Use of the term "Motor Racing" is most significant due to the continuous increase of interest in all forms of "Motor Racing" beginning to emerge 25 years ago. Fortunately, the term "Motor Racing" was selected and not more narrow terms such as "auto racing', oval track racing", or "open wheel racing". From the start, the EMMR intention has been to appeal to all motor sports interests. Due to the South Central Pennsylvania location of the museum, the initial efforts we to provide support for the forms of racing so long dominant in the area. In historical order, the major categories of racing have been "Big Cars" (with close ties to the Indianapolis 500), Midget racers, Sprint Cars, Modified Stock Cars and today's Winged Sprint Cars.

These core elements of motor racing remain today, with the addition of dozens of motor sports categories, all welcome and all included or in the process of being included in the EMMR. The major categories joining EMMR in the new century include Winston Cup, Drag, Sports/Formula, Motorcycle, Airplane and Boat racing. Motor Racing has a universal appeal and EMMR intends to respond to the "rainbow" of motor racing activities.

The significance of the name "Eastern" in the EMMR title requires comment. No section of the United States can

claim a more dominant place in the history of Motor Racing that the area included in a one-hundred fifty mile

radius of the EMMR site. The eastern seaboard became the area for large numbers of motor racing events from

the earliest time due to the large population, the industrial revolution and the agricultural strength of the area. The large population was seeking diverse activities, the industrial revolution created the technical skills

needed for motor sports (which should not be confused with the emergence of the automobile industry in
southeast Michigan), and above all the agricultural strength of the area resulted in the construction of

exposition grounds to support agriculture.

The exposition grounds contained race tracks for various horse events and these race courses would early in the

century past include motor vehicles, called "race cars". The East had the large population, individuals with

exceptional technical skills and above all, race tracks. The history of these exposition grounds is most

important to EMMR. Over a dozen of these major exposition grounds were within a one-hundred fifty mile

radius of EMMR. The Latimore Valley Fairgrounds, location of the EMMR, is a restored site which in the

future will be expanded to enhance the activities of EMMR.

EMMR is national in scope due to the fact that those who came to participate in the East for many years would represent the nation from coast to coast and border to border. Motor sports participants from over 40 states traveled to Central Pennsylvania in search of fame and fortune for much of the twentieth century. "Eastern" is also an appropriate name due to the large number of local participants who gained national fame. The measure of the talent who came to the East is found in the relationship between Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (just up the road from EMMR) and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There

was a mid twentieth century "American Era" at Indianapolis dominated by drivers and cars from the United States. From 1946 to 1964 the Indianapolis "500" was all American, with few exceptions. During that eighteen year, nineteen race time period over 100 drivers who qualified for and raced in the Indianapolis "500" would race at Williams Grove. Fourteen Indianapolis winners of seventeen of nineteen races between 1946 and 1964 raced at Williams Grove. Twelve national Indianapolis car champions accounting for the entire nineteen year period also raced at Williams Grove. Many Indianapolis starters in the years prior to the opening of Williams Grove in 1939 raced in the East at Langhorne (PA) Speedway and the great fair races at Reading and Allentown in Pennsylvania, as well as Trenton and Flemington in New Jersey, and Harrington in Delaware. In addition to Langhorne and Trenton, which were regular Indianapolis car events, races for these cars and drivers also took place at six other locations within the 150 mile radius of EMMR.

Other national core forms of racing also have a strong area heritage. NASCAR held long distance "new car"

races at Langhorne Speedway in 1939 and continued for the duration of the track. The modern Winston Cup

races at Pocono International Speedway and Dover Downs Speedway provide histories which should be

recognized at EMMR. National Drag Racing stars began appearing in the area in the 1950's. In the road racing

category, the Fairmont Park races in Philadelphia, beginning in 1908, were significant world-wide. The first

Watkins Glen (NY) race was won by Frank Griswold from Wayne, PA. This event marked the beginning of modern road racing in this country. Hill climbs were contested at several Pennsylvania locations. Flat track professional motorcycle racing was held at Langhorne, Williams Grove and many other area fairground tracks.

The EMMR goal is to grow and expand in order to preserve history and provide knowledge not only about

all forms of racing, but also the lifestyles of those involved in the agricultural expositions so closely related