ISC Archives & Research Center a racing fan’s dream field trip

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- There is absolutely no hint of what awaits inside this building a half-mile from Daytona International Speedway -- its façade is simple, all-white siding and there are no neon signs to identify it or even to pique interest. The structure blends in naturally with its parking lot neighbor, the speedway’s all-business offices handling the comparatively mundane tasks of race credential pick-up and NASCAR licensing. The white building next door, purposely free of any distinctive branding, is the ISC Archives & Research Center and inside is a racing fan’s version of Santa’s delivery on Christmas morning.  When you walk in the door, your eyes widen and then you blink and shake your head at what greets you -- an involuntary reaction to the rooms of racing treasure before you. Hundreds of framed photos of racing heroes and Hall of Famers hang from the walls -- black and white shots of Richard Petty, Ralph Earnhardt, the Wood Brothers, the Allison family and A.J. Foyt. There are tall trophies and antique typewriters, a replica of Mario Andretti’s 1967 Daytona 500 winning race car, and a re-creation of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.’s office -- complete with painstaking detail of the sport’s decades-old nerve center, his actual pencils and business cards sitting on his desk and light brown paneling on the walls. Artifacts crowd the tables lining every wall -- shelving from floor to ceiling displays memorabilia. It is a racing fan’s dream field trip -- a compelling, carefully maintained exhibition of sport and life from bygone eras. "The best part about it may be when during the tours three times a week the grown ups come in and start acting like kids when they see all the memorabilia and trophies," said Herb Branham, director of the ISC Archives and Research Center and a public relations representative with the NASCAR Foundation. "It’s nice to see people get excited about stuff like that. This place is a good reminder of how many people still love the sport and how much they love the sport." This isn’t only a historical exclamation point for NASCAR either. The archives are a collection and reflection of all those who have raced on the storied Daytona high banks and its infield road course located a half-mile away -- sports cars, stock cars and motorcycles, too. Branham has carefully researched and revived this important holder of history and it is a five-sense experience to visit. It is purposely not open to the public, but is only part of the VIP Tour experience at the World Center of Racing. Three days a week, those visitors are treated to the collection. "That’s kind of always been the way NASCAR and ISC have wanted it," Branham explained. "It goes back to Bill France Jr. when the archives were at another facility even. He purposely wanted it to be low key because it’s like a treasure chest of all the memorabilia that’s been gathered over the years." The famed Daytona beach races -- the start of it all here – hold a sizable presence, as you might expect. There is a fantastic photo of the late Ralph DePalma pointing to his name on a "Measured Mile" sign. He drove the distance 149 mph on Feb. 12, 1919 setting what was a world land speed record, at the time. There are original versions of the track’s timing and scoring devices. Many of the decades-old mechanisms once used are now rusted and yellowed. Sitting next to one is a photo of Joe Epton, the original Chief of Timing and Scoring for NASCAR wearing his uniform -- a black and white striped shirt and white pants, similar to a football referee. Sitting atop a 1950s-era Associated Press-used tele-type machine is a black and white photo from 1956 showing the sign for "NASCAR Press Headquarters" planted in the Daytona Beach sand. There is, of course, also one of NASCAR’s most famous photos. The late-arriving Air Force One plane landing at the Daytona airport behind the speedway just as the 1984 Firecracker 400 field is racing on the track’s long back straightaway. President Ronald Reagan gave the starting command for the race from inside the plane in the air as it approached the airport. Eventual race winner, Richard Petty’s iconic No. 43 blue car is appropriately centered in the photo. Next to the photo is the black and white checkered flag from Victory Lane that afternoon with Petty’s signature and the number "200" wrapped in Petty’s "y" from the autograph. It would be Petty’s 200th and final Victory Lane celebration as a driver. There is an area named "Earnhardt Corner," dedicated to the family’s three generations of legendary racers. A large framed poster from 2001 promoting the non-points Budweiser Shootout race at Daytona features “Earnhardt vs. Earnhardt.” It shows the great seven-time champ Dale Earnhardt Sr. wearing sunglasses and a smirk standing alongside his then 26-year-old son Dale Jr., sporting his blond hair highlights at the time. There are what seems like hundreds of filing cabinets -- each drawer meticulously alphabetized and marked. Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott share a drawer. So too do Greg Sacks and Elliott Sadler. "The King" Petty has one all his own. Inside these cabinets are thousands of printed photos, early NASCAR business documents and even Bill France Sr.’s personal correspondence. Dale Earnhardt’s first NASCAR license application and the original minutes from that famed NASCAR organizational meeting at Daytona Beach’s Streamline Hotel are among the cherished artifacts, too. "It’s a combination of all kinds of classic photos and important documents and race records," Branham said. "It’s a mixture of the real, real confidential papers and a lot of fun stuff." Branham has learned in his three years in this position that race car drivers are as interested in the archives as the fans who have cheered those drivers on. The Wood brothers and Bobby and Donnie Allison have come to tour the building. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was here recently. "Dale Jr. came by and did an hour and a half visit with us, which was just absolutely awesome," Branham said. "You really never know who's going to show up during the years, especially during Speedweeks and again this week (for Saturday's Coke Zero 400.) I’d be surprised if a couple visitors from yesteryear didn’t come by." If so, there is certainly one part of the tour Branham is most proud to show off. Bill France Sr.’s office re-creation is so close to original it has even impressed members of France’s own family. "After he died, his things were put in storage," Branham explained. "Then there was another re-creating with the archives at another facility. When it moved over here it went back in storage. "When I came over, I knew I wanted to do the restoration again. I got real encouraged when I saw online how Ferrari offices have a complete restoration of Enzo Ferrari’s office. That kind of got me fired up. "We got all the stuff out of storage and looked at a lot of pictures and laid it out the best we could and Jim France came by and said, 'Don’t change a thing. You’ve pretty much got it like it used to be' and that was the best endorsement you could get, by far." It’s an endorsement Branham should perhaps get used to. The sport’s most treasured artifacts, beloved photos and most compelling storylines await those curious to share in the speedway’s storied timeline and fortunate to get an opportunity. The ISC Archives & Research Center is simultaneously a learning experience and chance to revel in the sport’s history -- good for those who've been following the sport for decades or just appreciate a healthy dose of the ultimate in racing Americana. [gallery_content baseUrl="https://www.nascar.com" galleryID="61"]