Nation of Speed Training1 / 17 Welcome
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National Air and Space Museum Docent Training NMB Spotlight Training: Nation of Speed 2 / 17 In this training...
This lesson will introduce you to providing spotlights in the Nation of Speed gallery at the National Air and Space Museum: National Mall Building.
After completing this lesson you will have learned more about:
This lesson, and its corresponding quiz cover the very basic content that you will need to know for starting Nation of Speed Spotlights at NASM's National Mall Building. 3/17 Nation of Speed
Nation of Speed
Nation of Speed recounts our desire to become the fastest on land, sea, air, and space in the pursuit of commerce, power, and prestige. Featuring iconic vehicles from Mario Andretti’s Indy 500 winning race car to the Sharp DR 90 Nemesis, Nation of Speed paints a portrait of human ingenuity — the technology developed to propel people faster and faster— and explores how the pursuit of speed has shaped American culture and our national identity. Nation of Speed is presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Gallery Overview Video Please watch the following video to learn about Nation of Speed from Curator Jeremy Kinney. This section of the training is 30 minutes long. This video is fully captioned. If you would like to turn the captions on, click on the button in the bottom right corner of the video screen that says "CC." 4 / 17 Introduction
The United States is a nation of speed. We have shaped our lives and our world by embracing technologies that shatter time and distance. Ever Faster Why do we always try to reach faster speeds? The thrill of speed begins as an elemental human response. The heart races. Blood pressure rises. And then the mind sprints ahead to imagine ever-faster speeds and the better technologies needed to reach them. Speed shrinks distances and alters our perception of time. With ships and railroads, then cars and aircraft, we overcame constraints of the natural world to reach across continents and connect with others around the globe. Competition in the marketplace, battlefield, and sporting arena spurred the pursuit of speed, both nationally and globally. This is not uniquely American, but here we tell distinctly American stories —shaped by geography, history, and culture—of a Nation of Speed. Can speed be both fast and slow? Yes! While you might get a speeding ticket for driving too fast, even a slow tricycle has a speed. Speed is a measure of how far you move over a given time—like miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h). SPEED for Everyone Do you have a personal connection with a particular vehicle? Americans have many stories to share about personal travel and speed on the road. After World War II, owning a car or motorcycle was a major source of pride and identity in the United States. For many manufacturers, their initial entrée or continuing success in the American market was facilitated by the popularity and performance of fast vehicles. Object Highlight: 1959 Chevrolet Corvette With its V-8 engine, fiberglass body, and bold styling, the Corvette suited the everyday driver and the racer. Introduced in 1953, the Corvette was enthusiastically embraced by the American public and became a pop culture icon. The original Mercury 7 astronauts and successive astronauts through the Apollo missions all drove Corvettes. This object is on loan from the National Corvette Museum. Other cars will rotate being on display within the gallery. America and International Speed Auto racing emerged first in Europe and the United States in the early 20th century and spread around the world. Many Americans, through groups like the Sports Car Club of America, embraced European-style road racing and made it a national pastime. Others traveled to legendary circuits like Le Mans, Monza, and Monaco to race and win. Two of them, Phil Hill and Mario Andretti, won the World Drivers’ Championship in 1961 and 1978. Shelby and Ford earned first time wins in the International Championship for Manufacturers and the 24 Hours Le Mans race in 1965 and 1967. In response, Hollywood brought to American audiences the drama and excitement of international speed on the silver screen in films like The Racers (1955), The Fast and the Furious (1955), Grand Prix (1966), Le Mans (1971), The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Speed Racer (2008), and Rush (2013). 5 of 17 Connecting Our World
Connecting Our World
The large size of the United States has motivated Americans to find faster ways to travel its vast distances. They’ve been driven by financial aims and also by larger ambitions that inspire people to invent time- and distance-shattering technologies to travel the country, the globe, and beyond. Across the Water Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. Until the mid-20th century, water transportation was the only way to move people and goods around the world. In the United States, every kind of waterway —seas, rivers, lakes, and more—were vital means for transport and communication. Travel by water was often safer and faster than travel by roads. These waterways provided the passages that helped Americans expand across the country and prosper. Measuring the speed of ships started with actual knots! Sailors used to tie knots at equal distances on a rope, then tie a marker (“log”) at the end and toss it off the back of the ship. As the ship moved forward, the length of rope was pulled into the water. Sailors counted the number of knots that went overboard during a fixed time period to calculate the ship’s speed. Changing the Waterways Floods, snags, and other dangerous natural waterway features had to be controlled for navigation. Levees, landings, dams, and dug canals were built. These alterations created swifter and more reliable passages. Rivers and their man-made equivalents, canals, became busy waterways between coastal and inland communities. They allowed the growth of farms and cities away from America’s shorelines. Coastal Trade Coastal shipping was the backbone of trade, travel, and communication in the nation’s early years. Faster than any transportation before railroads, ships and boats could also carry more freight and passengers than wagons or coaches. Why were these ships called “Clippers”? The name probably came from "clip," meaning to move quickly, as in “at a fast clip.” American shipbuilders pioneered the design of clipper ships in the 1840s. California gold prospectors wanted these large, fast, sailing ships to go out West. Why Knot? A knot is the unit of speed used for ships and aircraft. It’s based on the circumference of the Earth and navigational maps. A knot is shorthand for nautical miles per hour. A nautical mile is slightly longer than a mile. 1 knot = 1.15 mph = 1.9 km/h Steamboats and Steamships Steamboats took over from sailing vessels in the early 19th century. These steam-powered vessels quickly revolutionized coastal traffic. They sailed according to schedule, not winds or weather, and became fast and reliable. Steamships regularly crossed the Atlantic Ocean by mid-century. Later they crossed the Pacific Ocean as well. Transoceanic speeds increased as competition developed between different nations’ ship lines. The most famous 19th-century steamboat race was from New Orleans to St. Louis in the summer of 1870. The sidewheel paddle steamers Natchez and Robert E. Lee raced 1,154-miles (1,857 kilometers) in this contest. Lee won in 3 days, 18 hours, and 14 minutes, beating Natchez by a few hours. At the race’s end, reporters telegraphed the results as far away as London and Paris. Ocean Speed, Plus Luxury and Reliability Speed was the best advertisement for the transatlantic steamship trade. Regular routes for passengers and freight began in the early 19th century between the United States and England and Europe. For a time, safety and luxury were secondary factors. Manifest Destiny Nineteenth century Americans dreamed of expanding west across the vast North American continent. A “Manifest Destiny” was a belief that the U.S. was destined to stretch from coast to coast. Speed and “Progress” became part of the national identity. Westward expansion also led to disputes over territories and land rights, while railroad lines and dams altered landscapes and waterways. Along the Rails Passenger and freight trains dominated the Americantransportation landscape from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Trains were faster over long distances than horseback, wagons, and stagecoaches, shrinking time and distance as the United States grew into a modern industrialized nation. Speed demonstrations, competition for the shortest schedules, and the marketing appeal of fast, streamlined passenger trains made speed on the rails a selling point for traveling by railroad. With the introduction of faster cars, trucks, and airplanes, trains diminished in importance and were used primarily for freight transport and urban commuting. Train Wrecks and Crossings Collisions Trains speeded travel but introduced the risk of injury and death. Railroad cars derailed and overturned, locomotives struck other trains, and automobiles and trains collided at grade crossings. On Roads and Highways Fast, affordable cars and government-funded roads led to the democratization of speed. Paired with powerful engines, these advancements ignited a desire to drive at even higher speeds. Crude dirt roads were paved by the 1930s, but motorists and safety advocates demanded more. By the 1940s, parkways and turnpikes were built with separate lanes, gradual curves, and no intersections. High-speed driving on safe, well-engineered interstate highways became commonplace by the 1960s. Superhighways The world’s fair exhibits of the 1930s and 1940s foretold of high-speed, long-distance driving, uninterrupted by intersections. Real-world previews were seen in the era’s parkways, turnpikes, and in Germany’s Autobahn. By the 1970s, interstate superhighways—multilane, high-speed highways—were almost everywhere. Making Cars Go Faster Mass-produced cars with V-8 engines were available by the 1930s. In the 1950s, high-compression V-8 engines started a “horsepower race” in showrooms and on superhighways. Object Highlight: Ford V-8 Produced from 1932 to 1953, Ford’s V-8, or “flathead,” engine delivered increased power, acceleration, and performance that boosted car sales and the company’s image. The 1937 engine on display improved on the 65 horsepower (48 kilowatt) of Ford’s first V-8 engine. The engine’s valves are located in the engine block rather than the cylinder head, which results in a compact, simple, and instantly recognizable “flathead” design. