Possumblog

Why, yes--it IS a big deal!

From close by to where I grew up--

Graysville to become Mayberry for a day

LIZ ELLABY
News staff writer


Graysville will become Mayberry, N.C., for a day on July 30.

The city will sponsor this year's Mayberry Squad Car Nationals, an Andy Griffith Show-inspired event previously held in Brent.

Graysville took up the sponsorship after Brent decided to drop the event this year.

On July 30, owners of 1960-1967 Ford Customs and Galaxies, disguised as typical police cruisers of the era, will converge on the city to run races and obstacle courses depicting some of the show's episodes.

The Alabama-bred event was conceived by Ken Junkin of Gordo, owner of a 1964 Ford Custom and member of the Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club.

Junkin put together the competition with club friends who also own vintage Fords.

The first nationals were four years ago in Fayette, before Brent stepped in, he said.

Junkin himself plays a sober version of the show's town drunk character, Otis Campbell. And if an event is far enough from home, he will perform a skit as Big Maud, the female escaped bank robber from the episode "Convicts at Large."

Little did you know that watching The Andy Griffith Show could turn you into a crossdresser...

But the highlight remains the timed course, set with the same obstacles that drove the plots of memorable episodes.

After leaving the starting line, competitors will have to stop and hang up a stop sign on a nail, stop again to break up a still, and again to take clothes down from a clothes line, like Barney had to do but didn't think he should have to do as deputy.

"They stop again to pick up a hair ribbon, like Goober's girlfriend lost while riding in the squad car on a triple date, and finally," Junkin said, "arrest Ernest T. Bass before crossing the finish line."

Junkin met Graysville Mayor Doug Brewer at the Mayberry Days annual festival held in Mt. Airy, N.C.

Brewer said he overheard Junkin lamenting the loss of the Brent sponsor, and asked him to come to Graysville.

Brewer did not comment on any similarities that may exist between Mayberry and Graysville. The festival just promises to be a fun, positive event, he said.

Well, knowing Doug the way I do (we went to the same school from 1st through 12th grade, and he graduated a year ahead of me) I imagine the event will be quite a spectacle.

And yes, I do have tons of stuff I could blackmail the good mayor with, so I expect an invite to keep me quiet.

Or I might just tell all I know about the portable sign outside of the Hickory House...

Posted by Terry Oglesby at April 11, 2005 10:25 AM