THE OLD SAYING REALLY WORKS!!!!!
Administrative
I'm sure you've heard the old saying "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella". At least I'm guessing most of you here are old enough to have heard that spoken at some point in time. Please allow me to expand upon those words just a little.
This weekend, in Hillsborough, NC, The Historic Speedway Group presented its annual Celebration of the Automobile at the Oconeechee Orange Speedway. To say we had "some rain" would be a gross understatement. To say the spirts of those attending were dampened would be a total, outright, bold-faced lie. Oh it rained alright, starting with a serious thunderstorm about 5:45 a.m. which actually caused the electricity at the host hotel to blink out a couple times. But, let's go back to Friday night for a minute.
In keeping with my practice of not calling names as I don't want to leave anyone out, or potentially embarrass anyone, I'll only say that there is one among us, in his eighties I understand, who can out-dance any of those pretenders on that television show that so engrosses fans. This guy flew across country to dance every dance at the Friday Night Cruise-in. He is not only a cancer survivor, but is also one of the most energized Dudes you will ever encounter. Makes the Energizer Bunny look like road kill. What a great guy. I really had a good time socializing with all the folks at the "dance hall" Friday night but your humble Legend does NOT dance. Among all my other inadequacies, dancing is close to the top.
When I arrived at the event Saturday morning, it was raining, but not too hard at that time. I was directed to VIP parking and was immediately picked up by a golf cart to deliver me to the VIP tent sign in. As soon as I had my "credential" hanging around my neck I started talking with folks around. The rain also started to fall harder, but not yet much more than a slight shower of small rain drops. I began to notice that the cool dampness and rain drops had not put one iota of gloom upon anyone I saw or talked with. The place was full of racecars. FULL! Get that? I didn't count them but there was at least 43 starters there I'm sure and not one "start and park" among them.
I excused myself from conversation because I wanted to walk down to the track and check it out. I did have my umbrella so I set out in the mist. I had not anticipated the slickness of the muddy road leading down to the track but all who know of my total lack of coordination will be astonished to know I did NOT fall once, although I took about a four foot slide down the steep part. As I stood at the foot of the grandstands and looked at the track it was easy to see the great deal of work put in by The Historic Speedway Group. This was my fourth consecutive event with those folks and the accomplishments they have made are incredible. That is dedication at its purest form.
By the time I returned to the big tent, it was raining hard enough to make further venturing into the outdoors not so adviseable to this old man. However, everywhere I looked were folks looking at racecars, with umbrellas or not, and Historic Speedway Group members operating golf carts to take people around or just otherwise being of assistance in any way possible. While each and everyone of those individuals are outstanding, two of the younger members I encountered in the pouring rain exemplify what this family of race folks is all about. Drenched to the skin and then some, they continued to run the golf carts and continued to do anything they could to insure the fans were well taken care of.
The day was dedicated to Wendell Scott and his family. I will break my own rule and mention that Mary, Wendell's widow was there and spoke briefly. Wendell's daughter, Sybil, as perky as always, spoke and thanked the organization for honoring her Dad. I did not get to talk to the other members of Wendell's family as I never could get over that side due to the crowd, but Sybil and I did get to share a few words. She is a remarkable young lady whose friendship I treasure. As I told her, I was a teenager back when I was always at the track. Her Daddy was one of those drivers I could always have access to and I have so many memories of just standing there watching him work on his car. I wish I had the foresite back then to realize how much those experiences would mean to me now that I'm almost 66. Sybil, if you read this, thanks for the friendship.
Jeff often refers to the Oconeechee event as "The Gold Standard" of such events. I can concur wholeheartedly after being there four times. To all the members of The Historic Speedway Group, I give you my thanks for what you do to preserve the history and memories. Again, I'm not naming names here for fear of leaving out someone who contributes so much to these events. But I think I spoke with each one of you while I was there. I hope I verbally thanked you properly at that time. If I did not, please know that this old boy appreciates all the things you do and all the memories you bring back to my mind. I only made one race at that track when my uncle took me there sometime in the sixties, maybe 62 or 63, but thanks to all you folks have done there, it matters only that history lives through your efforts and the history and heritage you guys are preserving is well worth the effort. Thank you, Historic Speedway Group, as a whole and individually, for such a wonderful experience.
So, you see, all those smiles Saturday did make good umbrellas! Of course I was pretty wet when I got in the van to head home, and while the warmth of the heater felt good on my cold feet, it could not approach the warmth experienced from all the gathered multitude with whom I hung out for six hours. Which brings up another old saying: "Time flies when you're having fun". When I departed and realized I had been there six hours I could not believe it. Seemed like no more than an hour. But as I drove the 225 miles home, reflecting on the memories of the day, it was a lifetime of love for a sport and the people who built it and the people who support it.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
