The State Farm Cars 2 Tour is Coming to America On Wheels

Lightning McQueen is coming to Allentown – hauled by a MACK® truck – and he’s bringing friends. The three main characters of Disney/Pixar’s upcoming summer blockbuster, CARS 2, will be at America On Wheels on May 7, 2011 with the State Farm Cars 2 promotional tour.

Upon arriving at the event, guests will instantly see if they have won one of 18,000 prizes including the grand prize – a family spy car! Those that complete all of the day’s spy missions will have a chance to win fun prizes.

Along with Lightning McQueen and friends, America On Wheels will be hosting the Dutch Dubbers Club Spring Cruise-In. Almost 100 Volkswagon cars will be cruising to America On Wheels to kick off the spring season. This free event will include music, food and a 50/50 raffle.

There’s always a lot going on at America On Wheels and here at the AOW blog we’re going to give weekly updates as to what’s happening at the museum for the week. Check here at the beginning of each week to see our schedule of events and plan your next visit with us. Here’s What’s Happening with us this week:

Thursday – 5/5/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Friday – 5/06/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Saturday – 5/07/2011

9am-1pm: CARS 2 Tour at America On Wheels with Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater and Finn McMissle - A family fun day filled with family activities

11am-3pm: Yes, America On Wheels Has a Bug! - Enjoy the Dutch Dubbers Volkswagen Club's Spring Criuse In - Outside Event is Free

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Sunday – 5/08/2011

All Day: Mothers' Day - First 50 moms recieve a free gift

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Monday – 5/09/2011

CLOSED

Tuesday – 5/10/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Wednesday – 5/11/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

What’s Happening

There’s always a lot going on at America On Wheels and here at the AOW blog we’re going to give weekly updates as to what’s happening at the museum for the week. Check here at the beginning of each week to see our schedule of events and plan your next visit with us. Here’s What’s Happening with us this week:

Thursday – 4/28/2011

5 pm-9 pm: Cetronia Ambulance Corps: Health On Wheels Celebration

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Friday – 4/29/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Saturday – 4/23/2011

10am-5pm: Museum Story Day - Enjoy stories in the museum library!

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Sunday – 4/24/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Monday – 4/25/2011

CLOSED

Tuesday – 4/26/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Wednesday – 4/27/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Discover Lehigh Valley At America On Wheels

America On Wheels is excited to announce that Discover Lehigh Valley has opened a visitors center at the museum. Yesterday, America On Wheels hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new kiosk, which resembles a toll booth of the Pennsylvania turnpike.

Visitors, who do not have to pay museum admission to visit the kiosk, can stop by for information and travel tips about Lehigh Valley.

The museum is excited about our new partnership with Discover Lehigh Valley and we look forward to helping create wonderful experiences for both those who live in the valley and those who are visiting!

What’s Happening

There’s always a lot going on at America On Wheels and here at the AOW blog we’re going to give weekly updates as to what’s happening at the museum for the week. Check here at the beginning of each week to see our schedule of events and plan your next visit with us. Here’s What’s Happening with us this week:

Friday – 4/22/2011

Earth Day: Buy One, Get One Free admission - All Day

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Saturday – 4/23/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Sunday – 4/24/2011

Closed for Easter

Monday – 4/25/2011

CLOSED

Tuesday – 4/26/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Wednesday – 4/27/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Happy Earth Day!

Tomorrow (4/22) America On Wheels is celebrating Earth Day 2011 and we decided to give our readers some Earth Day facts and tips on preserving our planet. You can also check out a post we made some time ago about energy efficient fuels and the future of automobiles.

Earth Day Facts:

• The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970
• 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth day.
  
• Today, more than a billion people in 180 countries celebrate Earth Day.

What You Can Do:

• Pledge to do an act of green
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Make your next car an energy efficient model

What do you do for the environment? How are you celebrating Earth Day? Let us know in the comments. In the mean time you can celebrate Earth Day with Buy One, Get One Free tickets to America On Wheels to check out our alternative energy cars as well as all of our exhibits!
Sources: Nationalgeographic.com,

Seeking

America On Wheels is looking for a 1950, 1951 or a 1952 Chevy Bel Air Hard Top for an upcoming exhibit celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Chevrolet. The vehicle would be on display in the museum from June 2011 through March 2012. The car should be in show condition. Please contact Linda Merkel, America On Wheels Museum, 5 North Front Street, Allentown concerning this request or call 610.432.4200 x 11.

