Automobile Driving Museum

The first woman to drive across the United States, and be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, was housewife Alice Huyler Ramsey.  In 1909 she was 22 years old, and she drove 3,800 miles from New York City to San Francisco. Only 152 miles of the journey were on paved roads, and there were…

While receiving his Masters at the MIT Media Arts & Sciences Laboratory, William Lark Jr. was a principal designer of the City Car: a shared, electric vehicle that adapts to the driver, road and the city.   The folding car was designed to be used similarly to bike-sharing technology. Time magazine named it an Invention…

Garrett Augustus Morgan owned a sewing machine company in Cleveland. He invented the gas mask, and rescued victims trapped in a tunnel under Lake Eerie. In 1923, after witnessing a horrific traffic accident, he designed a three-position electric traffic signal system. General Electric paid him $40,000 for the invention. Here is a very informative video…

Born in 1897, Charlie Wiggins started his life with cars as a shoe-shine boy in front of an automotive repair shop. He was eventually invited inside to help work on cars. In 1917 when white American soldiers shipped out for the First World War, Charlie became a chief mechanic. During the 1920s Charlie Wiggins moved…

Alicia Boler-Davis started at General Motors as a manufacturing engineer and soon became the first black woman to become a plant manager there. She has also served as Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. She noted, “There were not a lot of people who looked like me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do it.”…

Charles Richard Patterson was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation. After escaping to freedom in Greenfield, Ohio, he learned the skills of a blacksmith and worked in the carriage-making trade. Eventually, he became a prominent and respected citizen of his town, and sole proprietor of C.R. Patterson & Sons, which became the only African American owned and operated…

With an interest in automotive design spurred from a visit to see the Cadillac Cyclone concept car at the 1958 Philadelphia International Auto Show, Ed Welburn advanced from General Motors brand design studios to become the sixth Head of Design at GM. In 1987, he managed the creation of the Oldsmobile Aerotech concept car which…

Born in 1986, Shauntia Latrice “Tia” Norfleet’s interest in racing is said to have been sparked at age 7 when her father, NASCAR driver Bobby Norfleet, doubled the battery power on her Hot Wheels Barbie car, increasing its speed. Tia Norfleet went on to compete in kart racing events, drag racing, and Bandolero car racing…

Every business looking to build long-lasting relationships needs to know the intricacies of throwing an incredible corporate event. Given that 48% of event planners start the planning phase 6-12 months in advance, you need to understand the elements of event management to throw a cool corporate event. These elements include research, planning, design, evaluation, and coordination.  Breaking…

Did you know that over 50% of Americans get married each year? Are you planning to get married soon, too? Marriage is a special milestone in our lives. That’s why you must work hard to ensure that it’s memorable, fondly remembering it for the rest of your days. But without professional help, you won’t know what to…

When hosting a private event, one of the major things to consider is where you are going to host it. Choosing the right venue is critical in ensuring that your event is going to be a successful one.  Securing the ideal venue for your function should be top of your list, regardless of whether you…

Couples spend an average of $800 on wedding transportation. Why not use that money toward something truly unique with a vintage car rental for wedding transportation instead of a limo? Renting a limo is the classic option, but a vintage car gives you and your wedding guests a unique experience. Before booking your wedding transportation, consider the pros…

This Saturday, the Automobile Driving Museum will host its annual JDM at the ADM. The car show is designed to bring together drivers of the best Japanese rides in So Cal. A great figure known in the Japanese car community is Yutaka Katayama, better known as Mr. K. Mr. K, “Father of the Datsun Z-Car,”…

Check out his blog post as iDriveSoCal’s Tom Smith describes his and his son’s experience when they attended the last Hot Wheels Garage event on Aug 3, 2019. Tom shares an exciting recap of how the Hot Wheels Garage is not only fun for kids, but also major fun for adults. His depiction is spot…

Jay Leno’s Garage – “Cult Classics” Episode “Jay Leno asks the question, what makes a car a cult classic? Charlie Sheen attempts to answer that by showing off the outrageous Chrysler Turbo Interceptor he drove in the cult film, the Wraith.” NEW EPISODE OF CNBC’S “JAY LENO’S GARAGE” PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 AT 10PM EST…

Our wonderful docents could not have suggested a better place to share our classic rides.  Last Saturday, June 29, 2019, the Automobile Driving Museum attended the Street Food Cinema screening of Grease in Manhattan Beach.  In attendance and signing autographs was one of the famous Pink Ladies, “Jan”, played by Jamie Donnelly.  Donnelly played “Jan”…

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced that the next Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will be officially celebrated on July 12, 2019. The Automobile Driving Museum will observe this day on Saturday, July 6, 2019. The date marks the tenth consecutive commemoration in what is now an annual event to raise awareness of the vital…