Large Crowd of NASCAR Fans Lines Up for Kyle Petty Autographs at St. Ignace
By David Latva

Kyle Petty signs the shirt of Otto Hyslop Sr. of St. Ignace. Mr. Petty signed autographs for 30 minutes before leaving for the ride's Wisconsin destination.

NASCAR racer Kyle Petty, along with about 120 riders participating in the 14th annual Kyle Petty Charity Motorcycle Ride, made a pit stop at the Holiday Station Store in St. Ignace Sunday, July 13, on a more than 3,000-mile trip that began in Traverse City Sunday morning and will finish in Savannah, Georgia, Sunday, July 20. His St. Ignace stop drew a large local crowd seeking autographs and photos.

"This trip will take us through Michigan and Wisconsin for the first time, as well as Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia," said Mr. Petty, as he worked his way along a long line of fans waiting for autographs and pictures in St. Ignace. "The trip across the Mackinac Bridge was awesome. We had to be escorted because of high winds."

The foundation has raised more than $10.5 million for various children's hospitals and charities across the country, during the 14 years of the ride.

Kyle and Pattie Petty take a break during their annual charity ride at the Holiday Station in St. Ignace Sunday, July 13.

Mr. Petty is the son and grandson of racing legends Richard Petty and Lee Petty, respectively.

Kyle, and his wife, Pattie, founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp in honor of their son, Adam, a fourth-generation NASCAR driver who was killed at the age of 19 in May 2000 during practice for the Busch Grand National Series Race in New Hampshire.

"The mission of the Victory Junction Gang Camp is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment," said Mr. Petty. "The camp provides children from seven to 15 years of age the opportunity to spend a week at summer camp..."

More than 6,000 eligible children have attended the camp free of charge to their families, owing to the ongoing financial support of the annual ride.

Pediatric specialty physicians, nurses, and a fully-equipped medical center are available 24 hours a day to provide for medical needs of campers.

Davis Love III, a PGA golfer, was one of the many riders in the annual Kyle Petty Charity Motorcycle Ride. Hershel Walker, former Dallas Cowboys running back and the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, was another celebrity participant of the ride.

Joining Mr. and Mrs. Petty on the ride was Davis Love III, a professional golfer who will cut his trip short in Wisconsin to join the PGA Tour at the British Open, and former Dallas Cowboys star running back Hershel Walker.

The 120 accompanying motorcycles were fueled at St. Ignace before the group left for its next stop in Gladstone. Overnight stays were planned in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Lombard, Illinois, Lexington, Kentucky, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Peachtree, Georgia, before completing the ride in Savannah, Georgia.

Visit the charity ride's Web site at www.VictoryJunction.org or telephone (817) 844-2267 for more information.