America’s Ringman

“America’s Ringman”

I grew up in the auction and car business. I remember playing in all the cars at my dad’s auctions in Orlando and Cocoa Florida. But I also remember the action in the ring when all the ringmen were yelling, beating on the cars on the block in the ring and running around to the dealers trying to increase the bids. Some dealers would only work with certain ringmen, due to their style, technique or attitude. Several years ago and long after my memories of the early 70’s scurrying around my dad’s auction as a kid, I ran into a guy named Michael Steel at a classic car auction and his energy, attention and dedication took me back to the days of watching the ringmen at my dad’s auctions.

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Michael Steel has been in the auction business for over 20 years, serving as a ringman, and the now politically correct version “seller’s ambassador”. Michael is also an auctioneer and obtained his license in 1996. Each week he works a variety of dealer sales in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. Throughout the year, he is hired by the top auction houses in the nation, such as Leake Auction Company, Dan Kruse Classics, GAA Auctions, the Branson Auction, Motostalgia Auctions D’Elegance, GPK Auctions and Kruse Energy to serve as a ringman and seller’s ambassador. He has competed and placed in the World Automotive Auctioneer Championship on three occasions. Recently he has made appearances on four popular reality shows, Fast N’ Loud on Discovery and The Car Chasers on CNBC Prime, Dallas Car Sharks on Velocity and Bidding Wars on NBC Sports.  When he is not traveling to auctions, Michael spends time working on motorcycles in his bike shop, Bottoms Up Chop Shop and promoting Hoochie Shine, a bike and car cleaner he personally developed. Michael generously donates his free time to many charity auctions around the country such as the Make a Wish Foundation, the Arthritis Foundation, the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Oklahoma Aids Care Fund and the Child Protection Center.

As all of us in the classic car industry, Michael has a passion for what he does. He is personable and gives the bidders the proper attention needed to make them feel comfortable through the bidding process. We are proud to announce that Michael will be working with Myklassic NEWS giving us video auction updates during our upcoming 2017 News Casts.

Watch for Michael on our premier News Cast in February and follow his movements in the auction industry. If you have never attended a classic car auction, we highly recommend visiting one where “America’s Ringman” is present, Michael Steel.

Story by: Rick Duncan