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Kyle Petty charity ride roars into Bath
BY GEOFF COX STAFF WRITER
 | | Kyle Petty, left, greets the crowd at The Homestead after arriving Tuesday afternoon. Virginia State Police motorcycle troopers lead the procession down the entrance to The Homestead. The Kyle Petty Charity Ride was also escorted by North Carolina state troopers who took a week off from work to escort the ride down the East Coast. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) |
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HOT SPRINGS - Tuesday the clouds from a late afternoon thunderstorm began moving over the mountains. Soon a rumble could be heard that sounded like thunder, but it wasn't. More than 275 motorcycles from the Chickfil A Kyle Petty Charity Ride were rolling into town for their overnight stay at The Homestead.
The riders were midway through their 2,800-mile, eightday trip from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Homestead, Florida. This, the 13th year of the ride, was the first year the "ride across America" has gone north to south. For the previous 12 years the route has gone from east to west or vice versa.
Five years ago The Homestead hosted the ride. This year when Petty decided to ride the East Coast, he knew three things when plans were being made. "We knew where we wanted to start. We knew were we wanted to finish, and we knew we wanted to stop at The Homestead," Petty said. Since 2004, the ride's primary goal is to raise money
for the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C. The camp was founded in the memory of Petty's son Adam, a fourth-generation NASCAR driver who was killed in 2000 during a practice run in New Hampshire.
The camp is free for the campers, ages 7-15, and its mission is to "enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illness by providing lifechanging camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment."
Each week children with similar medical issues camp with others who share the same conditions. Bonds and friendships are easily made through shared experiences such as surgery, chemotherapy, and transfusions and the fun they have at the camp.
"It's all about the kids," said Petty. The ride raises money for the camp from corporate sponsors such a Coke and Chick-fil-A, and each rider makes a donation. Along the way the ride accepts donations, from checks to change, from people as they pass and during their pit stops for the "Small change. Big impact" program. The program's money is given directly to the camp and last year the $53,000 collected along the way paid for an additional 21 campers. The camp will host more than 1,250 children this year.
 | | The Homestead hosted more than 300 riders and support staff of the Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Tuesday evening. The motorcyclists arrived just in time to beat a heavy downpour and all received complimentary bike washes. |
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"People make the difference," said Petty. "We meet so many nice people. All along the road people are blowing horns, waving, and screaming."
There was no shortage of fans gathered along the roads in Bath County and waiting at The Homestead when the bikers rolled in. Cameras were flashing and eager fans sought autographs from the celebrity riders that included Kyle's father and NASCAR legend Richard Petty, retired NFLgreat Herschel Walker, and fellow NASCAR driver Burney Lamarr and his wife supermodel Niki Taylor, as they parked their motorcycles and began dismounting from a long day on the road.
 | | Kyle Petty poses with local dignitaries upon arrival at the Homestead. Giving him a warm welcome are (l-r) Sean Maddock, Steve Schneider, Petty, Richard Byrd, and Pete Minetree. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) |
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"I'm ready to go," said Petty (Kyle). "The night time is the fun time. Everybody gets together and talks. The day on the bike is the lonely part."
Soon the Presidents Lounge in The Homestead was filling up with riders winding down from the day and winding up for the night.
Tim Robinson of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, pulled up a seat at the bar. It was his third charity ride and his first time at The Homestead. "It's nice," he said.
"I do it (the ride) to help raise money for the kids and I like riding motorcycles," Robinson continued. When asked what it was like to visit the camp he replied, "It's hard to describe. It's a neat place. You just about tear up when you pull in there with the kids. It's great. I've made a lot of new friends. It's like a big reunion for everybody."
 | | The Hancock and Bell families came from Bedford came to cheer on rider Chuck Hancock, 71, of Reston. Pictured in front are (l-r): Charlie Hancock, Crystal Bell, Ashley Hancock, C.T. Bell, Matthew Bell. David Bell, Anne Marie Hancock, J.P. Hancock, Bridget Bell, Allison Bell, and Diane Hancock. In the rear are Jim Meehan, and Chris Hancock. |
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Across the bar Petty was trying to get the attention of the stoic, reserved, and perhaps a little fearful bartender.
"Hey Bernice, can I get a water?" Petty said to no response.
Attempting to draw her attention Petty began dropping change on the bar.
"Hey Bernice," Petty called out. "I'm dropping dimes over here. I'm trying to call you."
