If This Is A Dream, Don’t Wake Me Up

Have you ever had something happen in your life that made you feel like Cinderella?  Like you were dreaming and afraid that at any moment you would wake up to find out it wasn’t real?

I have, and I’m covered with bruises from pinching myself to be sure I was awake.

I had an awesome weekend thanks to the wonderful ladies of the Cabarrus County Visitor’s Bureau, DeSales, Sharon, Erin, Sandy and Margaret.  For those who don’t know, Cabarrus County is where Kannapolis, Earnhardt territory, is located.  Or as they say at the Visitor’s Bureau, “The racing side of Charlotte”.

I am a die-hard Dale Earnhardt fan.  The first Nascar race I ever watched, hooked me on Earnhardt. I fell in love with that black #3 car.  I thought it was the best looking car on the track as well as the fastest.  Earnhardt drove with a grace that was unrivaled.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that there was nothing that Dale couldn’t do with a race car. 

Not only was he a great driver, but he had an overwhelming personality.  He was passionate.  He had charisma.  I couldn’t get enough of Dale Earnhardt.  He was definitely an enigma.

I am also a Nascar collector.  Of course, most of my collectibles are Earnhardt. The first thing I bought was an Action, 15 car set of Earnhardt’s race cars that my son talked me into buying.  My collection has snowballed since that first purchase. I started with die casts, but now I collect anything Nascar.  Especially if it is Earnhardt.   It makes Christmas and birthdays easy on my family and friends.  They never have trouble finding the perfect gift.  Over the years, I have added other drivers to my collection, but nothing means more to me than the Earnhardt items I have acquired. 

My husband says you will never see me without something Earnhardt on.  He’s probably right.  I wear an Earnhardt necklace, watch and wristband every day. I carry an Earnhardt purse and my car has Earnhardt seat covers, license plate and steering wheel cover.  I own somewhere around 50 Earnhardt shirts. I could keep going, but I’m sure you get the point.

First, I should explain what the “Dale Trail” is, in case someone doesn’t know. The ”Dale Trail” was developed to help visitors find their way to points of interest related to Dale Earnhardt. It guides you along a route that highlights these points. The trail starts at the Cabarrus County Visitor’s Center on Dale Earnhardt Blvd. and continues on to Earnhardt Road (where the early Earnhardt family once had a hog-slaughterhouse), Ralph Earnhardt’s grave, the former site of Eddleman’s Garage & Flying Mile, Car Town (the Earnhardt family’s neighborhood), Main Street Kannapolis, Curb Motorsports, Cannon Village/Cannon Mills, Idiot Circle and on to Dale Earnhardt Plaza where a 9 ft. bronze statue of Dale is located along with a granite monument.  From there you are lead to NC-3 which takes you to DEI.  Fans can continue on to Jr Motorsports, the Kannapolis Intimidators Stadium, Richard Childress Racing and Punchy’s Diner.  Then you can head on to Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the Sam Bass Gallery and Hendrick Motorsports.

Banners were hung marking the route.  These are the “Dale Trail” banners.  As many of you know, these banners were removed because they have worn out over time. I, of course, wanted to obtain one of the banners for my Nascar room.  It would be the ultimate addition to my Dale collection.   

Last weekend, the Cabarrus County Visitor’s Bureau gave me the thrill of a lifetime.  They honored me with a “Dale Trail” banner for my room. They presented it to me at the Visitor’s Center among the many Earnhardt photographs.  I was elated, to say the least. I felt as if I were receiving a piece of history.  It is a piece of history that is very dear to my heart.  It means more to me than they could ever imagine. The CCVB ladies made me feel like royalty.  They recognized that my Dale collection is more than an obsession.  It is a passion, a tribute to a great driver and a great man.  Of all the things in my Nascar room, I can honestly say that the banner is my favorite piece of memorabilia.

Not only did I receive the banner, but I was invited to join them in their suite at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to watch the Nationwide race. I had VIP parking at the track which was good because I was close enough to shop at the trailers and take my purchases back to my car before going to the suite. There was no way I could go to the race and not buy something new for my room.  Actually, I bought several things. They also reserved a room for me to stay that night which also was good because the excitement of the day completely wore me out.

