Posted on 07/03/2004 1:03:26 PM PDT by wagglebee
Patriotic rage is being fueled this holiday weekend near the nation's birthplace after a local NASCAR racetrack in Virginia has banned the flying of flags in the track infield, prompting at least eight employees to quit their jobs.
"This is the Fourth of July weekend, and we're at war!" says Bryan Bowyer, who just resigned his position as chief steward and race director at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va.
"The whole basis of our society is our flag and what this weekend represents. The ban just pushed me over the edge."
Bowyer says in addition to himself, more than half a dozen others decided to resign their positions, including the entire scoring staff, two officials with the race-sanctioning body NASCAR, and the scoreboard operator.
The track's owner, Dwight Schaubach, denies there's a total ban on the American flag, but explains there's a new preclusion against flying any sort of banner, flag or windsock in the track's infield, potentially obstructing the view of race fans.
"It has nothing to do with the American flag," Schaubach told WorldNetDaily. "I have not abandoned any particular flag. I'm just as much a Southerner and an American as anyone. I have flags on my personal cars. I just don't want them flying in the infield."
Langley Speedway is located in the heart of America's military country. The .395-mile asphalt oval track is directly across the street from Langley Air Force Base, and NASA's wind tunnel is viewable from the stands. The U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet is headquarted just a half-hour away at Norfolk, Va.
The track does have a giant U.S. flag posted, which racing enthusiasts face when the national anthem is being played.
Schaubach says several spectators have complained about the flags on the infield getting in their way of the action, though he couldn't provide a specific number.
He adds the ban was instituted two weeks ago, and has been posted on the track's website:
As of this date, 6/21/04, all flags, banners, socks, etc. will be prohibited from being displayed (flown) in the infield pit area at any time.
All haulers are restricted from having anything attached that would extend higher than the roofline of the trailer except for approved platforms, and handrails. The promoter has the right at any time to have objects that do not conform to this rule removed.
Any competitor, crewmember, or owner that refuses to abide by this rule will be asked to leave the facility until notified by the track officials on actions to be taken.
I hope this will help everyone at the speedway have a better viewing of race activities, and enjoy the show better.
"The flags in no way inhibited my view," Bowyer explained, saying he believes there's another reason for the blanket proscription on infield flags.
Bowyer says he was told by a track employee close to Schaubach that the track owner had been offended by someone flying a Confederate flag in the infield, and thus decided to preclude banners of all kinds.
"That is absolutely incorrect," Schaubach responded to the allegation.
The issue came to a head Thursday night, when one driver in the Late Model Sportsman division was told he would be disqualified for flying the American flag on his car's hauler.
When track management considered potential punishment, other drivers refused to race, as they rallied behind their fellow motorist who wouldn't remove the Stars and Stripes.
The race did eventually take place later that night, after hundreds of fans had already filed out of the stands.
The flap over the flag has become a hot topic on RaceRap.com, a Virginia-based messageboard for auto-racing fans.
"Langley must apologize! Plain and simple," writes website owner Bob Barney, suggesting a possible solution to the matter. He proposes the track host a "flag night" next week, where fans bringing an American flag with them would get a discount off their ticket price.
"I certainly hope that management at Langley Speedway stops for a moment and realizes what happened [Thursday] night. It was America at its best! Everyone makes mistakes. I think that this whole issue had more to do with past events than the American flag. What we saw last night was the stick that broke the camel's back and American democracy working! What better timing, but on the 4th of July?"
As far as Bowyer is concerned, he says he'll miss directing the races at Langley, but honoring U.S. troops in Iraq and elsewhere is more important.
"I give allegiance to what protects me and my family, and that comes first," he said.
I can go with that.
I don't think I am a "commie from from MA" as you put it....
Rather I am an American in Iraq trying to secure of financial independence for me, my wife and my future family....what "commie from from MA" would be doing that? Wouldnt I be waiting for a hand out?
