World of Speed Motorsports Museum, the Northwest’s premier automotive museum knows how to have a great time, all while supporting our mission to educate and entertain through the celebration and preservation of motorsports! From events to summer camp to incredibly cool exhibits, you don’t want to miss out on visiting World of Speed whether you’re a local or on that family vacation. This summer we are hosting the legendary Mario Andretti with the help of Adam Carolla.
“We have some unbelievable events happening this summer,” says the Museum’s Executive Director Dave Pearson. “But I’d say I am most excited and honored to host Mario Andretti who will be coming to the Museum for two nights at the end of August.”
On August 29, World of Speed is hosting An Evening with Mario Andretti which is a dinner reception that gives members and community a chance to meet race car driver up close and personal. Guests will also be able to listen to a riveting conversation during dinner between Mario and renowned author Matt Stone.
The next day on August 30, World of Speed will be hosting two giant events along with Adam Carolla, a comedian, carpenter, podcaster, filmmaker, best-selling author, race car driver and entrepreneur. Adam and co-host of CarCast, Matt “The Motorator” D’Andria will be judging the World of Speed Car Show. All entrants receive a car plaque and prizes for each category. There are three different categories to enter and three special awards to win.
The second event on the 30th is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Adam Carolla for a live recording with racing legend Mario Andretti, honoring the career of one of the greatest drivers in the history of motorsports. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m. CarCast is a twice weekly automotive podcast hosted by Adam Carolla.
“Having Mario here in August coincides with our summer exhibit Mario Andretti: Racing Royalty and we are thrilled to be able to see his reaction to what we have chosen to display to celebrate his legacy,” says Pearson. “These events are really an outstanding opportunity for the Museum and the motorsports community.”
Back in March they opened Mario Andretti: Racing Royalty, a look back at the five-decade career of America’s most successful race driver. “We worked closely with Mario and his family to create this exhibit and have some exclusive video we shot with them early this year that help make this exhibit something special,” says Pearson. Some of the cars include Mario’s first race car, a reproduction of the 1949 Hudson he built with twin brother Aldo, and the rare 1967 Ford GT40 Mk IV that Mario won the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race with.
Another feature exhibit on their 50,000 sq. ft. gallery floor is Rally Racing: Pushing the Limits of Control. This shows how modern rally racing tests the limits of road racing and the skill of its drivers. It started over a century ago as a simple race against the clock, in standard road cars between fixed points on open public roads – but it has evolved to feature some of the most extreme driving, in highly modified cars, often on unpaved back roads. These events can take place over several days and cover several hundred miles, in all kinds of weather and over the most difficult terrains.
For the locals, the summer months at World of Speed are also filled with week-long camps for kids in grades K–12. These racing-inspired STEAM-focused camps include Racing 101 and 201, where campers race go-karts at nearby Pat’s Acres and take a spin on the three racecar simulators in the Museum.
For all our members and visitors, we have the Start Line Club, filled with interactive educational games and activities that engage children at multiple development levels, and the Super Service Center is a favorite for many kids. It’s a kid-sized, two-sided model car that replicated the experience of an actual auto repair shop, including changing tires and checking the oil!