Published: July 17, 2008 11:11 pm      

Hundreds enjoy Kyle Petty Charity Ride

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — It was a banner day for this resort village Wednesday when the 250 cyclists in the Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America zoomed down Main Street to a rousing welcome by an estimated crowd of 4,000 NASCAR fans and 1,200 motorcycles.

The estimates were made by Petty’s staff members.

“We’ve had our biggest welcome yet,” Petty said. The cyclists came from Lexington, Ky., with stops in Grayson, Ky., and Beckley.

“It’s the biggest event White Sulphur Springs has had for as long as I can remember,” said White Sulphur Springs Police Chief James Hylton, general chairman of the event.

“It’s boosted our economy and has drawn people to White Sulphur Springs. This gave local people an opportunity to get together and enjoy a fun day,” he added.

“The governor told me we had put White Sulphur on the map. Gov. Joe Manchin joined the ride in Beckley.

The charity ride, which raises funds for the Victory Junction Gang Camp, drew motorcyclists from several states in addition to West Virginia.

“We like the weather, the friendly people and the mountain scenery,” said Jack Cannon of Greenville, S.C. Cannon was en route to the Freedom Rally at Snowshoe Mountain Resort with his good friend, Billy Meadows, when he stopped at the White Sulphur City Hall to get information on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride.

Cannon’s motorcycle, in red, white and blue, was an attention-getter. The back of the Harley-Davidson was decorated with an American eagle and a state-of-the-art sign, “In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes, 9-11-01.”

“We’ve been members of the West Virginia State Harley Owners Group for eight years,” Cannon pointed out.

“It was one of the nicest rides I’ve been on. The roads were so good,” Rose Hinkle said in discussing her trip from Marlinton.

Business owners also gave a thumbs-up to the charity ride which boosted their business.

“We saw about 30 percent increase in our daily sales, including gasoline,” said Myron Vaughan, owner of Vaughan’s Exxon.

“Our Quizno’s did 50 percent more business then it generally does,” Vaughan said. “And people got to see our town.”

“We had a good day,” said Joyce Vaughan, owner of The Diner with her husband, Waitman. “A lot of people liked our homemade milkshakes and banana splits.”

The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America was $6,530 richer following its visit to White Sulphur Springs.

Giving the fundraiser a boost was a silent auction of a Kyle Petty flag which went to Steve Clendenen of Caldwell. The flag was signed by all the dignitaries and city officials who took part in the opening ceremony.

A second identical flag was kept by the city, which sponsored the charity ride.

Motorcycles lined the circle at The Greenbrier with members of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America spending the night at the resort.

Their dinner was provided by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and was prepared by Greenbrier chefs.

The Chick-fil-A Charity Ride Across America’s next destination is Charlotte, N.C., with plans to visit children at the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, Petty’s hometown.

According to Hylton, plans are to stage another motorcycle festival in White Sulphur in 2009.