John Kerry is another issue, that traitor has put a stain on what people like my Dad and my uncles did in Vietnam....war criminals is what he called them....what will he call our boys over here now? probably the same....
but yeah I am a commie from from MA.....please....
Oh, really?
I could also be that you don't know what you are talking about.
Never mind. That's probably never stopped you yet.
I should not get into labels.
You do walk a lot like a duck tho.
Why is that? Because I think that you should fly the flag of the United States on the day the United States declared it's independence? What's so wrong with that....
I do think that the message of the CSA, although twisted as it certainly has been, has outlived its usefullness....but that is a personal opinion....
To say that you look at it and hate it if you see it (paraphrasing) makes me think that you are not as patriotic as you think you are....
The basis of our society is our flag? Sounds like the media doing the typical lets-find-the-dumb-guy interview.
Stay safe my friend..........:o)
I didn't mean it that way.
I just feel that we Southern hicks are contintually being put down. We lost the war, but we don't need that to be rubbed in our noses.
In a sense, all this flying of American flags is doing that. I have grown weary of it. I am going to get myself a Stars & Bars flag, and I will fly it in front of my home.
If you don't like that, then we can disagree.
so wait wait wait wait wait
the flag of the COUNTRY YOU ARE KNOW IN is rubbing it in your face that the collection of states in your vincinity lost a war that you didn't even fight in?
Quit the over-dramatizing please......
watch it now....I would never say Southern hicks...ever....
My dad was born in Bristol and my brother was born in Clarksville....I was born in West Germany :)....so when you say Southern hicks, dont put we in front of it because then you are including family members that I am sure would not like to be referred to that way....
Go on...fly your CSA flag....give idiots like Kerry and his band of misfits ammo.....
and just because the US flag pisses you off.....way to go....
Sirs,
It has come to my attention that flying the American Flag at your speedway is... AGAINST YOUR RULES???
Have you morons lost your minds???
As of RIGHT NOW I have ceased to be a NASCAR fan, and will not - NOT - purchase my yearly tickets to the September race at Dover.
Don't reply with some pap about flags, banners, etc., ad nauseum. YOUR REFUSAL TO ALLOW PATRIOTIC AMERICANS TO FLY THE FLAG OF OUR NATION DURING WARTIME IS FAR, FAR BENEATH CONTEMPT.
If I am ever in the vicinity of Langley Speedway, I will definitely take the long way around.
Choke on your rules.
Signed,
Etc.
Well, see, that's how things always seem to work.
As of this evening, I have been looking into Bristol. I have never been there, but I would like to get my GF a dulcimer for her birthday. I put up a message on the chat geoup about this a few hours ago,
It seems that some of the best dulcimers come from Bristol. From around there.
It isn't a town that comes up all that often.
I think I will.
I won't do a battle flag, but a Stars & Bars would be okay. I think I should be able to find one.
Yeah...I like Bristol...its better than some of the other places I have lived....
My grandparents are buried up near Roan Mountain....
Without being sarcastic (as I often am), I would be very honored to put some flowers on their graves. I will probably be going there soon to look at dulcimers. Doing something along those lines would be good by me. It would make the trip worthwhile.
We can talk. For this, mail might be better. Please take me seriously. I joke around a lot, but not on this.
Email. Mine is hcdotme@ntelos.net
FReepmail will also work.
My opinion is that we should do this. We don't get too many chances.
I'm probably there in early August. We have some time to talk.
I don't even own a 'confederate flag'.
And the one I do fly on days like today is black with a guard tower in the background.
This must be a race track run by the United Nations!
The track was to be closed, but they raced on Thursday 7/1 as a make up race that was rained out the weekend before 6/26.
This is a local story done on the Flag issue...They are real
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-38328sy0jul03,0,2798164.story?coll=dp-sports-local
Here is a link from a local columnist in the same paper.
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/columnists/dp-38372cm0jul03,0,461091.column?coll=dp-sports-columnists
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