Good news (free to active duty military! ) if you are in Southern California... the Peterson Museum is giving tours of the vault! Weekends only I think, you'll want to call ahead to verify

5 tours per day will run approximately one hour at:
 11:00 a.m.
 12:30 p.m.
 2:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m.

It's the first time in the Petersen's 18-year history that regular visitors have access to the city-block-sized basement that houses hundreds of vehicles demonstrating the history of the automobile as it's played out in Southern California.

Tours may be reserved by calling 323.964.6331 or purchasing your tickets at the admissions desk the day of your tour. For more information go to www.Petersen.org

Tickets to the vault cannot be purchased in advance or online. They are only available in person at the museum, and only for a two-week test run, after which the Petersen will assess its popularity and decide how to proceed.

The New York Times posted a story about this a week and a half ago: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/petersen-museum-is-opening-its-vault-to-visitors/

Also, it costs $12 to get admission to the museum, up to $12 to park, and $25 for the vault tour. You can save the cost pf parking if you go on a Sunday, and park about two blocks away in the residential area. I found that at 8th and Genesee there was plenty of available parking. I didn't have to feed a meter, which may not matter on a weekday, but cost 2 dollars a half hour in the museum area. Sheesh.

Also, gas costs $1.20 more a gallon in that area than the normal prices at the 405 and Santa Monica Blvd. The nearest Starbucks I found was at Wilshire and Santa Monica Blvd intersection

Call for nominations for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame

Call For Nominations
 The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for the 2013 Hall of Fame and the 2013 Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame. Individuals, organizations and businesses considered for induction into the Hall of Fame will have made a positive and significant impact on motorcycling. Individuals considered for the Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame will have made a significant impact through their work in grassroots rights efforts.

 The Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame honors the men and women who have dedicated much of their lives to improving, promoting and advancing our great sport and lifestyle. The Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame recognizes the sacrifices individuals across the nation, and world, have made to protect the rights of motorcyclists through their efforts in the political arena and in grass roots motorcyclists rights organizations. Anyone who knows of a deserving individual can help the museum recognize these exceptional and deserving people by sending in a nomination.

 Nomination forms must be accompanied by credentials which explain why an individual should be considered for induction. Please keep in mind that while their achievements may be outstanding, not everyone knows it. A comprehensive overview of their accomplishments is necessary to make an informed and educated decision. Biographical info, newspaper articles, historical documents, etc. may be submitted. Anyone interested in submitting a nomination form can download the Hall of Fame Nomination form online.

The Freedom Fighters nomination form is available also or you can request a nomination form by phoning the Museum 605.347.2001 or emailing.

 Nominations must be received by the Museum no later than January 11, 2013.

Individuals chosen for induction into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame will be honored at the annual induction breakfast ceremony on Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

http://www.sturgismuseum.com/hall-of-fame/

and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sturgis-Motorcycle-Museum-Hall-of-Fame/144185710480

Here is the list of bikes in the museum if you ever get to South Dakota and need more than Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, and the unusual look of the Badlands topography

the B-24 in Balboa Park, next to the Veterans Museum and memorial

this a 1/4 scale B-24. 

They were made in San Diego by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, (Convair) which had been created by Rueben H Fleet (who has a science center in Balboa park named for him due to his focus on math and science for students, and he also was pivotal in getting the air and space museum going in Balboa Park (like New Yorks Central Park)) who moved testing airplanes from snowy New York state  to San Diego.

Another reason he chose San Diego to relocate Consolidated to, was that he had been sent to San Diego in 1911 while in the Natl Guard

Rueben was a Major in the Air Corps of the Army, training pilots, when in 1918 he was put in charge of the airmail service, and had it up and running between New York and Wash DC in time and on schedule. He was featured on the cover of Time Magazine, Nov 17th, 1941 when he became an advisor to the president

Kuwait has it's first car museum

http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/10/04/vintage-wonders/

With vintage four-wheeled beauties ranging from 1904 to 2012, the Kuwait Historical, Vintage and Classic Car Museum is where history meets modernity. Home to a collection of more than 40 historic and classic car models, it is Kuwait’s first museum specializing in vintage cars. According to the Head of Committees of Historical Vintage & Classic Cars Museum Mustafa Ali Makhseed, the museum is aimed at restoring Kuwait to the pinnacle of the region’s classic car community.