Hope there are no copyright issues in stealing that little opening line from the theme song to the Broadway musical, then Movie, "Camelot". The premise of Camelot was that there was a special place known as Camelot where everything was perfect, or, at least as the song related it. I'm stealing that line for thiswriting because I have just finished watching the induction ceremony from The NASCAR Hall of Fame. I was tied up yesterday but recorded it and had the opportunity to watch it today. Before I state my opinion of what I saw, let me give you a little background so you can understand where I'm coming from.
I attended my first stock car race in September, 1952. Whether or not it was NASCAR sanctioned I cannot recall. I can recall, however, that the first sports organization I ever knew about existing was NASCAR. I didn't care for MLB, NBA, NFL, FISA, or any of the deriatives that were, are and maybe yet to come. I knew that NASCAR was the sport where they raced cars at Darlington and other places, and that is ALL I cared about. I was drawing race cars on my school notebooks and writing racing stories all the time. I was, thanks to my Uncle Bobby, able to attend many races all over South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. There was the twice a year pilgramige to Darlington starting 1957 and continuing until 2000.
I never had a car that didn't have a NASCAR sticker on it and most had a NASCAR license plate on the front, or the plate of The King, my favorite driver. I had shirts, caps, and jackets with the NASCAR logo emblazoned in the colorful logo for all to see. I had NASCAR watches and I even have TWO pair of athletic shoes, low top and high top, with NASCAR on the shoes.
In August, 1969, I got my first NASCAR license as a driver. It hangs in The Legend's Lair. Also that year, I received my first NASCAR pin which also hangs in the Lair. I went through school writing term papers and making my speeches in the public speaking class either about NASCAR or Richard Petty. I wrote articles for the school newspaper about NASCAR.
I drove in NASCAR from 1969 through June, 1973. I worked with Dan Scott in NASCAR in 1974. In 1975, Leo Windham gave me an opportunity to do a 5 minute race report every Monday during racing season on the big FM Country music station here. That was a non-paying job, but I got press credentials to all the races. That gig lasted from 1975 through 1982.
I talked about NASCAR racing to anyone and everyone who would listen and, quite often, I would still be talkiing about racing even when everyone quit listening. While I'm not particularly fond of the way it was stated, someone once called me the "Billy Graham of NASCAR racing" because I was always "preaching" the sport.
Ok, before you begin to think this Forum is about ME, let me clear that up. All the reference to "ME" is to show how dedicated I was to NASCAR. I even learned to handle the Big Bill France and Bill, Jr. rulings which didn't always suit my fancy without getting really riled about the seeming injustice to "my guy".
Then, something happened. I have tried my best to ascertain the exact point in time when I developed a distain for NASCAR. Stated fairly, I can only assume it was when The Southern 500 was taken from Darlington on Labor Day weekend. Quite honestly, I had never experienced a Labor Day weekend without a Darlington Southern 500 because the event started when I was only 4. Don't remember much before age 5 or so. Whatever it was, and I'm sticking with the Southern 500 reason, I was disenchanted with NASCAR, totally disgruntled with the direction of the sport. I saw a young Brian France assume the reigns and I didn't believe (still don't) that he is qualified to assume the duties of Big Bill and Bill,Jr. I have heard D.W., the supposed "mouth" of our sport, say several times, that the history of the sport began in 1980 or thereabouts. I must admit openingly I have a bias as to D.W. because I feel he is disingenious and less than the best ambassor for the sport. His grammar usage alone makes me look over my shoulder to see if my 10th grade English teacher is getting ready to unload her barrage at the use of "hisself". So, at best, I was throwing NASCAR under the bus (popular political term these days and the only political reference Jeff will allow me).
Today, thanks to Winston Kelly and the NASCAR HOF, I am coming home. I'm sitting here looking at the first NASCAR pin I received as a driver and I remember the pride of that moment when I received it. Nothing Brian France or D.W. can do or say can remove that pride. We at Racers Reunion have blasted NASCAR and Brian France and others repeatedly for the injustice done to the history we work so hard to preserve. While I'm not yet ready to honor Brian for efforts to preserve the history, or to remind D.W. "hisself" that there is history prior to 1980, I do want to say I was deeply impressed with the induction ceremony as a whole.
These things stand out:
1. Chocolate Myers wiping a tear when Dale Earnhardt was being inducted.
2. Mary and Sybil Scott shown so prominently and looking for impressive although
Wendell was overlooked in even the nominations. Surely he will be inducted at
some future point.
3. What I perceive as total cruelty on someone's part by leaving Martha Earnhardt,
Dale's mother, sitting in the audience while the rest of the family was on stage.
4. The eloquent speech given by Kelley Earnhardt. She was one of the most impressive
speakers of the day.
5. Kyle Petty giving such a personal speech in honor of his dad.
6. The overall appearance of the Hall of Fame. It is an impressive place from what I
could see on tv.
7. The people in the audience: David Pearson, Bud Moore, Cotton Owens and so many
more of the pioneers from the years BEFORE 1980 D.W.
So, folks, I'm admitting I was wrong with the way I thought of NASCAR. Sure, I still don't like a lot of things, but I grew up on NASCAR. My life always revolved around NASCAR racing. I remember the days in high school when I would have discussions with the stick and ball folks and would say "one day racing is going to be bigger than all that". Well, not quite yet, but it has surely come a long way. Watching the glitz and glitter of the All Star Race brings it to the forefront. It's a spectable, yet still a sport (ask Kyle Busch about that) and the fans of today, most of them, are as dedicated to the sport as I was at one time, although maybe not for exactly the same reasons.
NASCAR is, through the Hall of Fame and the efforts of Winston Kelly and his staff, and others, acknowledging the history as I remember it and as I want it remembered. The history I've told my grandsons about and the history I hope to continue sharing with anyone who will listen from The Historic Columbia Speedway, The Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, the Middle Georgia Raceway, all those places so vital to the recollections of we senior citizens of the NASCAR Nation. Although I know there are some in our group who will burn me at the stake for hearesy, I'm once again a proud supporter of NASCAR. I may not like everything about it, but then I NEVER really did like EVERYTHING.
So, let it never be forgot, that once there was a SPORT where the bravest of all set out on the road to bring stock car racing into the forefront of sports. Through those men and women and WE fans, we made it. It's though the fans hanging out here, for the most part, that NASCAR made it. Big Bill and Bill, Jr. worked for it. So many drivers worked for it.
But, as The King said at the ceremony, "without the fans , there would be no NASCAR". Remember, folks, WE built it. Now, WE need to tweak it a little. It'll come around. It didn't go "to hell in a handbasket" overnight, and it's not going to come back overnight,but let's keep pluggin and let's make an effort to be sure NASCAR knows we're still around. When you visit The Hall of Fame, let everyone there know you're with Racers Reunion and very respectfully share what OUR mission is, which is the SAME misson they have. We're in this together. Let's show them Racers Reunion is the real thing.
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
