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Wednesday, July 3, 2013 — The Weekender
Journey
Wally Parks’ NHRA Museum, a journey through drag racing history BY MATTHEW MARTZ TEHACHAPI NEWS For those feeling the need for speed, a trip to the Wally Parks' NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona is a perfect way for car enthusiasts to enjoy an alcohol burning automobile adventure. From 6,000 horsepower top fuel dragsters to shortwheel based funny cars to 200 mile per hour pro stocks, the 28,500-squarefoot museum situated the edge of the historic Los Angeles County Fairplex is truly the king of drag racing history. Created by Founder, President, and the Chairman of the Board of the National Hot Rod Association, Wally Parks, the wellcurated museum offers visitors an incredible opportunity to view a collection of over 50 vintage cars, including nostalgic drag racers, street rods, classic gassers, funny cars and even a dozen or so motorcycles. There are also many photographs, trophies, helmets, driving uniforms,
PHOTO COURTESY OF NHRA.COM
The inside of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, which houses over 50 vintage cars, including nostalgic drag racers, street rods, classic gassers, funny cars and even a dozen or so motorcycles, as well as other memorabilia. artifacts, paintings and other memorabilia chronicling more than 50 years of American motorsports. The entire museum is packed to capacity with innovative machines from the pioneer era of drag racing and offers unique views into the lives and machines of legendary auto racing trailblazers like Mickey Thompson, a genius in design and in engineering in the late 50s and early
60s, and Don Garlit, who built the first drag car to ever sport a wing. Also on display are Fred Larson's famous Pierson Bros. Coupe, one of A.J. Foyt's Coyote Indy Cars, Kenny Bernstein's first dragster to reach speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour and one of Tom McEwen's restored Mongoose funny cars. Temporary exhibits are also brought in from time
to time and have included the NuFormz Racing Charger as well as ZZ Top’s, the Eliminator, and the world famous Cadzzilla, a heavily reworked 1948 Cadillac touted as the world's ultimate custom car. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and cost just $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 60 and older, $6 for juniors 6 through 15, and free for children under the age of five. AAA discount available and current NHRA members are admitted free. Parking is free. The museum is about 140 miles southeast of downtown Tehachapi. From Interstate 10, exit Fairplex Drive and go north to McKinley Avenue. Turn right on McKinley to the museum, which is about a half-mile north of the interstate. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. For more information call 909-622-2133 or visit museum.nhra.com.
Coral Degagne: an artist with many talents
Tehachapi News office will be closed Thursday, July 4th On this proud anniversary of the nation’s birth, Americans will celebrate as John Adams once predicted: “with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other”.
Continued from page 6 1976 while in the sixth grade. She then graduated from Tehachapi High School in 1983 with plans to attend a cosmetology school in Vancouver, B.C. A couple of months after graduation Degagne did what a lot of kids her age do, when fun and good times are to be had. She called in sick. She had an opportunity to go ATV riding in the Mojave Desert. It proved to be a life-changing experience. She broke her back during a ride and spent 3 months in a medical facility learning to live independently as a paraplegic. Not one to wallow in self-pity, she moved on with her life and today is a vibrant and positive woman who makes one smile, just being around her. She tried various types of employment from computer accounting to dress-making and found them all boring. She married in 1987 but soon thereafter was divorced and gave birth to a baby boy. As he learned to crawl and get about on his own, she found baby overalls with suspenders the best way to pick him up safely and quickly. She became involved in tandem skydiving in 1992 and became bored with it by 2010. As you have probably noted by now, there is a boredom pattern. She had yet to find her niche. She loved the arts and her crayons as a child. She tried different painting techniques, including pastels and
watercolors. Yes, once again, boredom reigned. About 15 years ago, she went to the Getty Museum for the “Windows of Light” exhibit. “It was incredible and caught my attention immediately,” she said. “There were simple (knowing now, not so simple) stained glass pieces with ‘stick people’ drawings fused into the glass, to more elaborate and beautiful windows. At the time I did not even consider I would pursue this media, I just enjoyed the exhibit.” “While working a crossword puzzle in The Bakersfield Californian in 2004, I saw an ad for beginning stained glass classes and considered checking it out, but didn’t,” Degagne said, continuing. “Shortly thereafter I visited Old Town San Diego and the Catholic Church gift shop. While looking at a crucifix pendant I felt warmth on my neck and back. Behind me was a huge stained glass window and it was breathtaking with the sun shining through it. Some colors danced while others were soft and warm. I knew then I was going to go home and sign up for the stained glass class.” She has since crossed over to fusing and torch work and intricate detail in her stained glass pieces. The process seems to be working for her, boredom is no longer an issue and the creative juices flow. She says she thinks the reason she does not get
bored is there are so many tools to work with (she likes tools). She finds it a challenge to have someone bring her a piece that is broken and dirty and return it restored, which always brings a smile to the owner’s face. Degagne said, “My favorite part of building a window is during the wax-
PHOTO BY SHIRLEY GIVEN
Stained glass artist Coral Degagne works on a lamp. ing process when it starts getting shiny and smooth and when held up to the light, the colors start to dance.” Come and enjoy an evening with Degagne and partake in scrumptious refreshments. Gallery ‘n’ Gifts is located at 100 W. Tehachapi Blvd. For further information call 822-6062.