With the Hot Rod Power Tour ending this year in Detroit, we couldn’t let the opportunity escape us when we were invited to visit the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village in Dearborn Michigan for a special guided tour. When we got there we expected the typical museum experience. We had no idea what was in store or the special access we would be granted.

The Henry Ford Museum was born out of the automotive industrialists love for preserving items of historical significance as well as items used by the common man. The complex is massive! The 90+ acres houses an amazing collection of Americana including automobiles, trains, planes, various manufacturing machines, trinkets, crafts and more. It even is home to many different buildings of historic significance. The dwellings were brought to the complex from locations around the world and re-assembled brick by brick to their original     grandeur.  Notable buildings include Thomas Edison’s original Menlo Park, New Jersey Complex, the Wright Brothers North Carolina Cycling/Airplane fabrication shop and a replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

We were overwhelmed to say the least. There is no way to see everything in one day but we were lucky that we had a private guided tour and were able to hit the highlights as well as see a few things that the general guest does not (i.e. Behind the scenes)

On our special tour we were able to view some amazing vehicles including some of the vehicles the museum was preparing for a new 80,000 square foot exhibit titled Driving America coming in 2012. Vehicles such as the first Ford Mustang prototype, various race cars including Bill Eliotts number 9 NASCAR, Jim Clark’s 1965 Indy winning Lotus and the Edelbrock flathead equipped 1960 Buck and Thompson Class D Slingshot Dragster.

We were also able to visit the massive archives of the museum and see some really amazing historical pieces including letters from Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Edison. We were given the opportunity to leaf through personal photo albums/scrapbooks from various events including multi family camping trips the Ford family took with the Edison and Firestone families. There was so much to see and such little time.

Next we were escorted around the Greenfield Village area via Model T’s to view the various buildings that Ford has collected over the years. Buildings such as Edison’s Menlo Park Complex. The original laboratory where Thomas Edison invented the Light bulb and so many other incredible inventions was re-located here back in 1929.

Other notable buildings include Henry Fords birthplace, and the first house to enjoy electrical service among many others we didn’t have time to visit. While in the Edison laboratory, Vic, Nancy and Christi were able to record their voices on an original Edison Phonograph which was a real treat. We also visited the Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop/Airplane Fabrication Shop where they constructed the first Airplane. American ingenuity at its finest.

By now the day had flown by and it was getting late. We were treated to one more really incredible honor. A formal dinner for our entourage in one of the historic Greenfield buildings. Here, Vic was presented with a really nice framed image of the 1960 Buck and Thompson Edelbrock Equipped Dragster. The atmosphere was really amazing as we sat there eating, socializing and taking in all the historic Americana and nostalgia of the Henry Ford Museum.

We had heard that this place was amazing, but we had no idea it was that AMAZING! Special thanks to The Henry Ford Museum for the special tour and access! If you haven’t been yet… GO!

http://www.thehenryford.org

Check out all the awesome pictures from the museum below.

As with all of our NMRA events, we have something to keep you entertained all weekend with the Vendor Midway, Car show, Swap meet and the infamous Burnout Contest!

Don’t forget about the Atco Raceway Bar, open all weekend to mingle and have a cold one while you watch Ford Drag Racing’s best racers battle it out on the track! It’s all waiting for you at Atco Raceway!

All-Ford Heads Up Racing!

NMRA Ford Nationals Heads Up Racing has it all! Experience everything from blazing 6 second Pro Outlaw 10.5 passes to edge of your seat wheel stands in Hot Street. You’ll witness the best in Ford street legal racing action all weekend.

Race Your Street Car in an Entry Level Class!

Have you ever wanted to drag race? Imagine racing your street car on the best drag strip in the USA! NMRA has entry level classes designed just for you. True Street is for 15 second cars down with over 9 awards given away on Sunday. Open Comp, Modular Muscle, Super Stang are all great classes for a new racer. For rules information visit: www.nmradigital.com/rules

Other Special NMRA Event Features

Every NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals event offers special event features that ensure the NMRA is the #1 all-Ford series in the U.S. Be sure to hit the ATM on your way to the track because there will be great deals on the parts you want at the NMRA’s giant manufacturers’ midway and swap meet. Be sure to take a stroll through the huge UPR Products NMRA All-Ford Car Show to see some of the finest late-model and classic Mustangs & Fords on the planet. Cover your ears and hold onto your seat when the NMRA’s 300+ mph jet car rockets down the 1/4 mile as it attempts to break the track’s land speed record. And finally, don’t forget about the NMRA’s world famous burnout contest as crazed fans burn down their cars for your applause!

Event Schedule

FRIDAY

Gates Open: Noon
Test & Tune: 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Qualifying Rd. #1: 7:00pm
Secure Track: 9:00pm

SATURDAY

Gates Open: 9:00am
Racer, Car Show, and Swap Meet Registration: 9:00am
Bracket Time Trials: 9:15am
Heads-Up Qualifying Rd. #2: 10:30am
True Street Meeting: 11:00am
True Street Cruise: Noon
Exhibition: Noon
Bracket Eliminations Rd. #1: 12:15pm
True Street Eliminations: 1:30pm
Exhibition: 3:00pm
Car Show Awards Presentation: 3:05pm
Burn-Out Contest: 3:15pm
Heads-Up Qualifying Rd. #3 (inverted order): 3:30pm
Secure Track: 5:00pm

