I put it off.
I had driven past the World of Speed museum in Wilsonville along I-5 dozens of times and seen the display of stock cars on the high banking, but had never stopped.
Response from BentleyBoy, Owner at Mount Dora Museum Of Speed Responded Jan 1, 2020 'MonsterMom' (jeanettey) This listing was left active as a courtesy to the folks who were trying to find us.
Yeah, I felt stupid for not going.
You might think that I, foremost among racing nerds among the populous of the Pacific Northwest who attends dozens of races a year would have been there many times over the year the place has been open, but I finally got around to it this week.
The place is designed for gearheads and racing buffs like me, but I guess it is supposed to have activities and attractions for people who have never heard of Len Sutton (for those who don’t know he was an Indy Car driver from Portland).
There’s a children’s area, there are automotive educational programs for high school students and a wall of automotive-related music, but that’s not why I was there.
The current exhibition, “A Century of Indy” is impressive with a complete grid of 33 historic Indy Cars dating back to the first decade the track was open.
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That’s the kind of stuff caters to race car nerds like me.
For example, you may never see a more impressive gathering of Miller/Offy/Meyer and Drake engines in race cars.
When you look through the Indy Cars in the grid you can see the evolution of the engine from a straight 8 version from the 1920s to the turbocharged four-cylinder versions that raced at the Brickyard in the 1980s. There are also a few Offy-powered midgets that provide a nice counterbalance.
The one thing I didn’t see among the grid of Indy Cars was one that had won the Indy 500.
You don’t have to understand the functions of birdcages in sprint cars vs. the birdcages in late models to enjoy the place, but it doesn’t hurt, either.
There is a fascinating exhibit about the long-closed Sidewinders Race Track in Clackamas, complete with vintage bikes, memorabilia and photos of the place. I recognized some of the names like Mickey Fay and Frank Word.
There were some interesting cars on display, too.
A familiar one to me is the car known as the Chinahauser Modified Roadster or the Martinizing Special, which I’ve seen run at dozens of vintage races around the northwest through the years.
The car best known for being driven by “Barefoot” Bob Gregg, was owned and campaigned by Fay Ladd for a number of years.
The accompanying sign with the yellow car says that the car launched the career of the late Earl Veeder Jr., but it was actually the car in which David Veeder – Earl’s son and a current midget racer out of Salem – started his career. Golf games for mac.
Another car I gravitated to was Dick Bown’s former Sportsman 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle.
A couple months ago I was reading about how the Silverton High School graduate built the car on the X chassis of a 1957 Chevy, but after it’s useful life concluded the car ended up in a field in Yakima until it was bought and restored.
Admission is $10 for adults.
It was worth the trip for me and I might go back if I can figure out how to use the Archive Room.
But fans of any form of racing should stop messing around and go.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
EXHIBITS World of Speed brings motorsports vehicles, artifacts, music, videos, and interactive elements together to create unique exhibits that offer engaging and educational experiences for all ages.The Museum’s galleries include roughly a dozen unique exhibits; some are permanent, while others are rotating or temporary. Whether you have an interest in local racing history, want to learn more about vehicle construction, are intrigued by the culture surrounding cars and motorcycles, or have a favorite race series or style, World of Speed’s collection of exhibits has something for everyone. With nearly 100 cars, bikes, boats, artifacts, and a plane on display, World of Speed’s dynamic galleries makes each visit a fresh new experience. Interactive Exhibit Start Line ClubStart Line Club is the perfect place for younger visitors to learn about motion, momentum, car design, and — of course — speed!
This interactive area is specially designed to highlight hands-on learning and to encourage imagination and creativity. With activities ranging from a super cool air lab to the all-new kid-sized interactive car that lets children perform maintenance in a fully stocked shop, the Start Line Club is a great place to play, share, and learn. Permanent Exhibits THE WISE OWL: FORMULA ONE AIR RACERMeet the Wise Owl, a four-cylinder air-cooled Continental / C-90 making 100 Horsepower (HP). This plane was designed by George Owl and built by hand in 1976 by Ralph Wise. A decade later, Kirk Hanna piloted The Wise Owl to a world record speed of 259.72 MPH at the Corvallis Airport on July 19, 1986.
Mid-Century MotorsportsAmerica's love affair with motorsports took hold after World War II. From the films and music of mid-century popular culture to the technical innovations that fueled better safety standards, cars and the freedom they represented are captured in this exhibit from the Archive Collection of World of Speed.
