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Is this soon to be another forgotten relic from the past Glory ‘Dazes of
IMS? As versions of these famous Quilts have been passed out to Indy 500
winners every year for decades now. (DOB Images)
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Carrying on with this theme of pointing out some of
the Fine Folks of Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s
“McManagement,” (if you’re still reading, eh?) this was actually more
DISAPOINTING then the Indy 500 Raceday entry CLUSTERFUCK!
Go Away, We’re NOT Open!
I was first introduced to the Flagroom Bar located inside
the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis Motor Speedway ‘Wayback in July, 2007, my
third trek to Mother Speedway, even going one step better by staying at the now
long since demolished Brickyard Hotel when taking my Two-seater ride around
IMS.
Which upon many of the various celebrities I’ve met over the
years there, Included my favourite character, the ‘legendous Doctor Who, who I
last saw just over one year ago now before he perished - who surely wouldn’t
have been overly impressed by the Track’s antics over closing our favourite
hangout...
Thus, ever since that enjoyable ’07 trek to Mother Speedway, I’ve been a
devoted ‘N loyal PAYING Customer of both the Flagroom Bar and adjoining
Brickyard Crossing Restaurante, having repeatedly eaten meals in both
establishments surely prepared by the same kitchen...
And my visits to the Flagroom typically (average 4-times
plus per year) begin on the Thursday evening of what surely must be the
Speedway’s largest, busiest and MOST profitable weekend of the year; can Y’all
say INDY 500!
As I have NO idea what happened this May, and I’m curious if
they’ll repeat the BLUNDER over the Brickyard 400 weekend? As its hard to
compare ‘N contrast the euphoria of mingling with Buddy Lazier & Tim
Wardrop, ‘Uncle Bobby (Unser) and “symona-Symona,” (de Silvestro) last year -
having patronized said establishments Thursday-Sunday vs. ONE measly hour stay
after the race this year...
Having been picked up at the Indianapolis airport by my
Personal Assistant, Purveyor ‘O ALL things Indy, ‘Offical No Fenders
Photographer, etc, ‘CARPETS first pointed out to me another one of Indy Cars
typical blunders, as unfortunately he didn’t have camera in hand when informing
me that the Dallara DW12(?) Showcar on display at the airport still had LOTUS
listed upon I-T as Official Engine Supplier to IndyCar; YIKES! As Dave Mused,
couldn’t they have at least either removed that or put some sort of sticker
over IT? As I suppose this should have been a sign of things to come, eh?
Thus, walking into our usual yearly Waterin’ Hole, we were
disappointed to discover the Flagroom was closed and even more disappointed
when the waitress in the Restaurante told us the kitchen’s closing in 5mins
Y’all; Huh? But its ONLY 7:55PM ET, to which in a rare fit of clarity I briskly
told the waitress NO THANKS, WE’RE LEAVING!
And the Flagroom remained CLOSED the following two-days
plus; WTF? As somebody didn’t relent upon this disturbing theme until Sunday
afternoon following the race, in order to stop a possible stampede?
Hence, are you listening IMS? We took our business elsewhere
instead of dining at your funky ‘lil hole in the wall over the entire weekend!
And I won’t name names here, but suffice I-T to say, that
when we inquired with a longtime celebrity and loyal patron of said establishments,
remarking can you believe what they’ve done this year in regards to NOT having
the historic Flagroom open all weekend long, she simply ‘N curtly replied
without hesitation: THEY DON’T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT US!!!
And NO! It wasn’t Chairwoman Emeritus Mary Hulman George who
we spotted exiting the mostly empty Brickyard Crossing Restaurante late
Saturday evening. (When we’d finally had our first meal there...) While
witnessing another in the multitudes of longtime patrons seeking to pop into
the Flagroom for an “Adult Beverage” and perhaps mingle with some of the Starz
‘O Yesteryear. As I heard a young man telling his older father: sorry, they’re
closed!
