Philadelphia's Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Named International "Museum of the Year"

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Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Nov 16, 2011, 06:30 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia – a collection of 65 rare and significant racing sports cars – has been selected by the International Historic Motoring Awards as "Museum of the Year." The judging panel included such noted figures as TV host Jay Leno, vintage car racer and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Pebble Beach Chief Judge Ed Gilbertson, five times Le Mans winner Derek Bell and Lady Susie Moss, wife of racing icon Sir Stirling Moss, among others.

The other museums that were considered were the National Motor Museum of England and the Jaguar Heritage Museum in the UK, the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles, and the Auto Museum Prototyp in Germany.

"This is an enormous honor for the Simeone Automotive Museum, especially considering the quality of the other institutions that were considered," said Executive Director Fred Simeone. "These are the very best automotive museums in the world and we were humbled just to be considered. To actually win was beyond our wildest dreams. This award is the greatest international recognition to which an automotive museum can aspire."

The results were announced at a black-tie ceremony at London's Renaissance Hotel at St. Pancras on November 16th.

The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, located near the Philadelphia international Airport, is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and encompasses many of the most significant racing sports cars ever built. The museum opened in 2008 and since then has been internationally recognized for the quality of the collection's automobiles, and the instructive nature of the displays. All of the cars have important historic meaning in the development of sports car road racing, from its beginnings to the 1970s. The museum has been profiled in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and a variety of automotive publications.

Other notables on the judging committee included, Horst Bruning, president of the International Federation of Veteran Automobiles, Ian Callum, design director of Jaguar Cars, Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of Motor Racing Legends, Robert Coucher, international editor of Octane magazine, Peter Stevens, designer of McLaren F1, and Simon Kidston, international car consultant and commentator.

More information on the Museum displays, hours of operation, and directions, can be found on www.simeonemuseum.org, or by calling 215-365-7233.

SOURCE Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum