Smokey Yunick was a legend,...
Smokey Yunick was a legend, a winner, an innovator, and a master of the "gray area." NASCAR once gave him a list of nine items to fix before he could race. While the gas tank was out of the car, Yunick drove off, prompting him to tell the officials, "Better make it 10."
Speedy Bill's penchant for "wheeling and dealing" discovered his early pieces of speed equipment, which included a Hal overhead-cam conversion for a Model A four-banger. It was discoveries like this that got Speedy Bill into truly scrutinizing these early speed parts and developing a true appreciation for the ingenuity and engineering of the early pioneers, like Robert Roof, Joe Jagerberger (Rajo), and George Riley.
Bill will tell you, "When you consider what those guys did, it was really amazing. They didn't have much money or the backing of some big corporation, but they had the desire and resourcefulness to create products that made mass-produced engines more powerful and efficient. These guys literally laid the groundwork for the entire performance aftermarket industry."
It doesn't take you long to realize that Bill's racing career and the promotion of his business afforded him the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the country. It was during this time Bill found numerous pieces, but also made the personal contacts that have served him well over decades of collecting.
It's the real deal, Tucker...
It's the real deal, Tucker No. 24. Bill lamented over purchasing this car for years because of the high price. Bill will tell you he should have bought it the first time!
Bill tells us, "Back in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, a lot of these old parts and engines were considered obsolete junk. People were throwing some of this stuff away. But I could see the historical value and significance in these items. I felt it was important to save and preserve them so we would have a record of where the industry came from."
Bill and Joyce are no strangers to the likes of Hershey and numerous other well-known swap meets. He's an avid reader of national classified ads; any form of communication that would lead to a vintage piece of speed equipment has Bill's attention. As Bill's collection of engines and parts grew, his collecting became more deliberate.
A late '50s- to early '60s-era...
A late '50s- to early '60s-era gas station display is complete with a Deuce highboy roadster-one of Speedway Motor's Signature Series '32s.
It should be noted there are specific days and hours the museum is open; once-weekly tours on Fridays at 2 p.m. from October through April; from May through September there are daily 2 p.m. tours Monday through Friday. It's best to call and make an appointment and there's a $10 charge per person for a guided tour, plus the museum is available for special club and group events throughout the year. You will be hard pressed to get more for your money anywhere else than this two-hour tour will provide.
We spent a day and a half and still felt as if there was much more we should have looked at more closely. The attention to detail within the museum is truly amazing and it is here the real car enthusiast will want to spend his or her time. Enjoy visiting the past like no other place can offer.
The Roth Excalibur, later...
The Roth Excalibur, later renamed the "Outlaw", this one is a tribute car that Speedy Bill just had to have for the museum to depict this style of wild show car that reigned supreme at car shows for years.
How many 997-pound Allison...
How many 997-pound Allison turbine engine-powered '32 Ford highboy roadsters do you know of? We only know of one and here it is.
It's all here at the museum,...
It's all here at the museum, tributes to virtually every type of racing there is, including big 'n' littles Sprint Cars from different eras.
In the background is the Red...
In the background is the Red Baron show car, in the foreground is a Total Performance carbon-fiber T-bucket once featured on the cover of STREET RODDER back in the early part of this decade.
Pictured is one small corner...
Pictured is one small corner of the workshop where current projects are brought in to be worked on. There's a full-time staff who are constantly rebuilding and maintaining the museum pieces.
Loads of car club memorabilia...
Loads of car club memorabilia can be seen on the walls of the museum.
What car museum would be an...
What car museum would be an automotive museum without a photo of the "First Lady" of racing-Linda Vaughn.
Every hot rodder needs a parts...
Every hot rodder needs a parts bin to go to when building their latest ride-look closely at the top shelf, need any quick-change housings?
The numbers of different and...
The numbers of different and rare parts are truly amazing.
Are you or have you ever been...
Are you or have you ever been fascinated or involved with Soap Box Derby? Well, Bill has, is, and will forever be fascinated with these gravity-powered racers. The display is true to form and the racers are the real deal. For many a rodder growing up in the '50s and '60s, the Soap Box Derby was synonymous Chevrolet. Chevy brought in its prestige and in turn many famous television and movie stars of the day would make guest appearances. Crowds were reported to be as large as 70,000 as they would cheer on 11-15 boys who were the champions of local races around the nation and from several foreign countries. At its peak, the Soap Box Derby was one of the top five sporting events in terms of attendance.
A typical garage setting in...
A typical garage setting in 1929 featuring many of the tools of the day with a '20s SOHC Fronty Model T-powered race car.
Ford hired a young consultant...
Ford hired a young consultant engineer named Zora Arkus-Duntov to solve a horsepower problem the Flatheads were having in London, England. He designed an OHV head adaptation for the Flathead-the head being named ARDUN. (Look up the horsepower problem, it's a great story.)
Arguably the finest and largest...
Arguably the finest and largest collection of Flathead intake manifolds in the world. (See "Manifold Destiny" by Ken Gross on page 70 of this issue for some great information.)
Another great diorama is the...
Another great diorama is the 1915 dirt track racer complete with a Fronty engine. The body was made from galvanized sheetmetal.
Hmm ... yep a small-block...
Hmm ... yep a small-block Chevy, well sort of-two small-blocks mated together to create a 16-cylinder really big small-block.
This Midget racing diorama...
This Midget racing diorama depicts two famous tracks from dirt racing's past-Olympic Stadium in Kansas City, MO, (left), and Lakeside Speedway in Denver (right).
There's also a collection...
There's also a collection of record album covers and guitars that fits very well with the legacy of hot rods and rock 'n' roll.
The museum also has a very...
The museum also has a very nice display of Cushman scooters, which were manufactured for decades at a nearby Lincoln facility.
Only Speedy Bill can find...
Only Speedy Bill can find a brand-new Tucker motor still bolted to its original crate. Now that's a collector.
This '24 Alemite Paige roadster...
This '24 Alemite Paige roadster pedal car is depicted next to a photograph of a proud owner of one of these prestigious (and costly) toys.
Board track racing didn't...
Board track racing didn't last long but here is a great example of a 1915 Ford racer built in New Jersey that features a unique suspension and a Craig Hunt OHC head.