[rant]

I normally wouldnt commentate on something like this, becuase I know it'll probably ruffle the feathers of  few die-hard NASCAR fans, but I had such an "interesting" time this last weekend, I have to vent...err....share my experiences of 3 days of NASCAR. I've never been to a NASCAR event before, and probalynever will again, but figured I'll share my experiences here. Besides, Ive go tnothing else to do at the moment.

Yes, ladies and gents, your tax dollars have paid for me to be assimilated into the world of NASCAR. Being a part of the "Army of One", wait...thats not our slogan anymore. What's the new one? Oh nevermind, I digress...Being in the National Guard sometimes has "advantages". I was given the option this last weekend to do an alternate weekend drill, and be part of the security force at California Speedway in Fontucky, california. My thinking was that it would certainly beat sitting in the drill hall next Friday night through Sunday afternoon, late, waiting to be released. It was certainly a weekend I wil never forget.

It began early Friday morning with the usual National Guard clu$terFack, wherein nobody knew what we were suposed to do or where we were supposed to go, but in time it all came together. We were part of the "RedShirts" crew, and would more or less be extra sets of eyes to look out for the ever present Dirty Bomb, Hadji the terrorist, illegal smokers, drunks and the like.

Friday was relatively mellow, since it was still a workday, and besides, the truck races are definitely not the big draw here. There were people, yeah, but most were there to take it all in without the crush of the large crowds. We dutifully manned out posts and kept watch for anything out of the ordinary. I was posted down by the "firepit" at the exit of turn 4 with another guy, which was actually pretty cool, for the first 15 laps. The cars were literally 2 feet away from us, when we got the courage to go that close to the fence. Those cars and trucks screaming by at 170 to 184 was impressive. Screaming is and UNDERSTATEMENT, becuase those things are LOUD. and very fast to boot. They are racecars and they have it like that. I kept thinking, "I need some headers like that on MY car". Good luck passing smog though. We saw a couple of spinouts right in front of us, which was entertaining, and while I wanted one of those things to hit the wall and burst into a big ol' ball of fire right in front of my eyes, I had second thoughts when I imagined the fireball that would engulf my comrade and I. Thanks god for the two firemen that were asleep in the truck right next to us. We had to turn away a few looky-loos who wanted to be part of the fireball with us, and there were the couple of middle aged women who saw our uniforms and had to come oogle at us. There were also a few gents who came by and thanked us for serving, which was flattering but totally unecessary. Shortly after sundown, while the race was in session, I had a moment of clarity and a brief oppotunity to boogie and go home to take my wife out to dinner. I took it and never looked back, as the roar from the trucks at that point was both deafening and boring. I had been on my feet since 8am and wanted a break. The other guy I was with had shown up late, so he was lucky and got to stay till about 8:30 or so when the race finally ended. The next day, he commented on how impressed he was with the speed with which I disappeared. Being in the Army teaches you that, if nothing else.

