Bobby Allison
Photo – BobbyAllison.com
It’s not every day that racing fans have a chance to encounter a NASCAR Hall of Fame driver of Bobby Allison’s caliber. Named one of the 50 Greatest Drivers of All Time, Allison has many accolades to his name: 85 NASCAR wins, three-time winner of the Daytona 500, six-time winner of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver award, 1983 Winston Cup Series Champion, and over $7 million in career winnings.
On Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 5 to 7 p.m., the Elmhurst Historical Museum welcomes visitors to mingle with one of NASCAR’s legendary drivers during a Meet & Greet with Bobby Allison. Mr. Allison will be in the Museum’s first floor research library, and the hard-driving racer will sign official autograph cards (provided by the Museum for $5 each) and pose for photos.
The driving force to bring Bobby Allison to the Chicago area for a rare visit is the Elmhurst Historical Museum’s current exhibit, On the Road to Glory: Fred Lorenzen. Allison is a long-time friend of “The Golden Boy,” a friendship that dates back to the start of Allison’s career in the 1960s.
Fred Lorenzen with Bobby Allison
Photo – Elmhurst.org
“Fred Lorenzen and Bobby Allison were kindred spirits,” said Lance Tawzer, curator of exhibits at the Elmhurst Historical Museum. “Fred was a mentor to Bobby when he was getting his start in racing. Lorenzen served as Allison’s team manager for his first two races for Holman Moody, and they won both of them. It was a brilliant start to an amazing career for Allison and a lifelong friendship for the two drivers.”
Mr. Allison’s appearance at the Elmhurst Historical Museum was made possible by the Lorenzen family, and Tawzer added that Allison has been highly supportive of the On the Road to Glory exhibit from its inception. Allison narrated the original documentary that plays in the gallery, and he provided many anecdotes and insights on Fred’s career to help develop the storyline of the exhibit.
The Elmhurst Historical Museum is located at 120 E. Park Ave. in Elmhurst. Admission to the Meet & Greet with Bobby Allison is free (donations welcome), and limited on-site parking is available. The $5 autograph cards will be available for sale in the Museum gift shop during the event. Please note: no additional merchandise will be signed by Mr. Allison.
Be sure to drop by and see one of NASCAR’s finest drivers on April 4th, and check out the On the Road to Glory: Fred Lorenzen exhibit which will be open through May 19, 2013. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, please visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call 630-833-1457.
Lance Tawzer, curator of the museum exhibits at Elmhurst Historical Museum will be on a guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR Talk, Monday, April 1st at 8:50pm ET. Call 347-996-5176 with your questions.
