TGR StaffIn the small town of Onsted, Michigan, just a stone’s throw from some of the Midwest’s most legendary circuits, a lifetime of horsepower, heritage, and humor is coming up for sale. The late Dr. Keith Brown, a chiropractor by profession, a racer by passion, and a collector by obsession, built more than just a collection of cars. He built a legacy fueled by octane and the American spirit of chasing speed at all costs.
On May [insert date], his family will offer the Dr. Keith Brown Collection at a live on-site auction, with online bidding available through VanDerBrink Auctions. What’s on the block is more than machinery; it’s a living, rolling memoir of a man who moved his entire life closer to the track.
From Iowa Roots to SCCA Races
Dr. Brown’s story begins in Estherville, Iowa, where childhood weekends weren’t spent watching cartoons but racing anything with wheels. From scooters to go-karts, Keith and his brothers were consumed by motion. That passion never waned. In 1961, Keith asked his father for a Triumph TR3 to take to Palmer College of Chiropractic. He got a 1962 Corvette instead—one that he would later sell to buy his first X-ray machine. That trade-off marked the beginning of a balancing act between vocation and vocation: healing patients and feeding a need for speed.
By 1966, the itch could no longer be ignored. He bought a Formula Vee and began competing across the Midwest, from Road America to Blackhawk Farms. It was never just about him—it was about the whole family. With his wife Mary, daughter Shelly, and later son Scott, racing became a family tradition, complete with a motorhome, trailer, and plenty of breakdowns that became part of the lore.
Eventually, Keith drew a bullseye around his favorite tracks and moved the entire family to Michigan so racing would be less of a weekend trek and more of a lifestyle.
A Collection Driven by Passion
What makes the Dr. Keith Brown Collection special is its deeply personal nature. Each car and collectible tells a story. There’s the 1958 Triumph TR3—his “dream car”—acquired decades after being denied that first one in college. The 1962 Corvette Roadster, a nod to the one he sacrificed to launch his career. A Formula Junior. A Lotus Super 7. And a rare Elva Mark IV with ties to famed team owner Doug Shierson, modified for Shierson’s tall frame and driven hard on Midwest tracks.
There’s also a photo of Keith standing next to a Lotus with Dick Smothers—yes, that Dick Smothers—who also dabbled in racing. And a more modern touch: a 2005 Lotus Elise, one of the last cars Keith drove before his passing.
But the auction isn’t just for race cars. There’s a treasure trove of automobilia—vintage gas pumps, classic oil signage, and Keith’s beloved DX-branded collectibles—testaments to his love of all things petrolicious.
Dr. Keith Brown: Legacy in Motion
Dr. Brown’s story doesn’t end with the cars. It continues through his daughter Shelly, who took over the family chiropractic practice, and through his wife Janet, who shared his later years collecting and showing cars. After losing Mary to ALS, Keith found love again with Janet, and together they added to the collection, drove to shows, and lived the kind of joy only car people truly understand.
“He who drives and dies with the most toys, wins,” Keith would say. By that measure, he left this world a champion.
The Auction
The Dr. Keith Brown Collection Auction promises to be a must-attend event for collectors, vintage racers, and dreamers alike. Whether you’re after a British roadster, a piece of SCCA history, or a neon sign that speaks to the golden era of American motoring, there’s something here that speaks to the soul.
For those who can’t make it to Michigan, online bidding is available through VanDerBrink Auctions. But if you can, pack your bags. Come for the cars, stay for the stories, and take home a piece of a life that revolved around racing.
The auction will be held on May 17th, 2025. For more information and a full catalog, visit www.vanderbrinkauctions.com, and watch a video walk-through of the collection on YouTube.
Images Courtesy of Vanderbrink Auctions
