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SPECIAL EVENT (DETROIT) - Explore Grand Auto Racing Collection at Henry Ford Museum


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DEARBORN, Mich.--When the Motor City hosts the Grand Prix this Labor Day weekend, nearby Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan is the perfect place to whet your appetite for all things racing.

With an automotive racing collection that is among the very best in the country, Henry Ford Museum is home to automobiles spanning several decades and racing classes, so there’s something for just about every racing enthusiast. Whether it’s Indianapolis-style racing, drag racing, NASCAR, or land speed record racing that piques your interest, you’re sure to find something just your speed during your visit to Henry Ford Museum. Experts are also on-staff to answer any media questions or provide a historical perspective on this sport.

“Race cars have been around nearly as long as the automobile itself – it’s the American way to find ways to tinker with them and make them faster,” said Bob Casey, curator of transportation for The Henry Ford. “Henry Ford Museum’s racing collection ranges from the ordinary to the extraordinary and represents the American spirit of innovation inherent in automotive racing, and it is a great opportunity to get up-close and personal with cars from nearly every genre of this historic pastime.”

Some of the automotive racing vehicles on display at Henry Ford Museum include:

  • 1901 Ford “Sweepstakes” – Henry Ford’s first race car, driven by the man himself; victory in this vehicle helped Henry attract the financial backers needed to start his second car company
  • 1906 Locomobile Old 16 – winner of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup, America’s preeminent automobile racing competition of the era, and a rare un-restored survivor of the early days of racing
  • 1933 Willys Gasser – one of the most famous drag racing cars of all time, driven by “Ohio George” Montgomery, and winner of multiple national championships in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s
  • 1956 Chrysler 300B – a rare survivor from NASCAR’s formative years, this car was driven by stock car legends Tim Flock and Buck Baker and was part of a team that dominated NASCAR in 1955 and 1956
  • 1965 Goldenrod – built by California hot rodders Bob and Bill Summers, its four Chrysler Hemi engines powered it to a world land speed record for wheel-driven cars that stood for 26 years
  • 1967 Ford Mark IV – one of the great racing sports cars of the 1960s, piloted to victory in the 1967 Le Mans 24-hour classic by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt

Henry Ford Museum is open from 9:30am to 5pm, seven days a week. Tickets are $14 adults, $13 seniors (ages 62 and up), $10 youth (ages 5-12); children under five and members are free. Annual memberships start at $44 and include unlimited admission to Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. For tickets and additional information, call (313) 982-6001 or visit www.thehenryford.org.

About The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford, located in Dearborn, Michigan was founded in 1929 by automotive pioneer Henry Ford. This history destination includes Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Ford Rouge Factory Tour. The Henry Ford, America's Greatest History Attraction, is the history destination that brings the American experience to life. For more information please visit our website www.thehenryford.org.