POMONA, CA. – Greg Sharp, curator of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, will be honored at the 2010 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Gainesville, FL, on March 11. He will be presented the Special Founder’s Award for his contribution to preserving and maintaining motorsports history.

 It was a busy week when Greg Sharp received the announcement. “Big Daddy” Don Garlits personally called him a week before the 50^th Kragen O’ Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline to give him the good news.

“There was so much commotion preparing the Mickey Thompson exhibit and for the Winternationals when I received the call I thought Don was calling about Pomona. I was speechless, I’ll never forget it,” said Greg Sharp. “I’m so honored to be included with a stellar group of individuals.”

Greg has been revered by many motorsports journalists and researchers as the walking encyclopedia of nostalgia drag racing, hot rodding and all motorsports. Since a kid growing up in San Pedro, CA, Greg devoured car culture magazines like Rod & Custom and Car Craft. It is no surprise his love of cars brought him under the wing of the late Wally Parks of NHRA.

“Everyone at the Museum is extremely proud of Greg. He is truly deserving of this special recognition. We applaud the induction of our industry’s most knowledgeable people,” said Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum Director Tony Thacker.

After retiring from the Los Angeles Police Department in 1995, Greg took on a new chapter in his life as the NHRA Director of Historical Services. Greg worked closely with Wally Parks, Steve Gibbs and the late Bob Daniels to open the first NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, CA, in April, 1998. Today, Greg continues his love of retelling the history of the sport and American car culture as the Museum’s Curator.

“The best part of my job is being good friends with my heroes,” said Sharp.

In 2006, Greg was inducted into the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame as Historian of the Year. For over 10 year, he was an ISCA Official and Judging Supervisor, and helped select America’s Most Beautiful Roadster at Oakland. In 1993, Greg was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame. He is credited with coining the term “Cacklefest,” a major component of the Museum’s two popular events, the California Hot Rod Reunion and National Hot Rod Reunion.

Founded in 1998 and named for the founder of the National Hot Rod Association, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, houses the very roots of hot rodding. Scores of famous vehicles spanning American motorsports history are on display, including winning cars representing 50 years of drag racing, dry lakes and salt-flat racers, oval track challengers and exhibits describing their colorful backgrounds.

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., PST. Current NHRA members are admitted free and Auto Club members enjoy a $2 discount. Admission for non-members is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 60 and older, $6 for juniors six through 15, and free for children under the age of five. The Museum is also available for special group tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com.

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