After attending half a dozen Americruises in Lincoln, Nebraska, I like to think of the city as a second home. I pride myself on being able to make it around town without heading down too many one-way streets, remembering which nights they're having cruising at Sonic or Culver's, and knowing a few members of the Rebels car club on a first-name basis.
The only lapse in my Lincoln experience has been that I had never, not even once, visited the Museum of American Speed, home of the Smith Collection, better known as the Speedway Motors Museum. This situation has been remedied. On a recent trip out to Lincoln to do some public relations work for last year's Americruise, I got to spend a few hours taking a tour of the famous museum, guided by none other than "Speedy" Bill Smith himself. A couple of months later, I made another trip through as Speedy Bill graciously opened the doors for the 2006 Americruise participants.
A few hours goes by like five minutes in this place, and that's not nearly enough time to soak in all the automotive and racing memorabilia Bill Smith has been collecting since he started racing more than 50 years ago. If it has four wheels, Speedy Bill has not only raced it, but he's got at least one in his amazing collection.
In case you haven't already heard, we're heading back to Lincoln again this year for the Americruise on June 29 to July 1. And although we have lots of things in the planning stages to keep you entertained, a trip to Lincoln isn't complete without a few hours spent at the Speedway Motors Museum.