My companions got out of bed around 6:30am on Tuesday July 28, 2020 at the SpringHill Suites Hotel located near Charlotte Motor Speedway. Although we had several NASCAR-related sites to visit in the Charlotte area, that was the day our long journey back to Michigan had begun. For some reason, it seemed as though my photographer and his wife moved slower than usual that morning – they didn’t have their gear stowed away and ready to head out until roughly 8:45am.
Vicki completed the 13-mile drive to Huntersville, North Carolina in about twenty minutes when she pulled into the parking lot at Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters. As soon as we got out of the car, I could tell that Tom and his wife were excited when they saw one of Kyle Busch’s M&Ms cars through the building’s glass-covered front entrance. Joe Gibbs, who was the one-time head coach of the NFL’s Washington Redskins, began JGR in 1991; which was about seven years before the current team headquarters was built. NASCAR Cup Series drivers who drove for JGR in 2020 included Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex, Jr. and Erik Jones. As we walked towards the front entrance of the headquarters, we saw four race cars through the glass façade – one for each JGR driver. Then, like so many other times on the trip, we saw a sign posted on the front door that read: “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Gibbs Racing is currently closed to the public”. With no way to enter the JGR headquarters, the three of us were left to admire the cars through the windows.
Disappointed, the three of us returned to the Edge, but we weren’t ready to give up just yet. Our second NASCAR stop of the morning was located near Mooresville, North Carolina. Vicki navigated our vehicle north along the eastern edge of Lake Norman and then we headed east for a few miles when we arrived at the headquarters of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. The headquarters building was situated along Coddle Creek Highway, which was renamed Highway 3 after “The Intimidator’s” racecar number. Earnhardt’s headquarters was an impressive mirror-like metallic structure that had been built on property near Dale’s home. After Tom carried me to the front entrance, we discovered that Earnhardt’s place was also closed because of the virus; which was a shame. Through one of the front windows, however, we could see a very nice display that honored one of the most famous and popular drivers in NASCAR history; one who was killed on February 18, 2001 at the Daytona International Speedway.
We spent roughly ten minutes at Earnhardt’s place; but before we headed north to our next stop, my photographer and his wife attempted to get a glimpse of Dale’s house that was located on the property behind the headquarters. While the large gate at the main driveway to the home was closed, Vicki drove down a second driveway that took us towards a large barn. Unfortunately, due to the trees that surrounded Earnhardt’s house and grave, we never saw Dale’s beloved home.
With two strikes against us in the bottom of the ninth inning, we arrived at Kyle Busch Motorsports that was located 6.7 miles north of Earnhardt’s headquarters. I could tell that my companions were excited to visit the “Candyland Headquarters” near Mooresville as my photographer believed they had a chance to meet Kyle in person. But as we approached the front door to KBM, Tom swung and missed for strike three – once again a NASCAR site was closed to the public due to the pandemic. Through the dark-tinted windows at Kyle’s headquarters, my photographer did his best to snap images of a handful of Busch’s race cars and fire suits on display. For a brief moment, Tom became excited when he saw a few people working in the building’s shop – and although it appeared those men were working on some of the race cars stored inside, none of the workers resembled Kyle Busch.
After three unsuccessful attempts at getting inside a NASCAR headquarters, we headed eastward to a place that Vicki had wanted to visit after reading a few posts on Samantha Busch’s website. At roughly 11:00am, we pulled into the parking lot of Millbridge Speedway; a small dirt track located just west of downtown Salisbury, North Carolina. My photographer’s wife had discovered that Kyle and Samantha Busch’s five-year old son Brexton has been racing regularly on that track and she figured it would be our only chance to meet ‘The Candyman’ on the trip; but only if Brexton was there practicing. Not only was Kyle Busch not at Millbridge Speedway, but no one else was there either; we had the entire track to ourselves. Tom and Vicki had watched Samantha’s ‘YouTube’ videos of Brexton racing around the track and when my companions walked out onto the hard-packed dirt racing surface, it was as though the two of them could see the five-year old scooting around the track in his #18-B Outlaw kart that was sponsored, in part, by Far Out Toys.
Although our visit to Millbridge Speedway lasted only about 20 minutes, my photographer and his wife enjoyed the stop because they knew their favorite driver frequented the track. It was difficult to say whether or not any current NASCAR drivers got their start at Millbridge, but the three of us had a gut feeling that a future star would one day say he cut his teeth there – and that was Brexton Busch. After all, Brexton has race car driving in his DNA as father Kyle Busch is one of the greatest NASCAR drivers in history. Also, his uncle Kurt Busch has had a great career in motorsports as well. Combine his genealogy with unlimited financial resources that provide Brexton with the finest equipment available and it’s a recipe for success – just as long as he doesn’t get burned out.
Back in the Edge, we began our 80-mile journey north to a town that my photographer had wanted to visit for a handful of years – Mount Airy, North Carolina. That small town of just over 10,000 residents was located only three miles from the Virginia state line and was where Andy Griffith was born on June 1, 1926. It’s also widely believed that Mount Airy was the basis for Mayberry – the fictional town in The Andy Griffith Show. Once in town, I could tell that Tom was in seventh heaven – oops, wrong show. He had finally made it to Mayberry; my camera guy was transported back in time to the early 1960s, albeit we made the journey in a Ford Edge instead of a DeLorean.
Just as Vicki pulled into the parking lot of the Andy Griffith Museum that was located in the heart of Mount Airy, a severe storm hit the area. My photographer and his wife had to wait roughly 20 minutes inside their vehicle for the storm to subside as our Edge was pummeled with hail and heavy rain. I laughed when I heard Tom tell his wife: “I can only remember one episode of The Andy Griffith Show where it stormed and that was when Opie brought a ‘trembly’ lost dog into the courthouse. Then the minute we arrive in Mayberry, we get hit with one of the worst storms we’ve ever encountered on any of our trips. I hope that’s not a sign we shouldn’t be here.”
