Motorsports Museum

Tour The Motorsports Museum

One of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame's highlight features is the Motorsports Museum. Spanning three buildings and the enclosed courtyard, this collection of history making vehicles is priceless. They represent the crowning achievements of man's abilities and the pursuit of the our limits. To those men, this is a tribute. To all others this is a gift, for the images you see before you are history.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is recognized because of it's prestigious Induction Ceremony and it's very active and continuously expanding facility.

Opened in April of 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports. It has experienced tremendous growth, with its collection of racing vehicles and memorabilia, from 1902 to present, valued at more than $15 million, and increasing every year.

The Hall of Fame Speedvision Dome

Since the modern facility opened, on 35 acres of land next to the Talladega superspeedway, more than half a dozen different Halls of Fame have become a part of the display.

The annual International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is held each year on the grounds of the museum to honor those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names in all of motorsports. The black-tie ceremony consists of a reception, banquet and awards ceremony and is held each year on the Thursday evening prior to the spring Talladega race. Contact the Hall of Fame offices for tickets, tables, and information.

The Fastest Boat In The World

In 1987, Tom Gentry piloted his boat to a world Superboat record speed of 148.238 miles per hour, the average speed of one full lap around the course in New Orleans, LA. His speed on the straightaways was in excess of 170 mph. This new addition to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame collection is 54 feet long and houses four 1,400 engines.

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Motorsports Museum Highlights

As with any museum, the venue will never be complete with new exhibits and developments continuing to present themselves. Since its inception, the museum has acquired many interesting artifacts. Among them:

· Dubbed the "Fastest Name in Auto Racing," Talladega fittingly has a car on display named after it: the Ford Talladega Torino, one of only 500 ever produced. Alabama native Donnie Allison raced the one displayed and won numerous Winston Cup races behind the wheel. It was donated by local car dealer Sunny King, who owned it while it raced in the early 1970's.

· Richard Petty's famous STP Dodge Charger; with its illustrious career record 31 wins and 16 pole positions, can also be seen.

· Another popular exhibit is the Budweiser Rocket car, the first car to break the speed of sound on land. Resembling a missile on wheels, this red, white and blue vehicle is more than 39 feet long and just 20 inches wide. It can accelerate from 0-140 mph in just one second. On Dec.17, 1979 at Edwards Air Force Base in California, it equaled the speed of sound with a record run of 739.666 mph. No return run was made so this car is not listed as the first car to "officially" break the sound barrier, but the sonic boom heard that day is not disputed.

· Bill Elliott's 1985 Ford Thunderbird is also on display. It holds the distinction, as winner of the Winston 500 in '85, of the world record for the fastest 500-mile race ever run at 186.288 mph average speed.

· Among many other interesting cars and artifacts on display are those belonging to actor Gene Hackman, the late country/western singer Marty Robbins, and racing legends "Fireball" Roberts and Junior Johnson.

· Several exhibits attest to the safety features which have been built into race cars over the years. One such display is the wrecked remains of the Number 30 Pontiac of Michael Waltrip's frightening crash at Bristol in 1990. The car was essentially ripped in half, yet Michael was able to escape without serious injury.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum Complex, just like its mission, will never be totally complete. As motorsports history continues to grow, so will the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

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Take A Field Trip To The Hall of Fame

We offer special museum tour rates to educational institutions. A trip to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a great place for kids or adults to learn about our history through motorsports. Please call and talk with us about a possible field trip for your class, club, or group.