KNOXVILLE, Iowa – The ‘Track Tribute to Ascot Park’ exhibit is currently on display through October 1, at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum.
The exhibit features the cars, memorabilia, and much more from one of the most revered tracks in sprint car and motor racing history, Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif. (1957-1990).
Seven sprint cars, a midget, a quarter midget, a motorcycle, and several items of memorabilia are exhibited in honor of the famous southern California facility.
The cars on display this summer include:
• The famous Alex Morales Tamale Wagon driven by Bob Hogle, Allen Heath and others
• The Bromme “Andy Gump” sprinter campaigned by Paul Jones and others
• Jimmy Oskie’s Ol’ Paint No. 91, Parnelli Jones famous No. 98 midget
• The Elton Forsyth/Steve Kennick No. 7 entry that broke Ascot’s track record twice
• The late ‘50’s roadster constructed by Indy fabricator Bill Finley
• The 1973 Cowan & Riggs No. 14 piloted to the CRA championship by Don Hamilton
• Bruce Bromme Sr. and Jr. built car campaigned by all-time CRA and Ascot victor Dean Thompson
In addition, a speedway bike like the ones campaigned at Ascot, and a quarter midget built by Bruce Bromme Sr. are also on hand.
“We feel this is a tremendous tribute to Ascot,” said Museum Coordinator Bill Wright. “We’ve tried to take a good cross section of cars and memorabilia from the period 1957 to 1990. We’d be remiss if we didn’t thank the Agajanian family, Dick Woodland from the Woodland Auto Display in Paso Robles, California, Bob Mays and the Smith Family at the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, Jimmy Oskie, John Manard, Shawn Thomas and Mike Sweeney. California cars have always had a certain look to them, and we think our visitors will be awestruck at the way these cars have been preserved. We’re really excited!”
“Salute to Champions” had been an annual tradition at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum since 2011. Drivers included Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Mario Andretti, Steve Kinser, Doug Wolfgang, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Indy drivers, Sammy Swindell, Bryan Clauson, A.J. Foyt, Jr. and Greg Hodnett.