Auto123.com recently visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame located on 400 East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Charlotte, N.C. The 150,000-square-foot facility is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR.
The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010 and includes artifacts, interactive and hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop retail outlet and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio.
Here is a list of the exhibit areas:
BELK HIGH OCTANE THEATER
This high-tech, state-of-the-art theater showcases a short film introducing guests to the history, heritage and legacy of NASCAR. Seating more than 275, the theater features a 64-foot-wide, curved, projection screen.
THE GREAT HALL & SUNOCO GLORY ROAD
The Great Hall features rotating exhibit displays, an interactive 14’x18’ video fan billboard displaying lively video scenes and messages. A banked ramp simulating various racetracks, Glory Road showcases 18 historic cars and highlights 40 current and historic tracks. It also mimics the various degrees of banking at racetracks including the impressive 33-degree incline found at Talladega Superspeedway.
HALL OF HONOR
The Hall of Honor is the sacred area where NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees are enshrined, celebrated and honored over the years. The Inaugural 2010 Class of Inductees includes Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Jr., Bill France Sr., Junior Johnson and Richard Petty. The 2011 Class of Inductees include Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, David Pearson and Lee Petty. Visitors can get a 360-degree video experience highlighting the inductees and spires circle outer walls where they will remain indefinitely.
FOOD LION RACE WEEK
Race Week offers a highly-interactive, hands-on environment with fun opportunities for the entire family. Race Week takes guests behind the scenes for a look at how a NASCAR team and the NASCAR industry prepare for race day each week. Guests can see an engine dyno, practice a pit stop, walk through a full-size NASCAR Sprint Cup hauler, call a race, get behind the wheel in one of eight iRacing simulators and more. Young racers also can get their hands-on experience in Kobalt Kids Zone and Race Week’s child-friendly pit stop challenge.
SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE
This state-of-the-art, racing-simulation experience allows rookie drivers and avid fans to “feel” what it’s like on the track. Guests can get behind the wheel, start their engines, shift the gears and maneuver the track. Contenders can compete against each other on the speedways and road courses on the circuit and test the excitement that drivers encounter as they make their way through all the turns.
HERITAGE SPEEDWAY
In Heritage Speedway, history buffs and NASCAR novices alike can explore authentic artifacts and educational films depicting the story of NASCAR’s exciting six-decade history. The most artifact-rich area of the facility, guests can view hundreds of historical, NASCAR artifacts. Guests also can pace their travel through time while learning about the ‘track’ history of different NASCAR eras including the past (1948-71), present (1972-1999) and future (2000 and on).
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
General admission costs are:
Adult $19.95
Seniors (60+) $17.95
Military $17.95
Child (ages 5 to 12) $12.95
Child (younger than 5) Free
Group fares and combos are also available. We really enjoyed our visit of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. There’a lot to see. Plan to spend a good three hours to see everything and experiment the interactive exhibits.
The performance shop (where the parts of the race car can be seen) is quite interesting. Trying an engine on their demo dyno is really educational. The visit of a former genuine Lowe’s hauler is also worthwhile. The memorabilia items seen on Level 4 are also quite stunning. You get the chance to see old race suits, antique timing equipment, wooden pit boards, famous wrecked cars, helmets of legendary drivers, and even school projects from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010 and includes artifacts, interactive and hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop retail outlet and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio.
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com |
Here is a list of the exhibit areas:
BELK HIGH OCTANE THEATER
This high-tech, state-of-the-art theater showcases a short film introducing guests to the history, heritage and legacy of NASCAR. Seating more than 275, the theater features a 64-foot-wide, curved, projection screen.
THE GREAT HALL & SUNOCO GLORY ROAD
The Great Hall features rotating exhibit displays, an interactive 14’x18’ video fan billboard displaying lively video scenes and messages. A banked ramp simulating various racetracks, Glory Road showcases 18 historic cars and highlights 40 current and historic tracks. It also mimics the various degrees of banking at racetracks including the impressive 33-degree incline found at Talladega Superspeedway.
HALL OF HONOR
The Hall of Honor is the sacred area where NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees are enshrined, celebrated and honored over the years. The Inaugural 2010 Class of Inductees includes Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Jr., Bill France Sr., Junior Johnson and Richard Petty. The 2011 Class of Inductees include Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, David Pearson and Lee Petty. Visitors can get a 360-degree video experience highlighting the inductees and spires circle outer walls where they will remain indefinitely.
FOOD LION RACE WEEK
Race Week offers a highly-interactive, hands-on environment with fun opportunities for the entire family. Race Week takes guests behind the scenes for a look at how a NASCAR team and the NASCAR industry prepare for race day each week. Guests can see an engine dyno, practice a pit stop, walk through a full-size NASCAR Sprint Cup hauler, call a race, get behind the wheel in one of eight iRacing simulators and more. Young racers also can get their hands-on experience in Kobalt Kids Zone and Race Week’s child-friendly pit stop challenge.
SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE
This state-of-the-art, racing-simulation experience allows rookie drivers and avid fans to “feel” what it’s like on the track. Guests can get behind the wheel, start their engines, shift the gears and maneuver the track. Contenders can compete against each other on the speedways and road courses on the circuit and test the excitement that drivers encounter as they make their way through all the turns.
HERITAGE SPEEDWAY
In Heritage Speedway, history buffs and NASCAR novices alike can explore authentic artifacts and educational films depicting the story of NASCAR’s exciting six-decade history. The most artifact-rich area of the facility, guests can view hundreds of historical, NASCAR artifacts. Guests also can pace their travel through time while learning about the ‘track’ history of different NASCAR eras including the past (1948-71), present (1972-1999) and future (2000 and on).
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
General admission costs are:
Adult $19.95
Seniors (60+) $17.95
Military $17.95
Child (ages 5 to 12) $12.95
Child (younger than 5) Free
Group fares and combos are also available. We really enjoyed our visit of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. There’a lot to see. Plan to spend a good three hours to see everything and experiment the interactive exhibits.
The performance shop (where the parts of the race car can be seen) is quite interesting. Trying an engine on their demo dyno is really educational. The visit of a former genuine Lowe’s hauler is also worthwhile. The memorabilia items seen on Level 4 are also quite stunning. You get the chance to see old race suits, antique timing equipment, wooden pit boards, famous wrecked cars, helmets of legendary drivers, and even school projects from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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