For many people, cars are just a mode of transportation. But for others, they are more like a member of the family. Cars are a right of passage when you’re old enough to drive. You remember the car that you got married in, or even that car your brother had or the one the cool guy in high school had? This auction has two stories of how cars played a part in the lives of our sellers and the special meanings those cars hold to them.
For Harley Moser, he remembered looking through his brother’s Hot Rod magazines and seeing all the cool cars and hoping maybe someday he would have a car like the ones on the pages. Harley grew up on a ranch by Selby, South Dakota and raised more horses than horsepower, but when he had the chance to test out real horsepower, he had a 1966 Ford Mustang 2+2 and boy it was fast. Well, a little too fast. He wound up wrecking it. Luckily, the only thing that was hurt was his pride.
The Mosers
Harley grew up saying his favorite things were fast horses, fast cars, good cattle, and beautiful women. It was after a rodeo that he met his beautiful “brown-eyed gal,”Barb. They fell in love, got married and were excited to start a family. Their first born was a boy, Justin. Growing up on a ranch, you notice when an animal is sick. It was this instinct that saved their little man’s life. Harley noticed that something wasn’t right with their baby. They rushed him to Bismarck and with a good doctor and medication, their baby survived. Justin was diagnosed with a congenital adrenal disease. Soon another baby, and yet another diagnosis. His sister, their second child, Molly, also had the disease. It was a challenge, but with medication, the kids grew up and enjoyed ranch life in South Dakota.
Barb and Justin
Life was good on the ranch and Harley finally had the chance to fulfill his childhood dream, buying those muscle cars he read about in Hot Rod Magazine. Harley started buying MoPar collector cars as a future savings account for Barb and him. But it wasn’t long, and another crisis arose for the Moser Family, Barb was diagnosed with cancer. Chemo, radiation, and doctor’s appointments ensued. Barb fought hard, but ultimately lost the battle with cancer. Harley lost his brown-eyed gal.
Justin today
The years passed and Justin started to show signs of the adrenal disease and Molly was also still doctoring. Harley says, “Life is a ruler, and you only get so many inches in time,” and it was time to cash in the savings account and take care of his children. Harley will be selling his collection of amazing MoPar collector cars and more to pay for his children’s medical bills. Justin is in need of a kidney transplant and is on dialysis.
Friends have rallied around the Moser Family. The Moser family was tight with the Haux family and Shari was raised by Barb’s family and accounts them for saving her life. Shari’s husband, Fred Haux, passed away and Shari knew it was time to pay back the family that helped her. Shari donated Fred’s 1969 Ford Fairlane with Cobra Jet motor to the Moser family to be sold at the auction June 3rd to help the Moser Children.
Harley’s savings account of MoPars includes a barn-fresh 1970 Charger RT, a beautiful 1970 Plymouth GTX, 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner, 1973 Dodge Dart Sport with 340 4-speed, and more items. They all will be sold at auction on Friday June 3rd, 2022 as part of the Droog-Moser Auction at the Kerry Droog farm outside Mobridge. It’s amazing how his love of old cars and their sale will help to save and raise money to help his children.
A little backstory on Kerry Droog
Kerry Droog grew up on the Missouri River by Mobridge, South Dakota. Kerry says that this was the best life. Fishing, riding motorcycle, and playing with the neighbor kids. Being the son of an auctioneer, Droog Auctioneering, Kerry remembers as soon as he was old enough, he was holding up plates and working the auctions with his family. He enjoyed looking at all the old stuff they sold at the auctions and started collecting at a young age. When he was old enough, going to auction school was a right of passage. Kerry and his brother went off to Mason City, IA to auction school. They got back home and Kerry helped for over 20 years. Kerry would often bring home more than he made that day. His dad would always say, “What you want with all that old stuff?” But Kerry would load it up and store it away. Now being West River South Dakota, Kerry didn’t want a car, but a pickup when he could drive. He bought a 1951 Willys CJ2A Jeep and hit the Prairie. Pickups and cars have always been a part of his life. He met his wife, Barb, while hanging out on the tailgate of a truck. This good-Looking gal came up and said, “I like you and your truck.” That was it, they dated and were married.
Military vehicles are part of the Droog collection
Kerry’s brother was in the military, Kerry started collecting military and civilian Dodge Power Wagons as well. When Kerry was younger, he started working at UPS and still does today and has done every job from sweeping floors to wearing a suit. They say a rolling stone gathers no moss, that is so true for Kerry. Always working and going. Kerry bought a salvage yard, K and K Auto in 1999 in Mobridge, South Dakota and was able to play with all the cars and trucks he wanted. Kerry had a chance and sold the salvage yard about 4 years ago, but had collected a nice collection of Jeeps, Power Wagons, and square-body pickups, and more.
Soon Kerry realized that he wasn’t getting any younger and didn’t want to leave his many collections for his wife and kids to contend with. Kerry wanted more time to ride motorcycle with spend time with his bride. So, Kerry has decided to sell his collection of many years of gas and oil collectibles along with over 60 antique vehicles, antique tractors, and more. The collection has day 1 Friday June 3rd, 2022 selling the collector trucks and pickups, Power Wagons, tractors, and parts. Saturday, June 4th, will kick off selling hundreds of signs, along with gas pumps, and much more. Kerry wants everyone to enjoy the years of collecting and treasures he’s found.
Both the Moser and Droog Collections have something for everyone and with a good cause
to boot. The collections have wonderful vehicles that will sell on Day 1, Friday, June 3rd, 2022. The Moser collection will help his children and check out the lifelong collection that Kerry acquired through years of collection. Come back for day 2 on Saturday, June 4th, 2022 for the Droog Sign, Gas Pumps, and more collection. The auction will be held onsite with online bidding. But you’ll want to come and spend a couple days out in South Dakota and maybe even take in a day of walleye fishing on the Missouri River. For more information, catalog, and more auctions www.vanderbrinkauctions.com or give us a call 605-201-7005.
Yvette VanDerBrink
The Salvageprincess
VanDerBrink Auctions, LLC
www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
605-201-7005
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