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Good day to all -
Last Tuesday, 24 April, a meeting of the Alameda County Board of
Supervisors was called to discuss an appeal made by Mark and Karen
Rivard (next door neighbors to Altamont Motorsports Park) regarding
a recent, favorable decision by the East County Board of Zoning
Adjustments and the Alameda County Planning Department to allow
overnight RV use at the raceway, and to verify the question, "Is
Drifting a valid form or motorsports that should be allowed use at
Altamont Motorsports Park." As stated, both of these issues were
approved one month earlier.
However, at the hearing, Board President Scott Haggerty erupted
into varying tirades, claiming that a recent autocross event held
at AMP was a Drifting event, charging that AMP management lied to
Alameda County about the event. (Drifting was under a temporary
restriction pending this hearing.) Although AMP came prepared to
discuss the matter, Supervisor Haggerty took no time or effort to
understand the difference between professional Drifting and
autocross, or the fact that 4-wheel drifts occur in sports car
racing, sprint car racing and almost every facet of our sport where
a car is required to turn. At the end of his 20-minute verbal
lashing, Supervisor Haggerty single-handedly leveraged the
remaining Board members into approving a ban on all forms of
motorsports except "NASCAR-type events that race in timed laps
using only the 1/2 and 1/4 mile oval tracks and have a common start
and finish line." It was clear to all at the meeting that
Supervisor Haggerty, reading his decision from prepared notes, came
to the meeting with his mind already made up and the ban already
written. By NASCAR-type races, we can only assume that he means
"stock car" events; therefore, banning all other forms of vehicles
and types of events. This means that any and all forms of sports
car, sprint car, karting, autocross, car rallies, drifting,
motorcycle and anything else that doesn't look like a NASCAR stock
car is banned from AMP.
Upset? You should be.
So, we need some help... and although AMP cannot organize anything
or participate directly, we're hoping that you, as a "Friend of
Altamont Motorsports Park" could assist us in getting the
attached
petition sent to anyone
and everyone you know. Once each page of the petition has been
signed (by one person or the entire page is filled) get it faxed to
Alameda County ASAP. No delays! Don't eave this sitting on some
desk for a few days.
Also, e-Mails to Mr. Chris Bazar, the Director of Alameda County
Planning Department, are tremendously helpful, too! e-Mail to:
chris.bazar@acgov.org
Thanks for the support and help!
John F.S. Condren, CEO
Riverside Motorsports Park LLC
Altamont Motorsports Park LLC
3333 G Street - Castle Aviation Center
Atwater, CA 95301
209.383.RMP1 or 209.383.7671 (Office)
209.383.7771 (Fax)
209.564.6742 (Cell Phone)
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