JOINT VENTURE: WORLD'S FASTEST FREIGHTLINERPart Freightliner, part boat, and part airplane, this 20,000 lb. Behemoth can move faster than a Chevy Corvette ZR1! A 16-cyclinder engine from a tugboat, fitted with massive turbochargers, rotate the737 aircraft tires, eventually reaching a Bonneville Salt Flats record speed of 228.804 MPH. Trust us, you've never seen anything like it. WOMEN IN RACINGThis exhibit shares the story of the women whose talents and character have shaped the past, present, and future of motorsports. From local heroes like Oregon native Lindsay Barney, to national stars like Danica Patrick and Janet Guthrie, learn about the women who have left their mark on motorsports' past and the ones who will carry the torch into the future. See their trophies, awards, photos, and the other artifacts and memorabilia that tell their stories.
NW MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAMEThe Northwest Motorsports Hall of Fame celebrates the racers, designers, managers, and others who have helped make the Pacific Northwest’s long, storied motorsports history possible. We honor icons of the Northwest in six categories: Open Wheel, Stock Car, Sports Car/GT, Drag Race, Motorcycle, and Person at Large. DAYTONA BANKING WALLView Stock Cars driven by legendary NASCAR drivers — like Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2000 Chevy Impala, Jim Vandiver’s 1974 Dodge Charger, Terry Labonte’s 1988 Chevy Monte Carlo, and Cale Yarborough’s 1979 Oldsmobile 442 — on the famous 31° banking of the Daytona International Speedway. You’ll also find race suits, helmets, championship rings, images, and other memorabilia from over a dozen early and modern NASCAR racers, like Richard Petty, Tiny Lund, Tim Richmond, Cotton Owens, Jeff Gordon, and others. Nearby, check out Suits Up!, a collection of race suits and helmets of NASCAR legends that celebrates their accomplishments, along with footage of early NASCAR races.
ZERO TO 1000Take in the rich history of speed, from the very first land-speed record to the daredevils pushing the limits today. Walk along the boardwalk and take in record-breaking moments in motorcycles and automobiles over the decades, and see the impact of land-speed courses like the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Unique one-of-a-kind scale models and period-proper toy cars show the evolution of land-speed vehicles; books, photos, programs, and other memorabilia of the time show the impact they had on culture. Discover Mickey Thompson’s fleet, including the Assault 1, Attempt 1, as well as tributes to his Pontiac Catalina and two-cylinder dragster with the original engine.
Of course, we can't talk about speed without mentioning Andy Granatelli. His 1982 Chevy Camaro, capable of speeds up to 278 MPH, is on display. WALL OF SOUNDWalk down memory lane as music and cars from the ‘50s through the ‘80s converge. Start with the Oldsmobile-inspired “Rocket 88,” — considered the first rock and roll song ever recorded — and move all the way to ZZ Top’s “Eliminator,” complete with roadster-shaped LP and album cover.
Motion-detecting speakers let you watch and listen to music videos that span decades. Radios, televisions, record players, and 8-track players that brought racing into the home and music into the car are at your fingertips to explore. Album covers celebrating the sounds of racing, bands that brought car culture to the masses, and the soundtracks of classic racing movies blanket the entire display wall. WOODBURN DRAGSTRIPFrom the original partnership and the very first race in 1961 to Woodburn Dragstrip's current owners and events, this exhibit has it all. Learn about the racers and races that helped to establish this track as a Northwest icon. See pictures from the past and the present as well as time slips, trophies, winner jackets, and the very 'Christmas Tree' that started so many of the great races.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST HOT ROD AND DRAG RACINGFind out all about the racers, clubs, and cars that put the Pacific Northwest on the map. Explore the great period of drag development during the ‘60s and ‘70s with the introduction of Funny Cars and Pro Stocks. Learn about the first local car clubs, such as the Slo Pokes and Ramblers, and the construction of the first local drag strips. See dragsters of all kinds from mid-century to the present day, alongside stories of the cars and drivers that brought ingenuity and creativity to racing and got crowds flocking to the strip. Don’t forget to check out the nearby viewing zone, which plays interviews of local drivers, designers, and builders. SPEED SHOP AND GARAGEPeer into Bucky’s Speed Shop and jump back into the world of early speed shops, where parts made specifically for dragsters and hot rods from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s are all on display. Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins’ original shop-office furniture sheds light on the innovative engine designer and the ingenuity of the times.
Step back even further in time to post-war America in the late ‘40s and ‘50s with tools, machines, and other memorabilia consistent with the era. The garage also includes a tribute belly-tank race car as well as video of belly-tanks on the Bonneville Salt Flats during the famous land-speed locale’s early days.