[BringBackWilkesboro]

As you know, I am heavily invovled with the save the speedway website. I know it may seem like I am plugging the site, but I just want to inform you of our efforts. first, here are some photos of signs you may see around the track:


I also want to post a story from a member by the name of ShortTrackFan:

From the start of the 2006 race season, I have attended several races and have appeared on TV with a couple of signs. The first and most seen sign reads “BRING BACK NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY”. It has appeared on TV at Daytona, twice at Martinsville, and twice at Darlington. The second sign reads “HEY BRUTON, WHAT ABOUT NORTH WILKESBORO?” That sign appeared twice at Darlington on Mother’s Day Weekend. These signs represent the concerns of many, many REAL race fans that cherish the history of the sport and want to keep it alive, no matter how much today’s racing executives appear to want to see it forgotten. So far, there hasn’t been any objection by anyone in the venues where the signs have appeared. I haven’t targeted any particular venue; I merely take the signs to the tracks I have purchased tickets at.

This past weekend at Charlotte (Lowe’s Motor Speedway), I attended a live TV show on Sunday afternoon. I carried both signs to the television camera area. Granted, it’s a track owned by O. Bruton Smith (the same co-owner of North Wilkesboro Speedway), but I wasn’t trying to create any controversy. I was merely doing the same thing I have set out to do so all season—bring attention towards racing’s history to everyone. So many fans of today’s racing have no idea where it came from—and need to know.

I was one person, holding one sign. I was keeping to myself, not creating a scene or starting an uproar. One person, one sign—the same sign that had been used in the past without receiving any negative feedback from fans, TV or authorities. It happened to be the “HEY BRUTON” sign. I’ll admit it was a little aggressive because it was directed toward one person in specific. But it is because the race fans want an answer. So much history has been left to be forgotten. Efforts have been made in the past and currently are being made to bring that history alive by resurrecting the track and returning racing to its roots. Bruton holds the answer, as much as he tries to lead the people to believe he doesn’t and isn’t the only one. The message that sign is trying to get across is, “Hey Bruton………why?” What are you so afraid of? If it is so valuable to you (according to the price tag you have on it), then why don’t you keep it alive—for any type of racing, not just Cup, Busch or even the Truck Series? If you don’t want to keep it alive yourself, then let someone with an appreciation of the sport (not the money) use it.

Picking back up on the story, I was holding the sign above the crowd. I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was someone of authority (Lowe's Motor Speedway/Speedway Motorsports Inc/local authority—not sure). He was in civilian clothing, but was wearing credentials and was carrying a pistol. He informed me that I needed to take the sign down immediately. He didn’t ask for the sign, but he did say that if he saw it waving in the crowd one more time, I would be watching the weekend racing activities from a TV at the county jail. Not wanting to cause any problems, I dropped the sign to the ground. It stayed there from that point on. At that time, I showed him the “BRING BACK NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY” sign and asked if it was ok to hold that sign up. He looked at it and said that it was ok to do so. The entire time, our conversation was cordial and respectful. I was lead to believe that he felt I was of no real concern—and I wasn’t.

I’m now holding the “BRING BACK” sign as the TV show starts to go live—the same sign that has been at three different tracks prior to the Charlotte weekend, on live TV five times without receiving any negative reaction. About that time, I am tapped on the back again. This time it is a local law enforcement officer in uniform. He told me “I need both signs now.” I complied and in doing so, I said, “With all due respect, that other fellow told me it was ok to hold this particular sign.” His answer was, “I need both signs now!” After handing him both signs, I asked if I could keep the signs if I were to leave the property immediately. His answer didn’t change. I then went to guy who told me to put the first sign down. I said, “Hey, I did everything according to what you told me I could and couldn’t do…….” He answered by saying, “And I thank for being so cooperative.” I asked him if I could have my signs back, but his answer was the same as the police officer.

I would like to take this time to say that in no way do I have any hard feelings toward the to men that approached me. As mentioned, our conversations were respectful and cordial. The two men were merely doing their jobs and doing what they were instructed to do. I understood that immediately and that’s why I was cooperative. I admire the fact that they were working on race weekend. If it were me, I’d have a major attitude because I’d want to enjoy the same fun as 150,000+ fans were.

