In a recent meeting where we were discussing some of the great natural resources and historical locations we have in Cabarrus County, a dear friend of Visit Cabarrus, Ellen Whiteside of The Bed & Bike Inn, mentioned the Uwharrie National Forest (pronounced like saying the letters U – R – E).  This led our discussion into the history of the mountain terrain in the counties surrounding us.  Although I’ve lived in this area for many years, I have yet to thoroughly visit the Uwharrie recreational trail or Badin Lake.  From everything I’ve heard and read about this pristine area, it’s next on my list of places to visit. 

What surprised me most is that these “mountains”, many call them hills were once to the scale of the famed Himalayas.  This relatively small park and one of the newest in the federal park system led the nation in its fascination with gold in the late eighteenth century.

The Uwharrie’s are one of the oldest mountain chains in North America. They once soared to heights of 20,000 feet (the peak of Kilimanjaro by comparison is 15,100 feet from its base). I came across two different theories as to how this mountain chain formed.  Both theories are dramatic enough to create stunning visuals for an active imagination like mine.  The first theory is that these mountainous peaks formed through ancient volcanic activity, piling molten lava and ash layer upon layer to form soaring terrains.  The second, that was referenced more frequently than the first, is that the mountains are remnants of an ancient chain of islands crushed between the collision of North America and the African continental plates.  Now I do realize this happened over the course of millions of years and not during a seismic hour long event…it’s still pretty cool to think about.  I also learned that the mountain range was also the coastal line of North Carolina.  How cool would that have been if I lived at the beach. 

The mountains today have eroded to just around 1,000 feet high. Parts of the mountains are very rugged, compared to the gentle slopes of the surrounding area.  Once upon a time this entire area was striped for mining and farmland. Now the trees and natural habitats have returned. 

It still amazes me that everyday you do learn something new.  It also still amazes me of the history and natural beauty that surrounds the area known as the world’s racing destination.  So, sometime in the next few weeks I’ll pile the kids in the car, bribe my husband and take a trip through the Uwharrie National Preservation.  Of course, I could always call Tim and Ellen from the Bed and Bike Inn to take me on the tour.  They offer great tours along with a really nice tour of area vineyards.  On second thought, I might just find a sitter and enjoy a sampling from the area vineyards from a scenic overlook.

One thing I learned after moving to Concord, North Carolina just over seven years ago is that Cabarrus County has many hidden treasures. Over the next few weeks I’ll be writing about many of these treasures including the location of the first gold discovery in the United States. 

Reed Gold Mine is named for its founder, John Reed, whose son found a large yellow rock in Hidden Meadow Creek on a Sunday in 1799.  The rock reportedly was 17 pounds and used as a door stop in the Reed home until a Fayetteville jeweler identified the rock and purchased it for $3.50 – one tenth of its value – just a few years later. At its peak, the mine produced over $1million a year in gold and lead North Carolina to be the largest producer of gold until the 1848 gold rush in California.

Today Reed Gold Mine is a treasure even though it is no longer mined for gold.  The family friendly historic park gives you the opportunity to pan for gold for just $2 and tour the mines for free.  Children will have a unique opportunity to experience the site of the first “gold rush” in America’s history. 

Following is an invitation to experience the Christmas season with our friends at Reed Gold Mine.

Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site hosts its annual A Golden Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  This year’s event features a unique look at how Christmas was celebrated in the North Carolina backcountry in the early 19^th century.  Focusing on John Reed’s

German heritage, we will explore the Germanic origins of our modern day traditions.  We will also include Cornish and Scotch Irish traditions, as these cultures made up a large part of the residents in this area at that time. 

If you have never been to Reed Gold Mine during the Christmas season you have not experienced Reed Gold Mine.  It is the only place you can take a candlelight tour during the day.  Special tours are given by costumed interpreters with the mine illuminated by lanterns and candlelight, much as it would have been when the mine was active.  Tours focus on the miners who were working and how they would have celebrated the holidays.  Come see America’s first gold mine decorated for Christmas. 