Finally the bartender came over and retrieved a water for Petty amid snickers from the customers.
"What time do you close?" asked Petty. "Midnight," said the bartender.
"Midnight?" Petty asked.
"Yes, unless we are still doing business, then we stay open later."  | | Retired University of Georgia and Dallas Cowboy running back Herschel Walker stretches out after getting off his motorcycle. Walker, a motorcycle enthusiast has ridden with the Kyle Petty ride for several years as they raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C. To find out more about the camp or to make a donation log on to www.cfakylepettycharityride.com. |
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"I think you'll do some business tonight," Petty replied.
After getting his change Petty said to one of his friends, "This place is great, but it can get a little stuffy. It won't be stuffy with us around. Tonight we're going to unstuff it."
"The last time we came here it was dark when we got in and I couldn't see the golf course, It's beautiful. I wish I had time to play some," Petty continued.
"Maybe I'll get a pedicure," he joked. "That's the one for your feet, right?"
His buddies laughed as Petty excused himself. "I've got to check in with the wife," he said.
Before he left to check in Petty said, "It's the first time we've rode in during a working session of camp. We usually get there on the weekend when everybody is coming and going. It will be cool."  | | "The King" of NASCAR Richard Petty provides a rare shot of what's under his hat while changing from his motorcycle helmet into his trademark black cowboy hat. Petty joined his son Kyle and his daughter-in-law Pattie Petty on the annual ride to raise money for a children's camp founded in the memory of his grandson Adam Petty. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) |
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After he left to go upstairs his friends and fellow riders George Flanigen of Nashville, and Morri Irvin of Concord, N.C., echoed his remarks.
"The kids are thrilled to see us, and we're thrilled to see them. They are all incredible kids," said Irvin.
"It's what it's all about," said Flanigen.
Irvin continued, "They don't see their disabilities at the camp, and we don't see them either. The kids at the camp stay friends and many are at different levels of their illness. They share their experiences with each other the way only a kid can."  | | Highland County resident Jamie Will stands beside Kyle Petty as he signs autographs. Will joined the ride on his Harley Davidson as the group rolled through Hot Springs. |
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Being on the ride is "like an extended family," said Flanigen. "People don't get it until they come on it. Then it sinks in. It takes about one and a half days to get it. That's just the good part. The camp is the great part."
"We've had a really good ride so far," Irvin continued. "A little rain and fog on Sunday, but other than that it's been pretty uneventful."
"You want the ride uneventful," said Flanigen. " The first rule of the road is - obey all the rules."
"This is a really cool place," Irvin said. "You ride up the hill and then it opens up, and there it (The Homestead) is."
Relaxing at a table was Chuck Hancock, 71, of Reston. His son, Chris Hancock works at The Springs Nursing Home, and brought his children and some friends from Bedford to see "granddad" ride into Hot Springs. They stood at aTin the road after the entrance to The Homestead holding a long sign.
 | | Supermodel Niki Taylor, former Sports Illustrated swimsuit and Seventeen magazine model refreshes herself with a drink of water after arriving at the Homestead. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) |
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"I didn't even see them," said the elder Hancock as the group gathered for sodas in the lounge. "I was concentrating on making the corner."
"I enjoy the ride because it's fun and it's for a really great cause," he said. "It's a nice way to make a contribution- you're not just giving money, you have fun. It's a great group of people, can't ask for better guys to hang out with. You can do as much as you want or as little as you want and never feel left out."
As the group got settled in Petty returned to the lounge. Continually accommodating and gracious, Petty signed autographs for all the kids and posed for a group picture with the sign that "granddad" had missed earlier.
"He's (Petty) a great guy,' said Chris Hancock as Petty walked away to join in the riders fellowship.
The riders had a big day ahead of them. Wednesday, they visited the Victory Junction Gang Camp for lunch with the campers before continuing on to Augusta, Ga., for the night.  | | Along the route, the Petty Ride accepts donations from people for their "Small Change. Big impact." fund-raiser. Here Petty accepts a bag of change in return for a hug and autographs. The money raised is given directly to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. No report on who carries all the change home on their bike. |
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"That's
what it's all about,"
 | | Kyle Petty concentrates as he backs his motorcyle into his front row spot at The Homestead. This year marks the second time the ride has visited The Homestead, the first was in 2002. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) |
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 | | NASCAR and Busch series driver Burney Lamarr and his wife, model Niki Taylor, see the end of a long day's journey as they head down The Homestead's drive. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) |
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