VINTAGE ITALIAN, HIGH-OCTANE NASCAR & CUSTOM CARS IN CITY OF ANGELS

The car has become... an article of dress without which we feel uncertain, unclad, and incomplete. 

~Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media, 1964

       Washington, DC, November 7, 2007 – Fast and exciting cars have always captured the imagination of Americans, from thundering muscle cars and wild Hollywood customs, to the blazingly speedy and exotic supercars of Europe.  Smithsonian Journeys steers its custom car tours to the home of Maserati, Lancia and Alfa Romeo in Italy, for an insider’s look at some of Europe’s finest sports cars and a front row seat at the Rally Mille Miglia in Modena.  In Charlotte, sink into your plush deluxe skybox for two at the championship NASCAR races, before hopping in the front passenger seat for a 150 mph whirl in an authentic stock car.  Meet pop culture legend, George Barris of Batmobile fame, and feast your eyes on the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show during an exclusive pre-opening event.

            Italian Automobile Design (May 10-19, 2008):  Northern Italy’s charming cities of Turin, Milan and Modena have a combustible passion for fine cars.  Alongside the leading innovators at Pininfarina Studios, examine their newest cutting-edge designs, including bodywork for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo.  Unveil the secrets of automaker Lancia, which holds more rally championship titles than any other manufacturer, and get an up-close look at the legendary Lancia Stratos with its forceful Ferrari V-6 engine.  Visit Alfa Romeo’s factory museum in Arese, which houses classic models such as the Alfetta Grand Prix car and the tubular 33 TT, and don’t miss the Zagato Design Studio, where aircraft construction technology is used to achieve superior aerodynamics, as seen in Aston Martin designs.  At the boutique Pagani factory, famed for its ultra sleek Zonda line, marvel at these handcrafted super machines, with top speeds of 220 mph!  Trace Maserati’s legacy by touring its revamped center, before gearing up for the Rally Mille Miglia, the annual road rally with hundreds of vintage cars racing through the cobblestone streets of Modena.  No serious appreciation or study of Italy’s automobile industry would be complete without a step into the gripping world of speed, horsepower and style at the Lamborghini Factory Museum.  During this exclusive tour, come face-to-face with the high-performance vehicles of Miura SV, the Diablo Roadster prototype, and the angular wedge-design of Countach. 

Book by December 1 and save $200 per person.  Italian Automobile Design also qualifies for “Bring A Friend” promotion, i.e. introduce a friend who is new to Smithsonian Journeys, and you will both receive a $250 discount.  Prices start at $5,995 per person, based on double occupancy, land only, and include: accommodations in Turin, Milan and Modena; excursions; meals; study leader; and emergency trip evacuation insurance.

The World of NASCAR (May 22-26, 2008): Charlotte, North Carolina, is the birthplace of NASCAR and the base for this adrenaline-stoking automotive adventure.  Start at the Richard Petty Museum, home of the famed #43 Cheerios-Betty Crocker Dodge (driven by 2000 Nextel Cup Champion Bobby Labonte) and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge (driven by Kyle Petty).  Tuck into a traditional Carolina barbeque in Richard Petty’s own backyard, before heading to Richard Childress Racing Museum and Race Shop, to view its prime collection of about 50 cars driven by NASCAR heroes Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Boyer.  Join none other than Sam Bass himself on a private tour of the Sam Bass Gallery, in homage to the most celebrated artist in American motor sports history.  You’ll be on the edge of your enviable VIP seats at two championship races: the Carquest Auto Parts 300 Busch Race© and NASCAR's top racing series, the Coca Cola 600 NEXTEL Cup©, while VIP pre-race access sweetens the experience with the opportunity to meet celebrity racecar drivers before the opening flag.  The final hydraulic finish ends at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where you buckle into an authentic stock car with a professional driver, whizzing three laps at over 150 mph on the nation's fastest speedways.

Prices start at $5,995 per person, based on double occupancy, land only, and include: four nights accommodations at the Westin Charlotte; excursions, including two championship races; meals; study leader; and emergency trip evacuation insurance.

The Los Angeles Auto Show (November 18-22, 2008): Dennis Adler, editor-in-chief of Car Collector magazine and senior contributing editor of The Star, the official publication of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, leads this top performance trip to the L.A. Auto Show, showcasing 1,000+ new and experimental vehicles.  Enjoy an exclusive pre-opening “sneak peak” evening at the Los Angeles Auto Show at the L.A. Convention Center, and be among the first to view the latest models for the 2009 season and cutting-edge concept vehicles of tomorrow.  A highlight includes a tour of the Barris Kustom Industries in North Hollywood, with founder George Barris, best- known for his visionary custom auto designs, including the Batmobile.  At Petersen Automobile Museum, learn about this full-throttle collection of 150 rare automobiles, classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

Prices start at $2,595 per person, based on double occupancy, land only, and include: four nights accommodations at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel; excursions; meals; study leader; and emergency trip evacuation insurance.

Smithsonian Journeys, the educational travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, is the largest museum-based travel program in the world, and is dedicated to the life-enriching experiences of educational travel.  Every year more than 250 inspiring itineraries to all seven continents are led by eminent Study Leaders, a Smithsonian Journeys hallmark.  For more information,
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