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the Ford V-8 powered hot rods and other modified cars. By popularizing the eight-cylinder engine, Ford helped to usher in an era of big engines, fast driving, and high performance. Object Highlight: Chevrolet Small Block V-8 Chevrolet introduced the small but powerful small-block V-8 “Turbo-Fire” engine for its Bel Air sedan and Corvette sports car in 1955. Innovations such as fuel injection ensured the engine design’s longevity well into the 1990s. Chevrolet manufactured more than 100 million small blocks before production ended in 2003. Besides their use in new Chevrolets, the compact, powerful, and easily available small block V-8 became the engine of choice for race car, hot rod, and kit car builders. An aftermarket parts industry supported their enthusiasm, as they improved the engines in their search for speed. Through the Air Commercial airlines accelerated the pace of travel. In hours, not days, people could journey coast to coast or across oceans. The country’s vast geographic expanse motivated the push for increased speed and distance. In support, the U.S. government fostered American commercial aviation through legislation and regulation. New technologies boosted airplanes to fly higher, faster, and farther. The first international commercial aviation routes were pioneered by propeller airliners in the 1930s. The introduction of jetliners in the late 1950s ushered in the “Jet Age.” Over 50 years later, jets still speed us across America and around the world. A High-Speed Dream: Supersonic Transport (SST) In response to European plans, the U.S. government launched a supersonic transport (SST) design competition in 1963 among leading aircraft manufacturers. The government chose Boeing’s Model 2707 design, and awarded General Electric the engine contract. Almost immediately, the nation debated the projected $5 billion cost and the environmental impact, which included noise from frequent sonic booms and ozone- depleting exhaust pollution. The U.S. Senate cancelled funding for the program by a vote of 49 to 48 in March 1971. An American SST never took to the air. Diverse Stories: Christine M. DardenNASA provided considerable technical assistance to the National Supersonic Transport Program. As part of her sonic boom research, engineer Christine M. Darden conducted wind tunnel tests of SST designs at Langley Research Center. Object Highlight: The Concorde (On Display at Hazy)The Anglo-French Concorde was the only sustained commercial SST. Great Britain and France shared its overwhelming technical and financial burdens. The Concorde launched March 1969, made its first Mach 1 flight that October, and British Airways and Air France placed the Concorde in service in January 1976. NASA has not given up on the dream of supersonic flight. Studies into sonic booms and advances in aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion may lead to quieter, cleaner, and more efficient high-speed travel in the future. Object Highlight: NASA X-43A ScramjetNASA’s Hyper-X research program investigated hypersonic flight (greater than Mach 15) with a new type of aircraft engine, the X-43 scramjet. The next stage in the evolution of high-speed flight, the X-43A exemplifies 21st-century advances in jet engines and offers the promise of a new revolution in aviation, that of high-speed global travel and rapid access to space. Launched on a rocket booster from a B-52 at 40,000 feet (12,000 meters), the X-43A flew for the first time in March 2004. During the 11-second flight, the ending reached Mach 6.8 and demonstrated the first successful operation of a scramjet. In November 2004, a second flight achieved Mach 9.8, the fastest speed ever attained by a jet engine. How does a scramjet work without moving parts? Scramjets—supersonic combusting ramjets—are jet engines designed for hypersonic speeds. Inside, supersonic (faster-than-sound) airflow creates enormous pressure in the engine. This pressure ignites fuel, and generates thrust without compressors and turbines used in conventional jet engines. The Aerospace Influence on Design Mid-20th century cars looked fast even when they stood still, as their design expressed the modernism and forward-looking optimism of flight. At first, locomotives, torpedoes, and bombsights of the 1940s inspired automobile hood ornaments. By the jet age of the 1950s, jet airplanes, rockets, and missiles held the country’s attention and influenced many elements of car design. Tail fins, side trim, and taillights mimicked the shape of jet planes and rockets. Tiny rocket and jet plane hood ornaments seemed ready to take off from car hoods. These motifs sold cars by associating them with the fastest, most exciting technologies of the decade. Soaring in SpaceIn the mid-to-late 20th century, advances in rocket engine technology sent astronauts to live and work in space and to explore the Moon. These engines also propelled unmanned spacecraft through the solar system and beyond, at speeds and distances previously left to the imagination. Big rockets need a lot of power to launch a payload into space. The directional speed, or velocity, necessary to escape the Earth’s gravity is 25,000 mph (40,200 km/h)! The United States and its Cold War adversary, the Soviet Union, raced to be the first in space. The Soviet Union’s Luna 1 was the first man-made probe to overcome the Earth’s gravity on the way to the Moon. It launched on January 2, 1959. Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space, blasted off aboard a Vostok I rocket, April 12, 1961. Launched on July 16, 1969, NASA’s Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket took humans to the Moon for the first time. NASA launched Voyager 1 to explore the outer solar system, on September 5, 1977. Already beyond the solar system, Voyager 1 has traveled farther than any other spacecraft. By January 2015, it was also the fastest, reaching a speed of 38,000 mph (61,299 km/h). Launched in 2006 to study Pluto, the New Horizons probe became the fastest man-made object to escape Earth’s gravity. It passed the Moon’s orbit in only nine hours, a record. Making Speed Safer: John Stapp Air Force flight surgeon John Stapp conducted groundbreaking research on crash protection and the effects of high-speed acceleration and deceleration on human subjects—himself included. Stapp’s work led to the safety standards and technologies we take for granted today. The benefits of Stapp’s research are evident every time a driver pulls on a seatbelt or a jet pilot safely ejects from a damaged aircraft. John Stapp earned degrees in zoology, biophysics, and medicine. He began a military career in 1944 in the new discipline of aeromedicine, first in the Army Air Forces, and then in the Air Force. Object Highlight: Sonic Wind No. 1 Rocket Sled This rocket sled, moving faster than a bullet, enabled Col. John Stapp to push the limits of the human body at high speed. Stapp conducted research on human responses to acceleration, deceleration, and windblast at supersonic speeds at the Aeromedical Field Laboratory at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. On December 10, 1954, the Sonic Wind No. 1 rocket sled let loose 40,000 pounds (177.92 kilonewtons) of thrust and propelled Stapp more than 3,000 feet (900 meters) in 1.4 seconds. Upon stopping, Stapp experienced a force equivalent to approximately four tons (46.2 g). He survived without permanent injury and walked away with the world land speed record, 632 mph (1,017 km/h). After Stapp’s historic run, the Air Force modified the sled for further testing. Making Speed Safer: In the Air and On the RoadSafety concerns proceeded hand-in-hand with the introduction of faster cars and airplanes, as crashes and accidents became more frequent and deadly. In the Air Jet engines resulted in dramatically faster and potentially more dangerous aircraft. Innovations in safety equipment increased the chances of survival for jet fighter pilots and