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Speedway Motors Museum Of American Speed Names New Curator
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Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed has announced that Tim Matthews has been named the new curator for the world-famous museum in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The museum, which was founded in 1992 by "Speedy" Bill and Joyce Smith, is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and displaying physical items significant in racing and automotive history.
Matthews grew up in South Dakota with a family that was always involved in vintage cars, racing, and collecting. In 1996, during his senior year of high school, he took early college courses in design at the local university while continuing his racing endeavors. During this time Matthews dreamed of becoming an automotive designer and had his drawings published in National Dragster Magazine and Viper Quarterly. He was also recognized by then CEO of Chrysler, Bob Lutz, for his use of Chrysler products in his drag car concept drawings.
In 2000 Matthews earned a bachelor's degree in fine art with emphasis in sculpture from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
During his undergraduate studies, Matthews traveled to study sculpture and museums in Great Britain, France, and South America. Matthews continued working at Augustana as an artist in residence to focus on metal casting processes and public art commissions before moving to Minnesota to continue studying advanced metal casting and kinetic sculpture at the University of Minnesota. Matthews entered the sculpture graduate program at UNL in 2003, where he intensified his study of metal casting and public art.
While enrolled in school, Matthews began working at Speedway Motors in 2006 as a summer job to help fund his sculpture endeavors. With a passion for vintage cars and racing, he excelled at helping customers with their projects. He worked through the ranks in the sales department, eventually becoming the supervisor of the technical staff. Most recently Matthews has designed and produced technical videos to promote Speedway Motors on various social media sites, including Facebook and YouTube.
The museum, which was founded in 1992 by "Speedy" Bill and Joyce Smith, is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and displaying physical items significant in racing and automotive history.
Matthews grew up in South Dakota with a family that was always involved in vintage cars, racing, and collecting. In 1996, during his senior year of high school, he took early college courses in design at the local university while continuing his racing endeavors. During this time Matthews dreamed of becoming an automotive designer and had his drawings published in National Dragster Magazine and Viper Quarterly. He was also recognized by then CEO of Chrysler, Bob Lutz, for his use of Chrysler products in his drag car concept drawings.
In 2000 Matthews earned a bachelor's degree in fine art with emphasis in sculpture from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
During his undergraduate studies, Matthews traveled to study sculpture and museums in Great Britain, France, and South America. Matthews continued working at Augustana as an artist in residence to focus on metal casting processes and public art commissions before moving to Minnesota to continue studying advanced metal casting and kinetic sculpture at the University of Minnesota. Matthews entered the sculpture graduate program at UNL in 2003, where he intensified his study of metal casting and public art.
While enrolled in school, Matthews began working at Speedway Motors in 2006 as a summer job to help fund his sculpture endeavors. With a passion for vintage cars and racing, he excelled at helping customers with their projects. He worked through the ranks in the sales department, eventually becoming the supervisor of the technical staff. Most recently Matthews has designed and produced technical videos to promote Speedway Motors on various social media sites, including Facebook and YouTube.
