Some would say that racing is in our blood. Whether it was running, chariots or wagons, the competitive spirit inside of us would say, "Let's race it." This same spirit, and the desire for speed, brought about the necessity for the race car. Today they fly around the track at speeds over 200 miles per hour, but the beginning was a different story. From the start, automobile racing has been filled with the excitement of building the fastest, safest driving machine to win a prize, or better, the right to brag about it. It started at the turn of the century and was, essentially, military equipment turned entertainment. The History of the Race Car Room at the Grand National Roadster shows embodies the world of motor racing from the early days in the dust to the technology of today.

This room will be a celebration of America's racing history. Once approved by GNRS Producer, John Buck, a passionate team including Alex Idzardi, Jim Palmer and Tom Thibodeaux went to work on finding some of the most iconic cars for the display. "I was a racer and grew up with this show in Northern California. I felt that we needed to celebrate competition cars and focus on cars that have been in the GNRS past," stated Palmer.

From the 1900's until now, this room covers it all by featuring three distinct areas and over 100 cars.

Track Cars

First is track racing, which began with a race at the Oroville Track. Since then, it has progressed into what we know as Nascar with millions of fans world-wide. The display will have cars from the 1934 Ascot Style Sprint car to Dale Earnhardt's #3 Car.


Dragsters

The next area will focus on the world of drag racing and its infamous racing machines. The room will showcase dragsters from the first ever dragster, The Bug, through Robert Height's 2009 Championship funny car. Also to see, Dean Murray's Triple Nickel Roadster - the firstdrag racing car with a Chevy V8 and matching push truck.



Lakesters

Completing the exhibit will be race cars from Lakes and Boneville racing. These races are dedicated to setting and braking speed records. One of these is the Ron Main/George Poteet Lakester with a top speed of over 400 mph. The Eddie Miller Lakester, which won Best Engineered Car at the 1952 Boneville Speed Trials, will be coming from private collection and publically shown for the first time in 50 years. Also on display for the first time are long-time Pontiac Drag Racers, the Anderson Brother's, Tempest A/FX cars.



Other must-see vehicles are Roger Penske's Trans AM Camero's, and two cars from the Moon Eyes Collection: a Moon Eyes Dragster, built 59 and a Moonliner built by Joko. The room will also feature P38 Bellies by So Cal Speed Shop or King and Hensen.

This room hopes to educate and entertain as you walk path of race car history with vehicles from east to west. A must-see for any automotive racing fan, don't miss it at the Grand National Roadster Show January 29-31 at the Pomona Fairplex.