Unser Racing Museum

The Unser Racing Museum Merging with the Museum of American Speed

The Museum of American Speed is proud to partner with and display decades of racing history and accolades associated with the Unser family legacy. The Unser Racing Museum has preserved the legend of Bobby Unser and his family through a collection of memorabilia including cars, photos, video, trophies, racing gear and more. With multiple Indianapolis 500 wins and backed by a family of gearheads, Bobby Unser in considered a true racing legend.

Left to Right: Bobby Unser (3 time Indy 500 Winner), Al Unser Sr. (4 time Indy 500 Winner), and Al Unser Jr. (2 time Indy 500 Winner)

“With the Unser name being known worldwide, partnering with the #1 nationally ranked Automotive Museum, the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed will provide not only a larger national, but also international, platform for this collection of the Unser’s iconic racing legacy," said Susan Unser.

The Unser family is one of the most storied families in automotive and racing history. The Speedway Motors family have racing partnerships with members of the Unser family for over 38 years and are honored to welcome the Unser collection to our museum."

We are excited to incorporate this multi-dimensional museum experience that utilizes modern technology to educate and immerse the visitor into the world of racing. This museum collection spans the early days of racing from Pikes Peak and Indianapolis to the latest technology, including a racing simulator that puts you in the driver’s seat, and interactive kiosks for young and old to learn more about racing in a fun, educational environment.

Currently on display at the Museum of American Speed are the ‘Johnny Lightning Special’ car driven by Al Unser Sr. in the 1970 racing season and the Gurney Eagle car driven by Bobby Unser in the 1971 racing season.

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Immigrating from Switzerland, their father Louis and mother Marie eventually settled in Colorado Springs, raising a family by the nearby mountain, Pike’s Peak. Louis was especially skilled in exploring the then “new-fangled” automobile engine which sparked the interest of their sons. In September 1915 they rode a motorcycle and sidecar to the summit of Pike’s Peak, a mountain previously declared to be unscalable. Soon after this conquest, the Colorado City police hired the three Unser brothers to teach them how to ride motorcycles, and in 1916 after a road was built, Spencer Penrose officially staged a “Race
​to the Clouds”, a 12.4 mile race to the peak. The Unser boys were regular competitors.

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