That's a great photo, Cody. I remember your story of going to pick up the flagstand.
Permalink Reply by Cody Dinsmore on April 29, 2012 at 7:33pm
In July or August of 2008, my dad and I traveled up to Level Cross to get the flagstand from Lakewood Speedway. Lakewood was where he supposedly got his first win until Lee took it away from him in 1959, so when he retired and had the party at the GA dome in 1992, the owner of Lakewood Park restored the flagstand and gave it to Richard. Anyway, August of 2008 was the first year of the Lakewood Reunion at the GRHOF and Richard donated it to us. When he got their we pulled up to the front office with our truck and trailer. Then as we got out, a guy on a forklift came around with a whole crew of guys to help us load the stand on our trailer. When the man on the forklift jumped down, I asked him if Richard was around (since we had heard that he showed up on Tuesday and Wednesdays usually) and as I said that, he turned around and pointed to an all black Chrylser 300 with a customized license plate, which I won't tell. He parked next to our truck (Thank God it was a Dodge!) and he kicked open the door, pulled his lanky-self out, spit some tobacco, and said "Man, I guess I can't even get my own parking spot anymore". I was right there to meet him. We introduced our selves (There was also another GRHOF volunteer with us) and when we got done introducing our selves, he replied with "Well my name's Richard, and I used to drive a race car" He signed a picture, my autograph (which I told him he could have an entire page!) and 1/64 car set of his 7 championship cars with a Petty Hauler. Then he invited me into the main office to look at some pictures. After I went to the bathroom, I went back outside to sit on the bench and watch the guys load the big flagstand on our trailer. (Note that this flagstand stands probably 20 ft high.) And as I was sitting down, out walked Richard with an arm-full of hats. There was atleast 8 or 10 in his stack. He put them on his car, while he opened the door, then threw them in, just tossed them in. I was actually thinking about asking where I could get one, hoping I would get one, but I chickened out! lol. So after it was all said and done, he let us look in his car shop, which is more full now where they build all of the challengers and mustangs and restore and what-not, but this was about 3 months after the move to Mooresville and all was in there were a couple of old cars, one or two Plymouths, two Morris Minors and a couple of custom golf carts. Then his restored 57' Olds convertible race car came in on a wrecker which was REALLY cool!
Then before we left, he gave us directions to his museum where the ladies up front let us in for free after we explained what we were hauling! And as I'm sure most of ya'll know, there are tons of stuff in there including tons of hats, There was even a silver hat given to Richard by Winston.
I would love a hat by the people who make his, but judging by the video at $600, I don't think it'll be even after I graduate!!!!
-Cody
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
