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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
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Visit With Speedy Bill by Norm Bogan |
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Bill Smith is an icon among the speed shop operators in this country. For nearly fifty years, he has maintained Speedway Motors in Lincoln, Nebraska. Over the years, he has put cars under several Hall of Fame pilots, like Doug Wolfgang, Jan Opperman and Lloyd Beckman. Many others have driven for him on occasion. During this time, he had established himself as a source for speed equipment, shipping material all over the country. While building the business during these years, he also had developed affection for unique speed parts, model cars and pedal cars. As he traveled around in his business and with racing, he began to accumulate and collect these items, when he came across them. As with so many of us, his hobby grew to a point, where he had to build a facility to house his collectibles. The Bill Smith Collection currently resides in a 22,000 square foot building and is soon to move into a 60,000 square foot site. Racecars on display include midgets, sprints and champ cars, Pikes Peak racers and land speed vehicles, some which have only been cleaned up and put on display, while others have been completely restored. Many have been purchased from private owners, while others have been located in some old barn. One of the most interesting was an old sprint car found as a barn was being demolished. It was buried under a pile of walnut shells and no one knew it was there until bulldozing started. There are a number of examples of the Model-T and optional bodies that could be purchased to streamline the car or convert it into a racer. Most impressive is his engine collection. There are probably a couple of hundred engines on display from the Model-T with many of the modifications developed to improve performance to a number of prototype engines developed by the factories, but never put into production. Many of the collection are one of a kind and in some cases he has all the blueprints for the engine. There is a whole section based on the Ford Flathead engines and the many modified components developed to enhance performance. A number of Indy engines from throughout the years are there, from the four-cam Ford of A.J. Foyt to a Studebaker tried by J. C. Agajanian in 1952, before converting to an Offy. There is a model of a high performance shop, which displays many of the products created for sale to car owners to change the appearance or performance of the family car. Also many of the parts, which became the speed equipment business and which were sold by Speedway Motors are there. They have constructed a special car encompassing as many of these after-market parts as a display. It has different shocks on each corner and different headlights, a speedometer, cigarette lighter and other items, which once were only frivolous add-ons to the basic vehicle delivered, by the factory. The third wing houses the toy department. We all remember as a kid having toy cars, which often mocked Dad’s work car or was a copy of our favorite racecar. Well, you can find them all displayed here. There are literally thousands of model cars, some which were inexpensive tin toys I remember from my childhood and there are other built to intricate detail. There are copies of many of the famous racecars from days past. A major portion of the floor and one whole wall is the stage for probably the largest pedal car collection on earth. There are hundreds of the pedal cars, that many of us remember from our younger years, plus a whole section on fire engines and then some specialty cars such as a ’57 Chevy and ‘68 Camaro and an old Bugati roadster, said to be worth 25 to 30 thousand dollars. Many of the cars, which simulate the old cars, are said to cost more than the real thing, when it was new. The museum will be shut down, while the transition from the current facility into the new museum is accomplished. If you are ever passing through Lincoln, Nebraska and aren’t attending a “Big Red” football game, check the schedule at the Museum and if possible, make time to take the tour. It is the finest display of speed equipment and especially engines and even more so, toys that I am aware of. Bill Smith, his wife and son continue to attend swap meets, auctions and sales of private collections, throughout the country looking for additional material. While Speedy Bill continues to add to his collection, Speedway Motors remains involved in auto racing as a sponsor and provider of parts to the competitors.
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