When top-flight racehorses reach the winner’s circle, they are then put out to stud.
What about top-flight race cars? Okay, they can’t breed. Still it seemed unfair that an Indy car could capture the checkered flag and then be cashed in like a casino chip. “That was how they did it,” Pat Hozza explains. “Back in the day, they were always focused on the latest and greatest (technology). So they’d sell the winning car off and purchase next year’s model.”
But, as racing captured an increasing portion of the nation’s consciousness, pioneers like Roger Penske realized that preserving its history was as important as pursuing its future.
“Penske cars have won the Indianapolis 500 14 times,” Hozza says, “we have 11 of those cars here.”
Hozza, whose title is Motor Sports Specialist says the proximity to dealerships may explain why the museum is often overlooked: “We are, I think, the best kept secret in Scottsdale.”
“We get a lot of guys — hot rodders, Indy fans. And, because we’re free, we get families, too. Anybody who loves cars,” Hozza grins. Their Auto Mall location can actually helps sometimes, too. “Women will come in to our cafe for some coffee while they’re having a car repaired. Then we’ll see ‘em back the next weekend with their husband.”
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