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TonyB
Guest
It's real. There was news about it earlier in the week.
They are supposedly planning a protest for Atlanta.
They are supposedly planning a protest for Atlanta.
T
TonyB
Guest
From NASCAR.com
New group plans to push NASCAR toward diversity
By Mike Harris, Associated Press
An organization calling itself the National Association for Minority Race Fans has set up a web site and is apparently planning protests at some NASCAR Nextel Cup races before the end of the season.
The NAMRF has made inquiries to officials in Hampton, Ga., the home of Atlanta Motor Speedway, about the possibility of staging a protest during the week of the Oct. 31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. There were also indications the group might hold a protest before the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.
Bud Smith, chief of police in Hampton, confirmed the NAMRF had contacted the city but said a permit for such a protest would not be necessary. He said the organization would only need to register with the city.
The web site, www.namrf.com, is currently for members only but will be opened to the public on Oct. 1. The home page features a clock counting down to its public opening at midnight Thursday. Behind the clock is what is described on the site as a mission statement which says the group's purpose is to "create a safe race track environment while pursuing the political, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens who desire to enjoy NASCAR events without racial bigotry."
"We strive to remove the barriers of racial discrimination permitted by NASCAR, its sponsors and race teams," it said.
The home page also includes images of a Confederate flag, a person wearing a white hood and robe and a burning cross with a car in the background, all with titles like "Entitled to Damages" and "What We're Up Against" superimposed over them.
There is also mention of a documentary film and NASCAR officials said Monday a film crew has shown up unannounced at the corporate headquarters of several team sponsors, asking to speak with company officials.
A newspaper in Clayton County, Ga., carried a story last week about the planned protest at Atlanta Motor Speedway and quoted a Dallas attorney, Phillip W. Offill Jr., as the group's spokesman. A call to Offill by The Associated Press on Monday was not returned.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Monday the NAMRF has not contacted the stock car sanctioning organization, which is currently involved in two major efforts to foster diversity in the sport.
"NASCAR represents 75 million fans from all across America and we don't think that fan base can be painted with any one broad brush," Poston said. "We think we have shown that we want to make the sport more diverse off and on the track and we are ready and willing to speak to anyone on the issue of diversity."
Poston acknowledged that there are Confederate flags often displayed in and around the tracks where NASCAR races, but noted that such things are a "free speech issue."
"What we can say is that you won't see one in any area controlled by NASCAR," he said. "... I can't take the flags out of people's hands."
Magic Johnson, the former NBA star and now an entrepreneur in the black community in Los Angeles and other cities, earlier this year became co-chairman of NASCAR's committee on diversity. He also expressed concern about the new organization.
"I would say to them, 'Let's see if NASCAR's diversity program is for real,"' Johnson said. "I'll be the first to say if it's not, 'Go ahead and protest.' But, if the program works, they may prevent minorities from making a living in the sport."
NASCAR's "Drive for Diversity" program, which began earlier this year, has helped get rides for several minority drivers and work for minority crew members in lower divisions. Johnson said he is also working on a plan to get more minority businesses involved in the sport.
New group plans to push NASCAR toward diversity
By Mike Harris, Associated Press
An organization calling itself the National Association for Minority Race Fans has set up a web site and is apparently planning protests at some NASCAR Nextel Cup races before the end of the season.
The NAMRF has made inquiries to officials in Hampton, Ga., the home of Atlanta Motor Speedway, about the possibility of staging a protest during the week of the Oct. 31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. There were also indications the group might hold a protest before the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.
Bud Smith, chief of police in Hampton, confirmed the NAMRF had contacted the city but said a permit for such a protest would not be necessary. He said the organization would only need to register with the city.
The web site, www.namrf.com, is currently for members only but will be opened to the public on Oct. 1. The home page features a clock counting down to its public opening at midnight Thursday. Behind the clock is what is described on the site as a mission statement which says the group's purpose is to "create a safe race track environment while pursuing the political, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens who desire to enjoy NASCAR events without racial bigotry."
"We strive to remove the barriers of racial discrimination permitted by NASCAR, its sponsors and race teams," it said.
The home page also includes images of a Confederate flag, a person wearing a white hood and robe and a burning cross with a car in the background, all with titles like "Entitled to Damages" and "What We're Up Against" superimposed over them.
There is also mention of a documentary film and NASCAR officials said Monday a film crew has shown up unannounced at the corporate headquarters of several team sponsors, asking to speak with company officials.
A newspaper in Clayton County, Ga., carried a story last week about the planned protest at Atlanta Motor Speedway and quoted a Dallas attorney, Phillip W. Offill Jr., as the group's spokesman. A call to Offill by The Associated Press on Monday was not returned.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Monday the NAMRF has not contacted the stock car sanctioning organization, which is currently involved in two major efforts to foster diversity in the sport.
"NASCAR represents 75 million fans from all across America and we don't think that fan base can be painted with any one broad brush," Poston said. "We think we have shown that we want to make the sport more diverse off and on the track and we are ready and willing to speak to anyone on the issue of diversity."
Poston acknowledged that there are Confederate flags often displayed in and around the tracks where NASCAR races, but noted that such things are a "free speech issue."
"What we can say is that you won't see one in any area controlled by NASCAR," he said. "... I can't take the flags out of people's hands."
Magic Johnson, the former NBA star and now an entrepreneur in the black community in Los Angeles and other cities, earlier this year became co-chairman of NASCAR's committee on diversity. He also expressed concern about the new organization.
