History Say GOODBUY to NHRA Museum..WTF

I didn't know that...thanks for the clarification...

 

You'd better!

 

This rumor has been bouncing around for months, my guess is there's some element of truth in it. Why are we not hearing similar rumors about Garlits's place ? I've been there twice and it's not been vey busy. Donations, sponsorships and volunteers keep museums going, not just ticket sales. If you want it to stay go to the website and contact them and offer your time and/or money. It's kind of like the HAMBandy story, lots of posts but only a small percentage of us put up the money.

 

me too......

 

Well said, Jack. Very well said.

 

They are looking for volunteers during the LA County fair. Work 2- 8 hours shifts & score yourself a 4 day p*** to the world finals. Help the museum & score some killer tickets.

About the rumor: Have you seen it anywhere besides the internet? In a magazine, paper, any type of publication besides a internet forum? I've been reading this on different forums for close to 3 years now.

 

I hope the best for the NHRA museum.....I hope the Peterson Museum makes it one hell of display for Wally's sake.

 

Steve's 32 brings up a damn good point. Some internet sites love to spread rumors, it can actually be damaging and cause real problems. Spreads like wildfire once started!

 

Peterson could put one pretty big display in the area that had all the 32's in it,for the anniversary.

 

PLUS the fact the Petersen could add on...... that parking structure is HUGE and there are large double doors on the second floor out to the parking structure where they could add on hundreds of sqaure feet. The Petersen would do it proud.

 

Saw Tony Thacker a few weeks back, We talked about the NHRA and the sale to the guys in FL. that didn't go through, He said that the museum was doing great.

 

Oh **** your back. Hells yeah. I see you came back to us yesterday Bob. Glad to have you back bud.-Weeks

 

As several posts say museums generally do not draw large crowds. Garlits' is an exception because everyone knows he runs it and more than likely will be there to see in person. I have been there a dozen times over the years and he is usually in the shop working on something. I consider him a personal friend but am still in awe of him. He IS the greatest

I live in the Charlotte area and look forward to visiting the NASCAR museum when it opens next year. But I can't help but wonder how crowded it will be when no race is going on. I hope the NHRA museum stays put and if the profits from their two annual reunions go to it there is no reason for money to be the problem. If those profits go to the general coffers then it will be. Oh well, it is just a matter of time until Bruton gets the NHRA anyway.

 

Not everything should be about money, the NHRA's got enough. IMO the NHRA should carry this one for posterity. It's also about the location, which is of the utmost significance.

 

When Bruton buys the NHRA from the dog food folks, hopefully he'll buy ALL their ***ets and build a big museum at the Z-Max. It just may draw more people there than in California. Majority of the hot rodders there are dead and gone, and the ricers for the most part have taken over that state. Sad to see that Wally's legacy (NHRA) will end up going down the ****ter. Apparently he could not see the writing on the wall when he brought these NON auto people into the mix.

 

While GoodGuys isn't really my cup of tea either, I've completely boycotted the Arthritis Foundation show. I've never seen a car show that catered to so many clueless gold chainers. Pathetic.

 

If it is a money thing - which I feel like it is. I hope someone can bless the museum with the money they need.
As far as the status of the NHRA itself...... I'd like to see someone prop up the sportsman racers and make some new cl***es that would be fun to compete in and watch. In my opinion, it all went down hill with all the electronics racers can use now. Some people blame the super cl***es ie. super comp, super gas, etc.....those might be fun cl***es to watch if they removed ALL electronics and made the drivers drive again.
Anyway, I could go on and on about this subject.
I love the NHRA's past.... I hope we can preserve it.

 

You should check out some of the vintage racing. Out here we have the ANRA very cool cars without any electronics. I've been a member of the NHRA for the past 13 years. Sure seems to me they have moved far away from the backyard racers and cater to the look a like run a like pro cars. I go to the museum about twice a year and love the history there. Not just the cars but the tools, helmets and other items they have there. I would hope it stays.

 

Say it ain't so...

