NHRA Wally Parks Museum, Pomono CA
I just returned from a trip to Southern CA and a visit to the Wally Parks NHRA Museum. It reminds me that the best museum I ever saw is always the last one I visited! There are so many great ones out there and this is one of the must sees. It is small but very rewarding.
I will share a few of my photos on this page but you can see many more on the ON TOUR page.
There were two highlights of the visit for me and neither one were dragsters. The first, as you enter the main entrance was there in all its glory; the Ala Kart by George Barris. This has always been one of my very favorite hot rods and I think an icon of the early years of the hobby. It is absolutely beautiful and way ahead of its time.
It was actually only the first time I have ever seen it in person. When I was a little kid I studied pictures of it in all the car mags back in the day and memorized every curve but this was the first time to ever see it in person and it was better than the pictures.
It was like meeting a movie star or a race hero. I wanted to ask the car for an autograph or maybe a tire track print. George and his brother Sam were prolific in their creations but the Ala Kart is arguably the pinnacle.
The second highlight is rather sexist but were the photos of Linda Vaughn, Miss Hurst Golden Shifter from the good old days. She remains a striking woman even today but back in the 60’s she was a knock out and the dream of every teenage boy that ever saw her. She was beautiful, sexy and loved cars! What more could any red blooded American boy ever ask for?
The few photos of her from back then brought back of surge of fond if not suggestive memories.
Put this museum on your list. I have been there a number of times and have never been disappointed. It is located at the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona, California in the same complex as the drag strip.
