Riverside International Automotive Museum

The Riverside International Automotive Museum (RIAM) was a nonprofit automotive and motorsports museum in Riverside, California, established in 2006 by father-and-son racing enthusiasts Ray Magnon and Doug Magnon. Organized as a 501(c)(3) corporation, it was created to preserve the memory of Southern California's racing culture, particularly the history of Riverside International Raceway, Ontario Motor Speedway, and the drivers and teams associated with those venues. The Magnons' personal interest in collecting automobiles provided the foundation for the institution. Their Italian heritage helped shape an important Maserati focus, and the museum became known for what was described as the largest and most comprehensive collection of Maserati road cars in the United States. The collection included examples of every Maserati model made available in the American market from 1951 onward, although the precise cars shown changed over time because some vehicles were loaned and others were used or maintained outside the exhibition space. A purpose-built facility of approximately 20,000 square feet was completed in 2006. After Bruce Ward was appointed director, the museum opened to the public in December 2007. Its exhibits combined vehicles with photographs, programs, posters, race documents, audiovisual material, and other artifacts. A major gallery explored Riverside International Raceway, which operated from 1957 to 1989 before the site was redeveloped. Another addressed Ontario Motor Speedway, an Indianapolis-inspired circuit that operated from 1970 to 1981. The museum also interpreted the earlier Orange Empire National Sports Car Races held at March Air Force Base in 1953 and 1954. Dan Gurney was one of the institution's central subjects. Gurney moved to Riverside after high school and developed his racing career in the area, later becoming a leading road racer and a winner in Grand Prix, Indy car, NASCAR, and sports-car competition. The museum treated him as a local hero and used his career to connect Riverside's regional racing identity with international motorsports history. The institution also maintained a motorcycle display, including a 1986 Ducati 750 F1 associated with Gary Patton's American Road Racing Association Open Twin championship campaign. Beyond static exhibitions, RIAM maintained restoration bays where visitors could observe work in progress and promoted the continued road use of vehicles when practical. It assembled a racing archive containing photographs, magazines, programs, brochures, posters, official race and circuit documents, and extensive audio and video recordings. The museum also hosted private functions, business events, heritage programs, and public gatherings involving racing personalities. Its most visible public program was the Legends of Riverside Film Festival and charity fundraiser, launched in 2009 with Dan Gurney as the first honoree. Later programs recognized Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser, and Bob Bondurant, while screenings and appearances brought together drivers, designers, broadcasters, and other figures from racing history. The event was not held in 2014, and no subsequent date had been established in the available account. RIAM closed in June 2016 after the death of Doug Magnon in 2015. The board of directors subsequently decided to dispose of the vehicle collection through two auctions held in 2016. As a result, the museum no longer operates as a public institution, although its historical significance lies in documenting Riverside-area racing and in presenting one of the most notable Maserati collections assembled in the United States.

The Riverside International Automotive Museum was founded in 2006 in Riverside, California, by Ray Magnon and his son Doug Magnon. Both were dedicated racing enthusiasts, and Doug's interest developed through his father's connections with local motorsports figures. Ray had been friends with Skip Hudson during high school, and the two later became associated with Dan Gurney after Gurney's family moved to Riverside. These relationships helped give the museum a distinctly local and personal interpretation of racing history. The Magnons collected automobiles before establishing the museum. Their Italian background influenced a concentration on Maserati, an automaker with a long road-racing and grand-prix heritage. They constructed a facility of roughly 20,000 square feet to house the growing collection. Bruce Ward became director, and the museum opened to the public in December 2007. RIAM's principal historical theme was Southern California motorsports. Its Riverside International Raceway exhibits documented the circuit's operation from 1957 until 1989, including photographs, race programs, memorabilia, and related documents. The museum also covered the Orange Empire National Sports Car Races of 1953 and 1954, held at March Air Force Base before the Riverside circuit became the region's defining venue. A second major subject was Ontario Motor Speedway, an Indianapolis-style track that operated between 1970 and 1981. Dan Gurney received especially prominent treatment. After moving to Riverside, Gurney began racing hot rods in the surrounding orange-growing region and eventually became one of the best-known American road racers and Formula One drivers. The museum presented his career as both a national motorsports story and an important part of Riverside's civic identity. Other exhibits and events similarly connected local racing history with nationally recognized drivers and personalities. The collection extended beyond automobiles. RIAM maintained an archive of photographs, magazines, brochures, posters, race programs, official documents, and audio and video recordings. Materials related to circuits, races, and cars from around California were being digitized and expanded through donations and acquisitions. Two service bays allowed restoration projects to be observed by visitors. The museum's founders also aimed to keep vehicles roadworthy and in regular use, meaning the cars on display could vary. Some vehicles were loaned by other museums or private owners. The museum developed an events program that included private functions, business gatherings, heritage presentations, and the Legends of Riverside Film Festival. Introduced in 2009 as a film program and charity fundraiser, the festival honored Dan Gurney in its first year. Successive editions recognized Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser, and Bob Bondurant, while audiences could meet racing figures and watch automotive films. The program was not held in 2014, and the available historical account does not record a later revival. Doug Magnon's death in 2015 was followed by the museum's closure in June 2016. The board of directors determined that the vehicle collection would be sold in two auctions during 2016. This ended RIAM's operation as a public museum. Its legacy rests on its documentation of Riverside-area racing, its extensive Maserati holdings, its preservation of race-related archival material, and its effort to make motorsports history accessible through exhibitions and living personalities.