Enjoy refreshments and cookies provided by the Cabarrus County Extension and Community Association. For those who simply cannot get enough Christmas music, local choirs will be presenting their programs in the auditorium, while craftsmen display their quilting, lace, toy making, and other amazing talents.  The Christmas Celebration is free of charge and open to the public.

Reed Gold Mine is located in southeastern Cabarrus County—12 miles southeast of Concord, 25 miles east of Charlotte, and 18 miles west of Albemarle.  For more information, call 704-721-4653, or email us at johnreed1799@gmail.com.

Reed Gold Mine will be closed November 27 & 28, 2008 for Thanksgiving, and December 24, 25, & 26, 2008 for Christmas.

The first non-traditional tradition that comes to mind holds a place near and dear to my heart…the annual opening of Concord Mills at midnight on the day after Thanksgiving. If you haven’t shopped among the crowd to the sound of holiday music at an hour most are usually snoring through their turkey induced sleep, you are missing out.  The 200 plus stores housed in the 1.4 million square foot mall take on a celebratory mood usually found at most Independence Day parades.  Combine that with a sale and it’s a tradition you’ll want to start! 

The shopping traditions don’t end when the sun comes up on Black Friday.  (The day after Thanksgiving for those non-shoppers.) At 8 am on Friday another 16 year old non-traditional tradition begins – the annual souvenir and ticket blowout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  It’s not just the bargains (T-shirts for as little as $3 a piece and other souvenirs can be found for just $1!), it’s the gift with purchase that can’t be beat.  Any race fan who spends $50 or more and has the stomach for it, can take their own personal vehicle for three laps around the 1.5 mile speedway.  (Concord Mills by comparison is a one-mile oval, though I doubt taking your personal vehicle for a lap around the mall would go over very well with the mall manager.)

If you are a fan of Cabarrus County’s Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, or Tony Stewart, you’ll want to shop their souvenir trailers during the LMS Souvenir Blowout.  More than two dozen drivers’ will have their trailers there full of holiday gifts at great prices. 

Speaking of Lowe’s Motor Speedway another non-traditional tradition is the annual running of the Coca-Cola 600.  Every Memorial Day weekend the roar of the NASCAR engines come to life at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  Next year this tradition celebrates a very important mile stone – its 50^th birthday.  NASCAR fans will have the opportunity to witness history on the Sunday before Memorial Day 2009 when the cars take the track. 

I’m thinking of starting my own tradition the day after Thanksgiving this year.  If you haven’t visited the new Embassy Suites on Bruton Smith Boulevard, this beautiful hotel is the home of Spa Botanica. I think a few spa treatments would make a nice tradition. While my husband is revving the engine of our SVU and preparing to take the checkered flag from his three laps around Lowe’s Motor Speedway, his $50 receipt in his pocket, I may be making the very difficult decision of French pedicure first or hot stone massage. 

When I returned Mr. Foley’s telephone call I was prepared to speak first to a receptionist who I would need to convince I was returning a call, then an assistant who would grill me as to the nature of the call (the screening process) and then, leave a message in which he would call me back…in two or three days.  Instead I dialed the phone number, kicking myself that I had missed the call to get yet another cup of coffee for the day and he answered.  Within the first few minutes of speaking with him he transformed in my mind from Mr. Foley to Doug.  Now that doesn’t mean that I have any less respect for him and he isn’t worthy of Mister.  On the contrary, I have more respect for him now than ever before and he has caught me in the passion for the sport of drag racing that has me rolling up my sleeves and digging in. 

The last few weeks have solidified my very first impression of the NHRA when the sound of the top fuel dragsters rang in my head (I think my ears are still ringing). The fans have an accessibility to the drivers and an opportunity to experience the sport close up like no other sport in the country.  When talking to Doug he transitions from a solid business conversation to his family to a marketing decision without missing a beat.  He understands the connection NHRA has with its fans and he knows the importance of delivering a top experience whether its his performance on the track, an event with a sponsor or a conversation with a fan.  It’s that type of intertwining of all aspects that breeds passion among fans.

