As to the Members Only jackets, the only requirement to own one was the ability to buy one at Belk or whatever department store sold them. However, the term "Members Only" applies to much more than windbreaker jackets. Do any of you remember the Andy Griffith episode when Andy and Barney were invited to Raleigh to be considered for membership in an exclusive club of which Andy's fishing buddy was a member? When the interview evening was over, it was obvious that Barney had messed it up, but being Barney, what would you expect? Sure enough, the club told Andy he could join but Barney was not membership material. Andy declined membership as well, gracefully, without stating it, implying that if Barney isn't good enough for your club, then I don't want to be included either. Frankly, I wouldn't have joined either, but then I would probably have messed up the interview process as badly as Barney.
I have seen many televisions shows where one character or another is excluded from a group, or club, for one reason or another, usually having to do with not meeting the standards of that organization as established by whatever ruling class has the upper hand at the time. What about college frats? How much have you read in the past year about the efforts of underclassmen to join a fraternity to be included in a group so they can "belong". In South Carolina alone, we have had two instances of pledges dying for their efforts. One at Clemson, one at The University of South Carolina. All in an effort to belong to what they consider to be an elite group. Members only. Want to be a member of a Country Club? That, to me, is somewhat of a joke after hearing some of my friends relating stories of the "interviews" and "home visits" implemented by the Membership Committee. Seems to me the main interest would be getting the annual membership dues but oh no, a person has to meet the requirements established by the so-called "upper-class". The "haves" and the "have-nots”. So much for "All men created equal”, huh?
These days stock car racing sort of has its "Members Only" section. The Hendrick Teams, the JGR teams, the Penske Teams, pretty much making up the "Haves". Roush-Fenway and Richard Petty Motorsports are the "almost there" teams, while all the rest sort of hang on. It is a class system in play for sure with those who are able to get more while those who have not stand on the brink of losing it all. I guess, in some ways, racing has always had its classes, but I remember the days when those who had willingly shared with those who didn't. Those were the days where a Jabe Thomas could get hand-me-downs from the Petty team and run as a successful independent. Wendell Scott could get help from Ned Jarrett, and others, to maintain his team. I remember hearing many stories from Tiny Lund, Joe Penland, and others of how they shared all they had and even stayed five or six to a motel room when traveling. Everyone seemed to help everyone out.
I have told the story before of my time in racing. It bears repeating that I would never have been able to get started had it not been for many folks who helped. After that first race, it was Herbert Corley who loaned me a trailer to tow my car to Augusta and let me use that trailer until I could afford to buy one. The trailer I ended up buying was the one Herbert loaned me but the selling price was a ridiculous insult to the retail trailer market but he set the price and you didn't argue with Herbert Corley. He sold me that trailer for hardly more than one tire would cost.
This past Saturday, a group of ten of us made a trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. I am asking my Executive Editor to include a picture of that group right here for all to see.
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Tim Leeming, Leon Phillips, Regina Gribsby, Darren Gribsby, Devin, Bill McPeek, Janice Whitener, Bob Warfield, Larry Eury, and Danny Whitener.[/caption]
This was maybe the fifth RacersReunion® organized trip (I'm not sure if it was the fifth or sixth) and I had stated it would be the last time I would try to organize a trip and I meant that. I have already had two requests to have another trip together this summer. I will probably relent and do it again. Let me tell you why.
I am not a "joiner" by definition. I seek out the groups I think suit my personality and those are the groups I find my way into. In reality, there really aren't any "groups" I belong to that don't involve racing in one way or another. Sort of odd, really, when I sit back and consider all my diverse interests, but it seems the racing folks fulfill my need to belong, if, indeed, there is such a need.
