Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

What an awesome museum this must be! I was surfing racing videos on YouTube on the TV and saw a title EMMR roundtable.....I recognized Keith Kauffman, Lynn Paxton and Fred Rahner sitting at an eight foot table so I clicked to watch. All I can say is WOW. Also watched a roundtable discussion with Lance Dewease and Davey Brown, and one with Donnie Kritz, Jr. and Davey Brown. All three were very entertaining and imformative, and for those either familiar with or those not familiar with PA racing, these are must watch programs. Discussions about current and past racing in PA, plus discussions about many of the past greats like Ray Tilley and others. Having caught these videos led me to Google many of the drivers and places mentioned that I was not real familiar with. I recognized many of the names mentioned, but wanted to know more. I too, then Googled the EMMR and discovered a really great Museum that I was unaware of. Did the virtual tour and found it to be a museum all PA fans must really be proud of. I do know that If given the chance to make it to PA for racing, I will visit the museam for sure. I'm thinking it must not be far from Williams Gove, is that right? 

yes, just 10 miles south - not far off of Route 15

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Yes, the EMMR is fabulous. The museum has come a long way in the past 30 years. A new addition just opened up thanks to the generous donation of Mr. Carl Rasp.  The museum and events get bigger every year. I live pretty close to the museum so I'm a bit of a homer, but I think it is just as good if not better than the HOF at Knoxville. This year I went to Knoxville and the HOF, all I can say is WOW, never seen anything like it. The HOF is super nice and I spent several hours there drooling over their displays especially the Hooker Hood, and Sammy  displays. One thing to remember though is Knoxvilles HOF is sprint car oriented while the EMMR covers many different types of racing from the East. Yes the museum is about 7 miles south of the grove on Rt.15, its not hard to find. If you come out this way you need to see the fairgrounds and museum.

You are correct. Latimer valley fairgrounds. If you have the chance watch the calendar and try to make a trip when they have on track activities going on. Well worth the trip. Many of the cars are originals that used to be driven by some of the greatest of all time. I don't believe he is still in charge but if you run into Lynn Paxton and his sprint car is on display he can tell you some great stories and I no you will think your standing in the pits at the grove and lynn's waiting to climb in. Last time I took a group there he was helping anyone that wanted to climb into his car and spent some time with us. Great place. 

It's a legitimately great museum and a lot more than I thought it was before I went there for the first time. It's a must see if you're coming to the Grove during an outlaw show or whatever.

Nancy Miller is the President of the museum, Paxton is the curator these days. Paxton knows everything about anything in the museum, he is kind of a treasure himself, just don't let him know that.lol.

I did watch a video of I think last years event. Would need to rewatch to be sure. Vintage cars from all eras making laps and it was obvous that a Fairgrounds was the location. 

I have no doubt the museum is on par with the NSCHOF in Knoxville.

So thanks guys for your responses. I will continue to follow the goings on at EMMR!

Yea, its excellent.

A few years ago I had a day to kill cause of a rainout, went there, asked Lynn Paxton some questions, he sat down & answered them all in detail.... then a crowd of about 10 people gathered & he took us practically on a guided tour, answering questions, telling stories, etc.

But the best of all has to be Speedy Bill's museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. 3 stories (Or 4?) each one as big as a Walmart. Millions of $$ worth of stuff in there , one whole room devoted to engines. Thing is, you can't just show up & walk around, one guided tour, I think 2 PM, M-F. I drove by it at least 3 times on my annual pilgrimage from Denver to East Coast, missed it every time. Finally, I decided to get a motel & go the next day (after seeing Big Daddy Roth's "Outlaw/ Excalibur" thru the window...turned out to be a replica) It was worth it! Guides were super knowledgable, he has stuff dating back to days when midget frames were wood 2x6s, engine room amazing... Miller /Offies, all sorts of wild contraptions, 2 Harleys put together to make V-4s, all sorts of flathead conversions, half SBC v-4s, etc, etc.....

First class place. 

Luna's Ford engine style that won 2 WoO titles and 3 
Kings Royals before a weight rule against the best EVER
in their prime and now DOMINATES super dirt late model
racing is no longer allowed/wanted in a WoO sprint
car.... Was Luna a miracle worker?

Congratulations MInthess! No mention of "the F-word"

from a fellow Blue Oval fan....

It is pretty cool, Went there in 98 & met Tommy Hinnerschitz, Scats the Ford man & a host of others that were singing autographs.

Lynn Paxton even drove the bus up to the museum. I never did see all the stuff that was there because I ran into this fella that raced back in the day & talked to him for quite a while. He had about 3 cars he ran & restored there & had a couple more he was in the process of restoring then he broke out the scrapbook that fella's was 1 huge scrapbook & the stories associated with the pics was just way cool.

He had a car that had round tubes front & back of the cockpit with tubing connecting them and a piece of sheet metal over the top. He told me that how they got them that shape was 1 guy had 1 end & a guy on the other end & they just wrapped it around a tree !!!

Great museum!

A

A+ rating! I love lookin at the old pictures of tracks. Nothing but cornfields.

Wait for it (its free!) but they gladly take donations.