Detroit City Council vetoes Autorama stunt, objects to Confederate flag
Wed, Feb 20 2019
In the movie, Bo "Bandit" Darville was a Georgia driving legend, and the flag on the car was Georgia's flag at the time.
Councilman Scott Benson laid out the council's position when he said that the car "still proudly flies a Confederate flag, which is a symbol of oppression, slavery, as well as home-bred American terrorism. So this body said we are not going to support that type of symbolism nor the audacity to support that type of activity in the city of Detroit."
It seems part of the council's ire comes from the same event two years ago. A stunt group called the Northeast Ohio Dukes re-created a "Dukes of Hazzard" jump in 2017 using a series-correct 1969 Dodge Charger, complete with a Confederate flag on the roof. Benson said the stunt group "expressly said they would not display that [Confederate flag] symbol during the jump." Not only was it displayed, but when driver Raymond Kohn gave interviews after the jump, his driving suit featured the Stainless Banner on the collar.
Seems the council has been grinding its axe in silence for two years. Now Benson accuses Autorama of "a history of supporting images and symbols of racism, oppression, and white supremacy."
Autorama is certain to take place March 1-3 at Cobo Center. This year's show will have around 800 cars on display, along with a special exhibit of 17 low riders and a Batmobile built by Flint native Carl Casper. Even if the Bandit car doesn't make the jump, the Trans Am and other memorabilia from the film will be there. A spokeswoman for Autorama said, "We are continuing to work to try to resolve this with the city."
Related Video:
- News Source: Detroit News
- Auto News
- Government/Legal
- TV/Movies
- Pontiac
- Convertible
- Classics
- Detroit
- pontiac trans am
- smokey and the bandit
By Jonathon Ramsey
See also: 2020 Porsche 911 Speedster spied with an angry driver, Baseball team to dress like Trans Am, complete with screaming chicken, Steve McQueen barn find: Movie Trans Am surfaces after almost 40 years.