The National Air Race Museum

The National Air Race MuseumSponsored by Planes of Fame

Sparks, Nevada

The National Air Race Museum (NARM) was the brainchild of Ed Maloney, Larry Collins, Jack Northart, and Cliff Purdy. The idea popped up in 1989 after Larry, Jack and Ed met to discuss an air museum in the Reno / Sparks area during the Championship Air Races in Reno.

After many discussions about the content, mission and resources, work began on the museum in 1991. A location was selected in Sparks (former home of the modern-day air races). The museum opened on May 22, 1993. The facility housed an Air Race Theater, an Air Race Hall of Fame, an art gallery, and a gift shop. The initial displayed aircraft consisted of:

1944 Messerschmitt Bf 109G; 1910 Curtiss pusher; 1913 Deperdussin replica; 1925 Curtiss R3C-2 replica; 1926 Macchi M.39 replica; 1931 Supermarine S.6B replica; 1936 #70 Schoenfeldt "Firecracker", winner, 1938 Greve Race in Cleveland; 1938 "Eightball" flown in Oakland and Cleveland, 1938-1939; 1936 Beechcraft 17R Staggerwing; 1971 #35 "Sump'n Else"; 1948 #6 raced and owned by Bill Stead, Founder of Reno Air Races; “Stinger” F-1 #21 owned and flown by Astronaut Deke Slayton.

The following pages chronicle some of the work that went into the museum, and the displays

The Undaunted Visionaries at the 1992 Reno Air Races.

The pallet to start with is an old warehouse in Sparks

Then the Outside

First order of business: PAINT!First the inside…

Then the floor

“Ok guys, where are we putting the theater?”(Hersch, Sixton, Larry, Jack)

The Planes start arrivingR6 Eightball and R4 Firecracker

The Macchi and the Curtiss R3C2 Arrive

Putting the Curtiss R3C2 together

The excitement of the project brought out a platoon of volunteers to assist in the construction of the museum. Among them were members of the Reno A / C Modeler’s club, who managed to be involved in doing whatever was necessary to get the facility put together.

Bob & Chris putting the roof on the theater

Memorabilia abounded in the art gallery. Program booklets from the Cleveland Air Race Days were on display, along with a Thompson Trophy, Roscoe Turner’s Bendix Trophy, and gloves worn by Charles Lindbergh.

The New Logo is selected

Stairs and Ramp Installed

Work begins on painting the murals

1944 Messerschmitt Bf 109Garrives on the scene

Ted Contri gave rides in his P51 for a day of fund raising

Jack and “Rosalie”

The final touches before the grand opening

Grand Opening Ceremony, May 22, 1993

Ed Maloney on the podium

Grand Opening Ceremony, May 22, 1993

Introductions

Grand Opening Ceremony, May 22, 1993

The audience

Grand Opening Ceremony, May 22, 1993

Harrah’s Auto Museum displayed a Model T that was placed under the Curtiss Pusher to simulate auto vs. plane race of the 1900’s

Grand Opening Ceremony, May 22, 1993

The Grand Opening Crowd

Celebrities in attendance

Jack, Larry and Lefty Gardner Moya and Shanda Lear

Bob Hoover & Don Lopez

Also in attendance:

Steve Hinton

John Maloney

Kevin Eldridge

Lyle Shelton

Danny Mortensen

Many thanks to all of those who helped make the National Air Race Museum a

reality. It was a magnificent task…

Well Done!