Cars: The Need for Speed
Kansas Museum of History, Topeka
Through Nov. 28, 2010
Support for this exhibit is provided by Wal-Mart
Cars fuel people's need for speed. They touch every part of our lives. From lodging to food to entertainment, cars drive American culture.
The Need for Speed celebrates this rich history!
The exhibit considers how cars have affected our food, entertainment, and buildings. It also explores every aspect of racing, sanctioned or non-sanctioned, including dirt track, hot rods, drag racing (NHRA), road racing, and NASCAR.
Kansas' fascination with car culture has a long history. Walter Chrysler grew up in Ellis, the National Hot Rod Association held its first national event in Great Bend, and today there are NASCAR races at the Kansas Speedway racetrack.
Cars also have influenced other aspects of life in Kansas besides racing:
- The state's fast food history is closely tied to automobiles. White Castle, Pizza Hut, Taco Tico, and Valentine Diners all had their start in Kansas.
- President Dwight Eisenhower, a Kansas native, championed the interstate highway system. Kansas claims the first completed stretch of interstate highway in the nation.
Cars featured in the exhibit
- Great Smith made in Topeka, 1908—one of only five known to exist!
- Junior dragster that appeared in the Disney movie, Right on Track
- NASCAR stock car driven by Jennifer Jo Cobb
- Midget racer from 1946
Some objects you'll see
- Uniforms worn by race car drivers, including Chase Austin
- Early Kansas drag racing items
- Antique road signs & maps