Get Your Motors Runnin'

The smell of motor oil and gasoline lays thick in the air and the cars are lined up and ready for the flag to wave. The images of drag races of days gone by are alive and well at America On Wheels at the “What A Drag” exhibit in their changing gallery and on April 17, 2011, from 1 to 4 pm, visitors will be able to hear stories about these races directly from those who participated – the cars’ owners and drivers.

“America On Wheels is excited to host a meet and greet with the owners and drivers of the dragsters in our ‘What A Drag’ exhibit,” said Linda Merkel, executive director of America On Wheels, “This will be a chance for visitors to ask any questions they have about the cars, the races and the history of drag racing to those who have experienced it hands on as well as to reminisce about the racing legacy here in Lehigh Valley”

More than a dozen drag racers and dragster owners will be attending the meet and greet. These lenders will be at the museum from 1pm to 4pm to share information on their car and talk about their experiences out on the drag strip. There will also be a drivers, past and present, autograph session inside the museum.

Happy Birthday to America On Wheels!

Who doesn’t love a good birthday party? The balloons, sweets and energy that accompany the celebration of life and another year are coming to America On Wheels. We are celebrating our third anniversary with our Third Birthday Party.

Our director, Linda Merkel, told the blog, “We are all very excited about the Third Birthday Party. Between [the artist] Kevin Nord, the Bulldog Beauty Contest, Ice Cream Social and the AAA travel presentation the celebration should be fun for the whole family,” said Linda Merkel, executive director of America On Wheels, “some of the proceeds from the Bulldog Beauty Contest will be sent to the Jennifer Lindsay Snyder Memorial Fund. Jennifer Snyder had a passion for helping animals and America On Wheels is pleased to honor her memory through this new memorial fund.”

The event-packed day is open to all with the price of admission and all of the museums galleries will be open for viewing.

The Schedule of events for the day is:

Auto Focus: Art of the Car – 10am-4pm

This art exhibit will feature photographs of automobiles and a meet and greet with the artist, Kevin Nord

How to Pack for a Trip - 10:30am-11:30am

Experts from the AAA travel association will give a presentation on how to effectively plan and pack for a trip

Bulldog Beauty Contest - 11am-1pm

30 of the cutest bulldogs will compete in this beauty contest. Awards will be given for seven categories, including “A Face Only a Mother Could Love”

Ice Cream Social - 1pm-3pm

Visitors can enjoy ice cream treats at the classic 1950’s style Hub Cap Café

The America On Wheels Third Birthday Party is sure to keep the whole family entertained for the whole day.

We hope to see everyone there!

A Face Only a Trucker Could Love

Ever wonder why Mack Trucks uses the bulldog as its logo? That adorable face labeled as one only a trucker could love became the company’s mascot almost 100 years ago!

When Mack first came out with its AC model in 1916. These trucks were used by the British and would refer to the trucks as “bulldogs” because of their strength and durability. Whenever there was a tough job to be done the British would say, “Send in the Mack Bulldogs!” Calling these trucks bulldogs was a great compliment coming from the Brits because these dogs were a symbol of strength.

Later, in 1922, Mack Trucks adopted the bulldog as its official symbol and it was printed on sheet metal on either side of a truck. The dog was used as a symbol to show that Mack Trucks offered lower rates on shipping by showing a bulldog destroying a book entitled “shipping costs.”

As the legend goes, in the year 1932, Alfred Fellows Masury, Mack's Chief Engineer was in the hospital and was quite bored. He decided to whittle a bulldog. When he was released from the hospital he made another and applied for a patent. This bulldog design became the iconic Mack symbol and the rest, as they say, is history!

In order to celebrate the heritage of the Mack Truck Bulldog, America On Wheels is holding its Second Annual Bulldog Beauty Contest at the museum's Third Birthday Party on April 9, 2011 at 11am.

