Mayor Frank Bogert poses with Keith McCormick and Connie Pettit, then manager of Time Warner Cable and a volunteer with the car auction, next to a 1959 Rolls-Royce outside of the Palm Springs International Airport. / Courtesy of Keith McCormick
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Keith McCormick, president of Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions, recalls that In the early 1980s, he worked with Frank Bogert to bring more tourists to Palm Springs.
"In those days, he controlled City Hall with a very hands-on approach," McCormick said. "If it was good for the city, he would circumvent channels we use today.
"We had just produced the Vintage Grand Prix Car Races in 1985 and I went to see him at City Hall about starting an antique car auction event. His first reaction was, 'We tried that a few years back and the guys were crooks.'
"I explained that this would be very upmarket and honestly run. His reply was, 'OK go and do one. If it is a disaster, I will deny giving you permission. If it is a success I will get the city ordinance changed to allow them in the city.'
"As they say the rest is history, as we now enter our 24th year of antique car auctions."
The picture shows Mayor Bogert ,myself ,and Connie Pettit in a press shot for the first Auction with a 1959 Rolls-Royce outside the airport.
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