JAUNTS : On the Fast Track at Santa Paula Museum : Historic building that once housed Union Oil offers a look back at auto racing, including an Indy 500 car driven by legend A. J. Foyt.
It was 1911, and 40 cars were lined up for the first running of the Indianapolis 500. They would soon race over a track made of brick, the leader averaging 74.6 m.p.h.
A 70-minute video chronicling the history of the Indy 500 is among the sights in a new exhibit at the Santa Paula Union Oil Museum called “Legends of Auto Racing.”
The video is a fascinating look back at auto racing. But also impressive are two actual race cars from the 1960s that were squeezed through the museum’s doors for this show, which runs through March 27.
One, a red beauty, was built and driven in the Indy 500 by racing legend A. J. Foyt, who began designing the line of “Coyote” race cars in 1965. The other is a two-passenger white and black racer built in 1968 by Howmet Corp., which used a turbine engine. With only one forward speed, it set a lap record at the Daytona 500 of 176 m.p.h.
The cars, engines, photos and other auto memorabilia are on loan to the museum from Jim and Dan Brucker, both of Santa Paula, and Mark Dees of Moorpark.
The exhibit takes up two rooms in the historic museum, the original home of Union Oil, known today as Unocal. The building--a national and county historical monument--was constructed in 1890 of Sespe sandstone, river rock and locally fired brick.
Unocal invested $2.5 million to renovate the museum in 1990. The city took over operation in July because the financially strapped oil company was faced with closing the museum to cut costs.
When the auto racing exhibit closes, the museum expects to bring in a collection of classic motorcycles, according to Roy Fulwider, museum administrator.
Kids will enjoy the auto racing exhibit, especially the two early midget racers on display. The “Little Mystery,” built in 1929, is hardly more than 5 feet long, yet it hit a top speed on the Indy straightaway of 130 m.p.h. It took more than three years to build at a cost of $9,000. The “Silver Bullet,” another midget racer, was built in 1928 for $250.
The exhibit’s collection of old photos is also intriguing. Visitors will see pictures of Frank Lockhart and his famous Stutz Blackhawk with its aerodynamically designed wheel covers. There is also a picture of the crumpled race car after Lockhart’s fatal crash in 1928, when he was traveling at 220 m.p.h., trying to break the land speed record.
Other photos include the “Golden Submarine,” an odd-looking old-timer that boasted a hand-rubbed gold lacquer finish; a 1931 shot of Gwenda Stewart, a female racer who set speed records in the United States and Europe, and pictures of early racetracks made of wood boards.
Also part of the exhibit are old racing programs from the Indianapolis 500, checkered flags, clothing, helmets and trophies. The most bizarre trophy was a statue of a winged angel holding a gaudy candelabra, the prize for the winner of the 1922 Indy 500.
Details
* WHAT: “Legends of Auto Racing,” a new exhibit in the Santa Paula Union Oil Museum.
* WHEN: The exhibit runs until March 27. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Because of the holidays, the museum will not be open until Jan. 7.
* WHERE: The museum is at 1001 E. Main St. (corner of 10th and Main streets), Santa Paula. Take the 10th Street exit off California 126.
* COST: No charge, but donations are accepted.
* FYI: There is much to see in the rest of the museum. The first floor contains a dramatic history of the petroleum industry in California, while the second floor has restored turn-of-the-century offices and living quarters. Next door is a building that houses an oil drilling rig used in the late 1800s.