Source: macktrucks.com

What’s Happening

There’s always a lot going on at America On Wheels and here at the AOW blog we’re going to give weekly updates as to what’s happening at the museum for the week. Check here at the beginning of each week to see our schedule of events and plan your next visit with us. Here’s What’s Happening with us this week:

Thursday – 4/7/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Friday – 4/8/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Saturday – 4/9/2011

All Day: Birthday Party – Includes:

· Auto Focus- Art of the Car Photography by Kevin J. Nord- Photography will be on sale! Come meet Kevin J. Nord. 10am-4pm

· AAA- How to Plan and Pack and Plan for Your Next Trip 10:30am-11:30am

· Second Annual Bulldog Beauty Contest 11am-1pm

· Ice Cream Social 1pm-3pm

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Sunday – 4/10/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

12-4pm: Make Your Own Bulldog Hood Ornaments

Monday – 4/11/2011

CLOSED

Tuesday – 4/12/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Wednesday – 4/13/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Kids At AOW

America On Wheels is a great place to reminisce about the early days of the automotive industry as well as ponder about the future of over the road travel. The museum is a place for many adults to engage in their passion and love for cars, but it is also a place for kids to come to play, learn and create.

Education

At America On Wheels kids can learn about the history and future of over the road travel. Kids can interact at their own level with many of the exhibits and marvel at the wonderful and exciting pieces at the museum

Crafts

The America On Wheels education room is always open to visitors. Kids can come and do various crafts like license plate rubbings ans a multitude of other crafts that are sure to entertain the little ones!

Birthday Parties

Wondering where to have your child's next birthday party? AOW hosts parties for children up to 10 years old. These parties include pizza and beverages, crafts, a scavenger hunt and more!

Summer Camp age

This summer America On Wheels will be hosting a summer camp for children ages 7-10 that will include educational speakers and various activities. Get ready for warm weather and summer fun with AOW!

We're all looking forward to seeing you and your little ones at AOW soon!

What’s Happening

There’s always a lot going on at America On Wheels and here at the AOW blog we’re going to give weekly updates as to what’s happening at the museum for the week. Check here at the beginning of each week to see our schedule of events and plan your next visit with us. Here’s What’s Happening with us this week:

Thursday – 3/31/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Friday – 4/1/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Saturday – 4/2/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Sunday – 4/3/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Monday – 4/4/2011

CLOSED

Tuesday – 4/5/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Wednesday – 4/6/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Kid's Exploration Day

America On Wheels loves children and families, and we especially love when they come visit. Tomorrow, March 26, 2011, we will be hosting Kid’s Exploration Day, a day for children and their families to come and explore our museum. We have a ton of exciting activities lined up for the day.

Who doesn’t like a car race? We will be hosting a matchbox car races to see who’s has the fastest time and who’s car can go the longest distance.

Kids can make their very own license plates by creating crayon rubbings of real license plates. We also are encouraging children’s creative sides by asking them to create the car of the future using model magic.

The whole family can participate in the museum scavenger hunt. Combine your knowledge and talents to find what we’ve hidden for you.

Along with our special events for the day, visitors will see our permanent exhibits as well as our Northeast Dragsters exhibit!

Women’s History Month – Women in the World of Cars

Here at America On Wheels we would like to pay tribute to the exceptional women who’ve paved the way for women in all facets of the auto industry in honor of Women’s History Month.

1903 – Mary Anderson invented the first device to improve the safety of early automobiles by creating a device to clear windshields of snow, sleet and rain. The first windshield wipers! Imagine driving without them?

1909 – Twenty-Two year old Alice Ramsey is the first woman to successfully drive across the United States

1910-1920 - Women’s suffrage movement uses automobiles to organize nationwide tours to gain support

1917 – Charlotte Bridgewood improved on Anderson’s invention by developing electric windshield wipers

1930s – Helena Bartlett invented spark plugs

1950s – Denise McCluggage becomes one of the most famed races of her era

1976 - Janet Guthrie is the first woman to compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup Superspeedway Race. She went on to be the first woman to comepete in both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500

1989 – Courtney Caldwell starts the first automobile publication targeted towards women titled American Woman Road and Travel which aimed to provide resources and information for women auto buyers

2005 – Danica Patrick wins Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar 500 Series

2008 – Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to win an Indy car race with her win in the Indy Japan 300

There have been numerous women who have impacted the great world of automobiles throughout history and though they have not always been given the credit they deserve, we are celebrating these and many other women here this month.

What’s Happening

There’s always a lot going on at America On Wheels and here at the AOW blog we’re going to give weekly updates as to what’s happening at the museum for the week. Check here at the beginning of each week to see our schedule of events and plan your next visit with us. Here’s What’s Happening with us this week:

Thursday – 3/24/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Friday – 3/25/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Saturday – 3/26/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

All Day – AOW Museum is celebrating kids with special activities like matchbox car races, license plate rubbings, model magic car creations and a museum scavanger hunt.

