The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR) is the epitome of the phrase “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve passed the road sign with the Dirt Track race car mounted on top – as seen in the cover photo – on my way to locations like the many Carlisle events, the annual AACA Hershey Swap Meet, the York Toy Fair, or the IMRRC in Watkins Glen. It’s teased me for years from the side of Route-15 and unfortunately, I’ve always had somewhere else to be. As luck would have it, I got the opportunity to finally visit the EMMR when I was interviewing author (and former VP racing fuels Vice President) J.K. Kelly about his new book “Deadly Driver.” We were looking for a place half way between us to meet and neither of us had been to the EMMR citing the same excuse “I’ve always wanted to go there!” so it was the perfect location for a get together.
The museum is built on a wooded hillside overlooking the historic Latimore Valley Fairgrounds and race track in York Springs, Pennsylvania, roughly 3/4 of a mile from the road sign you see from the highway. The 40 acre fairgrounds and track are restored to their original beauty creating an atmosphere that makes the EMMR a living museum. The museum is a combination of both the personal collection of multi-time dirt racing champion and hall of famer Lynn Paxton as well as contributions from other members of this racing community.
The EMMR spans the hillside and each added on section is home to another themed room. From the early days of Dirt Track racing, to world of Outlaws, to the Drag Racing room, then onto “the Engine Room” it seems to just go on forever. Most importantly, it’s also home to many of Mario Andretti’s early race cars!
“First car we come on here is a three quarter midget, and this was Mario Andretti’s very first open wheel ride. It’s a Heus car with a 6 53 Triumph motorcycle engine … That’s the car that Mario Andretti won three races in one day in this car right here.” says Lynn.
A unique feature of the museum includes carefully transported garages, each with a story behind them which curator Lynn Paxton can spend the day talking about in detail. These aren’t reproductions these are the ORIGINAL garages, documented, disassembled and moved across the country, and meticulously rebuilt inside of the EMMR and preserved.
Once you reach the upper part of the EMMR, accessible from a long stair case, elevator, or from the upper parking lot, you’ve reached the latest expansion to the facility. It’s home to a meeting room and showcases more modern vehicles including motorcycles and the museum library. In keeping with the theme of preserving history through the recreation of famous garages, there is a final diorama that most might overlook as “just some barn doors.”
These aren’t just any doors, the is an original “Gasoline Alley” pit box from the Indianapolis Speedway. The items seen here were removed just before they were torn down during renovations and modernization efforts in 1985. Tearing down these pit boxes also signified the end of an era for open wheel racing at Indy and ushered in the next generation of NASCAR and INDYCAR vehicles that we recognize today. Inside the display there is also an unrestored and storied crash car. One of the last to run at Indianapolis in “the good ole days.” (Learn more about this in the podcast episode below!)
A picture is worth 1000 words, but a guided tour is worth its weight in gold. Tune in below for a special guided tour is Dirt Track hall-of-famer and former curator for the Museum, Lynn Paxton.
The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing is proud to be the home of the Chris Economaki collection, a noted motorsports journalist, and editor of National Speed Sport News, The library contains the Central States Racing Association paperwork, the racing columnist Bob Chorpenning’s collection, the collection of noted historian Joe Heisler, while the The Jerry Reigle Research Room contains the EMMR’s vast photograph collection. There are an estimated 20,000 photographs in the EMMR collection, including the large Jack Gunn collection.
Plan your Visit to the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR)
Several times a year EMMR holds events where these historic cars can be seen on the track! It’s located at 100 Baltimore Rd, York Springs, PA 17372.
- Museum Hours: April-November; Friday, Saturday & Sunday – 10am-4pm
- December-March; Friday – 10am-4pm
- Admission Fee: FREE, donations welcomed.
To learn more about the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing, be sure to look them up on FB at @EasternMuseumofMotorRacing or visit their website www.emmr.org – The museum also needs your help and are looking for volunteers so stop by when you have the chance! The museum is open to the public April-November on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 10-4pm. Volunteers are always needed at the Museum. They are looking for volunteers to help staff the museum. If you’re interested in helping please email admin@emmr.org.
