Editor's notes: This article was written by Bill Groak.

     POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2005) - The action was fast and furious and the competition fierce to win. No, it wasn't a drag

race, but the racing memorabilia auction Thursday night at the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile

Club of Southern California, where the pedal was definitely to the metal! A lively crowd bid on 110 items in just under three

hours, bringing in more than $20,000 to help support the programs and exhibitions at the popular museum.
     "We really want to thank all the bidders at the auction," said Sam Jackson, Executive Director of the Parks Museum. "Thanks

also to our auctioneers and to those who have generously donated memorabilia, this annual auction allows the Museum to continue

to preserve motorsports' legacy."  With Dave McClelland giving the history of each item and three super-energetic volunteer

auctioneers from Ken Porter Auctions - Justin Holmberg, Mark Coulter and Charlie Yarrish - who could talk faster than a Funny

Car burning down the strip, the crowd was whipped into a semi-frenzy, and the items hotly contested. The bidding atmosphere

was fun to watch and participate in. 
     The highlight was the Mickey Thompson mini dragster which sold for $3,500. A Lions Drag Strip jacket from the early 1960s,

once owned by Jim Nelson, was authenticated by Bob Frye and John Ewald before being auctioned off for $1,525.  Other highlights

included a framed display of more than 200 event pins donated by Cal-Rods' Vic Cunningham that went for $375, a divisional

"Wally" Award that sold for $400 and an event poster from the 1993 California Hot Rod Reunion, autographed by the Honorees

from that year, that sold for $475.  Tons of autographed vintage race jackets, hats, posters and banners were up for grabs, as well

as trophies, photographs, Hot Wheels cars and other hard-to-find collectibles.
     The auction was part of the events surrounding the CarQuest Auto Parts Winternationals at nearby Pomona Raceway.  Named

for the founder of the National Hot Rod Association, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by the Automobile

Club of Southern California houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles spanning American motorsports

history are on display, including winning cars representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track

challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds.
     The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST. Current NHRA

members are admitted free. Admission for non-members is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 60 and older, $3 for juniors six through 15,

and free for children under the age of five. The Museum is also available for private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings

and special group tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.

in Pomona. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com.
Editor's note: Hi-res images available at www.pacificcommunicationsgroup.com/museum