By Bob Baker
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (May 1, 2011) – The National Sprint Car Museum’s “Sprint Car 101” Third Thursday Series will continue on Thursday, May 19, with a “Salute to Dean Sylvester”. The free and open-to-the-public program will be held from 7 until 9 p.m. on the museum’s second floor and it will honor the 1957 Knoxville Raceway driver/car owner champion and the ‘61 Knoxville car owner champion (for championship driver Earl Wagner). Dean’s number 12 super-modified, with which Earl finished third in the very first Knoxville Nationals in 1961, behind winner Roy Robbins and runner-up Audie Swartz, will be in the museum’s front window that night.
According to museum curator Tom Schmeh, “I think people in central Iowa racing circles know of Dean Sylvester, but they don’t really ‘know’ Dean. I hope and trust that we can get Dean to open up about his long and varied career as a driver, owner, mechanic and builder. Towards that end, we’ve got Dean’s friend, former announcer and official Dave Van Patten, lined up as the evening’s emcee. And we are also going to allow audience members the opportunity to come forward and tell some Dean Sylvester stories. Again, we want this program to both educational and entertaining, as we do all of our ‘Sprint Car 101’ Third Thursday Series programs.”
Those seeking more information on the “Sprint Car 101” Third Thursday Series programs can visit www.sprintcarhof.com.