Lynn S. Paxton '61

Lynn Paxton grew up around race cars. His father not only collected and restored antique cars, but he leased garage space to those who raced at Williams Grove and other local speedways, so Lynn spent much of his time working with some of the race teams. Because of his young age, he could not race himself, but by the time he was seventeen, he could actually go to the track and help a local team as an assistant mechanic. His exposure to this world made him more desirous of driving himself, and in 1961 he got his first opportunity to drive a race car at the Silver Spring Speedway. He finished second in the mechanics race, and from that point on, the sport developed into a life's passion.

Lynn graduated from MHS in 1961, and immediately opened his own garage business and pursued his ambition to become a competitive race car driver. During the next twenty years, his skill and competitive nature resulted in more than 250 feature wins, 11 track championships, 2 KARS championships, and back-to-back Williams Grove National Open Championships. Until recently, he was the modern era sprint car feature winner at Williams Grove Speedway. His wins were in every variety of car ranging from late models, sportsman, sprints, and midgets. At the peak of his career Lynn drove his last race and won the Williams Grove National Open Championship. He voluntarily walked away at the age of 39 to devote more time to his family and to the business of restoring vintage cars. His success and achievements as a driver earned him honors by various Halls of Fame, including the York County Racing Club, the Eastern Motorsports Press Association, the Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown, the Susquehanna Speedway, the PA Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Mr. Paxton wanted to give something back to the sport that had become a major component of his adult life. He became involved with a group of other racing professionals and fans at Williams Grove Speedway who shared a common interest in the early days of American auto racing and wanted to preserve the history of that bygone era. For several years, he led the group in reorganizing and also in creating a non-profit corporation for the formal establishment of what is today the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR). Together they raised funds and bought the site of what was formerly the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds in York County.

In 1985, after a lot of dedicated effort under Lynn's guidance and leadership, these volunteers completed the restoration of the former racetrack and fairgrounds to its original appearance in 1939. In 1989, the museum's first phase was completed, a second finished in 1999, and the third addition is currently underway. Today, the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing has 1200 members worldwide. The museum houses a wealth of antique race cars, relics, and memorabilia to provide a history of racing in the East and elsewhere. The museum also has exchanged items with other organizations such as the Smithsonian Institute. The EMMR receives approximately 25,000 visitors annually, and it has grown to one of the finest institutions of its kind in the country.

Lynn has contributed to EMMR and its growth with his involvement in time, funding and leadership. He has created and maintained a standard of excellence for the EMMR. He is visible and an enthusiastic promoter of the museum and serves as President of the EMMR Board of Directors. Lynn not only gives tours and leads volunteer work projects, but he speaks to various civic organizations and high school groups about career choices. He formerly served on the Board of Directors of The Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Mr. Paxton is a fine example of a volunteer activist and an unparalleled goodwill ambassador for the sport of auto racing.

Lynn resides in Dillsburg, PA with his wife, Barbara. They have a son, Brett, two daughters, Stacie and Brooke, and six grandchildren.


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