Okay... with that part over I drove over to Lincoln, NE to visit Speedy Bill Smith's Collection (Museum).... I snapped hundred of pics and I'll wade through them and present what I consider the best to you next.. This will probably take me a couple days 'cause I'm "particular" and I don't want to spoil the trip for those that may go there.. And during my visit there I learned that Bill Smith never intended to show any of this to anyone! He never wanted the general public plodding through his "stuff"! these were things that he had fond memories of and didn't want strangers "eyeballing" them.

That's why they have guided tours and don't allow children, and that's why the 2 PM to 4 PM hours. He wanted to make it difficult to limit the volume of traffic! But now that he's gone, the family has decided to revamp the format to honor his vision.

So they are adding another 50 thousand square feet to the building so they can share more of the collections!
Currently they have about half on display at any one time!!! ( that's about 60K sq.ft. on 3 floors!)
And some time next year, once they open the addition, they don't think they'll be able to continue the guided tours. They just won't have enough volunteers! Yes, every one who "works" there is a volunteer! The machinists, mechanics, bodymen, painters etc. etc. etc .. And I may have said this earlier, they don't do "restorations".. they only do "preservations" on-site.. if they decide something needs or is worthy of restoration, an outside source would be contracted for that.

So eventually, a visitor can go through at their own pace and study what they find interesting and pass by what they don't... I know I'd like that a lot better. I don't want to sound like I didn't have a great time! I DID!!! but some of the items your guided to and spend time at, really don't hold your interest... an example for me would be the Midget Racers and Indy cars... I wanted to spend more time there and not so much time at the pedal cars!

Well, now that I've rambled on and on... standby for some more pics! Hope your enjoying "the ride" !

And I'd like to again say thanks to Roger & Sue Spears for the hospitality / friendship / camaraderie, they made my trip special! (OH and Bones Too!!!)