NHRA Museum

With the help of many, including the late John Zendejas, Steve Gibbs, Wayne Phillips and longtime Curator Greg Sharp, Wally’s dream was realized.

- Bill Holland

THE LATE WALLY PARKS WAS QUITE A VISIONARY. AS MOST MOTORSPORTS ENTHUSIASTS KNOW, THE FOUNDER OF THE NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION DEVOTED HIS ADULT LIFE TO HOT RODDING AND DRAG RACING, PROMOTING SAFE, ORGANIZED COMPETITION AND REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL. Today, the edifice that bears his name, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, continues with that vision. It should also be noted that the Automobile Club of Southern California has long supported Wally’s dream and is the presenting sponsor of the museum and the California Hot Rod Reunion.

After many years of planning and acquiring important vehicles (a number of which were on loan) that played a role in hot rodding’s growth, the then Historical Services Division of the NHRA first opened in a small industrial unit adjacent to the famed Auto Club Pomona Raceway. Then, in April of 1998, the museum formally opened its doors with nearly 50 cars and a sizeable collection of memorabilia at its current location.

Now, nearly 20 years later, the 28,500-sq-ft facility located at 1101 W. McKinley Avenue in Pomona, California (access at Gate 1 in the southeast corner of the Los Angeles County Fairplex) has grown its collection, been remodeled and embarked on a number of programs designed to introduce American hot rodding to the public—especially young people.