1. 2016Museum closes and collection is auctioned

   RIAM closed in June, and its vehicles were sold in two auctions later that year.

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2. 2015Death of co-founder Doug Magnon

   Doug Magnon's death preceded the institution's closure and the board's decision to dispose of the collection.

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3. 2009First Legends of Riverside Film Festival

   The museum introduced a film festival and charity fundraiser honoring Dan Gurney.

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4. 2007Public opening

   RIAM opened its doors to the public in December after Bruce Ward became director.

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5. 2006Nonprofit museum founded

   Ray Magnon and Doug Magnon established RIAM as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving California motorsports heritage.

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6. 2006Purpose-built museum facility completed

   The founders completed an approximately 20,000-square-foot building for the automobile collection and related exhibits.

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A regional heritage museum focused on Southern California motorsports, combining historically important racing vehicles and memorabilia with archives, restoration activity, and appearances by racing figures.

• Riverside International Raceway exhibitsMotorsports history exhibition2007

  Exhibits interpreting Riverside International Raceway, which operated from 1957 to 1989, used photographs, mementos, programs, and official materials to explain the circuit's role in Southern California racing. The display also connected the track's history with earlier Orange Empire National Sports Car Races held in the region.

• Ontario Motor Speedway exhibitsMotorsports history exhibition2007

  A dedicated subject area documented Ontario Motor Speedway, an Indianapolis-inspired California circuit that operated from 1970 through 1981. The exhibition placed the speedway within the wider development of major racing venues in Southern California.

• Dan Gurney collection and exhibitionDriver history exhibition2007

  This exhibition presented Dan Gurney's career and his connection to Riverside. It emphasized his local beginnings, his achievements across Grand Prix, Indy car, NASCAR, and sports-car racing, and his status as one of the area's most important racing figures.

• Maserati collectionAutomobile collection2006

  The museum's most distinctive vehicle holding was its Maserati collection. It was described as the largest and most comprehensive collection of Maserati road cars in the United States, with examples of every Maserati model sold in the American market since 1951. Display contents varied because vehicles could be loaned, driven, or undergoing maintenance.

• Racing archivesArchive and research collection2007

  RIAM assembled photographs, magazines, race programs, brochures, posters, official documents, and audio and video recordings concerning California races, tracks, and cars. The institution sought additional material through acquisitions and donations and was digitizing portions of the archive.

• Restoration projectsAutomobile conservation program2007

  Two service bays in the showroom allowed visitors to observe restoration work. The founders' stated approach was to keep vehicles roadworthy and use them regularly when possible, rather than treating every car solely as a static exhibit.

• 1986 Ducati 750 F1 displayMotorcycle exhibition2007

  The museum displayed a 1986 Ducati 750 F1 ridden by Gary Patton during his 1988 American Road Racing Association Open Twin championship season. The motorcycle had also won events at Riverside International Raceway and Willow Springs Raceway during the 1987 and 1988 seasons.

• 2009Legends of Riverside Film Festival and charity fundraiser

  United States

  RIAM launched an annual event combining automotive film screenings, charity fundraising, and personal appearances by racing figures. Dan Gurney was the first honoree, and Ed Justice Jr. conducted the gala interview.

  Outcome. The program continued with later honorees and attracted notable racers and automotive personalities, although the event was not held in 2014 and no later date was identified in the available material.

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• 2008Museum special-events and heritage venue program

  United States

  The museum made its facility available for heritage awards, private functions, and business events. One early example was the Old Riverside Foundation Awards held at RIAM in March 2008.

  Outcome. The venue program broadened the museum's community role beyond exhibitions, though it ended with the museum's closure.

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• 2016Board approves closure and collection dispositionStrategy

  After co-founder and president Doug Magnon died in 2015, the museum closed in June 2016.

  What changed. The board of directors decided to sell the vehicle collection through two auctions held during 2016.

  Aftermath. The decision ended RIAM's operation as a public museum and dispersed its principal automobile collection.

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• 2016Riverside International Automotive Museum closes

  The museum ceased operations in June following the death of co-founder Doug Magnon in 2015.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2016RIAM vehicle collection sold through two auctions

  Following closure, the board of directors decided to sell the museum's vehicle collection through two separate auctions.

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• 2010Carroll Shelby honored at second Legends of Riverside event

  The second annual festival featured Carroll Shelby as guest of honor and included recognition of several other drivers associated with American racing history.

  Campaign
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• 2009Museum launches Legends of Riverside Film Festival

  RIAM hosted the first Legends of Riverside Film Festival and charity fundraiser, honoring Dan Gurney and bringing racing personalities together for screenings and public appearances.

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• 2007Riverside International Automotive Museum opens to the public

  After the completion of its purpose-built facility and appointment of a director, RIAM opened its collection and motorsports exhibits to visitors in December.

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1. Riverside International Automotive Museum
2. Riverside International Automotive Museum official website