AUBURN – Three auctions will compete for attention from the car lovers who flock to Auburn this Labor Day weekend, but the major players Wednesday showed they're playing nice.

Representatives from the three auction companies took turns at the lectern introducing their events during a news conference at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. Auctions America by RM, Classical Event Auctions and Worldwide Auctioneers all will conduct sales open to the general public beginning late next week.

After the collapse of Kruse International this year, many wondered whether there would be a marquee event this Labor Day weekend, as the Kruse classic car auction has been for decades.

And there was speculation the bad publicity surrounding Dean Kruse and his company's financial woes would hurt Auburn's desirability as a car lover's destination.

In July, Canada-based RM Auctions announced it would buy the former Kruse Auction Park and conduct its own Labor Day event in the wake the state's revocation of Kruse International's auctioneer's license. A newly created subsidiary, Auctions America by RM, will run the show.

In the weeks between Kruse's collapse and RM Auctions' announcement, Worldwide Auctioneers, which has held a high-end sale in Auburn for several years, announced it would expand its 2010 show to include a more casual general-admission sale.

And another newly formed company, Classical Event Auctions, announced a new auction near DeKalb High School.

Worldwide Auctioneers has said the expansion of its event was a result of customer demand, not directly related to the absence of Kruse International. And Greg Peterson, Classical Event Auctions' president and owner, has said he wants to echo the laid-back atmosphere of past Kruse auctions.

On Wednesday, representatives from all three companies said they expect healthy sales – even Peterson's startup, which has consigned a highly desirable Model J Duesenberg and some Ferraris.

"Very exciting stuff for a first-year auction company," he said. "We're thrilled to death."

Ken Wallace, general manager of Auctions America by RM, said his company's July 7 purchase of the park meant it had only a few weeks to begin advertising for a show.

RM has slightly less than 1,000 vehicles consigned and has been busy remodeling the auction park buildings inside and out, including adding new lighting and making upgrades to the grounds.

"We're going to continue to expand and build," he said.

The auctions will join a full lineup of events at the museums and put on by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, which will run a shuttle bus to all three auctions.

Bill Hohler, festival board vice president, said the buzz he's hearing now is positive, compared with the less-than-favorable light being shed on Auburn just a few months ago. "I've been telling people kind of privately I think it's going to be a transition year," he said.

"But we're really excited about what's going to transpire next week."

aturner@jg.net