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On Feb 12, 2009 we had our 2nd club meeting held at Bruce Litton’s musuem.
HSCA at Bruce Litton’s Auto Museum, by Von Cassidy
It’s like being a 5 year old kid in a candy store. Visiting Bruce Litton’s classic car museum is so cool you just want to take it all in as fast as you can. Walking in the door from the normal appearing business exterior, seeing the inside is like Clark Kent transforming into Superman. From the real-appearing artificial food on the 50’s style diner tables to the giant “Chevrolet” neon sign, to the dozens of perfect condition classic Chevys, it’s a different world. The February HSCA meeting was held there, which is also the home of Bruce Litton Trailer Sales, across from O’Reilly Raceway Park. Bruce and his right hand man, Eddie Jeffers, graciously took the time to host our visit, describe the cars and facility, and patiently answer our many questions. Eddie is the lucky guy who gets paid to keep the museum and cars clean and maintained. Once in a while he even gets to “exercise” these pristine machines.
The setting itself is a sight to behold. It’s an indoor replica of the downtown business area of Bruce’s hometown of Oneida, TN in 1955. Not only are the storefronts amazingly detailed but the replicated interiors as well. A diner, church, sheriff’s office, gas station, and a movie theater are just a few among many. Nearing completion are a Chevy dealer (where Eddie actually once worked) with a Western Auto store upstairs. Many auto-related signs, both neon and unlighted, and other pieces of automotive history adorn the walls. Like the cars, the whole place is so spotless you could eat your sandwich right off the floor. And to top it all off, a huge wall mounted lighted billboard said “Hoosier State Chevelle Association”.
And the cars! Wow! All Chevys and many of them are original solid lifter big blocks. Just to name a few: a ’69 Hugger Orange ZL1 427 Camaro, a ’69 COPO 427 Camaro, a ’66 427 425 hp Caprice, a ’61 SS 409 Impala, a ’62 409 409 hp Impala, a ’70 Chevelle SS454 LS-6 convertible. Also some mid-50’s Chevy Suburbans, a ’41? Chevy pickup, a ’55 Chevy street rod, and several more. All either in like new original condition or painstakingly restored.
Also in the same building is Bruce’s race shop for his Lucas Oil sponsored Top Fuel Dragster and huge transporter. Bruce was the 2007 IHRA Top Fuel World Champion. The dragster(s) were completely disassembled and we were allowed to closely inspect and ask dumb questions (well some of them anyway, LOL) about anything and everything. It’s amazing what these highly specialized parts look like and cost. Also amazing is the performance of a 2,300 lb car with 8,000 hp (not a misprint).
Thanks again to Bruce and Eddie for sharing their evening with us and making the beautiful museum and race shop available. As a small token of our appreciation some HSCA glasses and coasters were presented to Bruce, one of the truly nice guys of racing.
The written description here doesn’t do this magnificent place justice. It must be seen to be believed. Check out the pictures below to get an idea.
For some details of our past experience, check out the TireSmoke article at http://www.indianachevelles.com/newsletter/Mar07Newsletter/page9.html
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