I attended the Carlisle Chrysler show this past July. It was a very hot but beautiful summer day and the event looked like it had more participants than recent years. I had heard that Richard Petty was going to be there so I wandered over to the tent where he was making his appearance. I've never met the man but I've admired him since I was a kid. Despite the sun beating down, the line to get his autograph was easily 100 yards long and growing within minutes. I didn't have anything suitable for autographing, and honestly, I'm not one to chase autographs, but I did want to see him and maybe take his picture. By the time I finished viewing the row of cars I was in and got to his tent I saw him sitting on tall chair, aligning all manor of automobilia and posing with his trademark smile for a picture. He seemed very cordial to everyone he met and often shared a few words with folks while the line moved; he was the consummate ambassador to the sport. Long live the King!