Saturday morning 8am - We gather outside to get the days instructions. Our mission is to keep watch over the flock of NASCAR sheep, and do foot patrols at the very top of the grandstand, where we have both a great view of the race itself, and the flock is arrayed in front of us. The weather is good, the crowd is a larger and the Busch 300 is scheduled  to start at about 3pm, with LOTS of qualifying and practice sessions beforehand. The race finally begins and we settle in, doing out foot patrols, back and forth, keeping one eye on the race, and one on the flock. The most exciting event of the day was the guy who blew chunks on the woman in front him, all over her sweater. I wasnt close enough to hear the argument, but this guy and his drunk friend, were bitching about having paid good money for a ticket and now they were being ejected from the stadium. I guess the lady who now had vomit all  over her sweater failed to read the disclaimer in fine print on the bottom of her ticket, that stated "California Speeday is in no way responsible for vomit on your sweater, enter at your own risk." The other sort of cool event was the fight that almost took place when two guys, one who was obviously very drunk accidentally spilled a beer cup full of dip spit all over the shirt of guy in from of him, as well as all the unluck bastards stuff that underneath his seat. They just about came to blows when we rolled up. The one guy, who probably could have mashed me with one punch kept goin on about how they were Marines, snipers no less, I wont say which unit (opsec and all), but I had to ask myself, what the FUCK does that have to do with you being drunk and spilling dip spit all over the guy in front of you? I mean, I'll be the first to give a military member tons of slack, but for Gods sake. His buddy, who was much more in control of his faculties, was much more pliable and easier to deal with. Fortunately we didnt have to eject the pair and we eventually moved them to another section. To their credit, the drunk one offered to buy the "I got dip spit spilled on me" guy a souvineer T-shirt of his current NASCAR hero. There were also the usual illegal smokers, the "where's my seat" questions (does this vest I'm wearing, thats says SECURITY indicate I would have the slightest clue?) and other various dumb questions. My tour ended at about 6pm, and getting out of the parking lot and back onto the right freeway for my ride was a royal pain in the ass. Why do the CHP ALWAYS have what seems like the best ways out of an area like that closed, even though its the fastest way out? Oh well, im not privvy to their paramilitary (their own words) traffic control training so I'll shut up about that. Later that evening, while lying in bed drifting off to sleep, I could hear my wife watching Forrest Gump.....and thats all I've got to say about that.

Sunday Morning, 8am -  RACEDAY!!!!! Our day started out with the usualy briefing, and off we went in our golf cart to herd the sheeple across the raceway into the infield so they could oooh and ahh at the cars lined up for the impending circus. I must be in about 5000 shapshots of people posing at the end of pit row, because for some reason, its a highlight of their lives. Ok, its kind of cool for a 5 minutes, but when youre standing there answering questions about why people cant run amok all over the track and pit row, then get mad becuase the answer you give is'nt what they want to hear, it gets old quick. I especially liked how clever people thought they were, whenthey would go to one guy, not get teh answer they wanted then move to the next and try to get by. "You cannot go this way, its one way foot traffic, GO AROUND. I cant count the number of times we had to repeat this. I also like the logic...Them: "well, those peoiple are coming from that way, why cant I go that way, in the opposite direction?" Me: "well, I dont know whats going on a half mile down the track, I know whats happenning HERE, and my orders were not to let anyone by this big line of Army guys, who are also doing the same thing I am..see all of us?" Then they'd go to the next guy, and ask the same thing, or try to walk right by like they were invisible. There was the occasional middle aged lady that really didnt like the fact that we were telling people "NO" and muttered to her husband how rude we were. I wonder what she would have done after answering the same question 100 times. I pleaded with the troop next to me to drive the a big metal spike into my head to make it all stop. He declined, based on the fact there would be noone to put him out of his misery afterwards. So, we played that game for two and a half hours. After which, we had to try to herd all of the people OFF the infield, so they didnt get ground into the track permanantly. We had one guy who as one of the LAST people off the track, he wanted to sign his name on the paint that marked the end of pit lane. Why? I have no clue, but he felt that his life's mission was to do just that. When we stopped him, he complained that he had paid $115 for his ticket and he felt he was being robbed by us for not allowing him to do so. I'm still speechless about that one. We eventually took our places back at the top of the grandstans, watching for fights, drunks, smokers and the like. The biggest event o fthe day was the drunk guy who felt it necessary to go sit next to a guy and his wife and daughter. I guess the littel girl, about 6, was boreds, and the drunk guy offered to take the little girl to "buy her a t-shirt". The father was obviously pissed about this, and wound up shoving the drunk guy, who fell down. We all rushed over to break it up, and the dad, daughter, mom combo wanted nothign to do with teh drunk guy, who insisted on going back and siting next to them. He was escorted back to his own seat, with his own wife and two kids. God how embarrased tehy must have been, having all of security standing over them waiting for reason to eject them all. I bet they wanted to climb under their seats and hide from the world. I personally caught a group of guys slugging down a bottle of Crown Royal (a NASCAR sponsor no less). We took the bottle form them, due to the "no glass, our booze only" rule. The one guy came up to me and was kind of pissed aboujt it, but I explained I was betweena rock and a hard place, and was only following orders. He complained a bit more but left it at that when we ran off to deal with another drunk. The smokers were out in full force. I cant tell you how many times I walked up to people who were standing RIGHT IN FRONT of the NO SMOKING sign, doing what? You got it, smoking. They acted all surprised and only then wanted to know where they could smoke. I also like how certain people tried to cuff the cigarette like I wouldnt smell it, and on top of that, then act all suspicious and sketchy about it, like I woiuldnt notice that either. My final posting of the day was to stand by the fire pit, and turn people away from "rim road/the fire pit/fireball watch" at the exit from turn 4. Again, people thought their invisible suits were working because I cant tell you how many people tried to walk right by me, as I shifted to get right in their way. "Why cant i go out there?" "Because of safety concerns" "Thats stupid!" "Sorry" "What good are you guys?" "Not much I guess" "You'll have to go up into the stands now sir" "Well how the hell do I do that?" "see those signs that say, GRANDSTAND? Go that way" "Well why cant  I go that way, I just want to see" "Yo, can I get that metal spike over here, right in my temple?" My god. The main race finally ended, I've already forgotten who won, I really didnt care in the first place. The ONLY thing that made me forget about my arches collapsing was the digits I was able to get from a booth babe on one of my breaks. Her smile was absolutely gorgeous. The number is for reals too.

