HISTORIC HOT RODS AND RACE CARS OF SO-CAL SPEED SHOPOpens Saturday, September 19, 2009 through Sunday, November 8, 2009Bruce Meyer GalleryStarted in 1946 by Hot Rod Pioneer Alex Xydias, and re-established later via a licensing agreement with Prolific Hot Rod Builder Pete Chapouris, SO-CAL Speed Shop has produced many exciting, stylish, and trend-setting hot rods and race cars in its 63-year history. Come see a display of their work, which will include the first public showing of a customized 1958 Ford Thunderbird for legendary musician, Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top, and visit the newly opened SO-CAL retail section in our Museum Store.
TRIBUTE TO TRANS AM RACING EXHIBITOpens Thursday, November 12, 2009 through Sunday, December 13, 2009Bruce Meyer GalleryFrom its beginning in 1966 through the summer of 1972, the Trans Am series offered the best racing of the era. More drivers from Indy, Sports Car and Can Am participated in Trans Am than any other single series. The factories used the Trans Am venue to market their new Mustang, Camaro, Firebird Challenger and Javelin pony cars. To win in the Trans Am meant sales success in the showroom. The racing was fierce, fast and feisty.
AMBR WINNERSOpens Saturday, December 19th, 2009 through Sunday, January 31st 2010Bruce Meyer GalleryCelebrate the history of the prestigious Grand National Roadster Show with a visit to the Petersen Automotive Museum! On January 31st, 2010, the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" award (or AMBR) will be given to one talented contender at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. Several past AMBR winners are in The Museum's permanent collection, including the first America's Most Beautiful Roadster, Bill Niekamp's 1929 Ford that won the award in 1950. These roadsters will join many other past AMBR winners in the Bruce Meyer Gallery at The Petersen for a rare display of hot rodding's history.
NEW EVENTSPANEL DISCUSSION: DESIGN IN THE 21ST CENTURYTuesday, September 15, 7:30 p.m.Racing Corridor
The Petersen Automotive Museum will host the second panel of professional automotive designers who will share their views on what influence California culture has had on their work and the industry as a whole. Panelists:· Dave Marek, Director of Advanced Design for Honda R&D, Americas, Instructor at Art Center College of Design.· Jason Hill, Founder of Eleven, LLC., Former Mercedes Benz Designer, Former Porsche Designer, Art Center Instructor. · Dave Stollery, established the CALTY studio in Torrance for Toyota in 1973 and has since begun his own design firm, Industrial Design Research, Inc.
Reservations are recommended. For information or to RSVP, please call the Education Department at 323-964-6347 or email cdrescher@petersen.org.
JOHNNY ROCKETS RESTAURANT GRAND OPENING / SO-CAL SPEED SHOP EXHIBIT AND STORE OPENINGSaturday, September 19, 2009First Floor We are proud to announce the opening of Johnny Rockets at The Petersen! To commemorate this special occasion, the Museum has partnered with a great American hot rod shop called SO-CAL Speed Shop to bring together two icons of American culture: hamburgers and hot rods! Come in for a meal and get 2 for 1 admission to the Museum and order from our menu set to 1986 prices! K-Earth 101's Charlie Tuna will be broadcasting live from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the restaurant. SO-CAL's Pete Chapouris and Alex Xydias will be on hand to sign posters. At 1:00 p.m., SO-CAL will debut their newest creation, a 1958 Ford thunderbird built for Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top. Regular restaurant hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Parking is available in the Petersen Automotive Museum parking structure. One hour free validated parking for Johnny Rockets customers.
ICONS OF SPEED AND STYLE: RM AUCTIONPavilionSaturday, September 25, 2009 11 a.m.-6p.m.This auction of 80 iconic hot rods, customs, race cars, Hollywood cars, promises to be an unforgettable event! History will be made when these vehicles from Hollywood, motorsports, and hot rod legends, such as Elvis Presley, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, "TV" Tommy Ivo, "Jungle Jim" Liberman, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., "Ohio George", the Alexander Brothers, "Big John" Mazmanian, Harry Bradley, Boyd Coddington, Tony Nancy, Larry Watson, Jimmie Johnson, John D'Agostino, and more will go across the auction block at this no reserve auction. For information, go to www.rmauctions.com.
