June 27, 2010
Carlisle, PA
All GM Nationals

It was our first time at the All-GM Nationals at Carlisle, and boy was it hot! We walked the entire show and swap meet, although there was not much there, and escaped into the somewhat cooler car show building. Inside, a red 1955 Chevrolet Belair stock car sat, next to a table full of NASCAR memorabilia. There was no one around the table, so I proceeded to observe the race car, when a plaque in the windshield caught my eye. It read: "1955 Chevy stock car, used in the movie 3." I walked over to the table, and looked around for a minute or two, when an older man approached the table and asked me how i was doing. I told him I was fine and told him that I would like to purchase the Dale Earnhardt Jr. knife set. He was very pleased that I wanted to buy this item. He said "This was here for 3 days and nobody bought it. People don't realize that Earnhardt Jr. #8 items wont be around forever. When Dale Sr. died, people were buying anything with the #3 that they could get their hands on." Earnhardt Jr. #8 things won't be around for too long." he said. I agreed and paid him the $25 for the set and he proceeded to say, "I myself am a retired racer," and introduced himself as the real Jimmy Johnson. He said "I spell my name like a man!" and said " I raced with Dale Sr. for many years." Jimmy had raced in the Grand National Series and was a previous champion. We talked for a good hour or so about all things racing. I bought a #88 Dale Jr. hat from him, and asked him to sign it. He happily did, while telling us stories about Dale Earnhardt and the good old days. He was there for a charity called RACERS REUNION. Racers Reunion raises money to help retired racers and their families. They recently donated $5000 to the family of a racer that passed away.

Another man approached us. His name was Doug, an artist, who was very good friends with Jimmy. He took pictures of the 55' Chevy, so that he could paint a picture of the car later.We also became friends with Doug and talked with him right alongside Jimmy. Doug told us jokes and stories, one including none other than the famous Ronnie Sox of Sox and Martin. He helped Ronnie load up his wrecked car at a race and Ronnie signed a picture for him that said "Doug, Thanks for all your help - Ronnie Sox."

After we talked for a while longer, Jimmy and Doug invited us to York, Pennsylvania in two weeks to go check out the Nostalgia drag races and hang out.

We said goodbye to Jimmy and Doug and left the area to go look at a few more cars. We walked up a little further, and I decided I wanted to make a donation to the Racers Reunion. I took Jimmy a little money and told him that I wanted to make a donation. He smiled and said, "Well, take something for it" and I told him "No thanks, that's okay." But he didn't listen and handed me a calender. I told him thank you and what a pleasure it was meeting him and that I will definitely keep in touch through the Racers Reunion Website.

It was a great day. I met two very cool guys and enjoyed the scorching Yankee filled heat of Carlisle Pennsylvania.