Anyway, my weekend ended and after thinking abotu the experience I came to the following conclusions:

Ive never seen so MANY drunk white people in one place at one time.

Vomiting on your neighbor is apparantley ok.

All of them must be genetically related.

They must believe in their hearts that the individual drivers can see them way up there in the grandstands, in full team regalia, including the helmet, waving and cheering their favoirite drivers on.

Counter clockwise circles are FUN.

If you've already got your favorite driver's/team's t-shirt, you can always get the matching trailer hitch thingy for your truck.

Older white women who are chronic smokers/beer drinkers have the singularly nastiest skin, hands, and facial expressions. They're mean to boot, especially if you block thier view for a nanosecond.

These people, en mass, are the SHEEPLE everyone around here talks about. Put them all together and they are DUMB.

If youre vet, drunk, and at a NASCAR race, be sure to thank a vet, or anyone in uniform, including fire, police, military, ushers, security, lemonade stand workers, etc.

If youre a vet drunk, and at a NASCAR race, be sure to tell me what branch you served in. And when you do, get realy close, in my personal space, so I can cringe at your beer breath.

The mobidly obese, especially those in the electric chairs, need lots of nacho cheese and burgersto sustain thmselves.

This was definitely a life experience, one that no matter how hard I try, I won't soon forget.

[/rant]


P.S. Flame suit on

i like nascar but don't like going to the events due to the stupid drunks that are always within 5 feet on me.
i couldn't tell you how many falling down drunks wanted to "kick my ass" for looking at there woman,actually i was trying to figure out if it was a woman.

And now you know why I have never gone to a Nascar race.  That plus, I get bored easily.  MJD

So you are married and you get the number of some girl?

-Dan.

Quoted: [rant] I ....Snip..... go home to take my wife out to dinner....snip..... The ONLY thing that made me forget about my arches collapsing was the digits I was able to get from a booth babe on one of my breaks. Her smile was absolutely gorgeous. The number is for reals too. .....snip...[/rant] P.S. Flame suit on

And you wonder why you should be flamed

I CANNOT watch that garbage...

Quoted: So you are married and you get the number of some girl? -Dan.

Tagged, because this is gonna get good.

I had to entertain myself somehow, cause those counter-clockwise circles get BORING after 5 minutes.

P.S. I think I found a couple of NASCAR fans.

Hey...whats the PROPER spelling...is it Cletus, or is it Kletus? I've now seen both iterations.

So flirting with some chick and getting her number, and apparently calling her since you know it's real is "entertainment"?  And people wonder why marriages are falling apart at record rates.

I am gonna have to tag this one

Hey, go to a Raider's game....a little less..but the same..

Quoted: So flirting with some chick and getting her number, and apparently calling her since you know it's real is "entertainment"?  And people wonder why marriages are falling apart at record rates.

Well I'm sure he would be fine if his wife did that and called some guy to make sure the numbers good.

-Dan.

Cheaters suck.

I've been to about 7 Nascar races and have ejoyed every one.  I'm not even married to my sister.  To each his own I guess.  Sounds like you could've had a lot worse jobs than spending the weekend at a Nascar race.  I've been to NFL, NBA, and other sporting events, and happen to enjoy Nascar better.  Try going to an NFL game while wearing visiting team colors, if you want to see how many dickheads you can attract.  My opinion is you can find a$$holes anywhere if you look hard enough.

Lighten up guys!  Maybe wifey is OK with the phone number thing.  This is CA, after all.  And they're all probably friends of Bama-Shooter or Hedonist.  I just want the AAR posted here.

+1 on the NASCAR fanatics!  My brother is one of those.  Just imagine; for every one there in the stands, there's 10 couch potatoes at home in front  of the tube.

Hell, its California.  What did you expect?  

Seriously, I quit watching Nascar regularly about 10 years ago, and completely after Earnhardt was killed.  The last race I went to was Talladega about 4 years ago, and hated what the whole thing had turned into.  Worthless Nancy-Boy corporate WWF racing, now.

Why are U.S. soldiers performing menial security duties, like handling drunks, at NASCAR events?


Am I understanding this correctly?  The defense budget is partly being used to subsidize NASCAR security?   Why don't the race organizers pays for their own security to hassle drunks?

Quoted: Hell, its California.  What did you expect?   Seriously, I quit watching Nascar regularly about 10 years ago, and completely after Earnhardt was killed.  The last race I went to was Talladega about 4 years ago, and hated what the whole thing had turned into.  Worthless Nancy-Boy corporate WWF racing, now.

Yeah, I noticed the whole corporate thing. Seemed to me the whole thing was one big commercial, screw the racing. Nextel, Busch and all the others. "Come and get yer' OFFICIAL NASCAR Visa card!!!"

I find people that put the 3 and 8 on their trucks real amusing. Some of these folks think these guys are heros for driving around in circles real fast. Lord no wonder our country is going down the crapper.

What? United States military troops doing security at a civilian event!!??

What kind of unconstitutional crap is that?





Been to a couple of nascar races. Nothing special. The drunk chicks in bikini tops was the only redeeming part.

Won't go again.

Quoted: Why are U.S. soldiers performing menial security duties, like handling drunks, at NASCAR events? Am I understanding this correctly?  The defense budget is partly being used to subsidize NASCAR security?   Why don't the race organizers pays for their own security to hassle drunks?

They usually arent......they are there for "recruiting purposes" a lot of the time.  But during the race, they have nothing to do so they are use as extra security.


Going to KC for 3 years for NASCAR was one of the best experiences I've had.  Being in the Infield is the ONLY way to watch the race.

KC raceway has local "church groups" doing security as well as KCK and KCMO state troopers.  I almost got into a fight one night with the local church groups because a guy was being a complete douchebag.  And then this 80yr security guard grabbed my arm the next night, I about nailed the shit out of him.  
It can get quite dangerous there.

I love NASCAR and i always have the best seat: AT MY HOUSE!

I've done the race thing a bunch of times.  I was at Daytona when Dale Sr. won. I was there fore Richard Petty's last Daytona race, I was there when Pres. George Sr. was the grand marshal.  

