Let's Race!

And I actually mean both "start-your-engines" and "lace-up-your-running-shoes" kind of racing, sort of at the same time. We spent the day at Victory Junction Gang Camp volunteering as medical staff for a half marathon and 5-mile race today. Rest assured, my role obviously did not require any medical knowledge - I was simply the lookout: "Oooh... she's looking kind of wobbly..." or "I think this one's going to puke soon..." or "Watch him...he's closing his eyes as he's walking around..." And, as far as we know, everyone made it home safe and sound!

The proceeds of the race benefited the camp which sponsors weeklong summer experiences for children with special needs of all kinds in addition to family weekends throughout the rest of the year - which is very similar to Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, the Easter Seals Camp outside of Bloomington where Chris and I worked during college. What is NOT similar is the - oh - MILLIONS of dollars that Petty Enterprises among others have put into it. Yes, that's as in Richard Petty and Kyle Petty of NASCAR fame...as in "The King"....as in the "First Family of Racing"...


The camp was sort of the dream of Adam Petty, Kyle's son (Richard's grandson) who tragically died practicing at a New Jersey Speedway in 2000. Thanks to a partnership with Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall camps, his dream became a reality, and something of a therapeutic inspiration for his family. (If you are interested in reading more about the camp, Forsyth Family magazine featured the Pettys in a recent addition (pages 15-17)).


When you think of "camp," you probably think about rustic, outdoor settings, fishing, nature trails, maybe even poison ivy. But the concept of camp at this place is on a whole different level. In fact, it's in a whole different galaxy! The pictures will probably speak for themselves, but you've got the bowling alley, the movie theater, the sports arena, the barn for all of the onsite animals, the swimming pool, the arts & crafts complex complete with pottery wheels, kilns, and easels.... (And, yes, the giant race car is actually a building).

Everything is race car themed, so you've got the "Body Shop" (which is where you go if you get sick), the "Fab Shop" (which is a hair salon), and the "Pit Stop" (which is the snack bar) in case the "Fuel Stop" (regular cafeteria) is closed.

The pool has a huge motorcycle coming out of the middle of it and has a lazy river snaking around it as well. The lake's Bass Pro Building is the "Catch, Kiss, and Release" area. I could go on and on.... It's absolutely amazing!

Maybe even cooler than the buildings are the Pettys themselves. As soon as we walked in the building at the race start, this guy came up to us and started talking to the doctor we were with. Little did I know, I was literally rubbing elbows with Kyle Petty. As the day went on, it didn't really seem like that big of a deal. They signed autographs and took pictures with everyone who wanted one - and the coolest part of all - either Kyle or Richard were at the finish line and personally congratulated each and every runner.

Kyle is wearing the pink stocking hat (oh - NC lingo moment for you: winter hats here are called "toboggans." Boy was I confused when I thought they were talking about putting sleds on their heads!) As he said, "My ears are cold. They don't know what color this hat is!"

Pattie (Kyle's wife) gave us hugs as we left ... it's like we became a part of the family. They are such an amazing group of people!


They started off the day with a church service an hour before the race start and Kyle prayed at the start line. Pattie runs the camp, so it's not like they just fork over some money and sit back. The family is obviously very hands-on in their mission to give kids with cancer, spina bifida, autism, Down's syndrome, sickle cell, etc. etc. at least one week of fun!

The other famous person of the day: John Bingham aka The Penguin. If any of you read Runner's World magazine, you will be familiar with his last page entries culminating with "Waddle On, Friends!" He has written a fantastic book called "The Courage to Start" which is all about his transformation from a couch potato into an avid runner.

He facilitated the whole race and was just as friendly (and funny) as the Pettys. When two of the final runners approached the finish line after nearly four hours and started jogging (instead of the walking), he announced, "Oh...don't be silly. No need to pick it up now!" (Which sounds kind of rude when simply written, but spoken aloud it wasn't nearly as offensive...)

It was touching to see three middle-aged women who clearly hadn't been very active in some time cross the line wearing their homemade "Proud to be a Penguin" T-shirts. John happily signed their shirts as well as chatted with any other runner who was interested. (This one in particular was such a RACE fan, I couldn't resist taking her picture!)

Much of the race day profits are actually going to be used to open a Victory Junction Gang Camp in the Midwest! How exciting! (I think the proposed location is somewhere near Kansas City). If anyone ever wants a life-changing volunteer opportunity in an unbelievably fun atmosphere - this just might be your ticket. On your marks, get set, go!