Alvin Ricks slowly walks between a replica of the 1959 Oldsmobile Lee Petty drove to victory in the inaugural Daytona 500 and a 1994 Pontiac Kyle Petty piloted, feeling every inch of the race cars with her white glove-covered hands.
The Fayetteville womans right hand carefully examines the 1959 Oldsmobile while her left hand explores the 1994 Pontiac.
The paint is smoother on this one, she says, tapping the 1994 Pontiac, than on this one (the 1959 Oldsmobile).
Ricks, who is blind, had just discovered one of the key differences between the early stock cars housed in the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame and Museum and those raced in NASCARs modern era.
For adults at Camp Dogwood a camp the North Carolina Lions operate in Sherrills Ford for the blind and visually impaired weekly excursions to the Mooresville museum have been a new adventure. Theyve been so popular that each trip has been filled to capacity, Camp Dogwood Director Susan King said.
Just because you lose your sight doesnt mean you lose your interests, King said. If you were a race fan before you lost your sight, youre still a race fan.
Thats the case for Pam Brule, of Raleigh, who was accompanied by her service dog, Sasha. A Vietnam War veteran, the 64-year-old Brule deals daily with a cornea disease, but her lack of sight hasnt dampened her love of racing. A Thompson, Conn., native, she has followed the sport since her son, a former modified driver, was a toddler. When she celebrated her 60th birthday, her friends provided her with a NASCAR-themed party.
Dont bother me on Saturdays and Sundays because Im watching the race, Brule said with a smile.
A seven-year veteran of Camp Dogwood, Brule likes six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson because hes skilled at a lot of things as far as his athletic ability; thats what I key in on.
I really have a long list of (drivers I like), said Brule, who was in military intelligence. I still like Dale Earnhardt. I would like to see Jeff Gordon do well this year since its his retirement year. But I dont think you can forget some of the old-timers that have paved the way, either.
The excursions for Camp Dogwood residents were created following conversations that museum founder Don Miller had with Marilyn Green, the first Miss Winston, who has retinitis pigmentosa.
Larry Abruzzesa, the museums program director, worked with the camp to develop a special tour for its residents. It was tested about a year ago with a veterans group from the camp. It was such a big hit that it was implemented on a weekly basis this summer.
The tour begins with each camper receiving a pair of white gloves upon his or her arrival. They are then escorted to their seats in the museum. Abruzzesa explains the tours logistics and then Bob Hissom, the museums historian, talks about stock-car racings history. Once the tour begins, Hissom explains each race car to the camps 14 residents as they explore the car with their hands.
I think when a lot of people lose their vision or suffer severe vision impairment, they think they cant do the same things that they used to do, but they can. We just adapt them a little bit, King said. Larry, Tiffany (Ryan, museum director) and the folks here came up with the white glove tour so our folks who are totally blind or have real severe vision impairment can actually touch the exhibits and experience the exhibits without their sight. I love the fact that they do a personalized tour for the campers. They make a special effort to make this a very meaningful and rich experience for our guests.
A lot of these people live in rural areas where there are no museums. We encourage them to get out and try new things. Anthony (Lipscomb, of High Point), whos here today, isnt that interested in cars, but he loves to try new stuff.
Founded in 1967 by the North Carolina Lions, Camp Dogwood serves about 750 adults from ages 18 to 100 each summer. When the 10-week recreational camp concludes, the facility serves as a meeting and retreat center.
