• Welcome to the Pontiac Trans Am Community, the Official Home of the PTA! Sign up for a (FREE) account today!

Detroit City Council Rejects Car Stunt Because Of The Confederate Flag

Pontiac Trans Am

Smokey
Staff member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
2,145
Reaction score
1,066
Points
113
Location
United States
Website
www.pontiactransam.com
940


DETROIT – Organizers of the annual Autorama hot rod show were hoping to pull off a high-flying car stunt outside Cobo Center to re-create a scene from the 1977 movie "Smokey and the Bandit."

But instead, the car has caused a controversy.

The Detroit City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday to reject the stunt jump because the black and gold Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in the movie has a Confederate flag on it.
But, event organizers said, the replica car that was to be used doesn't have that detail on it.

"We are continuing to work to try to resolve this with the city," said Linda Ashley, a public relations specialist working with Autorama organizers. "This just came out of nowhere."

In many ways, the controversy about the car represents how attitudes of public officials – and society – have changed in just two years, as the public has been wrestling with offensive images in popular culture.

Burt Reynolds, who was born in Lansing, died on Sept. 6 at the age of 82.

Just two years ago, Autorama staged a stunt with a replica of General Lee, the car in the "The Dukes of Hazzard," a popular TV series from the early '80s.

The orange Charger, which has a giant Confederate flag painted on it, flew through the air for 30 feet or so. At the time, the flag raised eyebrows among some Detroiters but did not cause the same concerns.

Billed as "America’s greatest hot rod show," the 67th annual Meguiar's Detroit Autorama, presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, will feature about 800 cars and is expected to draw about 175,000 people.

The new stunt – which was planned to be part performance and part tribute to Burt Reynolds, the mustachioed star from the famous car chase film who died last year – was set for 11:45 a.m., just before the Autorama's doors open at noon on March 1.

Reynolds, who was born in Lansing, died in September in a Florida hospital.

But for many, the Confederate flag has long represented hatred, racism and white supremacy. Over the last several decades, groups have fought about whether the flag should be flown and displayed at concerts and in public buildings.

In "Smokey and the Bandit," the Confederate emblem is visible as part of the former state flag of Georgia. Reynolds plays Bo "Bandit" Darville, who drives the Trans Am to Georgia as a police diversion from a shipment of beer.

In 2003, Georgia removed the Confederate emblem from its state flag.

Autorama had hired the same group that did the jump in 2017, Northeast Ohio Dukes, to make the Bandit car jump. After the stunt, a Trans Am from the movie, along with other film memorabilia, was set to be on display at the show.

In addition to re-creating the Mulberry Bridge stunt, Autorama also is planning a special exhibit of 17 low rider vehicles, dubbed the Low Rider Magazine Invitational. Car enthusiasts have increasingly taken an interest in low riders, show organizers said.

Batmobile builder and Flint native Carl Casper will be on hand with his superhero car.

And the show plans to name the most outstanding new custom car that is shown for the first time.

"This is the Motor City, and Detroit is where hot rod, custom car shows started," Toundas said. "We make every effort to let everyone know about this important heritage.”

If you go - :mad:


PS: What are your thought on this subject? Post up we'd love to hear your comments.

Thank you,
Pontiac Trans Am Staff

Original Article:
here
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Knightrider189

Knightrider189

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 26, 2018
Messages
118
Reaction score
119
Points
43
Wow!!

I can’t believe how people get all bent out of shape over a flag that’s been a part of history?!?

It DOES NOT stand for hatred or white supremacy! Unbelievable!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: Pontiac Trans Am

Pontiac Trans Am

Smokey
Staff member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
2,145
Reaction score
1,066
Points
113
Location
United States
Website
www.pontiactransam.com
Wow!!

I can’t believe how people get all bent out of shape over a flag that’s been a part of history?!?

It DOES NOT stand for hatred or white supremacy!

Unbelievable!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We agree with you, friend!

Snowman, you got your ears on?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Knightrider189

transamranch

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2019
Messages
37
Reaction score
51
Points
18
Age
61
Location
Deschutes, Oregon, USA
Website
www.transamranch.com
Nowadays, the problem with society is that they find it easier to remove things that offend them rather than ignore them if it bothers them.

They want to pretend that it never happened.

Pretending that something never happened does not change history.

My thought process has always been, tolerate it, ignore it, or hit the delete button.

Just because someone or a handful of people does not like something does not mean they have to ruin it for everyone else.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Killain

Member
Joined
May 2, 2021
Messages
7
Reaction score
7
Points
3
Location
SE Pennsylvania
Wow!! I can’t believe how people get all bent out of shape over a flag that’s been a part of history?!? It DOES NOT stand for hatred or white supremacy! Unbelievable!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I can't, at my age, figure out why this is an issue.

The flag means something to certain people.

That's all there is to it.

If you don't like it, look the other way.

We have to find more important things in life to get upset about.

I live in Pennsylvania, but nobody gets all upset about our state flag?

I got a neighbor who is from Puerto Rico.

He likes his island's flag.

I think it's a nice flag, but no one bitches about his flag; grow up, America.
 

Pontiac Trans Am

Smokey
Staff member
Joined
Dec 13, 2018
Messages
2,145
Reaction score
1,066
Points
113
Location
United States
Website
www.pontiactransam.com
I can't, at my age, figure out why this is an issue.

The flag means something to certain people.

That's all there is to it.

If you don't like it, look the other way.

We have to find more important things in life to get upset about.

I live in Pennsylvania, but nobody gets all upset about our state flag?

I got a neighbor who is from Puerto Rico.

He likes his island's flag.

I think it's a nice flag, but no one bitches about his flag; grow up, America.
We agree 100% with you, friend.

Thank you,
PTA Staff
 
  • Like
Reactions: Knightrider189