Third Times a Charm….
Hemby Bridge, NC – Actually the first and second times were a charm also.
Anytime you can get old friends and new friends together around a common interest like sprint car racing in an uncommon area like North Carolina, something special happens...
In an area where sprint car racing is as common as kangaroo attacks, it always a great feeling when lots of folks show up and share stories and memories about their favorite passion. That happened this past weekend in the small town of Hemby Bridge, NC, just east of the Queen City. Sprint car enthusiasts from places like Clarksville, TN, selling their championship mini-sprint, to a celebrated Army vet from the great state of Georgia looking for a deal on rims, and everyone in between attended the Third Annual Carolina Sprint Car Flea Market.
The morning started off a tad bit chilly, but someone above looked down on our swap meet and decided to open up the skies and let the sun shine on us all. It turned out to be downright gorgeous day filled with everything a sprint car fan could think of…. OH, and barbeque. In one corner, you had a memorabilia collector telling everyone stories of Lou Blaney and the Blaney brothers. In the other corner, Jimmy Poppa was taking orders on 305 engines for the 2015 Carolina RaceSaver Series in his new engine shop while Chris Moss was outside doing the same on 360 engines.
United Sprint Car Series lead dog, Pete Walton, was walking around handing out 2015 season schedules to anyone with hands. It’s going to be one of his busiest years ever with over sixty races throughout the Southeast. Apparently, sprint cars are in demand more than ever and that’s a good thing. World of Outlaw CEO, Brian Carter, was so proud of the 2014 season that he wouldn’t stop showing everyone his World Finals review DVD on a tiny TV in the back of the shop. “Yes, Brian….I’ve already seen it,” is pretty much what every person in attendance said to Carter at least once Saturday. We have to admit though; it was pretty cool when he showed up driving the STP show car and rig himself.
A special thanks goes out to Todd Fraizer for bringing his USAC midget driven by Nick Drake to show off. It was gorgeous piece of machinery and made everyone in attendance want to lose weight so they could fit in it. A shout out also to Bobby Komisarski who bought his winged sprinter that more resembles the batmobile than a dirt track car.
The McLains thought it was a complete success and personally want to thank everyone who showed up or helped spread the word. We thoroughly enjoy the experience and consider everyone family. We’ll always do our best to help you get to the track. We wish you the greatest 2015 and look forward to hosting the event again next year.
Merry Holidays, Great Thanksgiving, and Happy Christmas…. Did I get that right?