And another “expert” mused that perhaps they simply didn’t
want that overly shady “Poison” crowd frequenting their establishment after the
Carb Day concert? To which I quickly retorted: Lynyrd Skynyrd isn’t worse? As
we’d enjoyed refreshments ‘N food the previous year while the long in-the-tooth
Southern Rockers classic “Freebird” played over the Bar’s close circuit TV.
But wait, I-T gets even better! As at least we could enjoy
the all you can eat Buffet Sunday morning pre race, right? NOPE! 86 that Race
Fans! After arriving shortly before 9AM at the Brickyard Crossing Restaurante,
a la as we’d done the previous year in order to BEAT THE HEAT! The six of us
entered the Restaurante on our own accord and seated ourselves, only being told
belatedly we couldn’t do this, and thus getting up, walking back out to the entrance,
the lady then said follow me; SHEISA! What is this, ring around the rosy?
Having been seated and taking our drinks order, we decided
we’d better go get in the fast growing
buffet line, which had come to a screeching halt and wasn’t moving at ALL! With
NO idea of why? We worked our way forwards before Dave frantically attempted
scooping up any of the remaining food onto our plates before we were curtly
informed at 9AM that they were completely OUT of food; WHAT-THE-FUCK INDEED!!!
As this was a pretty SHITTY prank pulled upon us by the Fine
Folks of CIBUS? Who IMS has apparently “Outsourced” the Restaurante to, as we’d
planned on eating breakfast there, as in like I don’t know, a WHOLE breakfast
instead of the scoop of watery eggs, crumply bacon and lone miniature muffin
‘CARPETS had been able to snag for me!
Oh ‘Whale, we could always get something on our way into the
track right? NOT THIS FUCKING YEAR! Thank You Very Little Doug Bolles ‘N
Company! As Y’all know already ‘bout the 2hr CLUSTERFUCK of entering Mother
Speedway...
Yet adding insult to injury as the six of us sat there
dumbfounded over how we’d just been Shanghaied by CIBUS, the waitress had the audacity
to try charging us for six FULL meals; Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot Again!
Oh yeah, I left out the part about how the entire outside
patios had been snapped up by Corporate Sponsors, who’d ultimately vacuumed up
A-L-L of the FREAKIN’ FOOD! As further insult to injury was how after they’d
turned everybody away at 9AM and told ALL of the “little people” to GO AWAY! And
after all of the corporate Schmucks had been served - it got even more stranger
when some 20-30 minutes later they brought out leftover food from a party for
sixty people who’d apparently NOT shown
up?
As I sat there in disbelief, one of the ‘Hosers (‘KuhNuck’s)
in our group patiently explained to me how they’d seen this movie before, when
the three Open Wheel Racing Aficionados were slowly squeezed out of their home
race at Toronto which was Gentrified by Corporations which subsequently took
away A-L-L of the viewing mounds and public food outlets away from the “Casual
Fan” before these three DieHard Fans got so PISSED OFF by this roughshod
treatment that they simply STOPPED attending their hometown race... Once again,
ARE YOU LISTENING INDYCAR? As I don’t know ‘bout Y’all but I’m not only growing
tired of the constant thanking the fans routine, but am really wondering if
there’s any substance behind IT???
And ALL of this ATTROCIOUS behaviour towards the loyal
paying public, since as I poond away on Zed Keyboard, cannot simply help but
wonder if perhaps this is all some sort of ploy towards a master plan to
Gentrify the Flagroom and Brickyard Crossing restaurante whilst waiting for ‘Ol
Mother Mary (Hulman) to kick thee bucket before ultimately turning it into some
sort of Members Only establishment?
As final case-in-point, the woman named Barb who shows old
racing movies on weeknights was originally doing this in the Flagroom and
bringing a steady 20-30 persons to each weeknight’s showing before summarily
being told to go away! As what’s WRONG with this picture, eh?
Oh Never Mind! That’s right, I forgot. THEY DON’T
GIVE A SHIT ABOUT US! Y’all know, the Paying Fans that return yearly to their
Playground...
(Photo Courtesy of No Fenders
‘Offical Photographer ‘CARPETS)