Day Trip to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California

Explore Hot Rods, Dragsters & Speed History

Craving horsepower and history? Head to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum at the Fairplex in Pomona. This 30,000-square-foot museum delivers everything from 6,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters to classic sportsman machines. Whether your taste runs to short-wheelbase Funny Cars or high-winding vehicles that once pushed past 200 mph, the collection covers the full spectrum of American drag racing and hot rodding.

National Hot Rod Association

Wally Parks—founder, president, and longtime chairman of the National Hot Rod Association—created the museum as a permanent home for the sport he helped organize and legitimize. Opened in 1998, it remains the definitive collection of drag racing history. Inside you’ll find nostalgic drag racers, street rods, vintage gassers, Funny Cars, land-speed machines, and a solid selection of motorcycles, all backed by photographs, trophies, helmets, driving uniforms, artifacts, paintings, and memorabilia spanning more than seven decades of American motorsports. With the NHRA marking its 75th anniversary in 2026, the museum feels especially timely.

Arrival and First Impressions

You don’t have to step inside to start the experience. Visitors are greeted by a smiling statue of Parks and a polished replica of the original 1954 Dodge “Safety Safari” rig and camper that carried early NHRA officials across the country. The setup immediately sets the tone: this is the place where organized drag racing grew from dry-lake runs and street races into a national sport.

Pioneer Machines and Racing Legends

The museum is packed with revolutionary cars from the sport’s pioneering era. An excellent display covers Mickey Thompson’s land-speed efforts and his many other accomplishments in auto racing. A closer look at the vehicles and supporting material shows Thompson’s design and engineering brilliance in the late 1950s and early 1960s—he was clearly working years ahead of most of his contemporaries.

Nearby sits a recreation of Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat 5A from 1963, the first drag car to wear a wing. Lakes and salt-flat racers appear throughout the halls as well, including Fred Larson’s liner and the famous Pierson Bros. Coupe. That groundbreaking machine competed consistently at the lakes, the drags, and Bonneville from the late 1940s through the 1970s.

An oversized Wally trophy anchors another strong section, standing near one of Tom McEwen’s restored Mongoose Funny Cars and a blown-up cover of a 1970s Drag Racing USA magazine that asked: “Who’s Mr. Four Speed?” The surrounding displays reinforce how deep the history runs.

Other standout pieces include A.J. Foyt Coyote Indy Cars, Kenny Bernstein’s first dragster to top 300 mph, Stone Woods & Cook’s “Swindler A” Willys gasser, the Bob McClung helmet and photo collection, and artifacts from early land-speed and hot-rod events.

How the Rail Evolved

As you move through the halls, you can trace the evolution of the “rail” itself. The story begins with the Bug, an odd-looking machine built in 1950 by Kurtis Kraft for the then-new sport of drag racing. From that early contraption, the displays show how the purpose-built dragster developed into the sophisticated machines that still run today.

Customs, Icons, and Changing Exhibits

Modern and custom icons also claim space. The NuFormz Racing Charger sits on the floor alongside ZZ Top’s Eliminator and the world-famous CadZZilla, a heavily reworked 1948 Cadillac long promoted as the ultimate custom car.

Temporary and rotating exhibits regularly honor major figures and themes in hot rodding. Past and recent subjects have included Vic Edelbrock, Don Prudhomme, the 1932 Ford, track roadsters, Parnelli Jones, and the So-Cal Speed Shop. The changing nature of these displays keeps repeat visits worthwhile.

Museum Store and Information

Before you leave, stop at the NHRA Museum Store. It carries a solid selection of books, apparel, souvenirs, and memorabilia aimed at anyone who follows hot rod and drag racing history.

Hours & Ticket Price:

The museum is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

General admission is $12. Seniors 60 and older and students 13–18 with ID pay $10. Active military with ID and children 12 and under (with a parent or guardian) enter free. Museum members also enter free. Group rates are available. Museum website.

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum sits about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona. From Interstate 10, exit Fairplex Drive, head north to McKinley Avenue, and continue a short distance to the museum.

Why Visit the Hot Rod Museum

A visit here works well as a half-day or full-day outing from Orange County or the greater Los Angeles area. You can combine it with time at the adjacent Fairplex grounds or focus on the cars and stories inside. The museum delivers pure motorsports history without requiring race-day crowds or tickets. Whether you grew up around Southern California car culture or are discovering it for the first time, the collection makes the case for why hot rodding and drag racing still matter.

Plan your trip for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, check current hours and any special events on the official site, and give yourself time to wander. The cars, the trophies, and the stories of the people who built and raced them remain the real draw.

FAQ: Visiting the Hot Rod Museum in Pomona

What are the current hours and admission prices?
Open Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. General admission $12; seniors (60+) and students (13–18 with ID) $10; active military with ID free; ages 12 and under free with parent/guardian; members free.

Where exactly is the museum located?
Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, on the Los Angeles County Fairplex grounds.

How long should I plan to spend?
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Enthusiasts who read every placard or photograph can easily stay longer.

Is the museum open during NHRA race weekends at Pomona?
Hours can be adjusted or extended around major events at the adjacent In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Check the official museum site before race weekends.

Is there a gift shop?
Yes. The museum store carries apparel, books, event merchandise, and unique items that support the museum’s preservation work.

Any parking or access notes?
Parking is available on the Fairplex grounds near Gate 1. The museum occupies a historic Art Deco exposition building and is generally accessible.

Cruising Through History: A Day Trip to Petersen Auto Museum