POMONA, CA - Beginning Thursday, Feb. 11, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, at Fairplex becomes the epicenter of drag racing during the 50th Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline (Feb. 11-14). Celebrating 12 years of motorsports history, the Museum offers an array of unique events and activities taking place during the four-day Winternationals, all of which are open to the public and cost little or nothing.
Events include the opening of a new exhibit celebrating Mickey Thompson's historic 400 mph run at the Bonneville Salt Flats, the semi-annual Night of Champions Auto Club Q&A with legends of Winternationals past including Gas Rhonda, Tom "Mongoose" McEwen and Bob Muravez, a Racing Collectible Show, and much more.
"The Parks Museum is thrilled to be able to open its doors for longer hours to accommodate race fans attending the 50th Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals," said Tony Thacker, director of the Parks Museum. "We have an exciting line-up of events happening at the Museum throughout the four day weekend that are educational as well as fun," said Thacker."
Following is a list of events taking place at the Parks Museum during the 50th Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals:
* New Exhibit Opening - Mickey Thompson: First American to 400 MPH presented by Banks Power, Friday, Feb. 12. (Free)
* Media and VIP Preview, Thursday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m.
* Book Signing - Crazy Horses: The History of British Drag Racing with author Brian Taylor and racers Bob Keith, Chuck Griffiths, Tommy Ivo and Carl Olson, Friday, Feb. 12, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Free)
* Night of Champions presented by Auto Club of Southern California, question and answer session featuring Auto Club Raceway at Pomona legends from past Winternationals including the debonair driver Gas Rhonda and trailblazing driver Tom "Mongoose" McEwen, Friday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m. (Free)
* Legend's Dinner and Auction benefiting the Museum, Saturday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m., to be held at the Avalon Room, Fairplex. For tickets, please call 1-800-884-NHRA [6472].
* Racing Collectible Show, Saturday, Feb. 13, 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. Admission is $5; children 12 and under are free.
* Free Museum admission and extended hours, Feb. 11-14
Free Museum admission and extended weekend hours during the 50th Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 11-14. Free tram service from Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to the Museum. Tram pick-up is located on Gate J at the track. Museum hours during the 50th Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals are as follow (tram hours are subject to change):
* Feb. 9, Tuesday - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; no tram service;
* Feb. 10, Wednesday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; no tram service;
* Feb. 11, Thursday - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; tram runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
* Feb. 12, Friday - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; tram runs from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.;
* Feb. 13, Saturday - 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; tram runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and
* Feb. 14, Sunday - 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; tram runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, is located at Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Building 3A, Pomona, CA 91768. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com.