So the point of all of this is that the Doug Foley Drag Racing School has signed on for two dates at ZMax Dragway @ Concord.  On Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8 the school will give fans the opportunity to take a few hours course and actually drive a dragster or climb into a specially designed ride-along dragster with a highly trained professional.  I’m thinking I might go for the latter. The highly trained professional part sounds really good to me.  The NHRA true fans and thrill seekers are laughing out loud and diving for the mouse right now to register for the opportunity to actually get behind the wheel. Did I mention you can reach speeds of over 100 mph in just a few seconds?  The last time I tried that the highway patrol was waiting on the other end.  Yes, highly trained professional sounds like my plan. I’ve signed up my husband to drive but don’t tell him…its an early Christmas present. 

We are excited in Cabarrus County to have the drag racing school visit us and we hope it becomes a more permanent opportunity for all of those NHRA fans that caught the fever in September.  This is just one more opportunity for the fans to get even closer – so close they can literally steer the car!

The Bank of America 500 is this weekend and as the haulers, campers, souvenir trailers, fan adorned cars and “Welcome Race Fans” banners moved into Cabarrus County, so to did the rain.

This won’t be the first time rain has descended on the fans…and won’t be the last. While the idea of racing at 200 mph in the pouring rain and the melee that would occur is certainly an entertaining thought. One that does bring a smile to many, it probably isn’t the safest way to race. So, the racing activities are delayed and the rain pours down.

Last night I made my way down the newly named Bruton Smith Boulevard to Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  It was drizzling and had been raining on and off since Wednesday.  At the stop light right in front of the speedway I waited for two race fans, quite possibly a husband and wife team, cross the traffic lanes on their bikes.  My first impression was to feel horribly for them, “bless their hearts” as my new southern friends have taught me and contemplate for the briefest of seconds if their bikes would fit in the back of my Aspen.  The obvious first impression when you see someone on a bike in the rain is to feel sorry for them and think they have to be miserable.  That’s exactly how I felt as I watched them peddle across and make their way down highway 29.  Presumably peddling their blessed little hearts back to their campsite.  Then I realized they were actually turning onto the gravel lot of souvenir alley.  It was then I noticed the bag swinging from the handle bars of the woman’s bike.  They weren’t peddling back to the campsite. Nor were they miserable. Wet – yes but miserable – no.  They were shopping! These bike riding NASCAR fans were making their way to a souvenir hauler.  Rain or not, they had a mission that may have been planned out weeks before arriving in our county and they were following through.

As I stood in our suite last night and watched the rain mist up the windows and the stands sit empty I felt bad. Not for the money lost on ticket sales, money lost on concessions or the countless other losses us business minded people think of when an event is canceled.  I felt bad for the father that was bringing his son out to qualifying for the first time, the fan who drove down from Pennsylvania on a three day weekend who was looking forward to this for months and the teams who were still working away in the garages who wouldn’t have the chance to take the track that night.

Looking out over the stands I thought about the two I had seen earlier on their bikes, souvenir bag swinging away from the bike handle and thought – if there was some way NASCAR could figure out how to drive in the rain…these stands would be full.

Greg Biffle

Only 16 days remain until the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series gets down to business with the Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, but first the NASCAR industry will invade zMAX Dragway @ Concord on Wednesday evening, Oct. 1, for a night of street legal drag racing.

NASCAR drivers, owners, and crew members, most of which reside in the greater Charlotte area, will bring their personal vehicles to the “Bellagio of drag strips” for a chance to go head-to-head on the concrete
quarter-mile. “It’s been since high school since I’ve raced on a drag strip,” said Greg Biffle (left), the winner of the past two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. “I used to race Wednesday night ‘grudge matches’ on the eighth-mile back home. This will be the first opportunity I’ve had to go back to a dragway and run my own car since back in those days. I have a 2007 Shelby GT 500 that I’ve been working on specifically for this and I can’t wait to get to zMAX Dragway next week to see what kind of time she will run.”

