SALT LAKE CITY -- The Mormon Meteor I left the Utah Museum of Fine Arts like a rocket, and a car designed to compete against it took its place.
Ab Jenkins' 1935 Duesenberg SJ "Mormon Meteor I" was removed from the museum's "Speed: The Art of the Performance Automobile" exhibit to be prepared for another car show this fall. It was replaced with the 1950 Eddie Miller Jr. Lakester on Tuesday, July 17.
The Lakester was designed by racer Eddie Miller Sr. in the 1930s, to beat the Mormon Meteor I. The car wasn't more than a dream until 1950, when Miller's son built the car and drove it 139 miles per hour on dry lakes in Los Angeles. Two years later, he pushed it up to 156 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
"Speed: The Art of the Performance Automobile" continues through Sept. 16, in the museum at 410 Campus Center Drive on the University of Utah campus. The exhibit of beautifully fast cars can be seen 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with hours extended until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Admission is $18 for adults, $13 for age 14 through 17 and age 65 and older, and $3 for age 3 to 13; there is no charge for infants.
For more information, or to order timed tickets, visit www.speedumfa.com.