The Volo Auto Museum

A trip to the Volo Auto Museum should be on every car lover’s list of things to do. Situated in the beautiful little village of Volo in Illinois, Chicago, the theme park covers an astounding 30 acre piece of land with an example or original of almost every famous car to have ever existed. Rated as one of the top 100 things to do in Chicago, this 47-year-old auto museum should simply not be missed.

The Volo Auto Museum has long been known as one of the best and largest car collector and sales companies in the world. Its five climate-controlled showrooms have approximately 300 collectible cars on display – most of which have featured in prominent Hollywood movies or TV series. As many as 350 different dealers make use of the museums reputation by displaying their own unique finds at the museum which further adds to the museum’s appeal. If your appetite has been whet, then you are likely trying to imagine just what sort of amazing cars the Volo Auto Museum must have. Well, this family-orientated museum complex is home to the first working Batmobile, the General Lee, Grandpa Munster’s Dragula and the Ferrari Daytona Spyder from Miami Vice. More unusual attractions which appeal to children include the DeLorean from ‘Back to the Future’ and the Scoodby Doo Mystery Machine. A variety of antique children’s rides also provide hours of entertainment.

At the Mercantile Mall visitors will find a wonderful variety of automobile-related gifts and souvenirs to remember their trip by. Other facilities include a food court where you can purchase freshly baked, delicious food and an Armed Forces Exhibit which will make you feel as though you are in the heat of battle. A display of well-preserved antique cars will intrigue you while the concept cars from the movies will leave you guessing. There is an entrance fee which differs for children, adults, seniors and those with military ID. Visitors can also make use of the Museum Membership facility whereby they can pay a specified amount for either an annual or lifetime membership. Both memberships allow special access to the museum and related events as well as discounts on food and gifts while the lifetime membership also includes a name inscription and a lifetime of benefits.

Overall the museum is one of the best day outings that you will find in a 50-mile radius of Chicago. It is open every day of the week except for special holidays and should simply not be missed!

The Texas Motor Speedway

The very first NASCAR event at the Texas Motor Speedway had a crowd to full capacity, which is an indicator of the popularity of this auto and motor bike racing track, just outside the exciting city of Fort Worth. The company which owns the site has responded with continuous upgrades and improvements for better quality racing, though the track is only of 1995 vintage. The turns now have uniform 24-degree turns, doing away with the original discrepancy of just 8-degree banks for specialized racing automobiles. The best NASCAR drivers aim to set speed records at this 1.5 mile track: Brian Vickers holds the record for the Texas Motor Speedway, having clocked over 196 miles per hour in a 2006 event.

The Samsung and Radio Shack 500 and the Dickies 500 are the two most famous Nextel Cup races at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Busch Series and the Indy Racing League also adorn this track each year, apart from the NASCAR events. Auto racing fans flock to Fort Worth in record numbers each year, and the Texas Motor Speedway goes the extra mile to keep every spectator delighted!

Corporate sponsorship is a big draw at this track, and there are many elegant opportunities to keep prized clients happy here. The entire track can also be rented for film shoots and for special events on days without racing. The Media Center also has an attractive layout and is replete with thoughtful touches and amenities.

This is not to say that the Texas Motor Speedway ignores small guys! Facilities for individuals and for small groups, on the contrary, rank amongst the best on the NASCAR circuit. You can even take a bus from downtown Fort Worth to the race track, with special discounts on ticket fares on NASCAR days. The camping facilities are out of this world, and there is plenty to see and do before races and between events. Spectators can visit pits, interact with drivers, and even take laps on the track in their own cars. The latter facility is used to raise money for charities for children. You can have a good time for a noble cause at the Texas Motor Speedway!

NASCAR Car of Tomorrow

After the tragic death of one of NASCAR’s racing legends, Dale Earnhardt Sr, in 2001 at the Daytona 500, NASCAR starting putting their efforts towards designing a new car- the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow (“COT”). The design and testing period has taken five years to ensure that the car was safer and more cost efficient than the cars previously raced. In 2006, the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow rolled onto the circuit for the first time, ready to be put through its paces.

Brett Bodine, former driver and current Director of Cost for NASCAR, had the opportunity to test drive the COT. With a lap time of 48.19 seconds and a top speed of 186.760, the future for the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow looked extremely bright. While testing the COT against other NASCAR cars, designers and engineers have been able to ensure the safety of the driver, and that of the cars driving in the leading cars’ wake turbulence. The new design should make passing other cars and driving next to each other much safer than in the past.

In regard to the safety of the COT, the new car has had adjustments made to its roll cage. The roll cage has been heightened by two inches, widened by four and moved three inches back. Improvements have also been made to the cars’ integrity with better construction protected against intrusions into the cockpit and the “G” forces that these cars experience have been dramatically reduced.

Another improvement was made to the position of the driver’s seat. With the drivers’ seat being moved to the right by four inches and the door bars being reinforced by steel plating, the drivers’ safety has been increased. Lower fuel volumes have been introduced, suspension changes, bumper heights have been made to match and floor plan configurations have all been adjusted to ensure the safety of the sport. Fire protection has also been increased and many of these changes will lead to great reductions in cost to racing team owners. The COT has also been installed with a windshield that closely resembles that of a street car, which forces the cars to move at a slower speed due to the car not being as aerodynamic as its predecessors.

After making its debut at Bristol Race Track, there were many favorable reactions to the COT, but mostly the drivers were impressed with its performance. For 2007, the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow will take part in sixteen events, and in twenty-six events during the 2008 season. It may take some time getting used to the COT on the track, but it is a car that was not only designed to win races, but to protect the drivers and enhance the popularity and safety of NASCAR sanctioned races for spectators, drivers and auto racing teams.

The Borg-Warner Trophy, Indy 500 Victory Symbol

The Borg-Warner Trophy awarded to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936 ranks with the Stanley Cup and the World Series Trophy as one of pro sports most recognized rewards. As well, this beautiful trophy has had a long and storied history since it was first awarded to Louis Meyer at a dinner honoring his unprecedented third Indy 500 victory.

This magnificent trophy, standing nearly 64 inches tall and weighing just under 153 pounds was presented by Eddie Rickenbacker, former World War I flying ace and then owner of the Speedway. Crafted of sterling silver and displaying a breathtaking Art Deco design, the “loving cup” style trophy was designed by Robert J. Hill and Gorham, Inc., of Providence, Rhode Island under a commission extended by the Borg-Warner Automotive Company. The trophy cost $10,000 to design and create, a staggering amount of money not only for the time, but also considering America had barely emerged from the darkest depths of the Great Depression.

Several times over the past 70 years, the trophy has been refurbished and redesigned to allow the addition of more winners; no further modifications are expected until 2034 – and the estimated current value of the trophy? A cool $1.3 million!

Unlike other sports trophies, the Borg-Warner Trophy is not given into the possession of the driver. After an elaborate presentation ceremony, the trophy is returned to its place of honor in the Hall of Fame Museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s not to say that race winners walk away empty handed, however. A 24″ tall model of the Borg-Warner Trophy mounted on a walnut plaque was given to the annual winners up until 1987, when an 18″ tall replica of the trophy was presented to the previous year’s winner shortly before the next year’s race.