A piece of history: Dr. Keith Brown's racing collection auction in Onsted

Racing enthusiasts will have a chance to bid on a unique collection Saturday, May 17, starting at 9:30 a.m. at 11185 W. US-223 in Onsted.

According to a community announcement, the Dr. Keith Brown Collection Auction will take place at his home Saturday, and will feature a variety of racing memorabilia, cars and collectibles that reflect Brown's lifelong passion for racing.

Brown grew up in Estherville, Iowa, where he developed a love of racing at an early age. He and his brothers raced scooters, cars and homemade go-carts. In 1961, Brown attended Palmer College of Chiropractic and expressed a desire for a Triumph TR3 to drive to school. Instead, his father purchased a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette, which would later become a significant part of his story.

After graduating from chiropractic college, Brown settled in West Union, Iowa, where he started his practice. To fund his new business, he sold the Corvette to buy an x-ray machine. That decision marked the beginning of his journey as a chiropractor and a racer.

In 1966, Brown fulfilled his racing dream by purchasing a Formula Vee. He attended several racing schools to prepare for competition. Racing quickly became a family affair, with his wife Mary and their daughter Shelly joining him at the tracks.

Brown's commitment to racing led him to relocate his practice and family to be closer to the tracks he loved. He mapped out the racetracks in the Midwest and decided to move to Onsted to make racing more accessible. His family continued to grow, with the addition of his son Scott, who also took an interest in racing.

Over the years, Brown never forgot about the Triumph TR3 he'd wanted as a teenager. He eventually found a 1958 model and expanded his collection to include more racecars and memorabilia. Tragically, in the 2000s, Mary was diagnosed with ALS and died, prompting Brown to step back from racing.

Shelly, following in her father's footsteps, attended chiropractic school and took over the family practice. Brown later reconnected with his nurse, Janet, who had also experienced loss. They married and continued to enjoy car shows and racing together while adding to Brown's collection.

Brown was known for his sense of humor and his skills as a racecar driver. He often joked about the importance of having toys, saying, “He who drives and dies with the most toys, as they say.” He lived by this motto until his health declined, leading to his death.

The upcoming auction will feature several notable items from Brown's collection. Among the highlights are SCCA British racecars, including an Elva Mark IV that has ties to Doug Shierson. The collection also boasts multiple Triumph TR3s, a rare Lotus Elan S4 Roadster, and a 2005 Lotus Elise.

In addition to cars, the auction will showcase a variety of gas and oil memorabilia, including pumps, signs and DX collectibles.

For those unable to attend in person, online bidding will be available. More information, including a catalog and bidding details, can be found at vanderbrinkauctions.com. The auction promises to be an exciting event for collectors and racing fans alike.

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This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Dr. Keith Brown Collection Auction: Rare cars, memorabilia to be sold