NASCAR a little too "contagious"?

[Ming]

Congress considers Concord hazardous?
House aides visiting racetrack
advised to get immunized
LISA ZAGAROLI
McClatchy Newspapers
Thu, Oct. 11, 2007

WASHINGTON --NASCAR fans might seem rabid, but are they actually contagious?

Getting a hepatitis shot is standard procedure for travelers to parts of Africa and Asia, but some congressional aides were instructed to get immunized before going to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord and the racetrack in Talladega, Ala.

The House Homeland Security Committee planned a fact-finding trip about public health preparedness at mass gatherings and decided to conduct the research at two of the nation's most heavily attended sporting events, NASCAR's Bank of America 500 event this weekend and the UAW-Ford 500 last weekend.

Staff who organized the trips advised the NASCAR-bound aides to get a range of vaccines before attending -- hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and influenza.

Rep. Robin Hayes, a Republican from Concord, took umbrage when he heard about it.

"I have never heard of immunizations for domestic travel, and as the representative for Concord, N.C., I feel compelled to ask why the heck the committee feels that immunizations are needed to travel to my hometown," Hayes said in an Oct. 5 letter to Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who chairs the Homeland Security panel.

"I have been to numerous NASCAR races, and the folks who attend these events certainly do not pose any health hazard to congressional staffers or anyone else," Hayes added.

Lauri Wilks, vice president of communications for Speedway Motorsports, which owns Lowe's Motor Speedway and other tracks, said Wednesday that immunizations aren't needed for the race.

"There's no health risk that we know of," she said, laughing. "We have never had any disease outbreak during one of our weekends."

The four aides were asked to explore public health issues at events involving large gatherings, such as how law enforcement and medical personnel would respond to an act of terrorism or other emergency. Lawmakers weren't part of the trip.

The staffers traveled to Talladega last weekend, and are scheduled to be at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend.

Thompson said the immunizations are commonly recommended for people working in hospitals, holding centers and similar locations.

Source: http://www.charlotte.com/109/story/314034.html

[paul8488]

Can you catch 'mullets' by simple contact?

[drew630]

What happens in Dega, stays in Dega.


BTW, I am a true southern redneck, but I would never ever stay in one of Dega's camp grounds. Thats just asking to catch something. And, its not rednecks that are the cause either, its white trash.
Huge difference.

[SDRacing]

Originally Posted by drew630

What happens in Dega, stays in Dega.


BTW, I am a true southern redneck, but I would never ever stay in one of Dega's camp grounds. Thats just asking to catch something. And, its not rednecks that are the cause either, its white trash.
Huge difference.

I read nascar stepped in and advised Talladega to clean up the image of the camp grounds (inside the tracks) to make it more family oriented. No more trailers pulled in set up like a stage with a pole in the center.

[likearock00]

Oh, come on! This is some stupid crap! I can't believe this. If the Homeland Security Dept has nothing better to do than this, we're all screwed! I feel very insecure now.

[Shotgun]

Sounds like another "brilliant" idea from the left-wing crowd...