It seems that my wife and I can’t take a trip without finding a good car museum to visit. This one, the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Mooresville NC, was a very pleasant surprised. I always try to check out a museum’s web site prior to a visit. I must admit that when I looked at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame’s web site I was impressed with its appearance but was left with the impression that they really didn’t have many cars in the Museum. I am not sure why that is but it might simply be that their site lacks a single photo of the overall collection of cars.
The Museum is excellent but has far fewer cars than the neighboring Memory Lane Museum. Although the Memory Lane Museum has more cars, the quality of the cars and displays is far inferior. My wife preferred the quantity of Memory Lane while I far preferred the quality of the cars and displays at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame. My suggestion, see both! They are minutes apart and the admission fees are not great.
The photos below will give you a better feel for the Museum than will their own web site.
Indy Cars are also included.
This 1929 Ford is a Land Speed Record Older for Mac Tools. The driver, Don Miller, recorded a top speed of 152 MPH making it the fastest flathead V8 powered street roadster. It is powered by a 296 cu in modified Mercury flathead engine.
This number 61 Richie Evans modified Pinto was restored by NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham. Richie was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.
Rusty Wallace race car, Rusty is a Member of the Board of the Hall of Fame.
Lake Speed drove this Bud Moore Thunderbird.
This tribute is for Tim Richmond.
Tim Flock race car, Chrysler 300.
Tim Flock is remembered as the driver with a monkey. The monkey named Jocko actually rode in some races in his race car.
Tim Richmond’s Rick Hendrick race car.
“Handsome” Harry Gant’s #33 Skoal Bandit.
Yes, AMC did race in NASCAR. This Matador was a respectable race car.
The Museum is not limited to NASCAR racers. It features dragsters, dirt track cars and land speed racers as well as others.
Cotton Owens race suit.
Louise Smith was the first woman of NASCAR. She was recruited by Bill France Sr. because of her ability to outrun local police. He wanted a female racer to help build race fans. That she did and won 38 races in her 10 year career.
In 1955 Ford finally got serious about racing. This 1955 Ford was typical of the Ford Teams “Purple Hogs” as they were named. The four Ford drivers, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly, Ralph Moody, and Marvin Panch had 19 wins out of 56 races that year.
Rex White 1960 Chevy.
Another Tim Flock race car.
As everyone knows by now, NASCAR’s roots are in Moonshine deliver. This old 40 Ford is a tribute to those days.
If you have a car museum you would like us to visit and cover on this site please leave us a comment below with the name, location and contact information for the museum.
I grew up and lived in Iowa for a good portion of my life before moving to Southern California. After 20+ years we now live outside Nashville Tennessee. I have been into cars since I was old enough to remember. I don't have a brand loyalty although I do prefer American Muscle especially the 1969/1970 NASCAR Aero Cars. (Check out our other web site at www.TalladegaSpoilerRegistry.com site) As long as it has four wheels and an engine I get excited. Few men are lucky enough to be able to share their passion for cars with the woman they love. Fortunately, my wife, Katriana, is also a gear head and many of our activities revolve around the cars. We have a small collection that includes at least one car from each of the Big Three. It includes a Best of Show winner, a survivor, a driver with lots of patina and several others. Katrina prefers all original cars while I like to modify them so we have a few of each. When we aren't playing with cars we are out working with or showing our miniature donkeys. You can see more about that part of our lives at http://www.LegendaryFarms.com.