"I would say to them, 'Let's see if NASCAR's diversity program is for real,"' Johnson said. "I'll be the first to say if it's not, 'Go ahead and protest.' But, if the program works, they may prevent minorities from making a living in the sport."
NASCAR's "Drive for Diversity" program, which began earlier this year, has helped get rides for several minority drivers and work for minority crew members in lower divisions. Johnson said he is also working on a plan to get more minority businesses involved in the sport.
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Patrick9999
Guest
No such thing as bad press (for Nascar) and the right to assembly/peaceful protest. Sounds to me like both parties involved should be happy.
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EatMorePossum
Guest
I'm gonna plan a picket of select NBA games to force them to allow majority players into their sport as athletes. Who's with me? 
fergy1370
Team Owner
Funny how "negotiations" started at midnight last night, when the website was suppose to launch. Maybe these idiots realize how stupid they look.
fergy1370
Team Owner
You bring the burgers and I'll have the beer.....we'll have plenty of time to sit around 'cause we both know it'll be a waste of time.Originally posted by EatMorePossum@Oct 1 2004, 09:05 AM
I'm gonna plan a picket of select NBA games to force them to allow majority players into their sport as athletes. Who's with me?
You bring the burgers and I'll have the beer.....we'll have plenty of time to sit around 'cause we both know it'll be a waste of time.Originally posted by fergy1370+Oct 1 2004, 09:09 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (fergy1370 @ Oct 1 2004, 09:09 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-EatMorePossum@Oct 1 2004, 09:05 AM
I'm gonna plan a picket of select NBA games to force them to allow majority players into their sport as athletes. Who's with me?
[/b][/quote]Count me in to!
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hotshoe
Guest
1st of all, I have been to many races over many, many years and have participated in racing for 20 years and I have never seen anything out of the ordinary pertaining to minorities. There are minoritys that are racing in other NASCAR series and that is because they WANT to be there and WORK toward their goals. Now, if they want to be able to own a race team, then, like someone else said, they need to plunk down about $20-25 million to get started. All these people are after is $$$$$$$$$$ because they want a huge chunk of change without working for it. I wonder how many other sports, businesses, or whatever they've pulled this same crap on! 
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whiteflaglap
Guest
Here is NASCAR's response so far on this. Project 21 the group that helped NASCAR with getting the payments to Jesse Jackson and his Push Coalition has also spoken on the subject. This is something ANR-AtT just received today.
NASCAR and Project 21 Speak about NAMRF
NASCAR and Project 21 Speak about NAMRF
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the3car
Guest
What's going on with this namrf and NASCAR is absolutely absurd. They somehow got NASCAR to agree to some kind of talks? For what?
Wendell Scott stood on his own two feet in the face of much greater adversity and gained the respect of his competitors through racing and determination in much more difficult times. Seems to me what this namrf is wanting to do is for NASCAR to basically create a minority team or they'll scream and moan about the racist NASCAR. Of course, NASCAR is so sickenly P.C. now, they're going to appease them in some way. Hey NASCAR, I want a race team too and...and I'll unleash my webpage if you don't talk to me.
Listen namrf...if you've got it, bring it. If you've got a minority driver with the talent to compete in NASCAR, then get off your whiny butts and get him a sponser and put him on the track. Willie T. Ribbs tried and couldn't get it done. If you want to come to a race, then get off your whiny butts and buy a ticket. Nobody is stopping you but yourselves. And although they won't, that's exactly what NASCAR should tell them.
Wendell Scott stood on his own two feet in the face of much greater adversity and gained the respect of his competitors through racing and determination in much more difficult times. Seems to me what this namrf is wanting to do is for NASCAR to basically create a minority team or they'll scream and moan about the racist NASCAR. Of course, NASCAR is so sickenly P.C. now, they're going to appease them in some way. Hey NASCAR, I want a race team too and...and I'll unleash my webpage if you don't talk to me.
Listen namrf...if you've got it, bring it. If you've got a minority driver with the talent to compete in NASCAR, then get off your whiny butts and get him a sponser and put him on the track. Willie T. Ribbs tried and couldn't get it done. If you want to come to a race, then get off your whiny butts and buy a ticket. Nobody is stopping you but yourselves. And although they won't, that's exactly what NASCAR should tell them.
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OnlyIE
Guest
I raced for 21 years and no one gave me anything. I am a w/m and I had to work for everything that I got. If anyone wants to pay their dues in the school of hard knocks, then do it. I don't believe that there is anyone stopping you. If a person wants to attain success then you must first work for it. Richard Petty didn't start at the top. Oh well, I could say a lot more, but for now I'll just remain silent. 
buckaroo
Here kitty, kitty, kitty
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coonhound
Guest
I went there and checked it out. Looks like we are going to have to get protesters to protest the protestors. That would be over 100,000 against the 50 or so people they could actually get to go protest. Its interesting they have a link to Talledegas track policy. The policy pretty much eliminates protests. Anyhow, I think they should give them plenty of space next to the track so the roar of the engines drowns em out.
This whole thing is absurd IMO. Sure, most of us would like to see more diversity in motorsports, but where in any form of motorsports do you see true diversity.
Remember the reception Hideo Fukuyama received? OK, he wasn't all that competative, but still, the fans were up in arms.
If anybody wants to run with the big dawgs, they need to get off the porch first and protesting isn't gonna get it done.
Remember the reception Hideo Fukuyama received? OK, he wasn't all that competative, but still, the fans were up in arms.
If anybody wants to run with the big dawgs, they need to get off the porch first and protesting isn't gonna get it done.