WFFMM-NAAM Conference 2022

Around the world, several museums have treated the racing car as both artifact and work of art. In 1909, F. T. Marinetti declared the racing car as “more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace” in his Futurist Manifesto. In the 1990s, Marinetti’s claim seemed to be vindicated when the Museum of Modern Art in New York City used Marinetti’s slogan as the centerpiece for an exhibition on Ferrari Formula One cars. Dr. Paul Baxa, (Ave Maria University) will explore the question: to what extent has the automobile, and the racing car in particular, become a work of art? To many, a race car is “cool” and “fast,” and nothing more. However, the race car has limitless potential of which to teach elements of physics, chemistry, and technology to younger generations. As museums face an ongoing struggle for “relevance,” what are some modern strategies automotive museums can employ to provide focused, curriculum-driven historical interpretation in order to increase visitorship? The NASCAR Hall of Fame’s former curator, Dr. Daniel Simone, will discuss these issues. Indeed, museums have a duty to serve their communities as educational institutions. Bryan Gable, Special Collections Coordinator at Revs Institute, also stresses that historic race cars carry stories about their design and purpose. Yet, that is lost if curatorial teams fail to create interpretive strategies in order to engage visitors who are not automotive experts. As museums seek new audiences, how can the race car be repurposed to capture the attention of non-enthusiasts?