The stands ALWAYS suck.

The garage is a little better and I have done that a bunch too (helps when your dad works for a major sponsor)

The best seat is on a  Lazy Boy behind a 50"TV with surround sound.

Quoted: I love NASCAR and i always have the best seat: AT MY HOUSE! I've done the race thing a bunch of times.  I was at Daytona when Dale Sr. won. I was there fore Richard Petty's last Daytona race, I was there when Pres. George Sr. was the grand marshal.   The stands ALWAYS suck. The garage is a little better and I have done that a bunch too (helps when your dad works for a major sponsor) The best seat is on a  Lazy Boy behind a 50  65"TV with surround sound.

Fixed it for ya

geez, could you have put some spaces between some of the sentences while writing...thats a little tough to read.



Basically, you know I thought about NASCAR in Kalifornia just this weekend while watching the race.  

I wondered if they had the same type people turn out there as we have in the South. I guess its true they do.  So, in essense, another reason not to go out there .

Quoted: Quoted: I love NASCAR and i always have the best seat: AT MY HOUSE! I've done the race thing a bunch of times.  I was at Daytona when Dale Sr. won. I was there fore Richard Petty's last Daytona race, I was there when Pres. George Sr. was the grand marshal.   The stands ALWAYS suck. The garage is a little better and I have done that a bunch too (helps when your dad works for a major sponsor) The best seat is on a  Lazy Boy behind a 50  65"TV with surround sound. Fixed it for ya img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/dustyc/TV002.jpg

Wow! That is both the biggest TV and the smallest guitar amp I've seen in a while.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I love NASCAR and i always have the best seat: AT MY HOUSE! I've done the race thing a bunch of times.  I was at Daytona when Dale Sr. won. I was there fore Richard Petty's last Daytona race, I was there when Pres. George Sr. was the grand marshal.   The stands ALWAYS suck. The garage is a little better and I have done that a bunch too (helps when your dad works for a major sponsor) The best seat is on a  Lazy Boy behind a 50  65"TV with surround sound. Fixed it for ya img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/dustyc/TV002.jpg Wow! That is both the biggest TV and the smallest guitar amp I've seen in a while.

Playing in the apartment pisses off the neighbors.  Gotta be small or we get complaints

Quoted: Ive never seen so MANY drunk white people in one place at one time. Vomiting on your neighbor is apparantley ok.

Sounds like an NFL game.

Quoted: Quoted: So you are married and you get the number of some girl? -Dan. tag4answer

I think he called it "entertainment."  Which I could kind of see.  Until he calls the number to see if it is good.  

-Dan.

Cheaters suck.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Did the crowd look like this ??

I have been to many NASCAR events. Yes, LOTS of drunk losers.
We sit in the Family section to avoid dirtbags.
Worst event I have been to was a Raiders/ Chargers game.
Freakin war I tell ya'

Quoted: Why are U.S. soldiers performing menial security duties, like handling drunks, at NASCAR events? Am I understanding this correctly?  The defense budget is partly being used to subsidize NASCAR security?   Why don't the race organizers pays for their own security to hassle drunks?

National Guard on the state's dime.

Quoted: Worst event I have been to was a Raiders/ Chargers game. Freakin war I tell ya'

I dont understand.... i thought Raider nation was comprised of the most polite, courteous fans ever assembled....

Quoted: Quoted: So you are married and you get the number of some girl? -Dan. tag4answer

Yes! Entertainment.

P.S.  I've ridden BART with the Raider Nation before. Dudes with silver and black facepaint and spikes coming out of their helmets was entertaining to say the least.

NASCAR= Sport for White Trash

I lived that exact experience at Fontana when I was in the Marines.

4 days of drunks, idiots, and noise. I was in front of the press box. The highlight of my weekend was seeing a guy get beaten down by the police after he pretended to be paralyzed and tried to force his way into the press box in a wheelchair, running over my foot in the process.  

