As Shriners, we have a proud tradition of helping those who most need help. This is
exemplified by the Shriners Hospitals for children. While we work hard to help those
in need, we also have fun doing it - as you can see by the pictures on this web site.
We are Nobles of Oasis Shriners of Charlotte that live in the general vacinity of the Triad Area in North Carolina that form the Oasis 500's Parade Unit. We participate in Shriners' Parades and other parades in our general area for which we receive invitations to participate.
Most outside parades in which we participate come with a contribution to the Shriners' Hospitals as a means of thanking us for our participation. This is how we raise funds for the Shriners' Hospitals. We have a member that builds our cars, which are Formula 500 Race Cars. We purchased our fiberglass bodies from Willis Machine in Concord. Through the generosity of Myrtle Beach Grand Prix, which holds a patent on this car design, we are able to produce cars for ourselves without copywrite charges for the use of their design.
Our original (charter) members were Nobles Bob Lee, Bob Carson, Rick Swaim, Perry Herrmann, and Fred Wood (who builds and designs our cars). We've since gained and lost various members due to varying circumstances. Our membership currently stands at 10 - most living in the Triad Area while one lives as far away as Austin, Texas. We specialize in fun and fellowship.
Unlike most units, having the financial resources to purchase a car is not a requirement. The cars ARE expensive. The investment to attain the latest car version requires around $12,500 over all (not counting the uniforms, shoes, helmets, gloves, etc - or the trailer you'll need. (We recommend an enclosed trailer.) The cars have been appraised in excess of $25K.
We have 3 levels of membership - owner/driver, back-up driver, and pit crew. Owner/driver is self explanitory. Back-up drivers are needed as not all owners are able to attend every parade, so to get their car out there, we use back-up drivers whose responsibility is to trailer the car to the parade, drive it in the parade, and return it back to the owner's residence or where ever they store it, using the same care and caution as though they were the owner. The back-up driver is responsible for any damage that may incur to the car while using it. The unit as a whole (including the pit crew members) is responsible for the maintenance and care of the cars. The unit provides from its funds for the fuel and wear and tear expenses (tire replacement, etc.) for the cars.
We recently moved up to a Formula 500 design car from large racing carts to provide for the greater size (individually) of our members. The earlier racing carts felt more like you were wearing them, rather than driving them. The new cars have Hoosier Racing Tires, four-wheel disk brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, Kawasaki engines, a torque converter, and forward-neutral-reverse transmissions. We use NASCAR short track in car radios and helmet connections. Due to the heat of hot days, we recently added F.A.S.T. in-car cooling / fresh air systems that bring in cool air from the outside and pump it (after filtering) into the driver's helmet (just like NASCAR - NACA duct and all). The new cars have a track of 68 inches, a wheel base of 80.5 inches and are 11' 4'' long overall.
If you're a Shriner and not a member of a unit, do it - get involved - get into one of your local units. You're not truly enjoying the Shrine until you do.
OUR THANKS go out to......
The fine folks at Salem Sports Signs in Winston-Salem that donate both materials and labor - they design, manufacture and install the outstanding decals on our cars. We have also been fortunate in that they designed and manufactured our new logo and trailer decals.
The fine folks at Fischel Steel in Winston-Salem which has worked with us over the years, donating materials to us and on extremely short notice sometimes.
Our sincere thanks to the Brothers and friends of the 4 Brothers Food Stores and Beroth Oil Company for both the moral and financial support they've given us since the founding of our unit.
Jim Glenn, a fabricator for Kevin Harvick, Inc. (Kevin Harvick's NASCAR Nationwide Series team) and owner of JEG Racing, who donates his time to install the lines and fittings for our hydralic disk brakes into our cars.
Scott's Muffler Shop in Lexington that donates the labor to build our exhaust systems
Tracy's Frame Shop in Lexington that donates the labor to paint our cars for us.
Richard Childress Racing in Welcome - our sponsor for the Welcome Easter Parade.
Competition Karting's Louis Dowell in Welcome who has supported us with ideas and his experience over the years.
Myrtle Beach Grand Prix, which holds the patent on our car design - for allowing us to produce these cars for our Shrine unit without requiring copywrite usage expenses.
Rick Henkel, recently voted an honorary member, for his many hours of time and dedication in helping with the racecar construction and design.
John Clark (of Louis and Clark) who donates his time and experience to develop and maintain this web site for us.
We'd have never made it without all you folks....
THANKS EVER SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!