Biffle, who logged the seventh fastest speed during the two-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session this week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, is just one of the many NASCAR industry insiders that are eager to compete at the brand new, state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway. “The buzz has been overwhelming,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “We’ve had a lot of requests from our friends in the NASCAR community who want a chance to bring their cars out and have some fun. I’m glad we can give these guys an evening to come out and have a good time at the world’s greatest dragway.”
NASCAR Industry Night is open to the public. Admission is free to fans that show their Bank of America 500 ticket at the gate, or make a $5 contribution to Speedway Children’s Charities. Fans who make the charitable
donation will receive a $5 credit toward a Bank of America 500 ticket purchase. Gates open at 6 p.m. with the action scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the Oct. 11 Bank of America 500 start at just $29 and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS, or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

This weekend there’s the annual Gold Hill Founder’s Day Festival, which I attended last year. This quaint mining village is a blast from the past, with cute stores, a yummy restaurant called Miss Ruby’s, and great entertainment at teh annual celebration. Then the following weekend, it gets really crazy: county fair-style Midland Magic, Bost Grist Mill’s Annual Taste of Yesterday, and the opening weekend of the Carolina Renaissane Festival. If you can swing it, go to Midland Magic and Bost Grist Mill – they’re not far from each other, and you can hit the RenFest the following weekend.

Then, if that’s not enough, hit our Calendar of Events for more festivals, famer’s markets, and corn mazes. There’s no excuse to stay inside this fall!

Priced from $39 to $125, a wide selection of grandstand seating options are available for the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 including a number of premium frontstretch seats. Tickets for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race range in price from $30 to $85.

“We will begin a new era in the tradition-rich history of Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 2009,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  ”The 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 and the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will be the biggest back-to-back weekends in motorsports. We’re planning a spectacle of entertainment that no race fan will want to miss.”

The Lowe’s Motor Speedway ticket office, located on the second floor of Smith Tower, will be open extended hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.

In addition to the Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, tickets will also be available for the May 15 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race; Windstream Pole Night Qualifying on Thursday, May 21; and the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday night, May 23.

Additional information about tickets for all Lowe’s Motor Speedway events can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

Simpson will perform a 40-minute pre-race concert and sing the national anthem at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The concert performance is free with the purchase of a ticket to the Bank of America 500.

“Jessica Simpson is one of the most captivating celebrities in America,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “She’ll put on an incredible pre-race show, and I know NASCAR fans will enjoy seeing a live performance of her new country songs.”

Her appearance at the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway will come just weeks after the Sept. 9 release of her highly anticipated debut country album, “Do You Know,” on the Columbia Nashville label. The album features the hit single “Come On Over” and the title track “Do You Know” with accompanying vocals by country music superstar Dolly Parton.

The Epic/Columbia Nashville recording artist grew up singing gospel and country music before becoming a successful pop artist. In 1999 she signed with Columbia records and released “Sweet Kisses,” which earned double-platinum certification. Simpson recorded a follow-up album in 2001, “Irresistible,” which crossed over to four different charts.

In August 2003, she released her third album, “In This Skin,” which debuted at No.10 on The Billboard 200 album chart before eventually being certified quadruple-platinum. Almost simultaneous with the release of “In This Skin” was the launch of the very popular reality show “Newlyweds,” documenting her marriage to then husband Nick Lachey.

Simpson appeared as Daisy Duke in the 2005 motion picture, “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Her cover of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” headlined the soundtrack. It hit No.14 on the Billboard charts and won a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Song from a Movie.

