Bet Kannapolis Didn't See F-1 Coming!
General
Quiche photo from Shallotte, NC:
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
Bet Kannapolis Didn't See F-1 Coming!
General
Those of a certain age will remember traveling south on old U.S. Route 1 and U.S. 301, as well as I-95 and I-85 in their very early years and seeing signs that advertised "Towels by the Pound." Usually incorporated with these signs was the logo of Cannon Towels.
"Towels by the Pound" was a southern device invented to extract a few extra dollars from Yankee tourists traveling to Florida. Those in the know will tell you that buying towels by the pound is not an economical way to purchase towels, but we fooled many a greedy Yankee.
Those Cannon towels were produced in Kannapolis, North Carolina at the now gone Cannon Mills textile complex, operated in its dying days as Fieldcrest-Cannon and Pillowtex.
Two fellows named Earnhardt - Ralph and Dale - both were employed at one time or another at the Cannon Mills complex in Kannapolis. Ralph's race shop (and Dale's for a while) was located at Dale Senior's childhood Kannapolis home.
Earnhardt Race Shop in Kannapolis, NC - DL Anderson
Dale Earnhardt Childhood Kannapolis Home
Kannapolis is also home to the minor league baseball Kannapolis Intimidators team.
Now comes word from the FIA that Gene Haas has been granted a license to form a team to compete in the international world of Formula One racing. This will be the first USA F-1 team since the 1970s and is a huge announcement on the world racing stage.
Gene Haas
Haas already has an established race shop complex in Kannapolis, North Carolina that houses the Stewart-Haas NASCAR teams. This says Haas, is where the F-1 operation will also be located.
Stewart-Haas racing Complex in Kannapolis, NC
In light of this huge racing announcement, I initially have just one question. My question concerns the Waffle House in Kannapolis.
Kannapolis, NC Waffle House
My question is this - does anyone know if they've added "Quiche" to the Kannapolis Waffle House menu in preparation for the Formula One types?
Freshly prepared Quiche (not Brie, Not Lemon Meringue pie, Bobby Williamson)
Heck, the Waffle House in Kannapolis may not have gotten the word yet. Even Bubba Watson says his first trip in Augusta, Georgia Sunday after winning the Master's Golf tourney was a quick sojourn to the local Waffle House for two grilled cheese sandwiches with hash browns smothered, covered and dumped on all over!
I guess Kannapolis has already gotten used to a whole team of high dollar engineers, as well as Danica and the other 3 Stewart-Haas drivers. I wouldn't even be surprised if Danica won't welcome an upgrade to the Waffle House menu.
By the way, Haas says none of his current crop of drivers are candidates to drive his F-1 entry. He is looking for fresh, young talent.
Next time any RR members are in the Kannapolis Waffle House maybe you can give us a menu report. The late Dale Earnhardt loved Escargot and always ordered them at Skilligalee restaurant in Richmond, Virginia , but I don't recall the Kannapolis Waffle House adding snails even for the Intimidator. We'll just have to stay tuned, I guess, to see how Kannapolis handles the hobnobbing international set.
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
LABOR DAY RACE RETURN TO DARLINGTON?
Current NASCAR
I tend to agree, Bobby. I was near the forefront with the lighting of Richmond and we were the first track to stage two Cup races under the lights. However, I don't think anyone foresaw the current number of night Cup and Nationwide races and what the effect may have been on weekly racing.
LABOR DAY RACE RETURN TO DARLINGTON?
Current NASCAR
I can tell you that I began dealing with the old Atlanta track on a professional level in 1981. Mike Helton was then employed there working for bankruptcy trustee Walter Nix. Mike worked diligently with local authorities on traffic. Mike once related that when a substantial contribution to a county sheriff's campaign fund wasn't made that no officers from any jurisdiction worked the highways or intersections leading to the track on race day.
Ed Clark faced the same challenge later. I know many promises were made, political contributions donated and then business conducted as usual by the local Cracker authorities.
The perils faced by the Atlanta track with corrupt officials really makes you appreciate professional dealings I've encountered with organizations like the North Carolina Highway Patrol and Henrico County Police Department and the weeks of detailed traffic planning they put into events at Charlotte and Richmond.
Traffic things have been so coordinated for years with ISC that the same Daytona Motorcycle officers who work the Daytona races are transported twice yearly to Talladega along with their Harleys. The bikes get local sheriff's department insignia and the Daytona motorcycle officers are temporarily sworn in and given uniforms as local Talladega deputies. I hired local deputies to work my suites and made contributions to their local funds.
Big Bill France left nothing to chance with traffic control. One of my first stops in Talladega was always the huge Alabama Highway Patrol Command Center behind the speedway to deliver cases of racing hats and other paraphernalia. I always received outstanding cooperation getting motor coaches through traffic, etc. Sometimes it pays just to be nice and play the game up front.
LABOR DAY RACE RETURN TO DARLINGTON?
Current NASCAR
Legend... I suspect Bruton Smith, Speedway Motorsports, ISC, NASCAR and the France family and their combines of attorneys have bantered the Sherman name frequently in their closed door discussions:
YOU SEE WHAT THAT KID DID????
Stock Car Racing History
Exceedingly, markedly, awesomely impressive. First race at Darlington??? Wonder if the awesome one has been driving over to Darlington with Chase for some cheeseburger steaks at the Raceway Grill, then sneaking in the back gate across the street and sharing a few driving lessons?
I see $$$ in Chase's future. He can always hire a mathematician to count his money!
MODEL CITY 500 1969
Stock Car Racing History
Several stories I've seen show Russell Nelson finishing 2nd to Jim Paschal later in 1969 at Oxford Plains, Maine.
Russell Nelson in 1973 at Georgia's Dixie Speedway - Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame
