Our collective dream realized...

Built a track in his yard...

http://jalopnik.com/5935393/meet-the-man-who-built-a-racetrack-in-his-front-yard?utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_facebook&utm_source=jalopnik_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Congratulations to that guy. Unfortunately it doesn't always end that well though.

When I lived up in the Poconos in PA there was a guy who wanted to build a private racetrack for himself and a couple of his buddies to tool around on during the weekends. Apparently someone in the community got a wiff of this and started a huge campaign about keeping the racetrack out of the county, as if the fellow was suggesting building another Pocono raceway. I believe it actually ended well for him when the county supervisors sided with the land owner. As long as I lived up there I don't think the "racetrack" ever disturbed the peace.

Now the dirt bags that built a dirt circle track to hold public races for profit without permits, including floodlights for night, and destroyed the value of the surrounding houses are a different story.

That actually wasn't a bad video

On a related note, when I was leaving Monticello a few weeks ago, there were yards with big banners reading "Stop the Noise". And that track is by far the nicest thing in that E36 M3ty town.

The0retical wrote: Now the dirt bags that built a dirt circle track to hold public races for profit without permits, including floodlights for night, and destroyed the value of the surrounding houses are a different story.

This I agree with. These tracks are all around our area in Texas. If I owned another 50-100 acres I'd be working on a road course. Probably start out as a dirt "rally" track. LOL I think my 47 acres is a little small for a real track.

Sorry now that I thought about this on the way home I didn't mean to be such a downer on the first post.

Racetracks are viewed with great suspicion by non enthusiasts was that I should have said. So the solution is to buy a big chunk of exlogging land with gravel roads already laid right!? Sounds good in my head.

Also the video was indeed cool.

The0retical wrote: Sorry now that I thought about this on the way home I didn't mean to be such a downer on the first post. Racetracks are viewed with great suspicion by non enthusiasts was that I should have said. So the solution is to buy a big chunk of exlogging land with gravel roads already laid right!? Sounds good in my head. Also the video was indeed cool.

Yeah, thanks Negative Nancy! LOL JK I had heard about this guys track (or another person's private race track) a long time ago where he had all the property surrounded by huge hay bales in order to prevent people from seeing what was going on. I can almost gurantee that around here, most people wouldn't give a crap as long as you cut the noise out at a reasonable time. Also, if you own 500-1,000 acres (not uncommon here) then who is really going to hear you running in the middle of your property?

On a related note: my friend that works at AMP reports that the reporters lurking around the property with sound meters have finally given up. Seems that with the place open for a couple of months, Dawsonville finally figured out that rich people spend a lot of money in town when they take their toys out for exercise. Some of the signs are still up, but the panic seems to be dying down.

Stinks for my friend, though. The track's db meter died. Found out about the missing NIMBYs when I suggested she borrow a meter from them.

What engine is in that orange and silver Atom? Sounds like a weedwacker. awful...

Nice track though. If I was building one I'd keep it quiet, I'd say it was a fancy driveway if anyone asked (and maybe officially describe it as one to keep things simple).

must be nice...

The0retical wrote: Now the dirt bags that built a dirt circle track to hold public races for profit without permits, including floodlights for night, and destroyed the value of the surrounding houses are a different story.

People should just mind their own business. High property values are not a right.

Zomby Woof wrote:

The0retical wrote: Now the dirt bags that built a dirt circle track to hold public races for profit without permits, including floodlights for night, and destroyed the value of the surrounding houses are a different story.

People should just mind their own business. High property values are not a right.

I always say that if you're worried that what your neighbor's doing is affecting your property values then you live too close.

Zomby Woof wrote:

The0retical wrote: Now the dirt bags that built a dirt circle track to hold public races for profit without permits, including floodlights for night, and destroyed the value of the surrounding houses are a different story.

People should just mind their own business. High property values are not a right.

So building a structure with flood lights, without permits in violation of a number of property ordinances in a residential area, running off road unsilenced vehicles when you only have 5 to 8 acres of land is ok?

Somehow I think that goes a bit beyond what is reasonable.

Personal racetrack that is used on weekends at reasonable times is fine. A dirt track on a small plot of land in a residential area running night races with OHV is not.

Now on the flip side building a housing community off the end of a runway of an airport that has been there for 50 years then complaining that the airport should bend to your will is not ok either.

Zomby Woof wrote:

The0retical wrote: Now the dirt bags that built a dirt circle track to hold public races for profit without permits, including floodlights for night, and destroyed the value of the surrounding houses are a different story.

People should just mind their own business. High property values are not a right.

I agree to a point, but there are definitely activities that are over the top. Excessive noise, smell, pollution, etc are not okay without proper controls.

To the topic at hand: awesome track! I have often fantasized about this sort of thing but will likely never be that rich. Given how cheap I am I would have to be a billionaire to even consider it, and that's not gonna happen.

makes me want to purchase an abandoned track somewhere, or maybe that "public road racetrack" down south...wonder how much that acerage would cost me?

Looks like his wife supports his racing, too:

In reply to The0retical:

Just be thankful that those people are racing there and not down the streets.

4cylndrfury wrote: makes me want to purchase an abandoned track somewhere, or maybe that "public road racetrack" down south...wonder how much that acerage would cost me?

crazy amounts of money......it is on an island, and borders a golf course. In the south that means GOLD....amiright, or is that just florida?