CHP CAR SEAT CHECK UP DAYSaturday, October 17, 2009, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.Petersen Parking StructureThe California Highway Patrol will be conducting a car seat fitting and installation program. Bring your child, seat, and automobile. Trained technicians will teach you how to install the seat and fit your child properly. For information and an appointment, contact Liv Amend 323-964-6308.
TRIBUTE TO TRANS AM RACING EVENTSThursday, November 12, 20096:00 p.m. Dinner and Cocktails2:00 p.m. Panel Discussion: "How to Cheat in TransAm"This year, our Annual Tribute Night will honor the drivers and crews of the Trans Am racing era. Many of the actual cars are restored to perfection and will be on display to rekindle the memories of this exciting period. The evening will include a Cocktail hour where you can meet your favorite Trans Am Drivers and see the Trans Am Cars. Following that will be a Buffet Dinner, Live Auction, Films and Interviews with the stars of the era. Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Jim Hall, Carroll Shelby, Sam Posey and many other drivers and crew will be with us to share their memories. Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m. At 2:00 p.m. there will be a fun filled panel discussion with the evening's invitees who will discuss the topic, "How to Cheat in Trans Am." Get your tickets in advance. Both of the day's events are sure to sell out! For tickets to both events, go to: www.ptersen.org
BOOK SIGNING: WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN By Matt StoneSaturday, November 21, 2009, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.Hollywood GalleryMotor Trend Editor, Matt Stone will be on hand to talk about and sign copies of his new book, Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman. The book chronicles the award-winning actor's other life as a successful race car driver. Admission to the Museum is free on November 21 with purchase of the book in the Museum Store.
FOURTH ANNUAL CARNIVAL AND FAMILY FUN DAYSaturday, December 5, 2009, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Petersen MuseumBring the whole family to the Museum for a day of fun and lessons on child and car safety. Kids will get to participate in unique arts and crafts, and parents can learn the proper way to install car safety seats. Other activities will include face painting and balloon sculpture. For more information, call Liv Amend 323-964-6308.
PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM GARAGE SALE AND SWAP MEETSaturday, December 5, 2009, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.Petersen Museum Parking StructureNow is your chance to buy some of the vehicles, props, parts, store products and duplicate literature that is no longer needed here at the Museum. Several Museum vehicles will be sold in a NO RESERVE SILENT AUCTION. Museum members will also have booths set up to sell items and vehicles from their personal collections as well. Find that missing part for your exotic, classic, or muscle car or motorcycle, buy a Christmas gift for the auto enthusiast in your life, or purchase a restoration project, or drive home in the car of your dreams!
CALiFORNIA CAR DESIGN: LOCAL STYLE, GLOBAL INFLUENCEOpen through Sunday, February 7, 2010Gordon R. Howard GalleryCalifornia Car Design will tell the story of locally influenced automobiles and explains how progressive local designers like Harley Earl and Dutch Darrin brought a fresh approach to a conservative profession. It will also explore California's design evolution from the early days of coachbuilding, through the trend setting customizing in the 1950's, to currently being the home to the most automotive studios in the world.
NEW CAR SHOWROOMThrough Sunday, March 7, 2010StreetscapeThe three makes that we feature in our 1939 New Car Showroom are: LaSalle (created 1927, discontinued 1940), Oldsmobile (created 1897, discontinued 2004), and Pontiac (created 1926, will be discontinued in 2010).
SOUNDS OF SPEED Open through Sunday, November 8, 2009ArtWallFrom the Beach Boy's first recordings to The Fast and The Furious soundtrack, see a unique collection of 180 automotive-inspired albums accumulated by "Speedy Bill" Smith.
OVER A CENTURY OF SERVICE: AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAThrough Sunday, January 24, 2010Racing CorridorCome to the exhibit and experience how the AAA has been woven into the rich fabric of everyday life in southern California through vehicles, photos, and stories.
