Continuing its fun-run of So-Cal car culture at its finest, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, played host to about 1,000 people and 400 cars at its fifth Twilight Cruise Night of the year.
Cruise Night brings out the best in both cars and people. Among the overflow of notables attending this midsummer night's dream event were Wally and Barbara Parks; NHRA President Tom Compton; Museum board members Dick Wells, Steve Gibbs and Alex Xydias; drag racing legends such as "TV" Tommy Ivo and Bob Muravez; the Auto Club's Rick Lalor; racing announcer supreme Dave McClelland; and two members of the original NHRA Safety Safari, Bud Evans and Chick Cannon.
Parks, Compton and Lalor were there to announce the new sponsorship between the Auto Club and Museum. Compton called it "an ideal partnership," and said "everywhere I go, people tell me how wonderful the Parks Museum is." Parks, who admitted having a museum named after him is "embarrassing," praised the Auto Club for its continued support. Parks also gave a nod to Cal-Rods, the host car club for Twilight Cruise Nights. "They always do a great, great job here." Lalor, the Auto Club's director of motorsports, smiled like a kid in a candy shop. He thanked Parks for "letting us play in your house."
Lalor also had the difficult task of being one of the celebrity judges for the night. As he checked out both parking lots, which were packed with a bevy of iron beauties - everything from hot rods to muscles cars, as well as Mercs and AMXs (the auto theme of the night), Lalor knew picking a favorite would be tough. He ended up choosing a gorgeous 1934 glass-bodied Ford owned by Bob Franklin of W. Covina, Calif.
The other judges also had an equally difficult job picking a winner when there were so many great cars to choose from. Automotive author Robert Genat picked a clean '32 Ford five-window coupe owned by Michael "Sparky" Sparks from nearby Glendora. Two of the evening's judges are icons in the custom car and hot rod realm: painter/pinstriper Hershel "Junior" Conway and designer Dean Jeffries. Junior's pick also was a Glendora resident: Fidel Ascencio Jr., for his '63 Chevy pickup. Jeffries tabbed Bob Cutler's silver '32 Ford.
The monthly "Look Ahead" award, chosen by J.R. Martinez Design and Power Puzzles, went to Tony Miller's (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) 1950_ Ford Victoria. Four of the five winners chosen will participate in a pre-opening ceremonies parade at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona this November.
The Twilight Cruise Night crowd also got a chance to see the nearly completed SEMA-sponsored rebuild of the Parks' Museum 1954 Dodge station wagon, which is an exact replica of the historic NHRA Safety Safari vehicle. The vehicle made a surprise visit at the recent SEMA Installation Banquet, and will make its official debut at Indy for the 50th anniversary for the U.S. Nationals. Scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month - from April through December - Cruise Nights transform the popular motorsports museum in Pomona, Calif., into hot rod heaven as cool pre-1970 rods, customs, classics and muscle cars fill two parking lots.
Next Twilight Cruise is set for Wed., Sept. 1st. Cruise Nights, which run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and are hosted by the Cal Rods car club, include raffles, prizes and a huge 50/50 drawing. Admission to the Twilight Cruise is free, and all who attend receive free admission to the Parks Museum as well. Food and beverages are available for purchase.
The rest of the Twilight Cruise Night schedule is: Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1. For more information, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com. 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 Parks Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST, with extended hours during NHRA national events. 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 Parks Museum is also available for private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings and special group tours.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, 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.