The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR) not only serves as a steward of motorsports history but also as an example of how institutional memory preserves and shapes community heritage. This presentation explores the unique story of the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds in Adams County, Pennsylvania, which first gained prominence in the 1920s and 1930s as a local fairground and operational dirt speedway.

Drawing on archival records, oral histories, and community recollections, the presentation will trace the fairgrounds’ early role in regional motorsports and its subsequent decline. The narrative then shifts to the 1980s, when members of EMMR revived the dormant track, reimagining it as one of the nation’s first dedicated vintage race car exhibition tracks. This groundbreaking effort not only safeguarded the physical site but also transformed Latimore Valley into a dynamic venue where history is experienced through live demonstrations.
This presentation examines the importance of institutional memory—how a museum’s collective knowledge, rooted in personal experience and preserved documentation, guides decisions about preservation, programming, and community engagement. It explores how EMMR has leveraged institutional memory to connect multiple generations of motorsports enthusiasts and create continuity between past and present.

Bio

Alison Kreitzer is Director of Collections at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing in York Springs, Pennsylvania. She earned her Ph.D.
in the History of American Civilization from the University of Delaware in 2017.