Vroom. . .
The Need For Speed By Jeff Falk • Photos Courtesy of The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
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ver since Henry Ford invented the Model T, man has wanted to go faster. Added to this fact that humans are, by nature, competitive, and at its most basic level, that’s how car racing began. The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing honors those modest roots and explores our basic need for speed. The museum was built by motorheads for motorheads, but as it has evolved, it’s included something for everyone. Ideal for locals and tourists alike, the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing might be one of the Harrisburg area’s best kept secrets. “Let’s go back to the chariots in Rome,” says Lynn Paxton, museum curator. “What did they do with them? They raced them. Then there was some guy who said, ‘Let’s charge admission for them.’ When the automobile came along, it was just the next step. There’s a competitive nature to it. If you’re going to be competitive, you want to make your vehicle faster. There’s a need for speed. Everybody wants to win. If you lose, you want to learn and you want to get better. “For a hundred years now, we’ve gone from horses to automobiles,” adds Paxton. “The horse gave way to automobiles, and it was just natural we had automobile racing. It’s an evolution, and one I think helped build America.” Located at 100 Baltimore Road, York Springs, just off Route 15 South of Dillsburg and a short drive from Harrisburg, the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing is a must-visit for racing fans and automobile enthusiasts. It bills itself as a living museum, one which is constantly changing its displays and exhibits. Admission is free. 16 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JUNE 2020
“Central Pennsylvania has always been a hotbed for racing,” says Paxton, himself a one-time racer. “We’re more or less the historian. I’d say we’re one of the best kept secrets in Adams County. We don’t have money to advertise, so our best advertising is word of mouth. When visitors come in, they don’t know what to expect. My first question is always, ‘How did you find out about us?’ Once we find out what their interest is, we can tailor the tour to them. “It’s gotten bigger over the years,” adds Paxton. “We always try to tell every story we can. There are so many facets of racing in this area. We get people who come in and look at one thing and they end up being amazed at everything.” Upon entering the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing’s front doors, visitors are greeted with an almost overwhelming visual stimulation caused by the sight of high-performance machines, motors, and racing gear. It is at that point that one’s imagination takes over, and if you’re not careful the smell and sounds of racing history will fill the air. The museum pays tribute to the past of every racing classification imaginable – from sprint cars to midgets, from stock cars to drag racers, from Indy cars to motorcycles. “At a lot of museums, you walk from piece to piece. Ours is a little different,” says Paxton. “Everything has historic value and a story to tell. Visitors say our museum is comfortable. It has a flow to it. It seems everybody is pleased. People will say, ‘This is more than I thought it would be.’ Once you’re a racing fan, you’re a racing fan for life. “There are so many different classifications, and there are so many
