DFW Car & Toy Museum's Autonomous Floor Scrubber 'Fast Fred' Becomes Unexpected Fan Favorite

The DFW Car & Toy Museum's robotic floor scrubber has become an unexpected attraction, blending automotive nostalgia with modern technology while honoring the memory of the founder's racing brother.

October 22, 2025
DFW Car & Toy Museum's Autonomous Floor Scrubber 'Fast Fred' Becomes Unexpected Fan Favorite

The DFW Car & Toy Museum has introduced an unconventional new attraction that has quickly captured visitors' attention: Fast Fred, a fully autonomous robotic floor scrubber that has become one of the museum's most discussed exhibits. While designed for cleaning duties, this high-tech Tennant X4 ROVR has transformed into an unexpected crowd-pleaser, seamlessly integrating with the museum's collection of classic cars and rare collectibles.

Fast Fred was named in honor of museum founder Ron Sturgeon's late twin brother, a lifelong drag racer whose spirit continues through this surprising little speedster. The robotic cleaner features custom decals, an NHRA sticker, and a smiley face on the front, allowing it to blend naturally among the museum's display of muscle cars, racing legends, and automotive icons. During his three-hour cleaning sessions, Fast Fred navigates through the galleries with precision, politely pausing when visitors cross his path before resuming his route with racer-like urgency.

Museum visitors frequently stop to photograph Fast Fred or cheer him on as he maneuvers past rows of chrome and horsepower. Ron Sturgeon, founder of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, noted that "In a museum built on speed, nostalgia, and the love of cars, it's only fitting that even our cleaning crew has racing DNA. Fast Fred keeps our floors spotless—and our visitors smiling." The museum continues to blend automotive history with contemporary technology, creating experiences that surprise and delight guests across all age groups.

The robotic scrubber represents the intersection of automotive culture and modern innovation, demonstrating how technology can enhance visitor experiences in unexpected ways. Fast Fred operates using software provided by Brain Corp, while the cleaning equipment itself comes from Tennant Company, a recognized leader in the cleaning industry that provides high-quality floor cleaning equipment to help create cleaner, safer, and healthier environments. The museum itself, now located in North Fort Worth at 2550 McMillan Parkway, occupies a 150,000-square-foot facility that offers free parking and admission to visitors.

This unique combination of automotive heritage and technological advancement reflects the evolving nature of museum experiences, where functional equipment can become part of the attraction itself. The phenomenon of Fast Fred illustrates how even routine operations can be transformed into engaging elements that complement a museum's core mission and enhance visitor engagement through unexpected interactions with technology.