As far back as the 1920s and up until the late 1960s, the road to the Indianapolis 500 was paved with dirt. Hot rod roadsters raced on dirt tracks across the country, and the best drivers reached the Brickyard at Indy. A new exhibit on the history of these racing pioneers is opening Sat., Oct. 22 at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. Called "Track Roadsters: The Road to Indy," it will run through Jan. 15, 2006, in the Museum's special exhibit hall and will feature several historic track roadsters, a dirt-track diorama, street roadsters based on track roadster styling, as well as rare period photos, artifacts and film footage. The exhibit is presented by Irwindale Speedway. Performance Racing Industry is a supporting sponsor.
"Although track roadsters haven't raced in 50 years, this is an opportunity to learn the history of this seminal sport which contributed so much to the heritage of American open wheel racing as we know it today," said Greg Sharp, curator of the Parks Museum. "Legendary track roadster drivers such as Troy Ruttman, Bob Sweikert, Pat Flaherty and Jim Rathmann went on to victory at Indy. In fact, 73 track roadster drivers qualified for the Indy 500 and won it 19 times!"
Sharp said the exhibit is in conjunction with Dick Wallen's new book, "Roaring Roadsters - The Road to Indy." There will be special events open to the public during the show's run, including a "Legends Tour" lunch event set for Wed., Nov. 23, featuring Andy Granatelli, Walt James, Parnelli Jones, Jim Rathmann, and the radio voice of the Indy 500, Bob Jenkins. Also on tap will be a Saturday morning panel discussion sometime in early January 2006.
The Track Roadsters show is the latest in the Museum's on-going race-related displays such which have included the Salute to Parnelli Jones, 100 Years of Ford Racing and the Edelbrock Performance Legacy exhibits.
Named for the founder of the National Hot Rod Association, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles spanning American motorsports history are on display, including winning cars representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST. Current NHRA members are admitted free. Admission for non-members is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 60 and older, $3 for juniors six through 15, and free for children under the age of five. The Museum is also available for private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings and special group tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com.