DRIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM: 1970’s CAR DESIGN AT MAC
The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture will show off a unique exhibit of 1970s cars called Driving the American Dream through Sept. 8. Mac Photo
SPOKANE — The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture has turned its main gallery into a retro car emporium for the exhibition, Driving the American Dream: 1970s Car Design. This journey back to the 1970s showcases the distinctive car designs that emerged during a pivotal era in American automotive history.
The exhibit can be visited until Sept. 8.
The 1960s marked an unprecedented time in automotive innovation, with American car companies vying for supremacy in horsepower, size, and luxury. But the flamboyance of the ‘60s gave way to a less prosperous decade influenced by Watergate, fiscal stagnation, and the energy crisis. By the early 1970s, U.S. government regulations on fuel economy and emissions forced American automakers to downsize their models and reduce horsepower.
“The 1970s were years of general malaise for the U.S. automotive industry,” said Cory Komberec, curator of the exhibition. “Asian and European cars were already smaller, more efficient, and generally better-built than their U.S. counterparts, so sales of American cars slumped.”
Driving the American Dream is a showroom-sized retrospective of ‘70s cars, now appreciated as true classics and iconic symbols of an era deeply ingrained in America’s collective consciousness.
Featured Cars:
- 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible
- 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle convertible
- 1971 Dodge Charger
- 1972 DeTomaso Pantera
- 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle
- 1973 Mercury Cougar XR7
- 1974 Datsun 240Z
Exhibition curator and photography is by Cory Komberec and exhibition design by local artist Chris Bovey.
The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is located at 2316 West First Ave. in Spokane and further information can be found by visiting NorthwestMuseum.org.
FESTIVAL OF SPEED AT QLISPE, AUG. 30-SEPT. 1
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Qlispe Raceway — formerly Spokane Raceway Park/ Spokane County Raceway — will present its biggest road course event of the season with the running of the 13th annual Festival of Speed, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 of the 2.25-mile track.
“This year BMW of Spokane is our main sponsor, and our focus is on the PRO3 racing series, which will be racing all that weekend,” spokesperson John Barlow wrote in an email.
As with past events the FOS has a charitable beneficiary, Children’s Cancer Coalition
(Formerly known as ACCOIN). Further info on that group is available at www. CCCNW.org.
First run in 2011 the FOS has showcased many different sports car classes and under guidance of a local club, Northwest Motorsports, who is running the racing portion.
The FOS organizers are backing way from racing to concentrate on behind-the-scenes activities.
“We are doing food trucks, an expected 500-600 trackside car show, and a BBQ dinner in the evening,” Barlow said.
Racing runs Friday - Sunday from 8 a.m. until about 3:30-4:30. The Spokane Festival of Speed event is Saturday only with the car show running from noon to about 8 p.m.
Visit www.SpokaneFestivalofSpeed.org for complete details.
Some of the racing action from a past Festival of Speed.
2ND HOWARD SPAIN MEMORIAL RACE IS AUG. 31.
Howard Spain’s race car. A fundraiser to help the family following his death in 2023 will take place at the old Deer Park Drag Strip, Aug. 31. It is limited to just 50 entries. Howard Spain family photo
