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Visions in Leisure and Business Volume 19 Number 2 Article 4 2000 Typology of Motor Sports Museum and Library Research Resources Thomas C. Siebenaler University of Toledo David L. Groves Bowling Green State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/visions Recommended Citation Siebenaler, Thomas C. and Groves, David L. (2000) "Typology of Motor Sports Museum and Library Research Resources," Visions in Leisure and Business: Vol. 19 : No. 2 , Article 4. Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/visions/vol19/iss2/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at ScholarWorks@BGSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Visions in Leisure and Business by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@BGSU. TYPOLOGY OF MOTOR SPORTS MUSEUM AND LIBRARY RESEARCH RESOURCES BY THOMAS C. SIEBENALER, INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM MANAGER CONTRACT EDUCATION UNIVERSITY COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO TOLEDO, OHIO 43605 AND DR. DAVID L. GROVES, PROFESSOR SPORT MANAGEMENT, RECREATION, AND TOURISM DIVISION SCHOOL OF HUMAN MOVEMENT, SPORT, AND LEISURE STUDIES BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY BOWLING GREEN 43403-0248 ABSTRACT over time, as the automobile has evolved, the automotive industry and automobile Museums and libraries are the foundation of racing have had a direct and cause-effect effective research. There is fragmentation relationship (3, 10). This relationship was and disorganization in the world of motor formed when the first automobile was made sports among those who have an interest in and the idea of racing these automobiles its history. In motor sports the past is the followed shortly. Those persons willing to tradition of the future. There needs to be a prove their car is faster than another's typology that will help to organize motor through racing generated competition in the sports research resources to make the task of automotive industry on a personal, and at locating information simpler. The purpose the manufacturer's level. Manufacturers be­ of this manuscript was to develop such a ty­ gan testing the automobiles to improve their pology. products on a higher, more professional level (1, 9). It is for these reasons that the history of motor sports and the automotive INTRODUCTION industry itself must be analyzed on a paral­ lel basis to fully comprehend the history of Studying the history of motor sports requires motor sports. information, research and proper resources. One cannot fully understand the history of The purpose of this manuscript was to de­ motor sports without also understanding the velop a typology and classify different mu­ history of the automotive industry itself ( 6, seums and libraries in the United States and 19). The two compliment each other because how they can be used when researching 20 motor sports. There are many motor sports project. This was a positive sign in know­ museums and libraries in the United States ing that when researchers approach these that contain references valuable to those same organizations, they will be received in seeking information on the automobile and a welcoming fashion. A thematic content motor sports industries (2, 11). Many of analysis was used to develop the issues and these sources remain scattered and unrecog­ a Q sort was used to formulate the catego­ nized. This manuscript will categorize these ries. museums and libraries and provide research­ ers with a comprehensive reference package. A thematic content analysis was the meth­ odology that was used to develop a typology In classifying these motor sports museums formotor sports museums and libraries (12, and libraries, the primary purpose of these 16, 18). Thematic content analysis involve structures are attempting to preserve the reviewing promotional materials in order to history and nature of motor sports (17). A isolate the general theme or context of the typology is an element of organization. material. The primary materials reviewed Such a typology also provides all motor were literature and brochures. As a result of sport enthusiasts with easier access to grass­ this type of coverage on this issue, the mate­ root information and references. This in­ rial that has been reviewed has been the formation is vital to the creation and foun­ promotional materials and descriptions of dation of motor sports and to those who wish successful museums and libraries. The sto­ to learn about motor sports in a thorough and ries of the museums and libraries were re­ accurate manner. viewed for the thematic content analysis in this study. There were 42 museums and li­ With a classification system such as this, braries, who have been successful in devel­ informationthat has been lost in the past will opment of a motor sport heritage. have less risk of being lost in the future. Ta­ ble 1.1 illustrates a tool that can be used by A Thurstonian system of judgment was museums and libraries. This tool will aid in used. This is a system in which common keeping track and organizing the substantial judging among content experts is used to amount of motor sport historical informa­ develop consensus. The content experts tion. were individuals who had a knowledge of motor sports racing. They were also indi­ viduals who had direct experience with mu­ METHOD seums and libraries. There were a dyad used to judge the material and develop a A morphological analysis was used to de­ classification that would characterize the termine the classification of these motor data. Each content expert was to read the sport museums and libraries. The "Auto materials and develop a system of tran­ Channel" website www.theautochannel.com scribing or summarizing the material. Then, provided a list of motor sport museums and each judge was to work to reach an agree­ libraries in the United States. A letter to ment on the article about what it was saying, various motor sport museums and libraries then develop some classifications or nomi­ was written requesting information about nal categories in order to describe on a their organizations. Nearly all organizations comparative basis all the data that they had contacted were very cooperative and willing analyzed. There was one dyad from which to provide any information needed for this material was compiled into a consistent 21 categorization based upon the consensus de­ Category I - Professional Research Libraries veloped during the interactions. In order to &Museums check the judging reliability, the dyad inter­ actions were asked to determine if they These facilities have collections of various agreed or disagreed with their partner on the motor sports categories and are generally basic characterization of the material as well well funded. All of these facilities are open as the development of the categories. to the public and would be the preferred choice of professional motor sport research­ After the thematic issues had been devel­ ers because of the plethora of information oped, a Q sort methodology was used for the they have within them. development of the classification systems (4; 5, 7, 8, 13,14, and 15). Q sort is a method­ Many of these organizations have charity ology that is comparable with a cluster auctions and other various fund-raising ac­ analysis. The Q sort is a deductive process tivities to help fund their libraries and/or used to interpret data into a conceptual museums. These organizations also draw framework. This is a system in which the funds from corporate sponsorship who ac­ judges are used to sort the responses and de­ tively sponsor motor sports. velop a consistent category using a consen­ sus methodology. The themes developed The information these facilities have col­ were used to formulate the groups for the Q lected is thorough and researched in a pro­ sort. The Thurstonian and dyad system was fessional manner. For those persons seek­ also used in the Q sort. ing accurate, reliable information, these or­ ganizations in Category I are ideal. With There were not many libraries that were the many resources they have available and identifiedin the initial study. A new method the skillful knowledge of the staff on-hand, was used to identify the type of collection any given topic on motor sports can be lo­ that exist in libraries. NASCAR was the ex­ cated from this source. ample motor sports area selected to test this new methodology. A list of the 15 top Category II - Public Libraries & Museums authors of books were developed from cita­ (Research and Entertainment Oriented) tions in academic work. These authors were used in World Cat searches to identify li­ This category includes those organizations braries that have these works in their collec­ who wish to trace motor sports from its tions. This gave an indication of which li­ grassroots beginning to what is happening in braries have a collection and how extensive. the sport today. Many include displays and interactive features that help to educate, as well as entertain motor sport enthusiasts. RESULTS Movie theaters, interactive games, galleries and simulated settings are elements included After information was gathered, it was ana­ in the make up of Category II institutions. lyzed and separated into categories. These categories have been formed to organize the Category III - Historical Libraries & Muse­ vast amount of motor sport grass-root and ums (Themed Collection) historical information that exists today. The four categories resulting from this typology These facilities are supported by motor sport study consist of the following (Table 1): enthusiasts who have been able to make a 22 living by taking something they enjoy and other was technical material written for turning it into a business. Many of these li­ those individuals who are archivists, profes­ braries and museums are small and depend sionals, historians, or researchers and dealt on donations and admissions for operation. with a more in-depth exploration of the Subjects of these museums range from open topic of N ASCAR.

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