice president and general manager Greg Mahugh, joined with Pat Simmons and other long-time members of The Cronkites for a set that included acoustic, classic and current favorites. Simmons, who plays drums and provides vocals for the band, manages DAA Northwest’s e-commerce department.

REO Speedwagon followed The Cronkites and provided a high-energy show that included the band’s greatest hits from the ’70s and ’80s.

“We absolutely loved The Cronkites and had an amazing time,” said Eric Autenrieth, owner and general manager of Indiana Auto Auction, who was in Spokane for an Auction Academy session that took place in conjunction with the Rock & Roll Sale.

The next day, main event sale brought dealers back to the auction as DAA Northwest treated their spouses to a catered Lake Coeur d'Alene cruise.

Management highlighted the market was strong and consistent all day long with clean, low-mileage units performing especially well. The 63-percent sale culminated with $30,000 in post-sale prizes.

Customers Enjoy a Rockin’ Good Time at Brasher’s Backstage

Customers and staff from Brasher’s Northwest Auto Auction and Brasher’s Portland Auto Auction took a break from their normal weekly routines in the auction lanes to enjoy some classic American rock on a warm summer evening in Portland, Ore.

Dubbed Brasher’s Backstage, the event included promotional sales at Brasher’s Northwest on June 26 and at Brasher’s Portland Auto Auction on June 27 with a combined total of more than 3,000 cars, trucks, SUV's, and RV's.

Customers then converged at McMenamin's Edgefield Amphitheater in Portland on June 27 for an outdoor concert featuring the Steve Miller Band, rocking out to some of the group’s greatest hits, including “Swingtown,” “Take the Money and Run,” “Rock 'N Me,” and “Fly Like an Eagle.”

Prior to the concert, dealers had a chance to make their own music at both auctions, participating in drawings for prizes that included acoustic and electric guitars.

At a buffet dinner in Portland on June 27, customers also vied for Steve Miller Band memorabilia at a special customer raffle.

“Following the success of last year’s Barefoot in Bluegrass event, we expected a big turn-out,” said Jerry Hinton, general manager at Brasher’s Portland Auto Auction. “But word spread even farther than we had anticipated, and we enjoyed the concert with nearly 500 customers and friends.”

Dealers turned out in force on sale day at Brasher’s Northwest AA on June 26 to bid on a wide selection of vehicles in the lanes. Featured consignors that day included Bank of America, Wheels, ARI, RSA, Capital One, Reliable Credit, Wells Fargo Dealer Services, Exeter Finance, Credit Concepts, Lithia Auto Sales, Kendall Auto Group, Hertz Car Sales, Kiefer Mazda/Kia and Butler Acura Hyundai.

Customers stayed late, hoping to hear their names called during the drawings for electric and acoustic guitars.

Concert day was a busy one at Brasher’s Portland AA, which welcomed customers to a day of auction action that included consignments from Repo Remarketing, Prestige Financial, Wells Fargo, Boeing, Reliable Credit, OnPoint, DTG, Avis, Enterprise, Toyota of Ti Cities, Bud Clary Dealerships, Town & Country, Courtesy Ford, Ron Tonkin Dealerships, Hannah Dealerships, and Thomas Auto Sales.

Dealers enjoyed finger foods throughout the day and promotions in each lane, which included drawings for gift cards, auction credits, Brasher's Backstage t-shirts, hats and gas cards.

At 3:30 p.m., customers and staff from Brasher's Northwest Auto Auction arrived to join the Portland crowd for a buffet dinner at the auction, with a “finger-lickin’” spread that included a pig roast, ribs, salad and all the fixings, and guitar music to warm up the crowd provided by Craig Irby.

Following the dinner and raffle drawings, the group boarded shuttles to McMenamin's Edgefield Amphitheater.

“Brasher’s Backstage was a terrific promotion for both our auctions,” said Mark Melton, general manager at Brasher’s Northwest AA. “We had great sales at both locations, and everyone enjoyed changing gears to spend a beautiful summer evening listening to great music in the company of friends and colleagues. We’ll all be talking about this one for a long time and are already planning year's event.”

KCI Kansas City Prepares for Cars and Guitars

Finally, Guitars and Cars, known as the Midwest's Biggest Auto Auction Event, is KCI Kansas City’s premiere promotional sale of the year. Scheduled for Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, the two-day sale will offer customers 2,000 cars, trucks and SUV's.

“Guitars and Cars has always been a record breaking sale for us and we’re expecting the trend to continue. We are anticipating double if not triple consignment at this year's event,” said Doug Doll, co-owner of KCI Kansas City.

The two-day sale will begin on Wednesday with a mid-morning sale offering customers 500 fleet, lease and dealer consigned units. The consignment will feature units from Enterprise Holdings, Avis Budget Group, ARI, Credit Acceptance by VRS, Overland West – A Hertz Franchise and other remarketers. It will also feature consignment from some of the Midwest’s finest dealerships.

Later that evening, the auction welcomes customers and their guests to the Guitars and Cars private party and concert featuring Travis Tritt live on the KCI stage.

“His distinctive sound, containing elements of country-rock and southern-rock will captivate the audience and deliver an outstanding show,” Doll said.

Thursday morning welcomes customers to the action-packed lanes for the Guitars and Cars Main Event Sale offering more than 1,500 vehicles with Hyundai Motor Finance holding its inaugural sale.

Doll highlighted that any customer participating in the two-day sale will have a chance to win part of $20,000 in post-sale prize giveaways.

“Each year, we try to raise the bar with this promotion and our entertainer, hoping to draw more guests to the event. This year, I think we've done just that. I think it will be our biggest yet,” Doll said.

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