Museums Archives - TravelDriveRace

Muzej Vazduhoplovstva (Belgrade Aviation Museum) showcases aeronautic rarities, wreckages

By Dave S. Clark

If you’re flying in or out of Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport and have a strange curiosity with the odd, old and decrepit, or with aviation or architecture, you’ll be intrigued by the Belgrade Aviation Museum (Muzej Vazduhoplovstva), just steps away from the airport’s main terminal.

A few minutes walk from the departure’s lounge, sits the giant UFO-shaped monstrosity that houses the museum. The geodesic oddity is worth a look itself. As I mentioned in my post on communist architecture in New Belgrade, I have a fascination with these types of structures that many write off as gaudy. I was in awe of it. I wanted to live inside it. After taking in the bizarre shape of the museum itself, I spent a good 20 minutes walking around the grounds, admiring all of the aeronautic relics that are sprinkled around the building for the outdoor exhibit. Continue reading “Muzej Vazduhoplovstva (Belgrade Aviation Museum) showcases aeronautic rarities, wreckages”

Hupmobile, pre-war cars highlight Elkhorn auto museum

By Dave S. Clark

For years, I drove past the Manitoba Antique Automobile Museum in Elkhorn but never stopped to go in. Perhaps it was because I was always making good time and I know how long it can take me to go through a great antique car museum when I get sucked in. On my last time through, I made the wise move to get a glimpse of the Hupmobiles, Overlands and other pre-war cars on display.

On my way home to Edmonton from my annual retreat in the Whiteshell Provincial Park, I decided to finally commit the time and check it out. Besides, I was driving 1500 kilometres that day and this would be a good chance to get out and stretch my legs. Continue reading “Hupmobile, pre-war cars highlight Elkhorn auto museum”

Boeing Factory Tour an up close look at mega plane construction

By Dave S. Clark

When any inquisitive person sees a giant plane like a Boeing 747, he or she starts thinking about how it works, how it is constructed and what giant facility is needed to build such a vehicle. Those inquisitive people will love what is in store for them at the Boeing Factory Tour in Everett, WA.

My wife (Miss Wanderlust) and I were spending an extended long weekend in Seattle and we decided to rent a car and head up to the Future of Flight Aviation Center about 25 miles north of Seattle in Everett to check out the factory, which according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the largest building by volume in the world. The centre is full of real airplane parts on display and interactive flight activities, but more importantly, it’s where you depart from for the Boeing Factory tours. Continue reading “Boeing Factory Tour an up close look at mega plane construction”

Automotive oddities at Iceland’s Ystafell Transportation Museum

Dave S. Clark

I never imagined I would see a Kewet EL Jet or a Matra-Simca Begheera in a car museum in northern Iceland just a short jaunt south of Arctic Circle. It would have been impossible to imagine because I had no idea that either of those cars had even existed.

The Danish electric microcar and the polyester-bodied French sports car are just two of the many oddball cars that have been given a home at the Ystafell Transportation Museum. Continue reading “Automotive oddities at Iceland’s Ystafell Transportation Museum”

Volvo Museum an exciting mix of history and future

By Dave S. Clark

To me, Volvo and Sweden are synonymous so when my wife and I made a trip to Gothenburg, we had to visit the Volvo Museum.

Like most manufacturer’s museums, it’s very well put together and features a whole range of cars, starting out with the humble beginnings and ending with concepts of what the future of the marque holds. The Volvo Museum fit that bill perfectly. Continue reading “Volvo Museum an exciting mix of history and future”

Behind the wheel of a Ferrari in Maranello

By Dave S. Clark

The sleepy Italian town of Maranello was forever changed in 1943, when Enzo Ferrari moved his automobile company in and built what would soon become the Ferrari factory.

Ever since then, the town, nestled between Modena and Bologna, has been the birthplace of every Ferrari car as well as the home of the company’s F1 operations. Although it’s kind of out of the way in the northern countryside, you’ll know the town when you see it. Yeah, it’s the one with bright red supercars driving around everywhere you look. Continue reading “Behind the wheel of a Ferrari in Maranello”

The little known car collections of Belgium

By Dave S. Clark

When people think of Belgium they are probably more likely to think of waffles than amazing car collections, but TravelDriveRace.com reader Koen De Beer knows of two collections that will change that perception.

Continue reading “The little known car collections of Belgium”

Pagani factory home to handcrafted power

By Dave S. Clark

The Pagani Zonda is a car that once you’ve seen, you’ll never forget. Its outrageous styling is unlike any other supercar or hypercar, whatever term you choose to describe it. It’s a handcrafted, fully carbon fibre, Mercedes-powered masterpiece that looks more like a fighter jet than anything else on the road. And all of them have been made in Pagani’s tiny factory in San Cesario Sul Panaro, not much more than a village in northern Italy. That factory happens to be a stop on the Motorstars tour, which also stops at Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati. Continue reading “Pagani factory home to handcrafted power”

A pilgrimage to Italy’s supercars

Pagani's showroom is one of the stops on the Motorstars tour through Supercar Alley. — Pagani’s showroom is one of the stops on the Motorstars tour through Supercar Alley.

By Dave S. Clark

Nestled in the middle of the northern Italian countryside between the cities of Bologna and Modena are sleepy towns, wineries and farms. There are also the factories and museums of some legendary Italian auto manufacturers. Continue reading “A pilgrimage to Italy’s supercars”