The Petersen Automotive Museum plans to honor “The King” Richard Petty, on March 23 by presenting him with the museum’s Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Stock car racing is one of the most uniquely American forms of motorsport and nobody casts as big of a shadow in that world as Richard Petty,” said Terry Karges, Executive Director of the Petersen Museum. “His larger than life persona and incredible talent behind the wheel have done more for the sport than just about anyone else and we’re thrilled to help him celebrate his 80th birthday.”
No. 24 stockcar at PIR for NASCAR | Hans Marquez photosMike Joy, the lead race announcer on Fox’s television of NASCAR, will act as the event’s master of ceremonies while the event includes an all-star panel featuring Jeff Gordon, Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace and Mike Helton.
Other event highlights include an auction hosted by Barrett-Jackson. A 2017 Ford Mustang Richard Petty 80th Tribute Edition styled by Petty himself is one of the items to be auctioned, along with a Disney Pixar drawing of Lightning McQueen and Petty, among other items.
Additionally, a mobile silent auction runs March 9-23 that can be accessed through the Petersen’s website. Each auction will benefit both the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Petty Family Foundation.
New exhibits –
NASCAR cars on track in Phoenix, AZThe Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, has opened its newest exhibit, celebrating the French automaker Citroën. “Citroën: The Man, The Marque, The Mystique,” features cars from the entire history of the company as well as an in-depth look at founder Andre Citroën. The exhibit runs through the spring of 2018.
From March 16 through May 29, the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento has a special exhibit showcasing firetrucks.
The Simeone Automotive Museum in Philadelphia is showing “An AC Cars Retrospective” exhibit of more than 20 AC cars through March 12.
The Studebaker National Museum has opened an exhibit, “Sublime Studebakers: The Raymond Loewy Era.” Studebaker became a leader in automotive design under Loewy, who worked with the company from 1938 to 1958 and returned to design the Avanti. The exhibit features archival images as well as original Studebaker design artwork and artifacts which can be viewed through June 4, 2017.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History opened an exhibit February 1 that displays objects that were used during the days of the Black American Racers Inc. The former owner and president Leonard W. Miller and former members of BAR donated clothing, race victory trophies and awards, as well as the iconic steering wheel from the Formula Super Vee driven by the late BAR driver Tommy Thompson.
Car shows –
On March 19, Muscle Car City in Punta Gorda, Florida, celebrates its eighth anniversary with a car show. The show runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California, holds a Cars and Coffee on April 2, and hosts the Northern California Corvette Association’s 37th “A Legend On Display” Corvette Car Show on April 23.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, will stage a “Cars 4 Critters” gathering April 22 to benefit homeless animals.
The California Automobile Museum holds its 8th annual Vets and Vettes American Muscle car show May 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Corvette Homecoming and Chevy International car show hosted by the National Corvette Museum is set for June 1-3 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Ken Lingenfelter is grand marshal. Celebrated anniversaries will be of cars produced in 1957, 1967, 1977, 1987 and 1997.
Cars in motion –
2016 Good Sam 500 winner, Harvick in the No. 4 car leadingThe Simeone Museum holds a Demo Day this Saturday featuring cars of the Plastic Prototype Revolution, including the Ford GT40 Mk II, Ford Mk IV, Porsche 917 Longtail, and Alfa Romeo 33 TT 12.
The LeMay Marymount in Washington State offers driver education in a Ford Model T’s with students touring the historic 88-acre Marymount Military Academy Campus while learning how to drive the Model T. Classes are offered from May through September.
Educational opportunities –
NASCAR practice sessionThe Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana, is continuing the third segment in the museum’s Curatorial Spotlight series with “Bonnell Souder” presented by Chelsea Dant from the Willennar Genealogy Center. The presentation will take place on March 21 at 6 p.m.
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, continues its annual lecture series on Sunday at 3 p.m. with William Hentges, automobile/aviation button collector and author, presenting “Quicksand: Speed Is Born;” followed by “Around Nova Scotia by Locomobile” presented by David Lyon, author and historian, on March 19; “Lincoln Carrera Pan-American Racing of the Early 1950s: The Ray Crawford Story” presented by Andrew Layton, a racing historian and author, on March 26.
The British Motor Museum holds a “Cars Through the Lens” photography workshop March 18, followed by “Lights, Camera… Cars” the following day. Each workshop will be led by Lara Platman, who will teach participants how to use their camera settings, basic light and composition, the rule of thirds, and other essential techniques.
The Blackhawk Museum continues its speaker series March 25 with Marshall Buck, known for his expertise in building detailed custom cars. His presentation will be on “The Art & Craftsmanship of Automotive Model Building,” which will cover some of what goes into the making of one-of-a-kind scratch-built models, as well as making the masters for his limited-edition hand-built pieces. Following Marshal Buck in the museum’s speaker series will be Chris Bock, the Pebble Beach Concours Chief Judge, on April 8 to discuss “The World’s Greatest Concours.”
The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada, offers a history symposium, “The 1970s: Activism: Voices for Change,” on April 26-27, from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., and on April 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The discussion will feature national speakers, historians, authors and local scholars will present on a wide variety of topics such as the Iran hostage crisis, foreign policy, the impact of the ’70s on our modern day world, the auto industry and even a humorous look at the decade’s culture, including fashion
Travel opportunities –
Pit lane at PIRThe National Corvette Museum in Kentucky takes on the Tail of the Dragon during a Museum in Motion tour April 30 to May 3. Shortly after, the museum heads to Seattle for an adventure-filled weekend July 26-30.
The California Automobile Museum takes participants on a scenic road trip to Half Moon Bay with a tour of Bruce Canepa’s exclusive collection.
The AACA Museum in Pennsylvania offers travel opportunities to Cuba from June 2-10; to England, September 1-10; and to Italy, November 3-12.
It’s not just cars –
The AACA Museum plans the “Second Chance Spring Auction,” April 8. The auction will be held from 8 a.m. to noon and features a flea market and car corral. That same day and again on April 15, the museum holds an Easter egg hunt from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The museum holds a Spring Fling Collectible Toy Show on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April 1, the Kansas City Automotive Museum hosts the third annual Dancing with the Cars event, a fundraiser that includes a dinner buffet, entertainment, and a silent/live auction.
On April 23 the America on Wheels Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania holds its annual Bulldog Beauty Contest from 1-3 p.m.
June 3, the LeMay stages “Fast & Furious, the 2017 Wheels & Heels Annual Gala.”
THERE IS WAS AND WILL ONLY BE ONE KING AND THAT WAS ELVIS!!!!!!!!!!! petty might be a QUEEN BUT IS CERTAINLY NO KING!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Bill, if you have ever meet Richard Petty in person you would think differently . I have and he is a great person. Had lunch with him in Charlotte . Wonderful man.