The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles opens a new exhibit Saturday to honor Jesse Alexander, considered to be one of the world’s best motorsports photographers. The opening includes a screening of a documentary film at Alexander and his work as well as a live “Q and A” session with the photographer.
Alexander will share insights from his long experience recording the people and places of racing, as well as lessons learned from his journeys. He also will be available to sign books as the museum opens an exhibit of some of his best work capturing emotional images of races, drivers, mechanics and fans of auto sports.
Car shows (with and without coffee):
Jesse Alexander photograph of race car with teamThe British Motor Museum in England anticipates 600 light commercial vehicles, such as pickups, ice-cream vans, campers, taxis, hearses and police cars, for the Classic Van and Pickup Show this Sunday. The museum holds a “Buses Festival” on August 21 with as many as 100 restored, vintage and modern buses and coaches.
The sixth annual Retro Truck Show is September 10-11, featuring approximately 250 trucks produced between 1960 and 2000.
On August 12-14, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum and the nearby National Auto & Truck Museum in Auburn, Indiana, host the Checker Cab Club, which will display its vehicles in the Education & Exhibit Plaza.
The Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, plans Cars and Coffees for August 27 and October 15.
The National Corvette Museum celebrates its 22nd anniversary in conjunction with “R8C Museum Delivery” over Labor Day weekend. The anniversary and R8C include car shows, seminars, road tours, and the Corvette Hall of Fame Induction ceremony of Bob Bondurant, Ralph Kramer and the late Donna Mae Mims.
The museum has also announced registration is open for the 2016 Vets N Vettes car show, November 3-5, and invites veterans to the museum and the museums track to go for rides in participants Corvettes.
The California Automobile Museum in Sacramento hosts “Cruise Fest on Fulton Avenue” on September 10. Cruising runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with other festivities continuing through 8:30 p.m.
On October 6-7, the AACA Museum holds “Cars & Coffee” in its “secret garage” from 7:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. Donuts and coffee will be served.
And it’s not just cars:
Jesse Alexander photograph to be displayed at museumThe Seal Cove Auto Museum in Maine holds a murder mystery dinner August 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The dinner includes drinks, rides in antique cars, prizes to the winner, and guests are encouraged to dress in 1900s-1920s costumes.
The World of Speed Museum in Wilsonville, Oregon, offers a “simulator race series” with the simulator set in “damage mode,” meaning cars will behave and sustain injury as in real driving. Participants get a practice run and qualifying run August 25, and September 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Drivers with top qualifying race times advance to the finals, which take place on October 27.
The museum holds its inaugural Spark Gala on September 17.
August 27 marks the third annual Owls Head Transportation Museum Brainstormers Ball in Maine. Attendees are encouraged to dress in 1920s-inspired evening wear.
The AACA Museum in Pennsylvania opens a new exhibit October 5 during its “Night at the Museum” event. Food and cocktails are available with a Route 66 flair along with a silent auction, entertainment and automotive artist gallery. Wayne Carini, host of Chasing Classic Cars, presents “A Collector Car Conversation” with car collector Ralph Marano and moderator Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the Amelia Island concours.
On October 21-22, the Simeone Museum in Philadelphia hosts Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan and two-time Le Mans-winning driver Tommy Milner for a two-day celebration dedicated to Corvette Racing. Highlights include dinner, a meet and greet, Demo Day, memorabilia auction and autograph session.
The California Automobile Museum holds its annual Art of the Car benefit on November 4, starring artist and car enthusiast David Garibaldi. The dinner supports the museum’s mission to preserve, exhibit and teach the story of the automobile and its influence on our lives.
Educational opportunities:
Jessee Alexander photograph of team with driver in carSaturday, the Simeone museum hosts a discussion as a tribute to Penske Racing with Karl Kainhofer, author Gordon Kirby and others, and gives guests a look at the 1968 Sunoco Team Penske Camaro race car.
On August 13, the museum hosts driver Andy Pilgrim, who will present a talk focusing on his racing experiences with Porsches, highlighting his championship winning season in 1997 with Allan McNish driving the stunning Porsche 911 GT1.
The AACA Museum offers a “Build-A-T” workshop for children 8-12 years old to build a wood Model T pickup truck under the supervision of an educator. The workshop takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
The museum also offers a Model T Driving Experience with real Model Ts, open to licensed drivers. Classes are August 13, September 17, and October 22.
Glenn Oyoung, one of the authors of C is for Car will do a reading Saturday at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. The book is a vehicular alphabet book, inspired by the museum, and visually guides children through different styles and uses of cars. Following the reading is a short tour to see some of the museum’s cars that are seen in the book.
The National Corvette Museum hosts a High Performance Drivers’ Education Program on August 27-28. Participants will receive classroom and on-track instruction at the NCM Motorsports Park. Cost is $485 for the two-day program.
Bobby Rahal, winner of the 1986 Indy 500 and the first Indy driver to complete the 500 miles in less than three hours, is to appear at the Blackhawk Museum on November 12 as part of the museum’s Speaker Series.
