14 Jun - NASCAR Hall of Fame and Levine Museum of the New South

 

This is going to be truncated a bit.  We had a fantastic day starting with the NASCAR Hall of Fame followed by the Levine Museum of the New South.  Like many other places, I took a ton of pictures and we will share a few here.  

The Hall of Fame building

Pedestrian crossings neat the Hall

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is a beautiful facility that features obviously the Hall of Fame inductees over the years which tells a story of the history of NASCAR.  There are four levels to the Hall with many of the cars of the inductees.  The entire place is very interactive starting with your arrival.  You are given a smart card where you can customize your experience based on who your favorite driver is, etc.  Then as you walk around the Hall you can scan your card and the interactive displays react accordingly.  

Programming your card

It all started in the south with moonshine runners.  NASCAR was organized and they raced cars on the beach at Daytona.   

Because we programmed our cards we got our pictures on the big screen!

Many early NASCAR race cars on display.  This was racing!

Doreen experiences the sharp angle on the track

There were many different NASCAR race cars on display.  It is amazing the advancements in technology and how racing has changed.  many driven by safety.

The custom frame and roll cage

A racing motor

Inside one of the trailers.

I mentioned how there are interactive displays throughout.  This one involves using the impact gun and simulates changing a tire, zipping the lug nuts off like a pit crew would.  This young man is getting the thrill of a lifetime!!

So I got to experience some of the interactive side, also.  For a small fee you can drive a NASCAR simulator.  First I had to "qualify" by driving a single simulator and then I got to race others in one of the cars.  

Here I am in the qualifying simulator

Now I climb in my car and race others.

Doreen could watch me on the big screen as I raced.

My view inside my car right before we started.

From the NASCAR Hall of Fame we drove a few blocks to the Levine Museum of the New South.  The "new south" focused on after the Civil War and slavery was abolished how the south transitioned.  It was a very nice museum with quality displays, some movies and audio-visual displays too.  

You start out watching a movie and then into the museum.  Cotton was a huge commodity in the south and they explained how it was carded, ginned, spun and woven into cloth.  

The transition to electricity changed the south, although it was many years before some areas had electricity available.  

Some of the early electrical appliances.  Our family used to have one of those toasters!

Segregation.  

A soda fountain

An early barber shop

Early electronics in the south

The final displays emphasized Charlotte and the products and services that originate here.  This is the second largest baking center in the United States.  

Bank of America building here in Charlotte

Lowes headquarters is here as well as the Charlotte Motor Speedway

We intend to try Bojangles while we are here!

A variety of products that reflect on the diversity of Charlotte.

It was a good day.  So glad we were able to see these two venues.  Tomorrow we head for Mt Airy and get to experience Mayberry, from the Andy Griffith Show!