70th Anniversary of Southern California Timing Association Brings Out Cars and Legends

The original timing stand used by SCTA marks the entrance to the new exhibit celebrating the Association's 70th anniversary.  The exhibit runs at the Parks Museum through June, 2008.  Bill Groak photos for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

POMONA, Calif. - Got salt?  The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum turned into a temporary version of the Bonneville Salt Flats for Wednesday's Prolong® Twilight Cruise Night to correspond to the opening of the Museum's new exhibit highlighting the 70th Anniversary of the SCTA.

"This is bittersweet," said Tony Thacker, executive director of the Parks Museum, "because this is the exhibit Wally really wanted and he wasn't here to see it."  Parks, who was part of the group that started the SCTA, passed away Sept. 28 at the age of 94.  The Automobile Club of Southern California, which is the presenting sponsor of the Museum, funded the exhibit in honor of Parks.

The exhibit runs through June, 2008 and features the original timing stand that SCTA used along with famous land speed record vehicles including Mickey Thompson's Challenger I and an incredible array of memorabilia from the Associations events.

Land speed record vehicles were also the theme vehicles at the Nov. Twilight Cruise Night.  Here is a photo gallery from both the new exhibit and the Twilight Cruise.

SCTA Exhibit photos

Poster from the 1964 Bonneville Speed Weeks	Mickey Thompson's four-engined Challenger I
The exhibit features rare black and white Bonneville footage that includes interviews with salt flat legends Dean Moon (L) and Mickey Thompson (R).
Media and spectators look at just a few of the cars in the exhibit.	A spectator marvels at the extent of the memorabilia on display in the exhibit cases.

Prolong® Twilight Cruise Night photos

John Duran of Cal Rods, which organizes the Cruise, takes a look at one of the traditional hot rods.	The Royal Spades Car Club of Pomona stopped by to check out all the cool cars.
Budweiser Celebrity Selector Al Teague (R), the first Bonneville racer to exceed 400 mph in a single-engine car, selected Ken Campbell's '55 Pontiac Chieftain because it "reminded me of my brother's '55 Star Chief."	Parks Museum Board Member Dick McClung (R), chose a custom '33 Ford roadster owned and built by "Bones" Noteboom of Hemet.  McClung said it was the "best looking car at the show."
SCTA President Jim Lattin (R) chose Ernie Harman's '27 Ford Model T because "it just looked clean and simple."	J.R. Martinez (R), a long-time friend of the Museum, tapped Mike Cole's '51 Ford convertible because "it was sweet."  Cole is a member of the Early Times Car Club.