aircrew. These included helmets, belts and harnesses, and other specialized equipment like ejection seats. Test pilot George Smith was the first person to eject safely from a jet fighter at supersonic speeds in February 1955. The 40-g deceleration knocked Smith’s socks off along with his helmet, shoes, gloves, wristwatch, and ring. A parachute is a critical piece of safety equipment needed for most high-performance aircraft. A pilot can deploy the large fabric canopy to slow a fall after leaving a disabled airplane. On the Road Modern superhighways combined speed and safety but tempted motorists to break the speed limit. Driving fast increased the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. In response, government agencies imposed speed limits and hired patrol officers to catch speeding motorists. Police officers were using radar by the late 1940s to clock speeding motorists. Handheld radar devices, available by the 1970s, made speed monitoring precise and portable. By the 1960s, motorists could purchase radar detectors that sounded or flashed near devices that clocked speeders. The Fuzzbuster II alerted drivers so they could stay under the speed limit whenever police officers were present. The first speed-detection cameras on American roads were installed in Arizona in 1987. Speed cameras promoted safety, but some critics claimed that their primary purpose was to collect revenue for the government. The Quest for Safer Cars As increased speeds led to increased risks, safety advocates and federal regulators searched for solutions. By the 1960s, safety systems like seat belts and padded dashboards “packaged” motorists and made cars more crashworthy. President Jimmy Carter supported the national 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit. It was enacted in 1974 to help conserve gasoline, but it also saved lives. Congress repealed the national speed limit of 55 mph (89 km/h) in 1995. Some western states have allowed 80 mph (129 km/h) on rural interstate highways. With Federal law requiring seat belts after 1968, advancements for protecting children in automobiles emerged. Two breakthroughs in child safety seats included the Ford Tot-Guard and the GM Love Seat of the late 1960s. How Fast Am I Going? Throughout the 20th century, car and aircraft manufacturers devised ways of measuring speed so operators would know how fast they were going. Both the speedometer and the airspeed indicator gave users the information needed to choose and control their vehicles’ speed. Automobile Speedometers Speedometers help drivers observe speed limits, avoid speeding tickets, and remain safe. Manufacturers sometimes printed safety warnings on speedometers but also used them to impress consumers with a car’s top speed. In the early 1980s, federal safety standards limitedspeedometer dials to 85 mph (137 km/h) to discourage high-peed driving. A mandatory 55 mph (89 km/h) mark promoted the national speed limit. Cruise Control Cruise control offered an automated, consistent way to drive faster without using an accelerator or speedometer. Inventor Ralph Teetor, who was blind since childhood, marketed the speed-control system in the late 1950s. Drivers preset the desired speed and “cruised.” Airspeed Indicators Airspeed indicators show the aircraft’s speed relative to the surrounding air. Modern indicators do this by comparing the “dynamic” air pressure sampled by a forward-facing pitot tube with the “static” air pressure measured through a static air vent. Machmeters A Machmeter displays an aircraft’s air speed in relation to the speed of sound. It went into use just after World War II, with the introduction of jet aircraft. 6 of 17. Racing to the Finish Line
Racing to the Finish Line
Americans love going fast. They’ll race anything—from airplanes to cars, boats, and even lawn mowers. Speed-hungry racers push to be the first over the line or smash through a record. They reach for the competitive edge by harnessing the technologies of speed. Object Highlight: Thompson Trophy As part of the National Air Races, Thompson Products of Cleveland, Ohio, sponsored a closed-circuit, pylon-marked contest. Pilots in their purpose-built racers flew at high speed and low altitude, all in view of the grandstands. The heyday for the Thompson Trophy was from 1929 to 1939, but it persisted after World War II until 1961. Object Highlight: Vincent Bendix Trophy The Vincent Bendix Trophy transcontinental air race was started in 1931 to encourage the development of practical, high-speed, long-range aircraft. Sponsored by the Bendix Corporation, the race inaugurated the week-long activities of the National Air Races. It was usually flown between Burbank, California, and Cleveland, Ohio. Object Highlight: Vanderbilt Cup William K. Vanderbilt Jr. founded the Vanderbilt Cup Race in 1904 to encourage Americans to build and race cars equal to European cars. The trophy features an image of Vanderbilt’s Mercedes. Object Highlight: Checkered Flag for the Dole Derby Air Race Edward Howard waved this checkered flag to start the Dole Race on August 16, 1927. Inspired by Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, pineapple magnate James Dole sponsored the transpacific race from Oakland, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii. Only two aircraft arrived safely. Ten participants died. Why Use Checkered Flags? Checkered flags have been used since early road racing, most likely because their color contrast and pattern are so easy to see. Today they have become symbolic of winning. 7 / 17 Auto Racing in America
Auto Racing in America
Auto racing began as a pastime and has grown into a hugely popular motorsport for spectators and a business for participants and sponsors. High stakes, high speeds, and ever-present danger rivet fans’ attention. In the early 1900s, track races were popular spectacles, and skilled drivers became celebrities. Racing tested the mechanical strength of cars. After World War II, sports car, stock car, sprint, midget, and drag racing expanded the kinds of competition. Television attracted new audiences. Winning drivers became national figures, and generations of drivers formed racing dynasties. Diverse Stories: Glenn Curtis Before achieving fame in aeronautics, Glenn Curtiss started his career with motorcycles. The early aviation community sought out Curtiss because of his reputation for designing powerful, lightweight motorcycle engines. In 1906, he designed his first V-8 engine in response to several requests from early aeronautical experimenters. Glenn Curtiss won the world’s first air race, receiving the Gordon Bennett Trophy at Reims, France, in August 1909. He flew at an average speed of 46.5 mph (74.8 km/h). Object Highlight: 1907 Curtiss V-8 Motorcycle “What is the need of racing unless you think you are going to win?” - Glenn Curtis As a manufacturer and racer of motorcycles, it was only natural for Curtiss to wonder how fast a motorcycle would go with his powerful V-8 engine. He instructed his workers to construct a frame that could support the weight of the V-8. The motorcycle used direct drive, because a conventional chain-and-belt transmission could not withstand the power of the massive engine. Curtiss took the motorcycle to the Florida Speed Carnival at Ormond Beach in January 1907. He recorded a record-setting speed of 136 mph (218 km/h) during his run, and was dubbed “the fastest man on Earth.” Diverse Stories: Eddie Rickenbacker Edward V. “Eddie” Rickenbacker was a famous race car driver in the 1910s and America’s top scoring fighter ace of World War I. After the war, he owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and built Eastern Airlines into a world-class airline. From 1922 to 1927, the Rickenbacker Motor Company manufactured innovative high-performance cars and capitalized on Rickenbacker’s fame as a fighter pilot, including the use of his squadron insignia as a company logo. Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday Beginning in the 1950s, new-car buyers trusted makes and models that had won races. Auto makers ran advertisements boasting about their brand’s racing wins. NASCAR Professional stock car racing evolved from fast-driving bootleggers who evaded authorities and began racing each other on red clay. Bill France Sr. founded the National Association of Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) in 1948. The Daytona 500 is the most important NASCAR stock car race. The Daytona International Speedway opened in 1959, continuing a racing tradition that began by racing on a nearby beach in the early 20th century. The average speed of the 1979 race shown here was 143.977 mph (231.709 km/h). By the 1990s, cars exceeded 200 mph (322 km/h). What's a Stock Car? Originally, it was a car unchanged from its factory build—from the manufacturer’s “stock.” Today, stock cars are designed and modified specifically for the race track. They must meet strict design restrictions so competing cars are more equally matched. Object Highlight: 1984 Pontiac No. 43 “No one wants to quit when he's losing and no one wants to quit when he's winning.” - Richard Petty NASCAR driver Richard Petty claimed his 200th victory with this car on July 4, 1984, in the Firecracker 400 at the Daytona International Speedway. The red and blue No. 43 car, sponsored primarily by STP, was styled after a Pontiac Grand Prix. It featured a handmade body, tubular space frame, and safety enhancements. Its highly modified engine was capable of speeds exceeding 200 mph (322 km/h). The car’s owner, Mike Curb, invited President Ronald Reagan to attend the race. Reagan announced “Gentlemen start your engines” from Air Force One and became the first sitting president to attend a NASCAR race. Why is this car red and blue? Richard Petty’s race cars were painted “Petty Blue” and also “STP Red,” a color that represented his major sponsor. Diverse Stories: Richard Petty Driver Richard Petty, or simply “The King,” began an unparalleled NASCAR career in 1958 as Rookie of the Year. He retired in 1992 as the sport’s winningest driver, with 200 first-place finishes. Petty won his 200th and final NASCAR victory at the 1984 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 1984. Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 with auto and motorcycle races. In 1911, promoter Carl Fisher and his partners held the first annual Indianapolis 500 auto race. Back then, the average winning speed was 74.59 mph (120.04 km/h). It increased to 187.43 mph (301.64 km/h) by 2013. The event has grown into the world’s largest sporting spectacle and the most prestigious racing event in America. Champion Owner: Roger Penske Racing teams led by owner Roger Penske have won 17 Indianapolis 500 races since 1972, the most in history. After retiring from a successful racing career, Penske established his own motorsports team in 1966. The team has produced more than 490 wins, over 550 pole positions, and 32 championships in competition ranging from sports cars to NASCAR. Object Highlight: Paving Bricks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway The original crushed stone and tar surface of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway broke up during races. In 1909, more than three million bricks replaced the older surface. The Speedway’s nickname, “The Brickyard,” has endured despite its current asphalt pavement. Kiss the Bricks! Kissing the bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway started in 1996. Today, winners at the Speedway continue the tradition of kissing the bricks after each victory. Object Highlight: 1969 STP Hawk No. 2 “If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.” - Mario Andretti Mario Andretti drove this STP Hawk No. 2 to victory in the 1969 Indianapolis 500. Originally it was his backup car, but when faulty hubs on his Lotus caused him to crash in practice, the Hawk had to be made race-ready. When the green flag dropped on race day, Andretti took an early lead, led 116 laps, and won the race. Andretti set a 500-mile (805-kilometer) record with an average speed of 157 mph (252 km/h). After 23 years of trying, STP CEO Andy Granatelli, “Mister 500,” and his team had taken the checkered flag at the Brickyard. Selling Speed: Andy Granatelli and STP In the 1960s and 1970s, Anthony “Andy” Granatelli personified America’s fascination with speed, performance, and auto racing. He was a race car builder, owner, and sponsor of winning NASCAR and Indianapolis 500 cars, and the CEO and spokesperson for STP Corporation. STP Oil Treatment had a following with both car specialists and everyday drivers. Granatelli bridged the worlds of racing and V-8 engines for consumers, and he helped to make speed and power part of mainstream American culture. Progressing from race car engines, hot rods, and turbochargers to complete race cars, Andy Granatelli was an ever-present and unmistakable figure at race tracks. Drag Racing Drag racing originated in post-World War II hot rod culture by teenagers competing in illegal races. Modern dragsters exceed 300 mph (483 km/h) and compete for shortest elapsed times run on a quarter mile (.4-kilometer) track from a standing start. Ready, Set, Go! Drag races are started by a device called a Christmas tree. The small yellow lights help drivers get the cars up to the starting line. The large yellow lights count down to the start of the race. And the green lights start the race. Diverse Stories: Don Garlits “Big Daddy” Don Garlits is synonymous with drag racing. He was the first driver to exceed 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, 260, and 270 mph (435 km/h) within a quarter mile (.4 kilometer). Garlits won 144 events and 17 World Championships between 1955 and 1987. Garlits spent his career on the cutting edge of drag racing design, aerodynamics, and safety with his Swamp Rat series of dragsters. The Racer's Edge Andy Granatelli’s personalized ad campaign for STP products promised that using “The Racer’s Edge” would give consumers the same performance as winning race cars. STP originally stood for Scientifically Treated Petroleum. Andy Granatelli’s STP became Richard Petty’s sponsor during his fourth NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National championship season in 1972. Diverse Stories: MG Mitten Beginning in 1952, entrepreneur Marion Weber built a mail-order empire marketed through magazine advertisements. She named her company MG Mitten after her signature product, a car cover, or “mitten,” she invented for an MG sports car. She also sold other accessories including steering wheels, gearshift knobs, valve covers, and clothing that promoted a speed-oriented lifestyle. Land Speed Racing Land speed racing is the quest to reach the highest speed in a vehicle driven on land. It emerged in Europe and the United States in the late 19th century. In the United States, the hard sand at Florida’s Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach remained the world’s chief course until 1932, when racer David Abbott “Ab” Jenkins began to popularize the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah as the center for land speed racing. Diverse Stories: Erin Sills “I owe my success to people who never said ‘girls don’t do that,’ but instead said ‘go for it!’” - Erin Sills Erin Sills was the 2014 American Motorcyclist Association Female Athlete of the Year. Her company, Hunter Sills Racing, is a female-owned motorcycle racing team with other national, world, and Guinness World speed records. Object Highlight: Erin Sills' Racing Helmet and Suit In April 2016, racer Erin Sills rode this BMW motorcycle to break a land speed record. She hit 219.3 mph (352.9 km/h) from a standing start on a 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) track in Mojave, California. Later in 2016, Sills rode the same bike to three more records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Naturally aspirated (with no turbo or supercharger) and with approximately 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of extra ballast added for weight considerations, the BMW reached 207.93 mph (334.63 km/h) in the AMA Production 1000 cc class. In the Modified Gas class, it achieved 209.773 mph (337.597 km/h). In the Unfaired (naked) class, the record was advanced to 194.056 mph (312.303 km/h). Everyone Races On any given weekend there are people across America racing on drag strips, road courses, and around pylons in the sky. Their families, friends, and colleagues are in the pits waiting to help, in the stands cheering them on, or working to make an event run smoothly. Kids Race Too! In 1975, Karren Stead became the first girl to win the Soap Box Derby. The 11-year-old attributed her success in part to family tradition. Her three brothers raced gravity-powered cars too, and one finished eighth in the Derby. Making Racing SaferHigh-speed auto racing endangers drivers and sometimes spectators. Injury and death can result from collisions, rollovers, entrapment, flammable fuels, and close encounters with walls. Racing organizations study each accident and look for ways to prevent a recurrence. Safety-focused innovations have included: five-point seat belts, fire-resistant suits, fuel tank liners, safer helmets, the HANS device (Head and Neck Support), and the SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) raceway perimeter barrier. These devices not only improve racing safety but influence new safety features for ordinary motorists. Object Highlight: Jeff Gordon's HANS Device Dr. Robert Hubbard invented the HANS device to prevent basilar skull fractures, which killed numerous race car drivers in the 1980s and 1990s. Hubbard and James Downing introduced the device to professional auto racing. NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon credited this HANS device with saving his life in a 2008 crash. Object Highlight: Jaws of Life Hydraulic Spreader The Jaws of Life was invented in the 1960s to extricate race car drivers in a crash. It was later marketed to fire companies as an efficient way to pry open cars and free accident victims. The “Race Car” in Your Garage Even if you don’t follow racing, it’s changed how you drive. Your rearview mirrors, seat belts, and disc brakes came from race cars. What else? Modern low-profile tires and alloy rims, turbochargers, new fuels, front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, and streamlining. 8 / 17 Breaking Barriers in Motorsports
Breaking Barriers in MotorsportsBreaking a speed record was only one barrier in motorsports. Determined drivers and pilots also broke down gender, racial, ethnic, and accessibility barriers in their need for speed. Their perseverance opened the door to broader participation.
