Life sure can take some unexpected turns. And often times it does not afford an opportunity to say goodbye.
For me, one of the annual highlights of the Mecum Motorcycle Auction in Las Vegas was seeing my good friend John Kraman, who worked as the lead announcer for the Mecum television broadcasts since 2008.
Kraman was a wealth of information, a motorcycle lover and a lot of fun to be around. I enjoy a great conversation and few were better than Kraman. I was so looking forward to seeing him in just a couple weeks at the 2025 auction.
This morning I got the unfortunate news that Kraman passed away last night.
I was already preparing to impress my astute friend with some fresh motorcycle stories at the next auction. I had a lot to tell him about a rare Kawasaki Z2 and a 193-mile Z1 I covered at the Throttlestop Museum recently.
I liked to call him “The Human Encyclopedia” because Kraman was so knowledgeable on cars, bikes and various other topics.
We would go out to dinner and talk about motorcycles for hours.
For the past five years I was blessed to be a part of an intimate dinner with Kraman and three of his other close friends that John would insist on picking up the entire tab for. With five guys passionate and knowledgeable about motorcycles it was like an entertaining podcast over steak.
It’s another memory I will hold dear.
John owned many motorcycles. He was a former KZ 1300 owner and loved his vintage Kawasakis. One year he brought his KZ 1300 to the auction to sell as he needed some garage space. He fired it up right on the auction floor to, as he put it, “attract some attention to the bike.” He had me laughing. The start-up didn’t last long in the restrictive casino as even a man of his ranking was quickly shut down by the hotel staff.
Last year he bought his very first Harley when he came down from the announce booth to bid on a 100th anniversary model.
The auctioneers were giving their special friend a hard time. “It’s not as easy down there is it,” the auctioneer joked to Kraman as he was getting outbid.
It’s a moment I captured on video and another memory I will hold dear.
Kraman texted me later in the year that for another $1,500 at his local dealer he had a very solid street Harley for under $6,000.
After the auction one year we went for a ride to the Hoover Damn and toured some very old casinos. I was just astounded at how much Kraman knew about these topics as well. He didn’t drink, he didn’t smoke, fascinating conversation and endless facts were his only vices. I respected that greatly.
When he visited Harrisburg, Pa. I made sure to invite him to the “Burning Bridge Tavern” in Wrightsville, Pa. as I knew he would enjoy the location’s historical significance in the Civil War and how the townspeople burned an important bridge to stop a Confederate advance. I was right because we talked about it for hours.
No conversation would get too far away from cars and bikes. He had the bar staff turn the Mecum Auction coverage on the TV and hoped some would notice it and come to the auction the next day. Afterwards I took him outside to show him my Suzuki Hayabusa. He sat on it with a big grin on his face and said next time he would ride it.
It did not matter what we were doing, John was fun to talk to. It’s the simple memories that mean the most. Perhaps there is a valuable life lesson there.
Above all he was a great man and I will miss him dearly. The auction will not be the same without him. It’s yet another reminder to tell those who you care about that you do. In Kraman’s case I hope he knew how much I looked up to him and valued his friendship.
I think he did.
Godspeed John.
Mecum put out the following, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of one of Mecum’s cornerstones, John Kraman. John played a pivotal role in the growth and success of Mecum Auctions, serving as a consignment director and becoming the unmistakable voice of Mecum since our television debut in 2008. His dedication to positioning our brand in the best possible light was more than a career—it was his life’s mission. John set the standard for excellence, demanding accuracy, precision and the highest quality in everything we did. He wasn’t just part of Mecum Auctions; he was Mecum Auctions, living and breathing its essence every day. A mentor, a legend, a Mecum cornerstone, our family. Thank you, John.”
I had the great pleasure of interviewing John in the video below. Please check it out.
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