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Sunday – 3/27/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Monday – 3/28/2011

CLOSED

Tuesday – 3/29/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Wednesday – 3/30/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Thoughts with Those Affected by the Earthquake & Tsunami in Japan

The world watched with tears as the earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan. We are all in fear of a nuclear meltdown and radiation poisoning as a result of damages to nuclear plants and hope that these problems can be resolved quickly and safely.

Amid the destruction of life, homes and infrastructure this natural (and possibly nuclear) disaster, the auto industry has been significantly affected. At the time of print there have been lives lost and serious structural damage at all three of the major Japanese car importers to the US.

According to official statements from the companies, Toyota has halted all production in Japanese facilities until, at the earliest, March 22, several of Nissan’s plants have been affected by serious damages and over 2,000 US bound cars have been damaged by either the earthquake and tsunami and Honda has reported at least 1 employee death and at least 30 employee injuries and several shut down plants.

America On Wheels sends its deepest sympathies to all those who have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami and hope that recovery will occur quickly and safely.

What’s Happening: Weekend Edition

There’s always a lot going on at America On Wheels and here at the AOW blog we’re going to give weekly updates as to what’s happening at the museum for the week. Check here at the beginning of each week to see our schedule of events and plan your next visit with us. Here’s What’s Happening with us this weekend.

Thursday – 3/17/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

All Day: St. Patrick’s Day Fun – Wear green and receive $1 off Admission and receive a free guided road trip tour (tours leave at 11am & 1pm)

Friday – 3/18/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Saturday – 3/19/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

8pm: Allentown Public Theatre presents Blackbird - For tickets and information: www.allentownpublictheatre.com or call 888-895-5645

Sunday – 3/20/2011

All Day: Nostalgic Drag Race Cars from the 60's on exhibit in our Changing Exhibit Gallery

Saving the Great American Road Trip

With spring finally heading our way we’re all thinking of getting back out on the road whether it be for our Great American Road Trip or for just a spin around the neighborhood, but with gas prices expecting to rise to about 5 dollars per gallon its going to be tough to rationalize such trips.

Many companies have tapped into various alternative fuel resources in order to help save the earth and our automotive pastime. Between hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius to cars running on biofuel we can’t help but be excited about what the future holds for powering our beloved machines.

Will the US adopt the style of a city in Sweden that uses the city’s own waste to fuel their cars (and other energy necessities)? Will we embrace solar energy? Where will the road to alternative energy lead?

What A Drag! (In a Good Way)

For so many, Drag Racing brings up images of lightning speed cars, the smell of rubber on asphalt, gasoline in the air, and exciting finishes. Drag Racing has a long history beginning in the United States at the end of the Second World War and quickly spreading to all corners of the world.

These exciting races came to Lehigh Valley in 1955 when the Lehigh Valley Timing Association. This group helped to bring the new auto-sport to the area by organizing racing events at Queen City and the Vargo Dragway in the 1960s.

America On Wheels is presenting an exhibit on the legacy of Drag Racing from now until June 11, 2011. Visitors can experience the excitement of Drag Racing’s early days from the designated raceways to the back roads of the Northeast. The exhibit includes:

1984 Corvette jet powered funny
1960s restored dragster
1941 Willys Sedan
1932 Ford Three-Window Coupe
1968 Plymouth Barracuda “Lightweight”
1959 Lyndwood Chassis “Eliminator II”
1942 Willys-Overland Americar Coupe
1969 Ford BOSS Pro Stock Mustang
1975 Ford Super Modified Maverick
1972 Chevrolet Vega Wagon "Jungle Jim” Pro Stock
1969 S&W Chassis Top Fuel Dragster
1941 Willys Sedan Cooper Speed works (barn find)
Kid's Drag Race Pedal Car
Flathead Ford Display Engine
Ford Flat Head V8 Engine

Welcome to the AOW Blog

Welcome to the America On Wheels blog! We here at America On Wheels are dedicated to the past, present and future of over the road transportation and now we are taking that dedication to the blogosphere.

The AOW blog has been created to discuss our the interests of car lovers, what’s going on here at the museum and car news around the world!

Look out for our posts to find out what’s going on in the fast-paced world of motor-vehicles!