Women successfully competed in male-dominated motorsports, even as their ability to handle cars or airplanes was doubted. African Americans broke down segregation barriers and entered the largely white world of car racing. Other underrepresented groups joined in racing activities and continued challenging the status quo. New technologies enabled people with disabilities to take on racing careers. Antron Brown African American racer Antron Brown is a leading competitor in the National Hot Rod Association, with championships in the 2012, 2015, and 2016 Top Fuel series. Aric Almirola Aric Almirola is a NASCAR stock car driver nicknamed “The Cuban Missile.” He participated in NASCAR’s Driver for Diversity program in 2004 and won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway race ten years later in the Coke Zero 400. Neal Loving Pilot Neal Loving designed and built his first homebuilt airplane, the WR-1 air racer, in 1950 and named it Loving’s Love. His entry into the 1951 Continental Trophy Races at Detroit, Michigan, made him the first African American to participate in air racing. Louise Thaden Thaden and co-pilot Blanche Noyes won the Bendix Trophy transcontinental race in 1936, the first year women competed against men for the prize. Thaden made a career in aviation and held several speed, altitude, and endurance records. Marilyn Dash Marilyn Dash began competing in the biplane class at the National Championship Air Races at Reno, Nevada, in 2002. Besides racing, she also works on her bright red Pitts Special named Ruby. Michele Bumgarner Filipina Michele Bumgarner made her auto racing debut in the 2006 Asian Formula 3 Championship. In 2008, she competed in the Star Mazda Championship and later in 2014, she joined the Pro Mazda Championship, racing with the World Speed Motorsports Team. Mike Schultz After an accident led to the amputation of his leg above the knee, “Monster” Mike Schultz continued to compete in adaptive snocross and motocross, winning six ESPN X-Games gold medals. He’s also been instrumental in developing prosthetics for action sports, inventing the Moto Knee and Versa Foot. Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt sustained a spinal cord injury in a racing accident. He continues racing with adaptive technology and has become a race team owner. He wears a baseball cap with reflective infrared sensors that transmit his head movements via cameras to a computer. This enables him to steer and accelerate a specially equipped 2014 Corvette to 106 mph (171 km/h). Takeo "Chickie" Hirashima Japanese American Chickie Hirashima was involved in the Indy 500 for over 30 years. He was a riding mechanic at Indianapolis from 1935 to 1937. After World War II, he excelled at engine building and was the crew chief for the winning teams of George Robson in 1946 and Jim Rathmann in 1960. Wendell Scott Wendell Scott was a pioneering African American stock car driver and team owner. Beginning in 1953, he raced and won on regional tracks in Virginia. He became the first African American to compete in NASCAR in 1961 and the first to win a major race in Jacksonville, Florida, two years later. Willy T. Ribbs In 1991, Willy T. Ribbs became the first African American driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500. He is also considered the first African American man to test a Formula 1 car. Drag Racer: J. R. Todd J. R. Todd was the first African American to win a drag race in a Top Fuel dragster, in 2006. He also won the Auto Club Road to the Future Award, which recognizes the top-performing rookie driver in the National Hot Rod Association. Leonard W. Miller Leonard W. Miller expanded African American participation in motorsports. In 1972, his Vanguard Racing became the first black-owned team to enter the Indianapolis 500. Miller formed Black American Racers (BAR) in 1973 and Miller Racing Group with his son, Leonard, in 1994, to cultivate African American drivers. The Millers became the first African American team owners to win a track championship in NASCAR in 2005. Road Racer: Liam Dwyer Sports car racer and Marine Staff Sgt. Liam Dwyer lost most of his left leg to an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan in 2011. No longer able to operate a clutch, Dwyer innovated new equipment with his teammates, allowing him to race, and win, as a professional driver. Record Setter: Jacqueline Cochran Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran learned to fly in 1932, set three major flying records in 1937, and won the prestigious Bendix Race in 1938. She also led women military pilots in World War II. During her lifetime, Cochran held more speed, distance, or altitude records than any other pilot. Women Race Car Drivers Women pursued their need for speed in the male-dominated world of racing beginning in the 1900s. They faced exclusion and controlled participation based on their gender, but by the 1960s emerged as viable amateur and professional competitors in various forms of motorsports. Today, women have successful careers across many categories of racing in the United States. Joan Cuneo Joan Cuneo was America’s foremost woman race car driver in the early 20th century. She won cash prizes in the annual Glidden Tour, defeated male drivers in track racing, and set a woman’s speed record of 111.5 mph (179.4 km/h) before the American Automobile Association banned women from competing in their events. Donna Mae Mims Donna Mae Mims was the first woman to win a national auto racing championship. She bought a used Austin-Healey Sprite in 1962 and painted it pink. The next year she competed against 30 men and won the Sports Car Club of America’s H Production category. Janet Guthrie Janet Guthrie was the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. An aerospace engineer, Guthrie started racing in 1963 and began racing full time in 1972. Shirley Muldowney The “First Lady of Drag Racing,” Shirley Muldowney was the first woman to receive a license from the National Hot Rod Association to drive a Top Fuel dragster. Muldowney won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 1977, 1980, and 1982. Danica Patrick Danica Patrick was the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing. She raced to a third-place finish in the 2009 Indianapolis 500, the highest finish by a woman. In the 2013 Daytona 500 NASCAR race she finished eighth, the highest for a woman. Lyn St. James Lyn St. James has won endurance races at Daytona and Sebring. She first qualified for the Indianapolis 500 in 1992 and won the race’s Rookie of the Year award. Her Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation has been a major voice for expanding women’s opportunities in motorsports. 9 / 17 Air Racing
Air Racing
