posted 02-14-2005 09:52 AM         

In the early 60s one day I, about 8 or 9, was with my Granddaddy at the local country store near his tobacco (true southerners call it "backer") farm. It must have been sometime in the winter because he and his farming buddies tended to gather at the store in the off season. The talk turned to racing and a fertilizer rep. called BS on my Granddaddy Cobb when he said how approachable Richard Petty was.

Well the challenge was made to meet the next day at the store and to go down to Level Cross and see Richard. The next day we met. The 4 farmers, the rep and I all loaded up in 2 pickups and went to see the Pettys. Got there and saw a modest white frame house with a metal shop with about 8 bays that wrapped around back of the house. My Grandfather and one of his buds when into the shop and in about 5 minutes out walked Richard. He introduced himself to everyone, including me and asked one of the guys walking by to get us all something to drink. A little later out the back door walked a lady who I think was Richard's Mother carrying a tray with glasses and iced tea. It was like a scene out of Mayberry with Aunt Bee playing hostess.

We stayed for about 20 or 30 minutes and Richard went back into the shop. I don't know why Richard was there that day, why we never went into the shop or why I didn't get his now very distintive autograph. I guess asking for an autograph probably just wasn't the neighborly thing to do in those times.

Today the drivers have media spokesmen, bodyguards, etc. They are forced to have planes to meet all their obligations and they even use helicopters to get to the tracks so as not to get caught up in traffic or in the mass of fans.

very sad..its gone from the "new" generation to the "me" generation.