richardlentinello
saying,youshouldplanavisittotheAACAMu-
seumwheninHershey,too.
BackinJulyof2011,IattendedtheVintage
ChevroletClubofAmerica’sCentennialCelebra-
tioninFlint,Michigan.Withtheclub’sspectacular
carshowbeingheldonthegroundsoftheAlfred
P.SloanMuseum,timewasputasidetoenjoyall
thatcollectionhadto
offer.Beforecatching
myeveningflightout
ofDetroit,Iheadedto
DearborntovisitThe
HenryFord.Ifeverthere
wasatrulyspectacular
museumthatallAmeri-
cansmustvisit,thisis
it.Inadditiontoallthe
automobiles,itsrecreat-
edvillageshowcaseslife
backintheearlydaysandexhibitsmanyinsightful
non-automotiveinnovations,suchastheinventions
byEdison.
AttendingtheStudebakerDriver’sClub
InternationalmeetafewyearsagoinSouthBend,
Indiana,alsoaffordedmetheopportunityto
visittheStudebakerNationalMuseum.Amust
forStudebakerfans,itsdisplayofStudebaker-
producedvehiclesdatingbacktothewagonsthey
builtinthe1800swashighlyinformative.
OneofmyfavoritetownsinMaineisthe
quaintseasidevillageofBoothbayHarbor.While
drivingintotownafewyearsback,wepassedthe
RailwayVillageMuseum,andimmediatelymadea
U-turnforaquickvisit.Ourvisitwasanythingbut
quick,though,asthisrelativelyunknowngemofa
museumwaspackedwithallsortsofAmericana,
includinganoteworthycollectionofoldcarsand
trucks.Itevenhada 1957 LotusElevenfactory
teamcar,ofallthings.
AsweheadedupthecoasttoCamden,we
madeanotherdetourwhenwespottedthesign
fortheOwl’sHeadTransportationMuseum.That
wasthedaywhentheannualvintagetruckshow
wastakingplace,andallthehangerswereopento
viewthemuseum’saircraftsandautomobiles.That
experiencemadeourweekendallthemorespecial.
There’snobetterwaytoenrichyourlife
andexpandyourappreciationformankindthan
byspendingtimeinamuseum.Regardlesshow
bigorsmall,wellknownorunknownitmaybe,
youneverknowwhatyou’lldiscoverbehinda
museum’sdoors.W
herever I travel, I always try
to make time to visit local
museums, be they automotive or
art. Exploring our past provides
lots of insight to our country’s and the world’s
history, and the distinguished men and women
behind it all. All too often we are rushing our
lives away to get where
we are going, but taking
an hour or two to visit a
museum will add value
to your life.
During my recent
visit to Auburn, Indi-
ana, where I had been
invited to be part of the
judging team for the
AACA’s Zenith Award
and attend the club’s
incredible Grand National event, I took time that
Saturday afternoon to visit the nearby Auburn-
Cord-Duesenberg Museum. I’ve always wanted to
visit the ACD Museum, but never had the chance,
so I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by.
All I can say is that it is an absolute must-visit for
not only all automotive enthusiasts, but anyone
who appreciates the pioneering achievements
this great country of ours has accomplished. Set
in a truly spectacular building, the selection of
automobiles—and being able to view, up close,
the many engineering and design drawings on
display—was simply amazing. For more details,
see this issue’s Museum Profile.
While there, I also visited NATMUS—the
National Automotive and Truck Museum—that’s
conveniently located behind the ACD Museum.
Seeing the vast array of vintage trucks, and how
the commercial transportation industry evolved
through the years, was an absolute treat.
Last year, when I attended the CCCA
Grand National and Stutz-Marmon meet held in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the advice of noted
restorer Ralph Prueitt from Prueitt Automotive
Restorations, I visited the Eastern Museum of
Motor Racing in nearby York Springs. Although
I have little interest in dirt track racing, quarter
midgets, and sprint cars, I was truly fascinated
by the history of this unrivalled form of competi-
tion. Inspecting the large collection of innova-
tive racing cars on display, gave me newfound
appreciation for this uniquely American form of
motorsports. When in the area, this is a must-visit
museum—being less than an hour’s drive from
Hershey, you can add it to your itinerary the next
time you attend the Fall Meet. And it goes withoutVisiting History
Write to our executive editor at [email protected].There’s no
better way
to enrich
your life and
expand your
appreciation
for mankind...
6 HEMMINGS CLASSIC CAR OCTOBER 2019 I Hemmings.com