Air racing is a motorsport that is as old as aviation itself. Daredevil sportsmen raced their frail contraptions since the early flight era around 1909. After World War I, air racing transformed from an individual to an organized sport. American and European military teams competed for international prestige and the advancement of technology. During the Great Depression, enthusiasts took easily available technologies and built air racers, seeking fame and fortune. Since World War II, the sport has evolved to be ultra-competitive, dominated by purpose-built air racers and heavily modified fighter aircraft. Object Highlight: Curtiss Conqueror V-1570I The Conqueror represents a long line of successful Curtiss racing engines, and was the last of the Curtiss liquid-cooled engines. The U.S. Navy purchased this engine in 1930 and installed it in a converted monoplane racer. On September 1, 1930, U.S. Marine Corps pilot Capt. Arthur H. Page Jr. flew the aircraft in the Thompson Trophy Air Race at the National Air Races in Chicago. While leading the field, the aircraft lost power, and Page died during the resulting forced landing. Diverse Stories: Roscoe Turner Flamboyant and charismatic, Roscoe Turner was the most famous air racer of the 1930s. During his racing career he won the Thompson Trophy race in 1934, 1938, and 1939, and the Bendix once in 1933. To increase the appeal and image of aviation, Turner designed his own flying uniform and personal insignia. The Gilmore Oil Company sponsored Turner’s record-setting flights in his Wedell-Williams Model 44 and Lockheed Air Express. Object Highlight: Turner RT-14 Meteor Following his first Thompson Trophy victory in 1934, famed racing pilot Roscoe Turner contracted with the Lawrence W. Brown Aircraft Company to build a new racing aircraft. Designed by Turner and engineered by University of Minnesota professor Howard Barlow, the Turner racer was completed in 1936. Following flight tests, expert builder Matty Laird extensively redesigned the aircraft and added larger wings and flaps. The modified racer placed third in the 1937 Thompson Trophy event at the National Air Races and won the 1938 and 1939 contests. In 1939, the aircraft was named Miss Champion in recognition of sponsor Champion Spark Plugs. Diverse Stories: Gilmore the Flying Lion Gilmore the Flying Lion was the pet of the flamboyant air racer and aerial showman Col. Roscoe Turner. In early 1930, Turner received a major sponsorship from the Gilmore Oil Company, well known for its Red Lion gasoline brand. Seeking a colorful way to promote the company’s products, he purchased a male lion cub, born on February 7, 1930, from the Louis Goebel Lion Farm in Agoura, California. He named him Gilmore. Turner and Gilmore began flying together in April 1930, mostly in the pilot’s Lockheed Air Express. Turner had a static line parachute and harness made for the cub. Gilmore flew with Turner when he broke speed records flying from Los Angeles to New York and from Vancouver, Canada, to Aguascalientes, Mexico. For nine months the pair flew together, until Gilmore grew too big. Gilmore logged over 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) in the air during his nine-month flying career. Diverse Stories: Jon Sharp Jon Sharp and his Team Nemesis hold many of the most cherished records in air racing. They’ve claimed speed records on every race course, flown in both the Formula One Nemesis aircraft and the Sport Class Nemesis NXT. Their prestigious pylon racing resumé includes a record 15 Reno Air Racing National Championships, making Sharp the winningest pilot in air racing history. Jon and Patricia Sharp’s leadership of Nemesis Air Racing exemplified engineering creativity, innovation, and competition at the highest levels of motorsports. Object Highlight: Sharp DR 90 Nemesis The most successful aircraft in air racing history, Nemesis dominated its competition, winning 47 of its 50 contests from 1991 until its retirement in 1999. Flown by pilot and co-designer Jon Sharp, it won nine consecutive Reno Gold National Championships and 16 world speed records for its class. The Nemesis team of Jon Sharp, Cory Bird, Dan Bond, and Steve Ericson achieved several firsts in the design of Formula One racers. They used computer lofting for the shape; custom designed a natural laminar flow wing; built an integrated structure of tooled, pressure molded, carbon reinforced plastics; and incorporated a pilot’s side stick and an on board data acquisition system. 10 / 17 Racing Watercraft
Racing WatercraftAs long as humankind has been on the water, competition has flourished. Paddling, rowing, sailing, steaming, powering with a variety of engines and fuels—all are part of our search for speed on the water.
The Blue Riband of the Atlantic Starting in the mid 1800s, the title and trophy “Blue Riband of the Atlantic” was bestowed on the fastest ocean liner. Nineteenth-century packet ships took at least 25 days. Early steamships cut the voyage to only eight days. A hundred years later, steam-driven ocean liners crossed the Atlantic in under four days. Engine-Powered Racing Boats The earliest recorded motorboat race was in 1903 in Ireland. Today, year-round powerboat racing takes place worldwide. Unlimited hydroplanes with 3,000 hp (2237 kW) military helicopter engines can reach speeds of more than 200 mph (322 km/h). The current water speed record of 317.596 mph (511.121 km/h) was achieved in 1978 by the Spirit of Australia. American Water Speed Records In June 1967, Lee Taylor set a new world record of 285 mph (459 km/h) on Lake Guntersville, Alabama, in his Hustler jet boat. Taylor died attempting to break the world speed record again in his rocket-powered US Discovery II on Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in November 1980. How fast can yachts move? Today’s racing yachts can sail almost three times faster than the wind pushing them. High-tech materials and cutting-edge designs help decrease weight and generate an upward force, lifting the boat out of the water. This reduces drag caused by the water and adds to the speed of the yacht. 11 / 17 Spectators
SpectatorsFans and spectators are a crucial element in understanding the role of motorsports in American culture. Their enthusiasm has fueled professional motorsports and created related industries, such as fan-centric memorabilia.
Auto Racing FandomAuto racing fans are among the most enthusiastic in motorsports. Individuals show their loyalty by wearing clothing emblazoned with their favorite drivers, cars, automotive products, and tracks. Object Highlight: Sportcaster Chris Economaki's Jacket PatchIMAGE: Sportscaster Chris Economaki brought the thrill of auto racing to new audiences through television coverage. Sportscaster Chris Economaki brought the thrill of auto racing to new audiences through television coverage. He announced the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, Formula 1, Le Mans, and other races for ABC’s Wide World of Sports. The Sounds, Sights, and Stories of SpeedA fascination with speed runs through our national popular culture. Music, film, and literature reflect Americans’ desire to take off and watch the world race by. Sometimes the thrill of speed is shown as its own reward. Other times these portrayals of speed mythologize American ideals of rebellion, adventure, and individual freedom. Competing for glory while risking ruin and death, the pilots and drivers at the center of these stories are often elevated to hero status, or revered as anti-establishment anti-heroes. 12 / 17 Speed and the Cold War
Speed and the Cold WarFor nearly 50 years after World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union waged the Cold War—locked in a state of political and military tension. No large-scale wars erupted, but both nations raced to stay ahead, through massive buildups of conventional and nuclear weapons.