Although I have been to LMS before, I have never had the opportunity to enjoy the race from a suite and it was a very memorable experience.  Among the guests in the suite were a Top Fuel drag racer, an NBA player, a Mayor and members of a much revered racing family.  There was good food and drinks, and of course, racing. The view was amazing.  We were located between turns 1 and 2 and from where we were, I could see the entire 1-1/2 mile track. If I looked down at the track right below me as the cars roared by, it almost made me dizzy.

One of the highlights of the weekend was that I had the distinct honor of meeting and talking with Martha Earnhardt, Dale’s mother.  She is a very sweet lady who took the time to talk with me and let me get a picture with her.  I thought that was really special.

This was a weekend that I will never forget and I’m sure I’ll be talking about it for a long time.

If you are a true Nascar fan, you really should make the trip to Concord and Cabarrus County.  There is so much there to see and do.  Visit the track and the race shops. And, make sure you take in a little history, follow the “Dale Trail”.  Go to the Cabarrus County Visitor’s Center and pick up a brochure that will lead you on a path that you won’t soon forget.  Enjoy the legacy.

Ruth

Ruth Mattern of Wilson, North Carolina was one of the first to send her email to the offices of the Cabarrus County CVB when word of the Dale Trail banners being taken down was spread in July.  Ruth also sent along photos of her shrine to Dale Earnhardt.  As fans ourselves, we know that such loyalty, love and general admiration for the NASCAR icon exists. We hear from fans everyday.  Ruth’s story and her photos reminded us that although its been nearly 9 years since Dale’s tragic passing during the Daytona 500, the passion for this man has not wavered one iota.

Ruth and her husband Bob traveled to Cabarrus County on Friday and met us in our offices to receive banner #32 from the original markers of The Dale Trail.  Ruth arrived donned in her Dale apparel. Her handbag was black and red and featured a famous photo of Dale.  Her shirt was a Dale Earnhardt black t-shirt and the photos she brought showed a room full of Dale memorabilia.  They are a very nice couple and within a few minutes of meeting them you could guess they had been married a very long time and were still close.  Bob stood by and snapped photos and when asked to join Ruth in a photo before the Dale Trail sign in the CVB’s Welcome Center, Bob replied “No, this is her day”. 

Bob and Ruth joined us at the Nationwide Race on Friday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  I had the chance to sit and talk to them for a long time.  You get the impression from them that they have never met a stranger. They are both extremely genuine and kind people. I made two new friends on Friday night. 

Ruth also inspired a new section to the Dale Trail website.  Very soon the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau will be launching a request to Dale Earnhardt fans to submit their photos and stories of Dale to be featured on our Dale Fans web page.  We know there are great photos out there and we can not wait to see the thousands we anticipate receiving.  Look for details coming soon.

Our plans for the Dale Trail permanent markers is still coming together.  We are working closely with the city of Kannapolis and soon will have all the details in place.  Its exciting to see the Dale Trail take on permanency.

In the meantime, thank you Ruth and Bob Mattern for joining us this weekend.  Your passion for Dale Earnhardt and NASCAR racing is contagious!

photo courtesy of txwendycp on flickr

One of our favorite things to do is to see pictures from fans who came here on vacation and followed The Dale Trail™. Recently I found some great photos of a vacation that included The Dale Trail, races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and NASCAR Race Shops,  on Flickr. We’d like to thank the photographer, txwendycp, for sharing thesebeautiful photos with the rest of us!

Dale Trail Story on News 14, Showcasing Cabarrus Visitor Center and Curb Motorsports

This News14 story, run on the day the Dale Trail™ banners came down, shows some great footage of the Dale attractions in Curb Motorsports, stop # 8 on the Dale Trail. The museum showcases NASCAR, Indy and modified race cars, as well as LeeAnn Rimes’ very first car, a 1995 black Dodge Viper. Two rare glimpses of NASCAR history are on display front and center in the new museum’s street-side windows – the #2 car Dale Earnhardt drove in his first Winston Cup Championship and the #43 car Richard Petty drove in his 199th Winston Cup win – sister-car to the one Petty drove in his 200th Winston Cup win that now resides at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

Dale Trail banners before they were taken down

It’s been almost a month since the Dale Trail™ banners came down, and officials are working diligently to breathe new life into the iconic trail. Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureaustaff members are meeting with the city of Kannapolis and other area leaders to begin the process of replacing the banners with historical markers. And, in a wonderful twist of fate that Dale himself would have probably appreciated, the media frenzy that ensued after the banners came down resulted in nearly a million dollars in free publicity for the Dale Trail.

