For Loudoun's Steeplechase, It's Warp Drive

As the next to last action of the outgoing Loudoun Board of Supervisors, changing the name of a road at the request of a high-tech businesses seemed a rather fitting move in a county that has greatly transformed in just two decades.

That change has occurred primarily in the east, while the west has retained much of its rural character. The eastern part of the county has become home to high-tech companies such as Orbital Sciences Corporation.

So Orbital’s request to change the name of the road along its perimeter from Steeplechase Drive to Warp Drive brings to mind the county’s dichotomy. Out with the horse-racing theme and in with space.

The request won unanimous approval and a couple of comments from supervisors, including science fiction enthusiast Stevens Miller (D-Dulles). Miller’s comments focused more on his pleasure to make a light-hearted change following a tumultuous election, a controversy over courthouse holiday displays and during a rough economy.

“What more uplifting motion could there possibly be than something that will literally make law out of a Star Trek joke? I couldn’t let this go without speaking to it. It’s a great idea. I look forward to driving on Warp Drive myself,” said Miller. “I just got to say this to Orbital: Live long and prosper.”

In an attempt to keep the spirit up, Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) garbled a joke by using a Scottish accent while apparently attempting to quote Capt. Kirk talking to the Scottie, the only member of the Enterprise who spoke with such an accent.

Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) voted in favor of the change, but jokingly warned that warp has more than one meaning.

“I understand the connocation of warp drive, faster than the speed of light and how it would apply to this road,” Burton said, “but there’s another interpretation of the term warp also that you need to think about before you vote on it.”

The change was approved unanimously. Orbital will reimburse the county for the cost of sign replacement, estimated at less than $500.