You may have read last week that another step has been taken to separate the killer weed tobacco from the NASCAR image. An Associated Press story that made the rounds notes that the move peaked when R. J. Reynolds tobacco two years ago ended its sponsorship of the racing organization's high end series, which had been called The Winston Cup for as long as many of you have lived.
Winston was quickly replaced by Nextel, one of the many cell phone companies from which we have to choose. Of course, you don't go to a NASCAR race now expecting to get free cellphones, like you could expect to get free Winstons.
It's worth noting, though, that at the Indianapolis 500 this year, we found a tent where attractive young ladies were urging folks 18 and over to answer a survey that basically wanted to know whether you are a smoker or not.
If your answer was yes, you were given a Marlboro Racing Team cap. I, not especially proudly, got one.
Another step in the separation was announced this month by Loewe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, North Carolina. Similar seating arrangements there have been tried for some Busch Series events and the feedback was said to be "positive." They also have eliminated smoking for most of the enclosed clubhouse seating areas.
Officials at LMS say that, for its October 15th event, there will be a "family section" where tobacco and alcohol are not allowed. The AP story quoted the track's president and general manager, Humpy Wheeler, as saying that the move is an attempt to make events "more entertaining, fun and affordable for families." He said it resulted from fan feedback.
The track said that 4,100 of the 165,000 permanent seats, about 25 percent, will be in the family section and Wheeler reportedly said it could be expanded for future events.
It's a step that could catch on.
Of course, we all have been in restaurants where they have what they laughingly call "No Smoking" sections. They are, indeed, like the proverbial "No Peeing" section in a pool.
Without a very sophisticated ventilation system, smoke from the "Smoking Section" still permeates the rest of the room. Despite being a smoker, I do not smoke in restaurants. I have pity (along with some disgust) for people who can't finish a salad without lighting up before the entrée arrives.
I've been in No Smoking sections separated from the Smoking Section by only a low partition.
Not very effective.
The announcement by Loewe's Motor Speedway was of interest to me because I'll probably be there for the UAW-GM Quality 500 that Saturday night.
Don't know yet where we will be sitting. My daughter, who lives in another Charlotte bedroom community not far from Concord, notified me and Son One a few weeks ago that she bought a voucher for a pair of tickets to the October 15th race at an auction her Mothers' Club held. They are our Christmas presents.
Is this girl thoughtful, or what?
Personally, it wouldn't matter much whether the seats are in or out of the Family Section. If we fell like lighting up, we would simply step out to an area where it is allowed.
The alcohol ban is not an issue. Facing the prospect of driving out of the speedway and finding our way back to Daughter's house will be sufficient reason to abstain for those few hours.
If our seats do wind up being in the FS, I foresee a potential problem, though. It is the same issue that causes me to roll my eyes when I choose the No Smoking section in a restaurant.
Not only are they not effective in providing protection from the noxious fumes of other addicts, they also are where most families with children choose to sit.
I would like the option of choosing not to sit and eat dinner with other people's kids.
My ideal restaurant will have two sections. The entire establishment would be No Smoking, and the division would be between parties with kids under, say, 12, and the rest … separated by lots of soundproofing.
Now, where can I take the Grandkids for dinner?