A Wonderful Day at Occoneechee / Orange Speedway Celebration Saturday

There were numerous other RR members at Occoneechee this weekend who will report in detail (some are still there), but let me say that my 10 year old grandson and I had a marvelous day Saturday from the time we entered the gates at 10:30 a.m. until departing at 3:45. Everything everybody said was true and then some. On top of that, we were treated like royalty by the entire staff of volunteers from the time we turned off Interstate 85. I hadthe opportunity to see old friends I hadn't seen in nearly 25 years and meet new ones who I have grown to treasure here on Racers Reunion.Beginning with the current Historic Group president, Laverne Zachary signing us in and making us feel oh so special, it just kept getting better and better. On top of that, my grandson loved it. Meeting a number of fellow RR members and contributors was really special. Being able to put a real face and handshake to names like Jimmy Johnson (with his first name spelled the "right" way), The Legend- Tim Leeming with his booming voice, along with so many others, including master photogs Ray Lamm and Ed Sanseverino. Theentire day was just so, soooo special. I got to see my good friends Joe & Ruth Kelly of "Let's Talk Racing" in Richmond. Joe, at age 75,actually interviewed all the starters in their cars as they prepared for their laps around the restored historic venue. Joe actually raced motorcycles at Occoneechee. On Friday, I rummaged in my garage and found six Wrangler Racing / Dale Earnhardt pit crew shirts tucked away in storage, still resplendentwith theirvibrant Reflex Blue and & PMS Whatever Yellowcolors that once adorned the Earnhardt cars. I tried them all on, but they had apparently shrank in storage. I couldn't button any! I picked the newest one,a 1984 model and my grandson wore it over his coat to Occoneechee. Talk about being able to find a kid in a crowd! All I had to do was look for the yellow Wrangler stallion emblazonned on the back of that crew shirt to find Tommy. There were lots of personal highlights to our day. Here are 3.

1) Being recognized by 2-time GN Champion Ned Jarrett, having him shake Tommy's hand and ask about our family. It didn't hurt my feelings either when Ned said in an interview with Frank Craig that the 1957 Chevy was the best race car ever built!

2) While standing on the actual track before the cars were cranked and having Chocolate Myers, the former Richard Childress/Dale Earnhardt gas manwalk up behind us, grab the back of my grandson's Wrangler pitcrew shirt and hollar, "Boy, where'd you get that shirt? Let me look in the collar and see whose name is in there!" That made Tommy's day.

3) Being recognized by Greg Moore, Bud Moore's son and former Team Manager of Bud Moore Racing as soon as we walked in the VIP tent. While eating a couple of delicious cheeseburgers, Greg walked over with his cell phone and said he had somebody who needed to talk to me. It was Bud Moore on the line from Spartanburg and I just about choked up. Bud said, "Look Fulton (he always called me by my last name), me, Pearson and Cotton Owens meet for lunch every day at noon at the Peach Blossom Restaurant in Spartanburg. You need to come down and eat lunch with us one day." Well, that phone call was the top of the day moment for me on what was a fascinating day.

Kudos to all of the immensely dedicated volunteers who orchestrated this fabulous weekend. The printed event program produced by Ed Sanseverino is particulary impressive. I look forward to seeing the photos that Ed and Ray will post here on this site. What a marvelous time.

Dave,

Thanks for posting about your experience at occoneechee. The HSG is an awesome bunch who have...and continue to do an awesome job with that event. It has been one of my favorites since going there the first time about 4 years ago.

Getting home from my trip late Friday night and nursing a sore throat has kept me away from this year's event. I truly miss being there. It is always great to read about other's experiences.

Thanks very much for supporting our friends, the Historic Speedway Group at Occoneechee. I can't wait to see the pictures and hear the interviews from there.

It's a great looking piece for sure. Looks like a '36 body. Haven't seen this particular car, but does it have torsion-bar front suspension, like the original?

It is a '36 according to the piece written when the car was on display at Talladega:

Roy Hendrick Delivers Replica Of His Father's 1936 No. 11 Modified Coupe For Display In IMHOF Museum

3/9/2007
In light of his father's upcoming induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (IMHOF), Roy Hendrick (center), son of 2007 inductee Ray Hendrick, visited Talladega to deliver a special addition to the museum - a replica of the 1936 Chevrolet Coupe NASCAR No. 11 Modified machine made famous by his father. Friends Todd Chaffin (left) and Wayne Wesson (right) assisted Hendrick in building the car and came along for the delivery. "We were thrilled to death when he was inducted as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, and we thought it was great when we were told he is being recognized on an individual basis by induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. It was really exciting for the whole family to hear," Hendrick said. "We started working on the car before we learned he would be inducted, but when we got the call, it made sense to bring the car down here for display. It was really exciting for the whole family to hear." The car is now on display in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week with the exception of major holidays. This year's black-tie ceremony consists of a reception, banquet and awards ceremony and is set for Thursday April 26, 2007. The 2007 class of inductees consists of Warren Johnson, Wayne Rainey, Ray Hendrick, Junie Donlavey, Jack Ingram and Bruton Smith.

I agree Thomas and Dave, Gene is one cool cat and one of the most consistently friendly people I know, it's always a pleasure to be around Gene Hobby. Semper Fi

Thomas, I can't believe we didn't meet, there was so much going on and so many people to talk to no wonder you guys have made a weekend out of it, what an experience.