Quoted: NASCAR= Sport for White Trash

Ahhh.....ignorance.

Actually, NASCAR fans are some of the wealthiest fans in the major sports.

This is of course, on the average...

Quoted: Quoted: NASCAR= Sport for White Trash Ahhh.....ignorance. Actually, NASCAR fans are some of the wealthiest fans in the major sports. This is of course, on the average...

Just because they are wealthy doesn't meen that they can't be White Trash.

Quoted: Why are U.S. soldiers performing menial security duties, like handling drunks, at NASCAR events? Am I understanding this correctly?  The defense budget is partly being used to subsidize NASCAR security?   Why don't the race organizers pays for their own security to hassle drunks?

Take it easy.

The California Speedway will make deals with military units, Boy Scout troops, and other groups where the group does something like pick up trash or provide security, in exchange for money from the track.

My unit did it to raise money for the Marine Corps Ball fund. We took leave, went to the track for a few days to provide security, and got about $10,000.

The track does pay for security, they just don't pay the people that do it.

Quoted: Quoted: NASCAR= Sport for White Trash Ahhh.....ignorance. Actually, NASCAR fans are some of the wealthiest fans in the major sports. This is of course, on the average...

Wealthy...beer swilling drunkeness, without teeth and rude....but wealthy.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: NASCAR= Sport for White Trash Ahhh.....ignorance. Actually, NASCAR fans are some of the wealthiest fans in the major sports. This is of course, on the average... Just because they are wealthy doesn't meen that they can't be White Trash.

Yeah.....uh, thats usually a prereq for "white trash" is 'not having money'/'being a redneck, which includes not really having money'.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: NASCAR= Sport for White Trash Ahhh.....ignorance. Actually, NASCAR fans are some of the wealthiest fans in the major sports. This is of course, on the average... Wealthy...beer swilling drunkeness, without teeth and rude....but wealthy.

So *all* 135,000 people that were in attendance of the race were "without teeth and rude" and were "drunk"?

Are you fucking kidding me?

parsimony is your friend.

So *all* 135,000 people that were in attendance of the race were "without teeth and rude" and were "drunk"? Are you fucking kidding me?

Ok, ok. I'll give you that not everyone was rude, drunk and without teeth. Just drunk.

Quoted: So *all* 135,000 people that were in attendance of the race were "without teeth and rude" and were "drunk"? Are you fucking kidding me? Ok, ok. I'll give you that not everyone was rude, drunk and without teeth. Just drunk.

Fair enough.

Quoted: Quoted: Why are U.S. soldiers performing menial security duties, like handling drunks, at NASCAR events? Am I understanding this correctly?  The defense budget is partly being used to subsidize NASCAR security?   Why don't the race organizers pays for their own security to hassle drunks? Take it easy. The California Speedway will make deals with military units, Boy Scout troops, and other groups where the group does something like pick up trash or provide security, in exchange for money from the track. My unit did it to raise money for the Marine Corps Ball fund. We took leave, went to the track for a few days to provide security, and got about $10,000. The track does pay for security, they just don't pay the people that do it.

I don't need to "take it easy" since I'm not foaming at the mouth or rending my garmets - I'm just trying to understand.  

What you are describing seems very different from what the original poster described, when he said:

Yes, ladies and gents, your tax dollars have paid for me to be assimilated into the world of NASCAR.

It doesn't sound like some NG guards who are moonlighting security while on leave.  


Like I said, maybe I misunderstood something - and I've got no problem with National Guard or federal troops being used for security for state officials, governors, federal politicians, etc - if they happend to be at these events.

