There are plenty of memories for Bob Warkow at the old State Fair Park.

For decades, he visited the fair in north Lincoln twice a year, making sure to check out the loud cars at the grandstand.

"Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper," he says.

Saturday, Warkow and other buyers from around the state looked to hold on to some of the history at a decent price at an auction of surplus fair items.

The auction continues today, beginning at noon. It's one of the last chances fair-goers have to reminisce before the fair moves to Grand Island next year.

Warkow's eye was on a pair of three-wheeled scooters - they're rare, he says; only 23 of the same model exist - and an old, black-and-white panoramic photograph of the grandstand.

"My dad and I used to come to the races and watch them," he remembered, standing beside a row of vehicles on auction.

The fairgrounds' usual pageantry was missing Saturday.

There were few children, the fair's bright colors replaced by dust-covered farm equipment and outdated appliances.

"It's not odd; it's sad," said Zean Carney, a longtime newspaper publisher in southeast Nebraska.

In Agriculture Hall, Carney meandered around some disassembled, dust-coated printing equipment.

He wasn't there to buy, he said, "just reminiscing."

Plenty came for no other reason than to remember.

Gloria Brockley of Ceresco ended up in the 4-H building, surrounded by used refrigerators, televisions and cookware.

"The first building we would come to would be this one right here," she said. "It's just the buildings, I think - that's what you remember."

She remembers cooking and sewing for the 4-H competitions, which she and her two older sisters participated in.

She remembers picnicking by the car. Fried chicken and potato salad.

She goes to the Iowa State Fair, too. She'll probably go to Grand Island, but she hopes they have a campground there like in Iowa.

"We do have to move on, but it's sad," she said.

Norm Ford, whose company was in charge of the auction, said turnout was excellent. The profits, which are being used to fund the new fair in Grand Island, exceeded expectations, he said.

"We had a wonderful crowd. The bidding was about as spirited as you could ever get.

"There was probably as many or more onlookers as there were actual bidders," Ford said.

This might be the most historically significant auction Ford has overseen, he said.

Ford has lived in the Lincoln area since the 1950s. He's going to miss the fair.

"I had people in my ear all day long," he said. "Basically, they really hate to see it go. ... I can very readily understand."

Reach Zach Pluhacek at 473-7234 or zpluhacek@journalstar.com.