When the deluge slowed to a sprinkle, the three of us made our way towards the museum; all the while Tom whistled the theme song to The Andy Griffith Show. Even though my photographer is a better whistler than he is a singer, his rendition of “The Fishin’ Hole” was embarrassing. Until that moment, I didn’t realize that anyone could whistle sour, off-key notes; but Tom did. As we entered the museum that was dedicated to Andy Griffith, I expected to be disappointed by seeing replica artifacts on display or very few items that were related to The Andy Griffith Show. Boy was I wrong! That small museum turned out to be one of the finest “non-presidential” museums that I had ever visited. The museum displayed authentic costumes and props used in the 60s comedy show that featured Sheriff Andy Taylor, Deputy Barney Fife, Aunt Bee, Goober Pyle, and the town drunk Otis Campbell. Just sit right back, and you’ll hear a tale – oops, wrong show. Sit back and enjoy the images that my photographer captured inside the Andy Griffith Museum, and take a stroll down memory lane of Mayberry, North Carolina.
Since childhood, my photographer has loved The Andy Griffith Show and he’s watched every black and white episode from Season 1 through 5; in other words, the good ones that featured Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife. After our visit to the Andy Griffith Museum, Tom experienced a renewed love affair with the show when he came face-to-face with some of the props and costumes used on the show.
For the next three hours, the three of us emerged into the ambiance of Mayberry, North Carolina. We took a stroll down Mount Airy’s Main Street where numerous businesses had capitalized on the show’s success. Not only did we see Walker’s Soda Fountain, Opie’s Candy Store, Barney’s Café, and Floyd’s Barber Shop; there was a Ford Galaxy squad car parked along the street that looked exactly like the one Sheriff Taylor and Deputy Fife drove on the show. My companions and I browsed a handful of antique shops in town before Tom and Vicki purchased some mid-day snacks at Opie’s Candy Store.
Once we had finished our walking tour of downtown Mayberry, we hopped into the Edge and drove four blocks south along Main Street to Wally’s Service Station. The exterior of the “fillin’ station” looked very similar to the one featured on The Andy Griffith Show, but when Tom carried me inside the station, we didn’t find Gomer or Goober working on cars. As a matter of fact, it was a souvenir store that sold trinkets related to Mayberry. Located next to Wally’s was a building that represented Mayberry’s Courthouse. My photographer carried me inside the courthouse where I was blown away by the resemblance to the one on the show. The only thing missing inside the jail cell was the drunken Otis Campbell. When we got back to the Edge where Vicki sat and looked at her phone instead of visiting the sites, I heard Tom say: “I give the people who created all of these replica buildings and vehicles a lot of credit as they tried to bring the show to life for the fans of the show.”
At roughly 4:30pm, we had one final Andy Griffith site to visit in Mount Airy; and it was a place that my photographer attempted to reserve for our night’s stay in Mayberry. The place was called ‘Andy Griffith’s Home Place’ and it was where Andy Griffith lived from the age of nine until he graduated high school and enrolled at the University of North Carolina. A number of years ago, the two-bedroom bungalow was purchased by the local Hampton Inn and turned into a bed-and-breakfast. Tourists have the opportunity to spend the night in Andy’s boyhood home for the low-low rate of $179 per night, which was nearly one-third of what Andy’s parents paid for the place when they bought it. That’s right; Carl Griffith paid $600 for the house on October 31, 1935 and his family lived there until the home was sold for $6,000 on May 31, 1966; which was just after Season 6 of the Andy Griffith Show had ended. As we stood in front of Andy Griffith’s boyhood home, I thought to myself: “It’s too bad the place was already booked for the night. It would’ve been cool to stand next to the television set and watch episodes of The Andy Griffith Show in Andy’s actual home. That’ll be my goal when we head back to the Carolinas in 2022 or ’23.”
Our short visit to Andy Griffith’s boyhood home was the perfect ending to our day in Mayberry. While my photographer snapped a few images of the home, Vicki sat in the vehicle and reserved a room at the Comfort Inn that was located about one mile southeast of Andy’s place. Once we checked-in and had our gear lugged up to our room, the three of us headed to the nearby Cracker Barrel where Tom and Vicki ordered food to bring back to the hotel. As I watched my photographer gorge himself on Cracker Barrel’s fried chicken dinner, I thought to myself: “There’s no way that fried chicken is better than Aunt Bee’s.”
When the lights were extinguished at roughly 9:00pm, I stood alone in the darkness and thought about Andy. While my mental capacity should’ve been focused on President Andrew Jackson or President Zachary Taylor, it was centered on Sheriff Andrew Jackson Taylor instead. Occasionally, I could hear Andy and Barney’s words echo in my mind: “Nip it. Nip it in the bud” or “You beat everything, you know that Barney?” As the night went on, however, a smile filled my sculpted resin face and warmth had soothed my soul; it was time to whistle my way down to the fishin’ hole. After all, there wasn’t a better way to pass the time of day!
“Well now, take down your fishing pole; and meet me at the fishing hole. We may not get a bite all day, but don’t you rush away
What a great place to rest your bones, and mighty fine for skipping stones. You’ll feel fresh as a lemonade, A-setting in the shade.
Whether it’s hot, whether it’s cool, oh what a spot for whistling like a fool. What a fine day to take a stroll and wind up at the fishing hole. I can’t think of a better way to pass the time of day.”