It is unclear at this time when those markers will be in place, but officials are optimistic. In addition, other exciting enhancements being considered are: an interactive GPS unit, and a DVD narrated by NASCAR celebrities. Requests for the Dale Trail banners have flooded the CVB, and we have a waiting list in place. Requests have also been received from the Earnhardt family. The CVB is working with both family and fans to fulfill those requests as quickly as possible.

Image courtesy of the Salisbury Post

Today the banners came down, but the Dale Trail™ is still alive and kicking! You can still come to Kannapolis and do a self-guided tour of Dale’s hometown, using our Dale Trail map. We also still have the Dale Trail T-shirts for sale. We don’t know at this time what we will do with the banners after we get them back, but many fans have called, and we have been taking down names in the order that they call.

We hope you will post your thoughts and comments about the Dale Trail, and what Dale Earnhardt meant to you. And we REALLY hope you will come follow in his footsteps by visiting the Dale Trail! The Dale Trail starts at the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 3003 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis, NC. Or, for more information, call 800- 848-3740.

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The Dale Trail™ is the perfect activity for a group tour, and if you’re looking for exclusive stories, first-hand knowledge of Dale’s family history, and intimate understanding of Kannapolis history, you can look no further than Adventures in Motorsports, a local tour provider that offers a guided group tour of The Dale Trail. They provide step-on guide service and exclusive receptions with appearances by Martha Earnhardt (Dale’s mother) and Sam Bass, motorsports artist (based on availability). 

Adventures in Motorsports is a complete destination management service for group tours in the Charlotte, North Carolina surrounding area. They are a full service receptive operator offering a full line of motorsports products as well as a wide range of other venues for group needs. Whether it’s a group tour, race package or meeting activity, they can customize a tour package for all groups, including Lowe’s Motor Speedway packages with exclusive tour options.

Anyway, while there, I had the opportunity to speak with some Hendrick staff, and to see the newly renovated museum and gift shop. Hendrick completed these renovations shortly before the May races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, just in time for the huge crowds that came out to support their favorite drivers and buy their merchandise. Hendrick staff noted that the crowds were noticeably larger this year, partly due to the addition of Dale Jr. to the roster.

The staff also showed us the Team Center, a large meeting space perfect for corporate and special events. In fact, they were preparing for a wedding reception to be held there this weekend. The new museum and gift shop is gorgeous – I wish I had had my camera with me. Beautiful cars and displays shine as if they are cleaned every day, and the merchandise tantalizes you into wanting to buy something. I encourage any NASCAR fan to visit it – you may not walk in a fan of Hendricks’ teams, but you may walk out a fan – at least of this wonderful facility!

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — If you spot a NASCAR license plate that reads “GMAW,” you may very well be following racing royalty. Martha Earnhardt is the late great Dale Earnhardt’s mother, and proud grandmother to his son, Dale, Jr.

On the family’s legacy, she says, “My husband started driving, then my son, and now my grandson. It’s been in our family since I was 18.”

The state Department of Motor Vehicles offers 25 specialty NASCAR plates, including one with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s number 88.

On Monday at a license plate bureau in Kannapolis, Martha Earnhardt joined Dale Jr.’s mother Brenda Jackson, and his sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge to show off their specialized plates.

On the honor, Martha says, “I never thought I’d have a license plate for my grandson.”

Hers reads, “GMAW,” short for Grandma. Jackson’s reads “MOMA” and Elledge’s “1SIS.”

It was a charity that got the Earnhardt family involved in this effort. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the plates goes to the North Carolina Motorsports Foundation, which then funds programs and scholarships for students who want to work in the industry.

Jackson hopes NASCAR fans get behind the effort, saying, “The whole thing is a win, win situation. You’ve got a nice looking tag that you can put your mark on and help a lot of kids out. So, I’m very excited about it.”

The special plates add $30 to your yearly registration fee — more if you want them personalized. Of that, $20 is sent to the foundation.

In all, there are 25 drivers to choose from. The plates are on sale now through the state DMV website at www.ncdot.org/dmv.