But the way resistor described it, it sounded like it was on-duty national guard who were spending time doing crowd control and handling drunks at a private NASCAR event.   Maybe it was something different, and I misunderstood it.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why are U.S. soldiers performing menial security duties, like handling drunks, at NASCAR events? Am I understanding this correctly?  The defense budget is partly being used to subsidize NASCAR security?   Why don't the race organizers pays for their own security to hassle drunks? Take it easy. The California Speedway will make deals with military units, Boy Scout troops, and other groups where the group does something like pick up trash or provide security, in exchange for money from the track. My unit did it to raise money for the Marine Corps Ball fund. We took leave, went to the track for a few days to provide security, and got about $10,000. The track does pay for security, they just don't pay the people that do it. I don't need to "take it easy" since I'm not foaming at the mouth or rending my garmets - I'm just trying to understand.  Sorry What you are describing seems very different from what the original poster described, when he said: Yes, ladies and gents, your tax dollars have paid for me to be assimilated into the world of NASCAR. It doesn't sound like some NG guards who are moonlighting security while on leave.   Like I said, maybe I misunderstood something - and I've got no problem with National Guard or federal troops being used for security for state officials, governors, federal politicians, etc - if they happend to be at these events. But the way resistor described it, it sounded like it was on-duty national guard who were spending time doing crowd control and handling drunks at a private NASCAR event.   Maybe it was something different, and I misunderstood it.I could be wrong on that one. I assumed that his unit was working on some kind of similar deal.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why are U.S. soldiers performing menial security duties, like handling drunks, at NASCAR events? Am I understanding this correctly?  The defense budget is partly being used to subsidize NASCAR security?   Why don't the race organizers pays for their own security to hassle drunks? Take it easy. The California Speedway will make deals with military units, Boy Scout troops, and other groups where the group does something like pick up trash or provide security, in exchange for money from the track. My unit did it to raise money for the Marine Corps Ball fund. We took leave, went to the track for a few days to provide security, and got about $10,000. The track does pay for security, they just don't pay the people that do it. I don't need to "take it easy" since I'm not foaming at the mouth or rending my garmets - I'm just trying to understand.  Sorry What you are describing seems very different from what the original poster described, when he said: Yes, ladies and gents, your tax dollars have paid for me to be assimilated into the world of NASCAR. It doesn't sound like some NG guards who are moonlighting security while on leave.   Like I said, maybe I misunderstood something - and I've got no problem with National Guard or federal troops being used for security for state officials, governors, federal politicians, etc - if they happend to be at these events. But the way resistor described it, it sounded like it was on-duty national guard who were spending time doing crowd control and handling drunks at a private NASCAR event.   Maybe it was something different, and I misunderstood it.I could be wrong on that one. I assumed that his unit was working on some kind of similar deal.

Our unit sent a few guys as a recruiting tool for the booths, they didnt pull security but went into the stands during the race and in the pits.

Let me clarify for those who might be a little confused here.

Fist off, those of us who volunteered were doing it as an alternate drill weekend for the month of March. TOTALLY voluntary. We will be paid for atending, just like regular drill. I figured the change of scenery woud be good.

Second, I dont know how the deal was made with the unit, but there were recruiters involved, all the way up to the SGM of recruiting for CA. We were not just a show of force, not just cheap menial labor. We were there for show. I got the vibe from alot of people that they were truly appreciative of us being there, even if it was only for show.

Truly, after all was said and done, the most memorable part was spending time with my bros, having a few laughs. Was it that painful? No, it really wasnt. Would I do it again? If it got me out of a boring drill at the armory, you bet. Would I rahter be at the range or in the field, probably, but PR stunts like this follow clsely behind, if not merely for the entertainment factor. Roger, out.

Quoted: Quoted: So *all* 135,000 people that were in attendance of the race were "without teeth and rude" and were "drunk"? Are you fucking kidding me? Ok, ok. I'll give you that not everyone was rude, drunk and without teeth. Just drunk. Fair enough.

yeah, even the children were drunk...brilliant answers

"stupid is as stupid does"--Forrest Gump

NeckCar is great, where is that video of that tire jumping the wall and killing some people?