After a lengthy absence, Simpson is back on stage in front of a live audience singing country music. Recorded in Nashville, her new album, “Do You Know,” gives listeners an inside look at the real Jessica Simpson. Produced by Brett James and John Shanks, Simpson co-wrote all but three of the tracks featured on the album.

“Coming to Nashville and to country music was both a test and a leap of faith for me,” said Simpson. “I’ve come back to who I was growing up. I believe if you follow your heart and be quiet, you will find the answers. You will find yourself. I found myself in this record.”

Tickets for the Oct. 11 Bank of America 500, round five of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, start at just $29 and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455 FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

As a relative newcomer to the sport of drag racing, I was completely unsure of what my experience would be when the NHRA races took place at the new ZMax Dragway @ Concord. On my first day I have to admit I was completely confused. Thursday started with bracket racing. If you are unfamiliar with bracket racing, its a bit perplexing to watch a car take off as fast as they can, slow down and then speed off toward the finish line. After pulling aside someone I could trust to offer me an explanation and not laugh at my ignorance, I understood the incredible level of control a bracket racer has over their car.

On Friday our little delegation from the Tourism Authority and the Economic Development Council braved the near 100% humidity and the 90 degree weather and walked hauler to hauler delivering welcome baskets to many of the top fuel and pro series teams. I have to admit, at times I wasn’t sure who I was meeting but I quickly became familiar with many of the professional drivers. Rod Fuller, Tony Schumacher, Steve Johnson, Angelle – they all were so gracious and I dare say surprised by our visit. Rod Fuller, Steve Johnson, Angelle Sampey, Angie McBride and Mike Smith all stopped by our suite to say thank you throughout the weekend. Along the way we met many of the fans. Every one was over-the-top complimentary of the facility, excited about this opportunity and, like us, sweating profusely. Unlike us however, they didn’t seem to bat an eye at the heat as they waited in make-shift lines to shake hands with their favorite drivers. It was incredible to see the connection NHRA offers the fans to the real action…the behind-the-scenes action in the pits. (Are they called “pits” in NHRA?)

My real moment-of-truth came around 3 pm that afternoon when I read the schedule sitting before me and realized a group of racers called “The Nitro Series” was about to take the track. It was then as I scanned the grandstands I noticed this steady stream of fans filling every seat in the house. What absolutely stunned me were the fans lining the fences less than what I assumed was a safe distance for retaining natural hearing abilities away from the actual track. I almost felt a frantic desperation to yell out to the fans “the Nitros are coming! Step away from the fence!” I ripped open by ear plugs, grabbed a center seat and held on with wide eyes for the first burnout to occur. Now, I was in a suite in the tower right behind the track…behind glass. It was still an incredible experience but as a recovering thrill seeker, I wanted to hear the real deal. I bravely stepped out onto the steps that led to the top of the tower. My first blast of nitro brought tears to my eyes and a smell that is permanently ingrained in my nose. As I turned to take the second set of steps, a car began its burnout. The steps vibrated and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Wow – this is what we have been talking about for months. I made my way to the roof deck, and for anyone who has met me can appreciate, stood on my tip toes to peer over the roof wall. Brave or really stupid, not sure which, I stood without ear plugs and braced for the tree lights to count down. The impact, the smell, the sound is a total package feeling I will not soon forget. After the first pass and the speeds registered over 300 mph, I too became an officially registered fan of drag racing!

Saturday’s festivities and the mounting excitement was the stuff tourism officials dream of. Happy fans, thrilled participants and overflowing hotels brought tears to my eyes. Maybe it was part of the nitro too. By Sunday I understood the countdown to the winner of each series. I filled in my brackets and watched eagerly as each of the names I now recognize move up to the starting line. I’m not sure who was more excited on his win – Steve Johnson or me – ok, probably Steve Johnson but, I was pretty thrilled too.

From all accounts the weekend was an overwhelming success. The fans love the new facility, the drivers raved about the new track and I’m sure just like me – many new faces were welcomed into the drag racing fan club.

Sharon