Mike Kelley told us about Bill and Joyce Smith and how they started Speedway Motors. It seems that when Bill and Joyce was getting ready to graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan, Bill asked Joyce for $300 to start his car shop which in 1952. Joyce loaned him the $300 and she really never did get it back. Bill and Joyce had four children and currently only three of the boys are living. Jason, the youngest, recently passed away. Joyce use to work for the State Fair Board and Bill, of course, loved to race his cars. Basically they were living on Bill's race money and Joyce's salary from the State Fair Board. Mike told us about the Speedway Museum and showed us some photos of the latest additions.
Th
e Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a non-profit corporation founded in 1992 by "Speedy" Bill and Joyce Smith. The original museum was in a smaller building on Van Dorn street in Lincoln. The museum moved to its current location on the Speedway Motor's campus in 2001. This 150,000 sq. ft. museum was formed to present a continuous chronology of automotive Racing Engine and Speed Equipment development and to preserve, interpret, and display items significant in racing and automotive history. The collection results from the Smiths' personal involvement in racing and hot rodding, and their lifelong passion for collecting and preserving racing and automotive history.
Bill and Joyce had first hand knowledge of racing and performance history as they actively raced and sold speed and power equipment for over 60 years. Bill's six decades of experience began in the 1940's when he raced roaring roadsters on half mile county fair tracks. In the 50's and 60's he raced dragsters, stock cars, NASCAR, modifieds and sprint cars.
e Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a non-profit corporation founded in 1992 by "Speedy" Bill and Joyce Smith. The original museum was in a smaller building on Van Dorn street in Lincoln. The museum moved to its current location on the Speedway Motor's campus in 2001. This 150,000 sq. ft. museum was formed to present a continuous chronology of automotive Racing Engine and Speed Equipment development and to preserve, interpret, and display items significant in racing and automotive history. The collection results from the Smiths' personal involvement in racing and hot rodding, and their lifelong passion for collecting and preserving racing and automotive history.Bill and Joyce had first hand knowledge of racing and performance history as they actively raced and sold speed and power equipment for over 60 years. Bill's six decades of experience began in the 1940's when he raced roaring roadsters on half mile county fair tracks. In the 50's and 60's he raced dragsters, stock cars, NASCAR, modifieds and sprint cars.
Mike told us that they recently built an addition to the current Museum which gives them an additional 90,000 square feet. They have a lunch box collection, many new additional cars and have acquired a pedal car that cost $90,000. They also have a car that was built from "belly tanks" as a race car.
Speedway still sells parts for cars, they do not restore any of their cars, they are done by other companies for them, if a new car comes in and it just needs cleaning, the volunteers clean it before it goes on display. Speedway owns about 75% of commercial property in Lincoln, NE.
If you enjoy looking at many different kinds of cars, besides race cars, you need to go visit the Speedway Motors American Museum of Speed. It has something for everyone.