On Feb. 23, 2019, the Petersen Automotive Museum will open the doors to its newest exhibit: “Winning Numbers: The First, The Fastest, The Famous.” Starring 10 iconic race cars, each with its own triumphant story, the exhibit’s lineup hails from the collection of Petersen Founding Chairman Bruce Meyer. “Winning Numbers” will include Le Mans winners, land speed record setters, dragsters and road racers.
Visitors will get to take a look at the winningest Ferrari road racer of all time, the 1957 Ferrari 625/250 Testa Rossa, which claimed first prize in over half of the 50 competitions in which it was raced; the first production 1962 Shelby Cobra, CSX2001; the 1962 Greer Black Prudhomme, raced by drag racing legend Don Prudhomme, who won 237 of the 241 races in which he piloted the car; the renowned 1952 So-Cal Speed Shop Belly Tank Racer, built from a P-38 Lightning fighter belly tank from World War II by hot rod racing icon Alex Xydias; the 1979 Kremer Porsche 935 K3 which took first place overall at Le Mans; and the 1929 Ford “747” Bonneville Racer in which Meyer made 204 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. While the 1929 Ford wasn’t the first qualifier, Meyer is a member of the legendary Bonneville 200 MPH Club.
The exhibit will run through January 19, 2020, and will be heralded by an opening reception featuring gourmet food and a fireside chat session hosted by Meyer. “Winning Numbers” is the first of three installments in the “California Collecting” exhibit series, which will focus on three prominent collections belonging to the region’s best-known enthusiasts.
“Bruce Meyer is perhaps one of the most influential ‘car guys’ in the world, and there is no better collection than his to kick off our 25th anniversary,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “He epitomizes true automotive passion, sharing his knowledge, fervor and immense love for the motorsports hobby with the next generation of enthusiasts. ‘Winning Numbers’ reflects his discerning tastes as a collector, gathering only the most compelling examples of race cars from each genre of the sport.”
Affectionately monikered the “car guy’s car guy,” Meyer is widely recognized for his passion for all things automotive, and in particular for his dedication to preserving hot rod history and historic motorsports, sharing his zeal with fellow enthusiasts and using his connections to promote the hobby. A close friend and neighbor of Petersen Publishing founder Robert E. Petersen, Meyer and “Pete” conceived the idea for the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1992, leading to its public opening in 1994. Twenty-five years later, Meyer remains one of the museum’s biggest supporters.
To purchase tickets to “Never Lift: The Bruce Meyer Collection Exhibition Opening,” please visit https://www.petersen.org/events/2019/2/7/never-lift-the-bruce-meyer-collection-exhibition-opening. For more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum exhibits, visit www.Petersen.org.
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