Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 3, 1993 TAG: 9304030078
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MOURNING RACE FANS JAM SOUVENIR STORE DON
Alan Kulwicki's death caused a grim rush Friday at Racing Image, a Roanoke NASCAR souvenir and apparel store.Racing fans stormed the Williamson Road shop and quickly cleared the shelves of Kulwicki paraphernalia after hearing of his plane crash.
"We don't see this kind of rush except maybe at Christmas time," said Racing Image owner and NASCAR official Bobby Scruggs, who arrived at the store about 11 a.m.
"It's a sad situation."
Employees Debbie Thomas and Jamie Scruggs opened the store at 10 a.m.
"The parking lot was full of people waiting for us to open when I got here," said Thomas, a manager and sales clerk. "I didn't expect as many as there were first thing in the morning."
By noon, all Kulwicki apparel - hats, T-shirts, sweat shirts, jackets - was gone, along with most mugs, posters, bumper stickers and other small memorabilia.
"Debbie called our family and told us about [Kulwicki's death] this morning," said Jamie Scruggs, Bobby's son. "I really didn't think we'd get bombarded until I got here. There were about 20 people outside waiting.
"People were spending $60-$70 at a time and one lady spent over $100. I think it was just typical race fans who never had Alan Kulwicki stuff. They wiped us out of everything. It's sad it had to happen this way."
Thomas said customers gathered around the store's television during the report of the plane crash on the news at noon. "There was complete silence," she said.
By mid-afternoon, the only Kulwicki items remaining were Matchbox cars and a few No. 7 car banks. The rush had stopped, but there was a steady stream of customers and calls, including a woman who phoned the store in tears.
"People are very upset," Thomas said. "Racing fans pull for one driver, but they like all of them. It takes all of them to make the races exciting."
Roanoke's Mark Kalstrom arrived at Racing Image after the morning flurry.
"I'm just looking for something for sentimental value," Kalstrom said. "I thought it would be a good thing to try to find some memorabilia, if any is still available.
"I like Ernie Irvan, but Kulwicki was still one of the Winston Cup gang. He was out there racing every week and he was proven. You have to respect him. He was at the top of his career when he died."
Tom Edwards of Roanoke came in at 3 p.m. and bought a Kulwicki Matchbox car.
"I'm a Bill Elliott fan, but I think it's terrible," Edwards said. "I collect things and I didn't have any Kulwicki stuff."
Ken Sobolewski, a NASCAR fan from Bordentown, N.J., is visiting relatives in Roanoke. He bought the last Kulwicki championship mug.
"I drove in at about 11 [Thursday night] and I didn't know anything," Sobolewski said. "I was watching the morning news and I was shocked. I got a mug, but there wasn't a lot in here."
Keywords:
FATALITY