Two new exhibit openings, including a tribute to NASCAR, and two Prolong Cruise Nights make the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, the place to be in August.
Here's a brief checklist of what's up in August:
- New exhibit: NASCAR: A Salute to 60 Years of Racing opens Aug. 6 and runs through Mar. 1, 2009. Authorized by NASCAR, exhibit will feature racing memorabilia and photos, along with a selection of race cars, including one of the most famous, Dale Earnhardt's 1998 #3 Chevy Monte Carlo courtesy of Schroeder Racing Products.
- New exhibit: Trophy Queens, a photo exhibit honoring the glamour girls of racing, runs Aug. 27 through August 2009. Included in the dozens of rare shots of models presenting racing trophies from the '50s through the '70s are images of a 19-year-old Raquel Tejada, later to become Raquel Welch and Barbara Huffman, i.e., Barbara Eden star of the long-running "I Dream of Jeanie." Also highlighted is the most famous trophy queen of all, Linda Vaughn, known as the "First Lady of Motorsports."
- Prolong Cruise Night, Aug. 27: Second Cruise Nights of the month. Special highlight here is that Pink's, the icon Hollywood hot dog stand, will be selling its famous dogs during the event. Pink's will also be at the Nov. 5 Cruise Night. Runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Other upcoming events at the Museum include:
- Special event: Indian Motorcycle Day, honoring the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson racing, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Presented by Duke Video USA and Coker Tire this annual event features scores of vintage motorcycles, especially Indians. Plus, Sam Wheeler, owner/driver of the 355-mph E-Z-Hook motorcycle, will host a special seminar. Attendance free to those who bring a pre-1965 motorcycle.
- New exhibit: The 75th Anniversary of the Ford Model 40 goes from Dec. 3 to spring 2009. Exhibit, sponsored by Steve's Auto Restorations, highlights one of the most popular hot rod platforms around, the 1933-'34 Ford. Among the cars in the exhibit will be three of the most famous: the Billy F Gibbons' ZZ Top Eliminator, the Pierson Brother's Coupe and the Pete & Jake's California Kid. Also on display will be the Super Bell Coupe, Big Al and the Mooneyham & Sharp 554 car courtesy of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing.
- 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.