The Petersen Automotive Museum will host an opening reception for a “Once in a Lifetime Tribute to Dan Gurney” on Friday, Jan. 27.

Gurney, a racecar driver and racecar constructor, has participated in Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR, Can-Am and the Trans-Am Series. After retiring, he focused on car making and being a team owner. In 1967, he became the first and only American in Grand Prix racing to win using a car of his own construction.

(photo courtesy of All American Racers)

The event is sold out, but will open to the public on Saturday, Jan. 28. It will “illustrate the diversity of race cars built by Gurney’s All American Racers team – from the first Eagle Indy car of 1966 to the final CART Champ car built in 1999,” according to the museum.

“There was a lot more freedom from a design standpoint, which you can’t do anymore in this country,” Gurney said in a statement. “Today’s drivers are just as brave, just as much gladiators, as we were then.”

General admission tickets for adults are $15.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd. For information, visit petersentickets.org.