The Talladega Superspeedway is an icon in American motorsports, most notably in the world of stock car racing. But there’s more to this plot of land in eastern Alabama than a high-banked oval racetrack. Sitting just in front of the racetrack is a complex of buildings that houses the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Museum was founded in 1990 with the intent of providing a permanent facility for honoring the greatest names in the history of motorsports. Members of the Hall of Fame are selected from all forms of racing, not just NASCAR or the stock car world. New inductees are honored yearly, with the selection process governed by a board of well-known racers, broadcasters and writers who vote on the final honorees.
The museum itself contains what can best be described as an eclectic mix of vehicles. As would be expected, there are many significant stock cars in the museum, but visitors will also find the Budweiser rocket car that, according to the U.S. Air Force, ran faster than the speed of sound in 1979. Also on display are rare and historic motorcycles, drag cars, and even a few serious go-karts. (Not surprising since the World Karting Association Hall of Fame is headquartered here also.)
If you’re a fan of racing, you owe it to yourself to visit the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum. And we can’t think of a better time to visit than during one of NASCAR’s Talladega race weekends. |
