This last week in Charlotte NC has been busy. Wednesday we went out to Victory Junction Gang Camp. For those of you that don't know anything about it, this camp was started in memory of Adam Petty (Richard Petty's grandson) after he was killed at a practice session on a NASCAR track in New Hampshire. This camp provides a free experience for kids with serious diseases and disorders. Our club worked for a half-day weeding, then took a tour of the camp and ate lunch there. Most of the drivers have donated a lot of money to this camp either directly or through there own foundations. There is a complete gym, a covered baseball field, a bowling alley, a video game building, and a complete hospital. Every activity center is made so disabled children can also participate. The picture is of one of the dorms, which inside has a NASCAR theme.
Thursday we went to the NASCAR Research and Development center. This is where the car is designed, safety issues are addressed and car testing is done. They are in the process of developing driver seat standards at the moment. Even though the HANS device protests the driver's heads, there are no regulations on seats yet. In the afternoon, we went to driver shops. Thursday night we went to the Pit Crew Competition, where all the pit crews in the All Star race compete. Jeff Burton's team won. Friday was the "sit-down" convention. Mr. Pemberton spoke (he is head of NASCAR competition) and a historian from the new NASCAR Hall of Fame (which will open next May) spoke to us. Both were quite interesting. Friday evening was the truck race. Saturday we went on a garage tour before the All Star race. The picture is in front of #88 AMP energy, Dale Earnhardt's car. They are working on something in the rear end. Tony Stewart came away a million dollars richer by winning his first race as a owner/driver. The other picture was taken by Combos snack people outside the track at the venders. We have moved over to the track RV camping right outside turn 3-4. Out our front window we can see the track and hear them running on the track. We will be here until next Monday and then head to Dover DE.