NHRA Museum Receives National Recognition for its Education Program
POMONA, Calif. - The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California received a NAMMY award at the recent National Association of Automobile Museums Annual conference held at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana.
The NHRA Motorsports Museum received a 3rd Place Award of Excellence in the category of Educational Programs. This prestigious award was given to the Museum for its Axes and Axles: The Art of Building Cars and Guitars Exhibit in conjunction with Fender. The popular exhibit featured instructor-led guitar lessons, a video game component and other hands-on displays that ran for two years in 2010 and 2011.
During the Los Angeles County Fair, the exhibit entertained more than 100,000 Southern California students as part of the annual FairKids Field Trip program. Teachers, parents and kids alike voiced their excitement for the fun exhibit which was a cleverly disguised curriculum that introduced students to the arts, music, car design, and careers in both industries. In addition, the exhibit received national and international media attention including AutoWeek, SEMA News, Car Kulture DeLuxe Magazine, Hot Rod Deluxe Magazine, Popular Hot Rodding Magazine, and the French magazine American Muscle Cars. Click on following link to see the curriculum: http://www.lacountyfair.com/2011c/educationcommunity/documents/2010NHRA.pdf
The Axes and Axles Exhibit stayed in tune with the Museum?s mission to interpret the vehicles, stories, and artifacts that represent our affection for, and the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms.
The NAMMY?s honor the work of museum professionals for the calendar year 2011. They are designed to further encourage professionalism in automotive/transportation museum managerial, curatorial, educational, and promotional work. The awards are intended to recognize automotive transportation museum industry leaders for achievement, professionalism and creativity.
The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, long a dream of NHRA founder Wally Parks, opened to the public April 4, 1998, after years of planning and months of hard work cataloging and arranging the exhibit. Housed in a 28,500-square-foot building on the edge of the historic Los Angeles County Fairplex, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum's mission is to celebrate the impact of motorsports on our culture. We collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the vehicles, stories, and artifacts that represent our affection for, and the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms. We are the place to view and learn about hot rods, customs, racecars and speed records, and the West Coast's role as the historic center for their past and present development.
The Museum features an impressive array of vintage and historical racing vehicles –- nearly 50 at the Grand Opening -- along with photographs, trophies, helmets and driving uniforms, artifacts, paintings, and other memorabilia chronicling more than 50 years of American motorsports. A gift shop offers a wide variety of souvenir items. The Museum is open during the annual Los Angeles County Fair. Please check the Fairplex website for hours of operation and admission prices (www.fairplex.com). Museum admission is just $1 with regular paid Fair admission ticket.
HOURS: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Extended hours during the NHRA Winternationals and NHRA Finals. Also, hours change during the annual Los Angeles County Fair.
HOLIDAYS WE ARE CLOSED: Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
ADMISSION PRICES: Current NHRA members are admitted free. Admission for non-members is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 60 and older, $6 for juniors 6 through 15, and free for children under the age of 5. AAA discount available.
HOW TO GET HERE: From the 10 fwy east, exit White Avenue, proceed North, turn left on McKinley Avenue, enter Fairplex Gate 1. From the 210 fwy, exit Fruit Avenue, proceed South, turn right on McKinley Avenue. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue in Pomona. Call us at (909) 622-2133.
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Building 3A
Pomona CA, 91768
Museum Main Number: 909-622-2133
Museum Fax Number: 909-622-1206
Reunion Hotline: 909-622-8562
[email protected]