Two major breakthroughs occurred during these decades: high-speed jet aircraft and the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Both of these technologies transformed warfare and the lives of people across the globe. Object Highlight: Mark 4 Reentry Vehicle For Titan I ICBM When an ICBM is launched, a booster lifts the missile high enough to leave the Earth’s atmosphere. Its purpose complete, the booster falls away. The reentry vehicle, which carries the warhead, returns through the atmosphere on a parabolic trajectory to the target. The size and weight of nuclear warheads had to be reduced before they could be carried by long-range missiles. This nuclear warhead for the Titan I ICBM yielded a blast 250 times more powerful than the one that destroyed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Object Highlight: 1964 Pratt & Whitney J58 Turbojet Engine One of the most advanced turbojets in the world, the J58 underwent a six-year development effort before entering production in 1964. The J58 relied upon innovative features based on advanced thermodynamic design. It generated 30,000 pounds (133,447 newtons) of thrust at high Mach speeds and operated efficiently at high temperatures. A pair of these engines made the Blackbird the fastest piloted jet aircraft in history. How is a jet engine different from a rocket engine? Both engines need oxygen to burn fuel but a jet engine gets oxygen from the atmosphere while a rocket engine carries its own oxygen source. Object Highlight: 1960 Thiokol XLR-00-RM-1 Pioneer Rocket Motor The XLR-99 Pioneer rocket motor powered the fastest, highest-flying aircraft ever built, the North American X-15 aerospace plane. More than just a record setter, the X-15 performed scientific research that provided invaluable data toward the design of the Space Shuttle and advanced hypersonic flight. This engine was the most powerful rocket engine ever installed on a piloted aircraft. It was also the first directly throttleable rocket engine—the pilot controlled the power—and it could be restarted in flight. Notable X-15 Missions for this Engine:
In the name of national defense, the military, aerospace industry, and government and university research organizations worked together to an extent previously unknown. They improved crew survival and kept pushing the envelope on aircraft research and design. Diverse Stories: Kelly Johnson Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson was one of the foremost aircraft designers of the 20th century. His remarkable career at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation spanned from the aeronautical revolution of the 1930s to the Cold War. His designs included the Mach 2 F-104 Starfighter interceptor and the Mach 3 SR-71 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The Fastest of Them AllIn 1964, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird flew higher and faster than any Soviet fighter or missile. Cruising at Mach 3, it reached altitudes above 85,000 feet (26 kilometers), near the upper edge of the Earth’s atmosphere. It remained a valuable reconnaissance aircraft until the late 1990s. The Blackbird is the fastest piloted aircraft in history with jet engines. The SR-71 Blackbird—the fastest piloted jet aircraft—is currently on display at the Museum’s Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. It set a speed record, averaging 2,124 mph (3,418 km/h) from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, when delivered to the Smithsonian. It took one hour, four minutes, and 20 seconds. Object Highlight: 1 Type S1030 Full-Pressure Suit Helmet and Gloves for SR-71 Crews, 1990The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird operated at altitudes of up to 85,000 feet (26 kilometers). The reduced oxygen and low air pressure at this altitude is fatal. The crew wore full-pressure suits to survive in the event of a catastrophic failure. This high-altitude suit consists of a full-pressure coverall, gloves, and pressure helmet. When the helmet and gloves lock to the metal rings at the neck and wrists, the suit provides the pilot with a pressurized environment. Pressurized environments are necessary because at very high altitudes the air pressure is too low to support human life. Low air pressure causes oxygen to escape from the bloodstream and the lungs can’t expand. High-Speed Cold War FightersThe Century Series supersonic fighters were the epitome of high-speed aircraft design during the Cold War years of the 1950s and 1960s. Emphasis on speed diminished in the wake of the Vietnam War. In the new generation of fighter-bombers, maneuverability and multirole capability became as important as speed. Shock Waves An airplane in flight pushes air away from it in waves. These waves travel at the speed of sound, which is about 760 mph (1,220 km/h). When an airplane flies faster than the speed of sound, the waves pile up, creating a shock wave. Airplanes that fly at high speeds are designed to have thin, swept-back wings to help reduce shock waves. High-Speed Research AirplanesIn the late 1940s, military and civilian researchers created a new generation of high-speed aircraft that served as flying laboratories over California’s Edwards Air Force Base. After the test pilot Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1 achieved the first supersonic flight in October 1947, other test pilots went on to push the envelope of high-speed flight even further with aircraft like the Bell X-2 and the X-15. The Bell X-2 investigated flight two to three times the speed of sound (Mach 2–Mach 3). Test pilot Lt. Col. Frank “Pete” Everest reached Mach 2.8 in July 1956. The X-2 made 10 powered flights and reached Mach 3.2 before the program ended in September 1956. The X-15 high-speed flight research program (1959–1968) was the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) most successful. It investigated hypersonic flight (five or more times the speed of sound) at altitudes reaching the fringes of space. In one flight, an X-15 flew to 67 miles (108 km) above the Earth at a speed of Mach 6.7, or 4,534 mph (7,297 km/h), making it a true “aerospace” plane. Thirty Minutes to Live: In the Shadow of Nuclear WarICBMs completely changed the nature of warfare because they could deliver nuclear warheads over very long distances. Oceans no longer acted as barriers to foreign aggressors. The B-29 Enola Gay returns to Tinian Island after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. At a cruising speed of 220 mph (354 km/h), it flew 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometers) in approximately six hours. In comparison, ICBMs could cover the same distance in only a few minutes, making nuclear war immediate and total. The destructive power of ICBMs increased dramatically during the Cold War. The Titan 1 carried only one warhead. Entering service in 1986, the LGM-118 Peacekeeper carried up to 10 and remained in service for nearly 20 years. Object Highlight: 1962 XLR-91 Liquid Fuel Rocket Engine The Titan I, the United States’ first multi-stage ICBM, entered service in the early 1960s, after nearly 10 years of development. It could travel 5,500 nautical miles (6,330 miles/10,187 kilometers) at 21 times the speed of sound. The first, or booster, stage sat atop a two-chamber, liquid-fuel engine that produced 300,000 pounds (1334.5 kilonewtons) of thrust at liftoff. After the initial ascent, the smaller, single-chamber, second-stage engine took over to keep the Mark 4 reentry vehicle on its trajectory. The second-stage XLR-91 on display here produced 80,000 pounds (355.9 kilonewtons) of thrust. 13 / 17 Kids Play with Fast Toys
Kids Play with Fast Toys Call it a craving for speed or letting the imagination run wild, girls and boys adore store-bought or homemade racing toys. For generations, children have played with speed, design, and competition, whether racing cars, flying model airplanes, launching model rockets, or assembling miniature vehicles from kits. Hobbies and even careers grow out of this early fascination. Toy Cars Toy race cars allow children to simulate high-speed driving and imagine themselves as race car drivers. Over the years, the variety and complexity of toy cars have increased, while materials have changed from metal to more affordable rubber or plastic. Pinewood Derby Cub Scout pack leader Don Murphy founded the gravity-powered Pinewood Derby races in 1953. The Girl Scouts began their own Grand Prix soon after. Slot Cars Baby boomers in the 1960s first simulated the thrill of driving fast with slot cars on tracks at home and at commercial venues. These slot cars and track are from 1965. Matchbox Cars British manufacturer Lesney made die-cast vehicles packaged in matchbox-sized containers that were immensely popular in the United States beginning in the 1950s. Matchbox introduced smaller Superfast toy cars in 1969. Barbie On the Go Beginning in 1962, Mattel offered a variety of fast toy cars for their Barbie fashion dolls, including America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette. Hot Wheels Cars Hot Wheels die-cast toys were a faster and flashier competitor to Matchbox cars. Introduced in 1968, their low-friction “racing” wheels gave children the excitement of playing with and collecting fast-moving cars. There are more Hot Wheels in the world than actual cars. Since 1968, consumers have bought more than four