June 21, 1960, Uncle Bobby and I were parked up next to the fence in turn four at the newly opened Charlotte Motor Speedway. I do remember it was hot that day, I remember the cars all looked somewhat like chicken coops on wheels with all the wire over the windshields and grills. I remember all the drivers were hot, tired, sweaty, and very, very dirty. I remember the asphalt chunks flying through the air.
Fast forward, what, 51 years later? This weekend I will have my three grandsons, 14, 12, and 7, sitting in the stands DIRECTLY ACROSS THE TRACK from the spot where Uncle Bobby and I watched that first 600. Sort of special for me to think about that. You can bet you will hear more about this when I get home! This will be the boys first trip to a race although they have been seeing them on TV since they were tiny babies. I sometimes joke that the first words they learned after Mom and Dad, were "Richard Petty".
Seems full circle now. I'm introducing three of the "new generation" to the sport I love. Whether or not they will ever have the intense love for it I do is questionable as their interests are already wide and varied and all three excell in everything they do from Karate to Soccer and everything in between. But whatever they get out of the trip, I got the three tightest hugs I've ever had when I went to visit them yesterday and talk about the race. Can't wait! Look out Charlotte! The Legend and his three GRAND Legends are coming your way!
Tim
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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 04:02:07PM