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?Misfits of MotordomNow extended through Sunday, July 4, 2010!Grand SalonThis in-depth study of the truly bizarre, the poorly developed, and the unfeasible ideas that people have seriously attempted to sell to the general public has now been extended due to popular demand! This autotorium of automobile oddities from around the globe is certainly the only assembly of vehicles where the Edsel is the "normal" car!
IMAGINING THE FUTURE: The Southern California Automotive Design Studio, Presented in Cooperation with Art Center College of DesignOngoing ExhibitVisitors will see a comparison of a 1930's studio with a modern-day studio with various examples of the creative process in 2-D and 3-D form from different points in California's rich automotive history. Design demonstrations by Art Center students will occur in the exhibit on the second and fourth Sunday of every month from approximately 10am-3pm. Check the calendar at www.petersen.org for dates.
HOT WHEELS(r) HALL OF FAMEThe Hot Wheels Hall of Fame at the Petersen Automotive Museum, features Hot Wheels(r) full-size and die-cast cars, original models, wooden patterns, injection molds and drawings of original vehicle designs.
HOLLYWOOD STAR CARS Vehicles of Hollywood lore including the Batmobile, "Black Beauty" driven by Bruce Lee in The Green Hornet television series, the "Hannibal 8" driven by Jack Lemmon in The Great Race (1965), a replica of the "Mach 5" from Speed Racer (2008), "Herbie the Love Bug", the VW bus from Little Miss Sunshine (2006), plus cars once owned by Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Fred Astaire, and more!
ALTERNATIVE POWER: LESSONS FROM THE PAST, INSPIRATION FOR THE FUTUREFrom the highly styled 1963 Chrysler Turbine to the General Motors EV1, automobiles equipped with innovative propulsion systems are presented to illustrate the growth of alternative vehicle technology.
ONGOING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES
MAY FAMILY DISCOVERY CENTEROpen Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pmThe May Family Discovery Center is an interactive learning center that teaches basic scientific principles using the fundamental elements of the car.
DISCOVERY DAYCar Activities & L.A. BookPALSFirst Saturday of every month, 1-4pm
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for arts and crafts, and at 2:30pm, actors from L.A. BookPALS read stories. The program is included in Museum general admission. Call 323-964-6308 for more information. Future topics include:
October 3, Trick or Treat BagsHalloween means a lot of delicious candy! Make a unique bag to hold all of your goodies!November 7, Cork PeopleCreate Hot Wheels -sized cork people to decorate your Thanksgiving table.
ART CENTER STUDENT DESIGN DEMONSTRATIONSSundays, September 27, October 11 & 25, 2009, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.StreetscapeStudents from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena will be working in the exhibit Imagining the Future: The Southern California Design Studio from approximately 10am to 3pm, sketching and using digital design tools to produce never-before-seen automotive creations.
SPECIAL FEATURES AT THE PETERSEN SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING - Please call (323) 964-6348 or visit www.petersenevents.org to host your event or shoot film at one of LA's most exciting venues!
BIRTHDAY PARTIES - The Museum offers a wonderful venue for children's birthday parties. Party guests can enjoy all three floors of the museum including the May Family Discovery Center. For more information or to book your party, call 323-964-6373.
SCHOOL TOURSTaking a field trip to the Pete is an excellent way to teach your students about the history of Los Angeles and its intertwined relationship with the automobile. Students learn basic scientific principles and their applications as they explore hands-on activities in the Discovery Center. School Tours focus on history/social science, visual arts, and science & technology. Call (323) 964-6358 for information and reservations.
GROUP TOURS - A docent-led tour is available to groups of ten or more. - (323) 964-6346.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Come and be a part of the Petersen's "Pit Crew". New Docent Training Class will be held in the fall of 2008. For an application or more information call - (323) 964-6358, email volunteers@petersen.org, or visit www.petersen.org.
MUSEUM STORE - Excellent souvenirs and gifts for auto enthusiasts (323) 964-6328.