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Museum Road Trip
June 2007
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The party was my sister and brother-in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary
and it was in Milwaukee. My son and I had not been on a long haul since
he last raced in the Ninties. The rest of the family flew, but we drove
because we had a lot to see! Besides, a friend of mine had just bought
a Champion Yamaha in Minneapolis and it needed a ride to California.
Nuf said.
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Great Western Truck Show
Convention Center
Las Vegas, Neveda
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Only
took pictures of the custom working trucks. The
level of work to the custom trucks increases every year.
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We were looking for breakfast and
there was another museum to visit. We though maybe they had some
Dino bikes, like 1951 and earlier hand shifters, but they didn't.
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About
six months ago Mr.
Cussler sent me an email asking why his museum was not listed on my
museum
links page. I had to reply that I was not aware of it but I added it to
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list. I am not a novel reader so I asked my wife if she had ever read
his stuff,
which she had. We rented the turkey 'Shara' and followed the court case
in the
LA Times. He won sort of, the jury decided another issue other then
what the
contract said, that he had complete control. Ah, compromise. Anyway,
the
museum
is great with many of the beautiful chrome sleds of the 50's and the
classic
cars of the 30's. Don't miss this excellent museum.
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Ed Beckley really
got it right! Stan Engdahl is a marvelous man and should be in the
AMA Hall of Fame. Stan and LaVona, a few patron
saints, and the City of Marquette are doing a great job in preserving
Heartland America's motorcycle heritage. And the Cafe next door serves
big hearty style breakfasts.
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Kansas Auto Racing Museum
Chapman, Kansas
Museum Web Site
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My Web Gallery
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While
tooling east on Interstate 80, we saw a sign for a racing museum. Since
this was a museum tour, there wasn't any question about not following
the signs. They lead to Covenant Racing Team's shops and museum. As we
were coming out of the building we meet the owner, Doug Thompson. We
talked car racing and he asked if we saw the trophies? I had seen them,
but had not read the inscriptions. Well, they are pretty special. The
very first NASCAR Trophy awarded to Jim Rober of Halstead, Kansas on
June 17, 1949 at Charlotte Speedway. The museum is also home to
the first NHRA trophy which held its first national event in Great
Bend, Kansas in 1955. The first NHRA event was won by Paul Flynn of
Abilene, Kansas.
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I
just happened to get off the Interstate to take a look at a small
Midwest town with a grain elevator and a water tank. The water tank
said that Russell was the home town of Bob Dole. Also has a museum
showing the life of the early wildcatter.
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Oil Patch Museum
Russell, Kansas
Museum Web Site
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Web Gallery
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National Motorcycle
Museum
Anamosa,
Iowa
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Museum Web Site
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Web
Gallery
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This
is the big one folks, I have not been to Barbers yet, but this place is
impressive! The early American bikes, the Vincents, Brough Superiors
and HRDs, rows of Triumphs and BSAs. Yes, Harleys and Indians, but
Henderson, Yale, Thor, Crocker, Excelsior, Curtiss, Pope and Iver
Johnson.
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A
very knowledgeable grandson gave us the grand tour of a remarkable
collection of American trucking history. If you like big mechanical
things, don't miss seeing one of the best in our country.
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Iowa 80 Truck Museum
Walcott, Iowa
Museum
Web Site
Click on Trucking Hall
of Fame
Please call 563-284-6965 for more information
Web Gallery
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My
wife gave me a copy of "Watch it made in the USA" before we left on our
trip. One of the covered manufactures is John Deere and all their
plants in Iowa and Illinois. The Pavilion and Collectors Center offer
great incite of one of Americas premier farm equipment firms. |
John Deere Pavilian
Moline, Illinois
Museum
Web Site
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Web Gallery
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After
the party in Milwaukee, we picked up the Champion Yamaha in Minneapolis to deliver to its new owner in
California.
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I
have been a member of ATHS for over ten years and I just had to stop
and see our headquarters and library. Some day a national truck museum
may be at this site.
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Americian Truck
Historical Society Library
Kansas
City, Missouri
Web Site
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Web Gallery
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Unser Racing Museum
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Web Site
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Web Gallery
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Having
been a motorsports racing fan since the fifties, I have seen the Unser
clan race at various tracks over the years. Big Als museum didn't
disappoint. The Museum has a wide selection of race cars from Champ
Dirt to Indy winners, and Pikes Peak cars. Also display of Champ Car
engines from Offy to Elmor. And a NOVI!
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Another
great auto museum through the dedication of one family. They have
participated in The Great American Race for 20 years and those
cars and trucks are in the museum. A lot more interesting cars then I
expected.
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J&R Vintage Auto
Museum
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Web Site
Gallery Site
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The
most successful open wheel car owner in the country has on display his
many winners. The museum is in his auto mall and is a gorgeous setting
for the race cars.
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Penske Racing Museum
Scottsdale, Arizona
Web
Site
Gallery Site
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