Let me try to explain. When the 10 of us gathered at the Hall of Fame Saturday, it was as if we were all next door neighbors of the same neighborhood although North Georgia, Rural South Carolina, Suburban South Carolina, Rural North Carolina, were all represented. We had a lady with us who had been through double hip replacement surgery in January. She moved a little slowly, but just a little. We had the quiet man who ended up buying lunch for everyone. He is truly a pleasure to be around anytime. We had the gentleman who stood up to offer thanks for the meal, which personally touched me deeply. We spent the time touring the Hall of Fame and would stop from time to time to listen to stories from first one and then the other. We learned more about one another than we had known before and I came away from it all so impressed by folks I thought had already impressed me as much as possible. The advantage, I think, of the smaller group this time was that we had the time and ability to listen to one another and to share the experience from each one's perspective. Yes, Jeff, it was confirmed that I am "wordy" without a doubt, but as someone with the group said, I am not "too" wordy, ever. The gentleman who said that has become a very close personal friend even before he supported my cause for conversation.
No, I didn't mention any names in that previous paragraph because I didn't want to call attention to any one specific person and perhaps embarrass him or her. Another reason the names are absent is because I want to make the point that the group we had was NOT a “Members Only” group, but open to anyone who shares the interest we all shared. The diversity in the ages and backgrounds was substantial except of the detail of the sport we all love. Let me tell you right here and now that sitting at the table for lunch and listening to the conversation, most often referred to as "bench racing" was an incredible adventure. I do need to mention that there was also a discussion about who may be the better operator of a riding lawn mower between two folks sitting next to me, but I'm not touching that one.
You often hear the term "Racing Family", seemingly most often when there is a tragedy that pulls all race fans together, such as the death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. I guess, in an overall way of looking at it, a "family" is a good description of race fans. It seems to me, though, that such a description was more accurate in the early days of racing. Judging by the group gathered at the Hall of Fame Saturday, it would seem we have not lost that feeling of camaraderie that comes with the family connection. We enjoy the sharing of the stories of the past, the discussions about the racing of today, and the general conversation such as mowing lawns. We also enjoy pulling the trick with the server telling her that the person yet to come to the table is very hard of hearing and must be literally yelled at to hear. I think the server almost fell for it.
On behalf of RacersReunion®, I thank every one of the nine folks who showed up. Thanks for sharing your Saturday and your memories with all of us. On behalf of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, although I have no official standing to do so, thank you all for coming. What we, as fans, have at the Hall of Fame is much more than the five inductees per year. It represents history of the sport as well as entertainment to the young fans of today NASCAR is trying so hard to reach. Sure, there are drawbacks such as the exorbitant price of parking but we handle that. The value of what we share there on each visit is truly priceless. Ask any one of us who was there this past Saturday.
This coming Saturday, May 16, we once again have an opportunity to come together as a "family" to offer assistance to someone who has given so much of himself over the years to racing, and even more importantly to our cause, the history of the sport. If you missed last Tuesday night's show, find it in the archives and give it a listen. Mike Sykes was in the studio and gave us some memories to treasure for a lifetime. Mike was deeply involved in the sport, working for NASCAR in the 70s and 80s (I think I'm correct there) and he gave us some insights to what we often don't understand about the inner workings of the sanctioning body. Thank you, Mike, for that.
Mike is battling, successfully I might add, lung cancer. As we all know, such treatments are very expensive and the costs add up rapidly. Because Mike has done so much for so many in racing, a group of the racing folks got together and decided to do something to help Mike. So, this Saturday, May 16th, there will be a fund raising event for Mike held at the Petty Museum at 307 Branson Mill Road in Randleman, North Carolina. It is actually the original site of Petty Enterprises in Level Cross, NC, but Map Quest only recognizes Randleman. There will be an auction of racing items, which includes items donated by Richard Petty, the Wood Brothers, and many other teams. The Petty Museum will be open and part of the admission proceeds from the museum will be donated as well. There is a long list of racing legends who will be there to sign autographs throughout the day. Activity starts at 9:00 a.m. and concludes at 4:00 p.m. The auction starts at 11:00, I believe, and that should be quite the event.
Family cares for family, right? Mike Sykes is certainly a part of the RacersReunion® family and to put it bluntly, these RacersReunion folks are pretty darn fine folks. I would bet that if we wanted to, we could all be accepted into that club in Raleigh that didn't want Barney! Hope to see many of you in Randleman Saturday!