SUNDAY

Gates Open: 8:00am
Racer, Car Show and Swap Meet Registration: 8:00am
Heads-Up Eliminations Rd. #1: 9:00am
Bracket Time Trial: 10:00am
Pre-Race Ceremonies: 11:30pm
Pro Heads-Up Eliminations: Noon, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm
Bracket Eliminations Rd. #1: 1:00pm
Final Exhibition: 3:00pm
Car Show Awards Presentation: 3:05pm
Car Show Parade of Champions: 3:45pm
Final Rounds All Eliminators: 5:00pm
Secure Track: 6:00pm

TRACK INFORMATION

Track Name: Atco Raceway
City: Atco, New Jersey
Track Phone: (856) 768-2167
Track Address: 1000 Jackson Rd., Atco, NJ 08004
Web Site: www.atcorace.com
Email: dragrace@atcorace.com

HOST CAR CLUBS

Club: Wicked Motorsports
Website: www.wickedmotorsports.net

Club: East Coast Stangs
Website: www.eastcoaststangs.com

HOST HOTEL

Hotel: Comfort Inn & Suites-Mt. Laurel
Address: 6000 Crawford Place Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (856) 727-0100
Website: http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-mount_laurel-new_jersey-NJ153
Special Instructions: When making reservations please refer to the group NMRA Nationals spectators to book at the rate of $89.00 plus all applicable taxes, this rate will be available from Friday May 13th 2011 to Sunday May 15th 2011. Please call.

Will you be in or around the greater Chicago, IL area this weekend? If so, shake the cabin fever and come out to Pheasant Run resort and take in two days of the latest racing and performance parts from the automotive industry’s leading manufacturers. See more than 250 performance manufacturers! Edelbrock will be there with a large array of products on display and experts to answer your questions.

While your there be sure to check out the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Build Challenge. Area high schools compete in a head-to-head engine building competition against the clock.  The team with fastest time and fewest mistakes will punch their ticket to the “Showdown at SEMA” for the national title.

Drive in for the day or reserve a room now for that perfect weekend getaway!

Where: St. Charles, IL @ Pheasant Run Resort

When: Saturday, Feb 26 (8am-5pm) and Sunday, Feb 27 (9am-4pm)

Cost: $10.00 (adults), children 12 & under are Free

Why you need to be there: Hot rods, race cars, cool parts and industry experts. And did we mention that Pheasant Run has a full service spa to keep the significant other occupied?

Click here for complete details, including location, hours and show information.

John Urist

March 26-28, 2010 – Commerce, Georgia

NMRA Invades Atlanta, Georgia In 2010
The NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals, the #1 all-Ford motorsport show, will invade Georgia with the Inaugural Nitto Tire NMRA Peach State Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, March 26-28, 2010. Georgia, a leading Ford market, deserves an all-Ford race and show where all its Ford enthusiasts can participate.
This NMRA event will feature special Outlaw 10.5 racing as well as special NMRA classes that allow for participation from all levels of blue oval performance. Be sure to bring your Mustang or Ford out and compete in the Tremec True Street class on Saturday at a NMRA national event! This event will also feature a huge all-Ford auto show & shine, presented by UPR Products, a giant manufacturers midway, and much more. For more information visit: NMRA Digital

Track Name: Atlanta Dragway

City: Commerce, Georgia

Track Phone: (706) 335-2301

Track Address: 500 E. Ridgeway Road, Commerce, GA 30529

Web Site: Atlanta Dragway

Email: msavage@nhra.com

Tickets available. For pricing and complete event schedule details visit the NMRA or call call 714-444-2426

16th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout

March 4-7, 2010, Bradenton, Florida

To start the season right, the NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals will kick off the 2010 season in the Sunshine State for the 16th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout. And what a better place to spend Spring Break, than the beaches of Florida, not to mention the NHRA drag strip nestled between the palm trees!

We’ll start off the weekend, and the new Season, with a crazy Pre-Race Party at the Hooters of Bradenton. Last year’s NMRA Spring Break Shootout saw over 1000 participants and almost 20,000 spectators, so you can be assured that this event will be huge. We will also be featuring the Muscle Mustangs Spring Break Shootout class as well as Tremec True Street, which had 107 competitors in ‘09. Make your plans now for a whole weekend of NMRA Heads-Up Drag Racing, a huge UPR Products All-Ford Car Show, gigantic Midway and Swap Meet, and the famous tire smoking Burnout Contest!

Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Spring Break Shootout 
Presented by Pro50.Com 

 The NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals, the #1 all-Ford motorsport show in the U.S., is pleased to announce that the Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Spring Break Shootout will once again join forces with the NMRA.  The Spring Break Shootout class will be presented by Pro50.Com and it will take place at the Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton.

This awesome event, which Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords started back in 1995, features some of the fastest street-style Mustangs in the land competing for the honor of Spring Break Shootout champion. This year will feature the same easy to follow rules for Spring Break Shootout competitors.

  ]]> http://www.edelblog.com/racing/2010-nmra-racing-season-opens-in-bradenton/feed 1 http://www.edelblog.com/general/welcome-to-the-edelblog http://www.edelblog.com/general/welcome-to-the-edelblog#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:18:03 +0000 admin http://www.edelblog.com/?p=16 We’re excited to officially launch the “Edelblog” – a place for the autmotive community to keep up with what’s happening in the world of Edelbrock.

This will be a new home for the lighter side of Edelbrock, events, promotions, race results and more…

Soooooo, add us to your favorites, join the RSS feed, or just keep coming back.  We’ll be here and we’ll be blogin’.