“The King” still reigns more than 30 years after his last NASCAR start.
That sentiment was valid throughout Richard Petty’s May 5 appearance in Harborcreek Township.
The 87-year old NASCAR Hall of Famer, who transcended the sport with his friendly personality and a record 200 Cup Series victories, took pictures with fans and autographed memorabilia for nearly 45 minutes outside the TA Travel Center.
The session highlighted a stop during Kyle Petty’s latest Charity Ride Across America. It was the first time in nearly 30 years the son of Richard Petty, who won eight times on NASCAR’s top tour, scheduled a pause during one of his motorcycle rallies in northwestern Pennsylvania respite.
In a short interview with Erie Times-News, Richard Petty was humorous and humble when talking about his long-term and family influence on American culture since the late 1950s.
“I think part of it is because I have been here for so long, but that makes you feel happy because we still have many people watching the race and the crowd.”
It is estimated that about 125 cyclists have come to the tourist center. Kyle Petty, 64, has scheduled HarborCreek to be the third of the seven stops for his current parade, starting on May 3 at Traverse City, Michigan.
The event will end on May 9 at Hot Springs, Virginia.
In addition to Kyle Petty and his father, Doan also has Herschel Walker, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1982; retired Nascar veterans Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace; and Hershel McGriff, 97, another member of Nascar Hall of Famer.
Kyle Petty said: “We have 150 bicycles (in a race)”, “but we want to keep (quantity) less this year. This is still a great group.”
The current protest of Kyle Petty, as well as many previous protests, was organized for the purpose of raising the fundrais of Victory Junction and charitable organizations for children involved.
Victory Junction, located in Randleman, North Carolina, is a summer camp created by the family for children with serious illness. This facility, there is no charge for their families, providing them with outdoor life experiences that most are not elsewhere.
According to the website of this charity, more than 135,000 teenagers have benefited from 23 years of Victory Junction’s operation.
The donations made in the rally on May 5 will add to the amount of more than $ 22 million earlier.
Kyle Petty also organized rally as a way to commemorate his late son.
Adam Petty, the fourth generation of the car racing family, died in the training session of May 12, 2000 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He is only 19 years old.
Kyle Petty said: “When I saw a smile on the faces of campers, I knew it was Adam Petty’s smile.”
Richard Petty’s signature line flooded the southern car park of the tourist center. Among those who lined up Ron Honey, 48 years old and his wife, Kristen, 46 years old.
Although the Warren couple asked for the second Richard Petty signature, their reason was somewhat sad and happy.
Among the memorabilia Honeys retained, there is a photo of Richard Petty, which is signing Ron’s molding copy of Pontiac STP No. 43 of Petty’s famous 43. The photo was taken in Picty’s appearance in 2017 at Watkins Glen International in New York.
Last year, a house fire burned down most of Honeys’s assets. Among them is Ron Honey’s miniature shirt and car in the photo.
Kristen Honey said: “When we know (Petty) will be here, we want to try to recreate the whole picture. (RON) has found the shirt he wears and the molded car on eBay.”
The crew left the tourist center about an hour after arriving. The convoy is expected to go to Niagara Waterfall, New York at the end of the night.
Richard Petty is expected to spend most of the time on May 6 at a location in the US, which is also considered a symbol.
Petty considers himself a lucky person who can still actively help raise the fundrais of Victory Junction, despite being eighty years old, and even more fortunate after decades to make a life -threatening job.
“I guess I’m lucky to have good genes,” Richard Petty said. “I’m happy to know (Kyle and I) are still here.
“If God let us live so long, the minimum of us can do is to repay.”
