Mecum’s John Kraman was a special car guy. It’s Monterey’s turn to say goodbye.

Mecum Auctions first came to Monterey Car Week in 2009. With them they brought a television crew, a growing audience for live action on the auction block and a car expert like few others.

Dave Faries here, understandably saddened by John Kraman’s absence this year. He died unexpectedly in January from leukemia, making this Mecum’s first trip to Monterey without the man his broadcast partner, Scott Hoke, called “The Professor.”

I first met Kraman when he stopped by the Weekly’s office a month or two before Car Week in 2018, shortly after I arrived in Monterey. I came down the stairs knowing only that people from the auction house wanted to chat for a minute, so it was a bit of a surprise. “J.K.,” I said, with an exclamation point. He snapped his head around, equally startled. “A viewer,” he responded—correctly; I have watched Mecum broadcasts since happening upon one while channel surfing in 2009.

Now, I would like to say that he became a friend. He did, but Kraman was that rare sort that made everyone feel welcomed. To people like me that he spoke to for a few moments once a year, he would give a smile and say, “Do you still have that Mercedes?”

He had a knowledge of cars as rich and deep as a university library. The information he provided live on the air about the color options offered by Chevrolet in 1955, the upgrades made in the 1967 Dodge lineup, even the boardroom debates that led to certain design features—those were all off the top of his head. During our conversation for this week’s Face to Face feature, Hoke told me of the time Kraman called to inform him he had downloaded information on every option available for the new Corvette. “I’ll print a copy for you,” he added.

Yet it was Kraman who wanted to hear your thoughts on cars. Reporting on a story about design changes over time, I asked automotive experts to select one car that defined each era. Kraman’s initial response was, “What are yours?” And he had questions about each of my choices.

In 2019, I had the idea of a behind-the-scenes story on the Mecum broadcast. I spent time in the broadcast truck, with camera crews. In early morning breakfasts and production meetings and more, all for a feature to run during Car Week in 2020.

Lesson learned. Never work so far ahead. A pandemic is likely to make that effort moot.

One morning before the auction, I sat with Kraman in the broadcast booth as he checked the order in which cars would cross the block. “What do you think of the new Corvette?,” asked the man who could now reel off every option from memory. Hoping to sound vaguely informed, I managed to stammer something about Chrysler reverting to the muscle car look of the 1960s while the Corvette people were turning to European exotics for inspiration. Kraman nodded. “You’re right,” he said. “So do you think…”

He made it seem as if you were a car guy on his level. And he listened to what you said with interest. That’s a rare trait in someone so knowledgeable—about any subject.

Hoke says it has been the same at each stop on the Mecum Auctions circuit. Kraman’s many friends want to tell their stories and share condolences. This has been the first year at places like Kissimmee, Indianapolis, Houston and Glendale without Kraman’s presence. And that is so in Monterey.

On Saturday of Car Week last year, I rushed from an event to catch the final cars of the auction cross Mecum’s block. As I hurried toward the tent, I met Kraman and his wife, heading for their car. The broadcast was over and he was off to look at more cars.

“See you next year,” I said. “You bet, my friend,” he replied. 

It will be a different Car Week without John Kraman.