Published Sunday, July 18, 1999

`Museum back on track`

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Motorsports shrine isrunning fine

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ATTRACTION HAS MORE DISPLAYS, MINI-RACE COURSE

By Sherris Moreira-Byers
Herald Writer

Though the Motorsport Museum in West Middlesex opened last June, it nearly closed down in November due to lack of visitors and lack of interest.

But thanks to the new curator, Gerald “French” Le Fabvre, it’s back on track in more ways than one.

“I was brought in last August to help give this place a better focus and to revive interest,” explained Le Fabvre.

Le Fabvre has an extensive background in styling, building and re-building cars and has met many well-known figures in automotive history, including Henry Ford, Preston Tucker and John Delorean. “I did some work with Brooks Stevens, who was a famous researcher for Studebaker and Packard cars, as well as Richard Tieg, the chief stylist for Packard automobiles,” said Le Fabvre. He also spent many years racing cars in Europe and Florida.

“I was living in Lewistown, Pa; retired and re-building automobiles, when I was asked by Mr. Winner to re-organize and head up the sports museum,” Le Fabvre said. James E. Winner, international businessman and Clark resident, is a museum board member.

Most of the retooling happened this past January, when he doubled the number of cars on display. “We needed late model cars, muscle cars and more of them. Now we have lots of something for everyone,” said Le Fabvre. Some of the more interesting cars include a steel-plated Cadillac driven by Al Capone, and a car used by NASCAR racers Lou and Dave Blaney.

“We don’t have a few cars because some of them are being used during this racing season — that’s how new some of them are,” said Le Fabvre.

The sports museum also sponsored an auto show at the Niles Expo Center in January to get the word out. At the end of February, he leased out part of the museum to the franchise called Fan-Wave, which exclusively carries NASCAR racing items, including clothing, pictures, and car collectibles. The store is run by Priscilla Earhart of Ashtabula, Ohio, and employs three people. The entrance way has also been re-vamped to include cars and video games in the decor. “We have top-of-the-line video games that use virtual reality, where you can actually race side by side with someone on the same course,” added Le Fabvre.

On Memorial Day Weekend, they had the ribbon cutting for their miniature NASCAR go-kart track. It’s one-eighth of a mile road race track, and customers get a five minute ride for $5. Plans for the future may include a modern drag strip adjacent to the museum, and bigger signs along nearby Interstate 80.

“It took a little while, but I think we’re finally getting where this museum needs to be,” said Le Fabvre. “I think it’s a winner!”

Museum price is $6 per person, and $5 for seniors. For more information, call (724)-528-CARS(2277).

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Updated July 17, 1999
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