 

yeah..and the fires too...dont forget the fires..oh and the earth quakes., those too

lol..dam

this ****s if they shut things like this down..its history, and it wont be there for me or my kids or yours for that matter and thats total ********, should be kept the way it is..not moved, sold..changed..
I hate the word change..and im sure you all know why

 

That is partly true, AMF did inject money at a time when Harley was going broke. BUT they also made many very bad decisions that almost killed it anyway. If you want to read a GREAT book about that time period, get "Well Made In America. Lessons from Harley-Davidson on Being the Best" A VERY Interesting and easy to read book.

Garlit's deal is different because it is a working shop as well, and I'm not sure it makes any real money as a museum either. As for the NASCAR museum, I'll put money on it being very busy. i have been to many NASCAR shops in the middle of the week and am always amazed at the number of people that are in the small museum's and gift shops at any given time.

I agree Steve, it seems to be Internet gossip that may or may not have a basis in some truth. Heard everything form the NHRA not caring to the Fairplex raising the rent to the Sheraton wanting to expand. It's all rumor at this point! And then every swinging **** chimes in with deep insight like "NHRA ****s" to the "Petereson would screw it up".

 

There's more truth to this than rumor but that's all I'm saying.

Those of you who won't ever make it there can look at a few pics I've taken over the years, looks like I haven't added any pics to this album for a couple years so I'll have to look through my others and add to it but this will give you an idea of what's in there - just click on the pic to go to the album...

 

1) The NHRA Museum opened in 1998 at the Fairplex. Is it not reasonable to ***ume that after 10+ yrs. they could be facing a substantial rent hike from the Fairplex? Might they have also benefited from a rent reduction originally because they rehabbed the building that they're in? If so, that reduction is probably long gone now.

2) The museum is a non-profit and derives it's funding largely from two events and it's agreement with the Automobile Club. That agreement was signed around 2004 and may be coming to an end. Given the economy and its impact on their revenues and investments, the Auto Club (also a non-profit) may not be able to carry that financial burden anymore. Providing member services would hopefully take precedence over a museum they have no ownership stake in.

 

Dammit- Now I gotta be sure to catch it before its gone. I'd always intended on it but never made it. Looks amazing

Last year, one saturday I woke up and just told the wife get in the car, we are going for a ride. I had always wanted to go to the Wheels through Time motorcycle museum in here in NC and heard it may be closing. We drove the 2.5 hours to get there and was told it was the final day- closing that afternoon for good. What luck to see it before it closed.

Drag racing has amazing history and this caliber of museum is needed-
Nascar roots I think are extremely important as well and am glad the museum has gained momemtum and has been put in the hands of Winston Kelly. He'll do it right I believe.

 

A friend of mine who works for the local AAA specializing in collector car policies, just built a new display inside for AAA... Now "IF" the museum was not going to be around much longer, I dont think Tony Thacker would have made my friend go through the trouble..
As said somewhere else in the thread, Tony knows whats going on more than a lot of people that have chimed in here. I have another friend who is a friend of Tony's as well and when I asked him what Tony had to say about it, he said, "No one is really sure at this point". So, I wouldnt say anything is concrete just yet... but although it doesn't help, when the only time you see a lot of people inside the museum is during the twilight cruise when its "free" to get in...

 

The NHRA museum rules. I've been twice. Did Garlit's twice. they both stand head and shoulders over the Peterson museum, which I've also seen twice.

 

I took my 16 year old son in 99. He didn't appreciate all the history that was in my mind but he'll always be able to say he was there. Considering that almost nothing lasts forever, that may be as good as it gets.

 

Keeping ANY museum open is a tough thing to do these days. The great ones were stated by one guy with a p***ion for what he collected. The guys that were good businessmen, set up museums to outlive themselves. I think The Petersen is one of them. I've been to it twice, and will again next time I'm in La. I'd go to the NHRA Museun too, but I've never been able to. One wonders how many people need to go through the gates per day to keep the lights lit.

 

Don't beat me up but it the PetersEn Collecton.

 

Quick story: there was an Guns & Ammo ad salesman that was into wood working and made a very nice sign for Pete's ranch. After looking at it, Pete asked the guy if ever looked at the signature on his pay check. Yes, the sign said PETERSON ranch.