Where I come from, freedom of speech is legal. I was well within my legal rights by carrying those signs. There was no obscene or vulgar language on either sign, not to mention there were no derogatory or offensive sayings on either sign. I can understand if the owner of the property didn’t want to have them present on his property. In that case, I should have either been asked to leave with my possessions or be escorted off the property with them. Now where I come from, STEALING is illegal. And, this is what took place. The authorities/Lowe's Motor Speedway/Speedway Motorsports Inc will tell you that my signs were “confiscated.” Confiscated can also be a word used to mean “corruptively stolen.” If it were that big of a deal where my signs had to be “confiscated,” then why was I allowed to:
A) stay on the property,
B) not be “interrogated” or ID checked
C) not be hauled off in a squad car.

My signs were not “confiscated,” they were STOLEN and I want them back. The questions are “who” did this and “why.” We’ve got a pretty good idea who the “who” is, but now we must wait for the “why.” If the person(s) involved in the disappearance of these signs appreciate and respect the history of the sport as not only I do, but as well as countless other race fans do, those signs will be returned to me. And racing fans should also expect to be given an answer as to why they were STOLEN in the first place.
Hey Bruton, I'm back!!


The North Wilkesboro Speedway present day

[TN_Gal]

Wow, sorry to hear that happen. I am not familiar with the Wilkesboro track history but it sounds like Bruton is either a miser or is probably being paid very well to keep the track closed....

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by TN_Gal

Wow, sorry to hear that happen. I am not familiar with the Wilkesboro track history but it sounds like Bruton is either a miser or is probably being paid very well to keep the track closed....

I second that.... what a crock....that's just wrong.

[Phils20]

Yep, that is just plain wrong. And disturbing. I can see if it was profane, but I just can't see the issue, other than them just being afraid that folks might actually have a thought of their own!

[Jeffrey4318]

You should of pulled out your cell phone right in front of the two men and called the police. When they asked you what you were doing you should have said "My signs were stolen and I am going to turn in the guy who stole him."

I agree with your stance. They should bring North Wilkesboro back. Maybe not for Cup, but it wouldn't hurt for the Busch or Trucks to show up atleast once a year. Even so though Bruton is a business man. If he felt he could make money off of it by keeping it open then I'm sure he would. At the same time I'm sure he makes more money keeping it closed. Sounds kind of weird/funny but that is how it works. It probably costs more for the upkeep/crew to run the track then it would get in return.

Back to the signs. They had no right to take the signs. I understand that is it private property and if they want you removed they can. I'm not familiar with North Carolina law but I'm sure they just can't take your property without cause. They can ask you to put them away or leave the premises, or remove you. Not take the signs. I would have called the police, even though they were probably off duty police officers. I would of done it just to prove my point.

[LSC9901]

It seems that your stance on this issue doesn't involve being disruptive. My initial thought on problems such as this is to get some identity of those who you feel have wronged you. You said the 1st guy had credentials. There should have been some type of identification on those cards and same for the police officer. If nothing else he had a number on his badge. If you are going to protest anything then you need to be ready for this type of retaliation. Something as simple as a badge number can get you a lot of answers. A cell phone with a camera would be nice or a small digital camera. Both would help your cause. Better yet have someone near you taking pictures. That way they are not involved.

[tkj24]

I think if they would have a truck race at N. Wilksboro the track would be sold out. I for one would rush to buy my ticket.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4318

I agree with your stance. They should bring North Wilkesboro back. Maybe not for Cup, but it wouldn't hurt for the Busch or Trucks to show up atleast once a year. Even so though Bruton is a business man. If he felt he could make money off of it by keeping it open then I'm sure he would. At the same time I'm sure he makes more money keeping it closed. Sounds kind of weird/funny but that is how it works. It probably costs more for the upkeep/crew to run the track then it would get in return.

For a a small facility like NWS was, it made him plenty of money, but his newer, bigger, more modern Texas Motor Speedway was sure to get him much more.

Like you said, Bruton is a business man. Any business man would move a racing series away from an aging short track to a brand new, 200,000 seat mega-facility, no matter how much tradition they're destroying.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

For a a small facility like NWS was, it made him plenty of money, but his newer, bigger, more modern Texas Motor Speedway was sure to get him much more.

Like you said, Bruton is a business man. Any business man would move a racing series away from an aging short track to a brand new, 200,000 seat mega-facility, no matter how much tradition they're destroying.

Exactly right. We are looking at tradition and he is looking at the profit line. Not sure why he won't sell it but I do understand not running races there.