Yesterday I attended the Ridgely car show. It was a fund raising event for the Petty foundation as well. Music, food and cars,cars ,cars and motorcycles. A good time was had by all. The highlight of the event, for some, was a signing session with Richard Petty. You needed to purchase a ticket and get in line. I think 500 tickets , the maximum amount, were sold. I happened to be in the general location when he arrived. He was driven to the show in a 1970 Dodge Super Bee with an escort from the State Police. I watched as he got out of the car with his duster jacket and iconic cowboy hat on. He was immediately ushered into the Pharmacy and disappeared.
I looked at him and said to myself, that’s Richard Petty alright and my wife says to me, who is he ? She guessed it was Richard because of the advertising. We both laughed and went about our business. Given the chance I would have shook his hand and said hello but I’m not buying a ticket. I’m not impressed a whole lot with celebrities. I’m definitely not standing in a very long line to get his signature. I guess if that sort of thing revs your engine it is alright, but I just don’t get it. He was a good driver, but he is just a man.
They had set up a directors chair for him and put velvet ropes around it. He sat up there like a King on his throne and received the people. I wonder how he really feels about that. I would expect it is an uncomfortable thing for him. I’m betting he would rather be driving his car. Just how long he had to sit there and sign a bunch of junk I don’t know.
It was all for a worthy cause, The Petty Foundation. It is always a good thing when someone uses their fame for good. He did bring several of his cars along. It was a pretty big deal for the little town of Ridgely. Many years back Roy Rogers visited Ridgely too. Shame I wasn’t around for that one.
I do wonder why anyone would pay money for a signature. The man signs things for a living nowadays and the value of that John Hancock is never going to be much. Or is it for the chance to say Hello and maybe shake his hand ? Wouldn’t mean much to me if I had to pay for it. A casual meeting on the street would be an interesting story to tell. Guess what, I went to the pharmacy the other day and ran into Richard Petty ! How cool is that ? I’m just sayin’. If that is what you want however, it is your money. There are a number of celebrities and famous people I would enjoy meeting. The thing is, unless I could sit and have a conversation with them I don’t see the point. Paying to shake your hand is not meeting you. I want to hang out for awhile and get to know you a bit. Maybe I wouldn’t like you much afterward or maybe we could be friends. Isn’t that the purpose of meeting people ?
It is unlikely I would ever encounter a celebrity here in Greensboro. Where I grew up seeing celebrities was not an unusual thing. I had them pointed out to me, but never felt the urge to approach them. Well, except once in a local tavern. I was rejected ! Her lose. I suppose I’ll just never understand the attraction.

                                                                                     

There he is.