mabarker
10-15-2009, 07:49 AM
Fans bring memorabilia, hats and Mustangs for race team owner to sign
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Wednesday, Oct 14 2009, 10:29 pm
Emily Killian
SHELBY — Hours before NASCAR team co-owner Jack Roush and his trademark Panama hat made their way into Keeter Ford in Shelby, fans snaked into a line around Mustangs in the dealership’s showroom.
Among the people hoping to see the man whose name is on their special edition Mustangs, were two who made a special 17-hour car trip to Shelby.
Eric and Sophie Alary, both of St. Michel in Quebec, Canada, left home Tuesday at noon and drove through the night, arriving in Shelby at 5 a.m.
Eric, a NASCAR fan, bought the Ford 2008 427 Roush Mustang after a trip to Charlotte.
“I had to get an importer to get the car through customs,” he said.
It took a month, and they were able to drive it once before there was too much snow on the ground in Quebec, Eric said.
Some fans stood for hours, waiting to get a variety of items signed, from posters, model cars and hats to something significantly larger — Roush’s signature series Mustangs.
Roush, the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing said signing cars is far from the weirdest thing he’s ever signed. He once autographed a dog named after him.
“It was a pretty good looking dog, actually,” he said with a wide grin.
Shelby’s John Lankford stood in line to get the owner to sign a red 427 model Mustang, a framed photo, his T-shirt, his hat and a pink Roush hat signed for his wife. He planned to take it to her in the hospital.
“I’ve got to get that signed,” he said.
Polkville’s Ronald Melton swaddled a glove box door for a 1965 Mustang in his arms with a towel and bubble wrap.
“This is a great opportunity,” he said. He is part of the Keeter Ford-sponsored Blue Oval Car Club and said he bought his first Mustang in 1972.
Many who stood in line are Carl Edwards fans.
“I came to tell him what a good person Carl Edwards is,” said Teresa Stacey of Shelby. “He is such a good example for the kids and has a positive attitude. He’s good for the sport.”
But the team owner wasn’t just at the dealership to sign autographs. He also filmed a 15-second commercial to air locally for Keeter Ford, which is the top seller of Roush Mustangs in North Carolina. It’s in the top 10 Roush dealerships in the nation, said Lyle Sturgis, Roush performance manager at the Shelby dealership.
“He chose us because of our volume and the relationship we have,” said Sturgis.
Comments 0 | Recommend 1
Wednesday, Oct 14 2009, 10:29 pm
Emily Killian
SHELBY — Hours before NASCAR team co-owner Jack Roush and his trademark Panama hat made their way into Keeter Ford in Shelby, fans snaked into a line around Mustangs in the dealership’s showroom.
Among the people hoping to see the man whose name is on their special edition Mustangs, were two who made a special 17-hour car trip to Shelby.
Eric and Sophie Alary, both of St. Michel in Quebec, Canada, left home Tuesday at noon and drove through the night, arriving in Shelby at 5 a.m.
Eric, a NASCAR fan, bought the Ford 2008 427 Roush Mustang after a trip to Charlotte.
“I had to get an importer to get the car through customs,” he said.
It took a month, and they were able to drive it once before there was too much snow on the ground in Quebec, Eric said.
Some fans stood for hours, waiting to get a variety of items signed, from posters, model cars and hats to something significantly larger — Roush’s signature series Mustangs.
Roush, the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing said signing cars is far from the weirdest thing he’s ever signed. He once autographed a dog named after him.
“It was a pretty good looking dog, actually,” he said with a wide grin.
Shelby’s John Lankford stood in line to get the owner to sign a red 427 model Mustang, a framed photo, his T-shirt, his hat and a pink Roush hat signed for his wife. He planned to take it to her in the hospital.
“I’ve got to get that signed,” he said.
Polkville’s Ronald Melton swaddled a glove box door for a 1965 Mustang in his arms with a towel and bubble wrap.
“This is a great opportunity,” he said. He is part of the Keeter Ford-sponsored Blue Oval Car Club and said he bought his first Mustang in 1972.
Many who stood in line are Carl Edwards fans.
“I came to tell him what a good person Carl Edwards is,” said Teresa Stacey of Shelby. “He is such a good example for the kids and has a positive attitude. He’s good for the sport.”
But the team owner wasn’t just at the dealership to sign autographs. He also filmed a 15-second commercial to air locally for Keeter Ford, which is the top seller of Roush Mustangs in North Carolina. It’s in the top 10 Roush dealerships in the nation, said Lyle Sturgis, Roush performance manager at the Shelby dealership.
“He chose us because of our volume and the relationship we have,” said Sturgis.