billion Hot Wheels—that’s almost three cars per second. Toy Airplanes Model and toy airplanes put the wonder of flight in the hands of children and adults. Enthusiasts enjoyed collecting, building, and flying various types of aircraft after World War II. An entire industry arose to supply these hobbyists. Model Rockets Entrepreneurs such as Vernon Estes established a new commercial market for model rockets. A generation of young Americans participated in the Space Age through play and experimentation. Science Fiction Toys The future worlds of science fiction envision space travel at faster-than-light speeds. Traveling across planetary systems, the imaginary spacecraft cover great distances powered by exotic technologies. The Spectacle of Speed The death-defying risks of speed hold dual, competing desires among the public. Spectators want to watch brave individuals win and push the limits of technology—but they also thrill to witness a crash when things go horribly wrong. Evel Knievel: Ramping up Speed Evel Knievel redefined motorcycle daredevil stunts. Motivated by his famously positive attitude, he jumped over rows of vehicles, combining speed, risk, and showmanship. Television broadcast his visually stunning, suspenseful performances, making him an international phenomenon. Diverse Stories: Evel Knievel Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel combined skill, showmanship, and patriotism in death-defying motorcycle flights over vehicles. By carefully coordinating his angle, thrust, and speed—which reached 90–100 mph (145–160 km/h) at takeoff—he remained in the air as far as 165 feet (50 meters). What’s with all the stars and stripes? Evel Knievel’s helmets, jumpsuits, and motorcycles were painted in patriotic red, white, and blue, in contrast to the dark and “lawless” image of motorcycle gangs. Object Highlight: 1972 Harley-Davidson XR-750On October 25, 1975, at Kings Island theme park in Ohio, Knievel successfully jumped this motorcycle a distance of 133 feet (41 meters) over 14 Greyhound buses. His exploits made him an international superstar. He performed some of his most spectacular jumps on this modified Harley-Davidson XR-750. This lightweight, durable racing machine is made of aluminum, steel, and fiberglass. Gas Tank Art The American flag represents Evel Knievel’s patriotism while the horseshoe matches his slogan, “Color Me Lucky.” Speed Shop: "Do-It-Yourself" Not everyone wants to race a factory-made or “stock” vehicle. For hot rodders, tuners, tinkerers, and drivers who want to personalize their cars, proving their worth as a builder and mechanic is as crucial to the spirit of competition as winning a race. Getting your hands dirty is half the fun. Building and racing hot rods became popular in the late 1930s through the 1950s. The pastime persists today as part of America’s enduring car culture. Object Highlight: Hot Rod Magazine Hot Rod is the oldest hot rod magazine in the country, having been in publication since 1948. Magazines such as Hot Rod helped to popularize these types of vehicles with individuals looking to apply their mechanical skills and express their individuality. What’s a hot rod? A hot rod is generally thought of as a car that has been radically modified to increase horsepower and speed by using components from other cars and aftermarket parts, reducing overall weight, or lowering the frame. Import-Tuners In the same spirit of hot-rodders, import-tuners customize imported cars, often for street racing. The tuners started modifying Japanese cars in Southern California in the 1970s. More recently, The Fast and the Furious movie franchise that began in 2001 showed off import-tuner culture to the rest of the world. Diverse Stories: R. J. de Vera R. J. de Vera is a Filipino American from West Los Angeles who grew up in the import-tuner culture of the early 1990s. An organizer, promoter, and entrepreneur, de Vera was tapped as a consultant for the movie The Fast and the Furious. He’s also hosted the youth culture car modification reality show Trick It Out: MTV’s Tuner Challenge. Engine PowerThe power produced by engines is at the heart of speed, whether it’s for cars, boats, airplanes, or rockets. How is engine size measured? The size of an engine is determined by the size of the cylinders in which pistons move. Measured in cubic inches, centimeters, or liters, a larger size means that there is more room for the air-fuel mixture that powers the engine. Tire Change Tires aren’t changed just because they go flat. Tires are a critical part of any race car. A tire’s size, tread, durability, sidewall strength, and pressure can all affect the performance of a car. Different race cars, tracks, and conditions also require different types of tires. Teams regularly change tires multiple times during a race, because of wear or changing track conditions. The right tires can help increase speed and traction during turns and on straightaways, and can often mean the difference between a first or last place finish. What’s the difference between a tire and a wheel? A tire is the donut-shaped rubber object around the wheel and the only part that touches the road. A wheel is the circular metal object that attaches directly to the axle of the car. Tires provide the traction, while wheels allow for the rolling movement of the car. Sports Car Racing in the United States The enthusiasm for foreign cars and European-style road racing in United States was a major movement in post-World War II America. British sports cars from MG, Jaguar, Austin-Healey, and Triumph pioneered this movement. They were quickly joined by the best of Italy, Germany, and Japan—from Alfa Romeo and Porsche to Datsun and Mazda—as well as American-made Corvettes and Cobras. Group 44 Inc. Led by Bob Tullius, Group 44 was one of the most successful racing teams in motorsports history. From 1965 to 1990, the team won almost 300 races, which contributed to 17 national titles and championships in Sports Car Club of America and International Motor Sports Association competition. 14 / 17 vSys Shifts: Signing Up For Spotlights
vSys Shifts: Signing Up For SpotlightsYou MUST sign up for Spotlight shifts using vSys.
How To Sign Up For NMB Spotlight Shifts in vSys:
We recommend switching the view to just show week by week by clicking on this button: Then select the shift you are interested in signing up for and click “Sign Up.” Double check that this is the shift you want and select “Sign Up” again At this point, a green bar at the top of the screen will thank you for signing up. If you refresh the search page by clicking "Search" again, the shift will now be noted as "Existing Assignment." You will also now see the shift on the home screen calendar. 15 / 17 vSys Shifts: Recording Your Hours
Recording Your Hours in vSysAfter your shift, it is important to correctly log your volunteer hours in vSys. We report our volunteer hours and visitor interaction numbers to Central Smithsonian and Congress, so it is imperative that we have your shifts regularly and correctly logged, including visitor interaction numbers.
How To Log NMB Spotlights Hours:
If you correctly filled everything out, you will see a green bar at the top of your screen thanking you for logging your hours. 16 / 17 Next Steps
After you complete this lesson and pass the quiz, please email [email protected] so they can add this training to your vSys profile.
Please note that you must complete this lesson, pass the quiz, and complete the Q&A session with Curator Jeremey Kinney (either at the live Zoom session or the recorded copy on Moodle) in order to sign up for Nation of Speed Spotlight shifts. 17 / 17 Lesson Completed!
This is the end of the lesson. This lesson contains the basic information about docent spotlighting in the Nation of Speed gallery at NMB.
You can review the lesson again using the links in the Lesson Menu block or the navigation buttons below. When you are finished reviewing the lesson, return to the Main Course Page to take the quiz. A PDF version of the lesson content is available on the main course page, for your reference. Quiz
Quiz 1
Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: The Gilmore Oil Company Quiz 2 Pontiac No. 43 → Richard Petty, DR 90 Nemesis → Jon Sharp, Harley-Davidson XR-750 → Evel Knievel, STP Hawk No. 2 → Mario Andretti, BMW Motorcycle → Erin Sills, RT-14 Meteor → Roscoe Turner Quiz 3 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: Motorcycles Quiz 4 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Quiz 5 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: All of the Above Quiz 6 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: Was the first African American to win a drag race in a Top Fuel dragster → J. R. Todd, Through innovation with their teammates, they won as a professional driver after they lost most of their left leg to an improvised explosive device (IED) → Liam Dwyer, Held more speed, distance, or altitude records than any other pilot during their lifetime → Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran Quiz 7 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: 632 mph Quiz 8 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: All of the Above Quiz 9 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: Corvette Quiz 10 Your answer is correct. The correct answer is: Ronald Reagan FinishedSubmitted Wednesday, 13 September 2023, 7:41 AM100.00 |