Group bans drifting at Altamont Motorsport Park, hypocrisy ensues
Yesterday, we got an impassioned plea from AB reader Ray about the upcoming hearing at the Alameda County Administration Building, where efforts to ban both drifting and overnight camping at the historic Altamont Motorsports Park are underway.
We've attended a number of events there, including the monthly Thursday night drifting event, where anyone with a helmet and a vehicle that can pass tech can enjoy all the powersliding mayhem they want in a controlled environment. We've only gone to observe, but have found the group to be a well organized, safety conscious band of enthusiasts.
A couple who moved into a house down the road in 2005 (and promptly built a motocross track on their property, by the way), formed a two-person organization called "Community for a Better Altamont", the goal of which is to reduce the impact of traffic and noise in the neighborhood. Our friends over at Jalopnik have an excellent commentary post on the matter that outlines the players, the facts and the hypocrisy.
[Source: Jalopnik, Community for a Better Altamont, Tracy Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
aman 3:58PM (4/25/2007)
awww, man. that was the best track for drifting. where are we going to go now? someone get Talladega Speedway on the phone.
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spaceweasel 3:59PM (4/25/2007)
The young gentleman who presents his side of the case is an outstanding spokesman for his sport. Both articles, however, overlook what appears to be her major complaint: people drifting on the street they live on. Its this sort of antisocial crap that gets everyones parade rained on. Of course, the answer isn't to ban drifting, its to enforce the traffic laws.
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H 4:09PM (4/25/2007)
Isn't this the same place where the 24 of leMons (lemons) takes place?
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akintz 4:14PM (4/25/2007)
This is what happens when stupid people are allowed to communicate with the outside world.
If drifting on THEIR street is the problem, talk to the police to have extra coverage on those problem nights... don't try to have the whole place shut down. What retards.
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ssgtakeo 4:27PM (4/25/2007)
This isn't anything but a set of white homesteaders not liking the predominantly asian and hispanic crowds that frequent drift events.
Screw the shrinking perimeter people. Anyone know where we can can contribute to the defense of drifting at Altamont?
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RoadRunnerSTi 4:27PM (4/25/2007)
Eveyone who reads this MUST go and write, call or whatever, the links provided and express your outrage over what these 2 idiots are trying to do regardless if it effects you directly.
If we let these 2 twits win, it just sets a precedent for all future issues involving tracks and the surrounding communities.
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Ray 5:01PM (4/25/2007)
Do they have proof people are drifting on thier street? Or is that what they are assuming has happened. Just because there are tire marks in front of thier house doesn't mean someone is peeling out. Normal driving will leave tire marks. Keep in mind, these people have a motocross track in thier yard!
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fizzandpop 5:02PM (4/25/2007)
Altamont is an absolute armpit of a place. The only way to make Altamont better is to move out. It makes Benicia look like Beverly Hills. There, that is my ignorant comment out of the way. I'm sure the Altamontians love it there, next to the freeway, on the edge of the dust valley.
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CaliberSRT4 5:52PM (4/25/2007)
I am all for a place where anyone can race without putting others in danger...I don't understand the big deal. In Huntsville, Alabama, people that KNOW there was a drag strip there want (I don't remember if they got their way) them to take the midnight madness out; which is where anyone with a vehicle can race legally without putting people on the street in danger...I hope Altamont doesn't fall to victim.
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derek 7:03PM (4/25/2007)
Hopefully the county government will realize the increased revenue they stand to make. Maybe they will zone the surrounding area in question as a "buffer zone" and the people can either leave or stay. They have to review Measure D anyway.
http://www.acgov.org/cda/meetings/documents/05-25-East.pdf
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omar Rajabi 7:09PM (4/25/2007)
man ive passed that thing about a thousand times and i always thought it was some kinda destruction derby or something...
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omar Rajabi 7:09PM (4/25/2007)
and the track and all surrounding communities are nestled between highway 5 and 580 and 205 which are filled with traffic so why not shut down the freeways to cut back on noise? these guys are truly idiots.
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Rakesh 7:27PM (4/25/2007)
Lets move next to a race track and then try and have it shut down because of the noise and cars. Stupid people should not be allowed to reproduce, they should be spayed and or nuttered.
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aaron 8:18PM (4/25/2007)
Mr. John McClane said it best, "California".
Another group of Californians heading an "initiative" to make their place of home better. Move idiots. It's been there. But folks...
This is only going to get worse in any state. As the baby boomers get older and start holding even more positions of power after they have retired from their real jobs, they will be making the decisions that they want in their old age. They want (among things) is quiet, quieter, and soft-serve ice cream.
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doglet 8:39PM (4/25/2007)
sounds like the problem will be solved if they put cops in the area during orgainzed events, like they do for every other organized open track day everywhere else. i bet they would get shown in a better light if they were a little more inteligent about what they lobbied for.
they moved next to a racetrack and put a racetrack in their own yard and now they want the racetrack shut down citing enviromental concerns. what a bunch of a holes.
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aaron 8:47PM (4/25/2007)
I sent the county this email. It turned out to be more of a rant, but I got it off my chest and I feel better for it.
"This is about the matter of Altamont and the Altamont Motorsports Park. The ban of drifting is ludicrous. How can three people, Mark and Karen Rivard (no hyphen laden name for Karen? What a surprise.) and a lawyer, change something almost overnight? Do Californians have backbones? I thought so when I was stationed at Travis AFB for two years. Guess I'm wrong.
Off my rant. Regardless if other states take you seriously or not (which they don't), when people can all of a sudden have power because they have representation, other states will look at this racetrack situation in your county and also bow to the wishes of a few. I believe anyone should have the right to form some committee or whatnot to say and do what they want, but usually it takes more than two people, a lawyer and a submissive government. Prove I am wrong."
Thank you for your time,
Aaron D. Wilkins
I never got off that rant. Oh well.
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chop 9:40PM (4/25/2007)
whats funny is that altamont track is on the complete other side of the freeway from these people. its an almost 1 mile drive just to get from their house/motorcross track to the altamount track. like others have said, how can they complain about noise when they are literally less than 1000 feet away from the freeway. you can see their house clearly just by driving by on the freeway. ******* douchebags
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Jeff Banks 1:56AM (4/26/2007)
Check out this page on their list of bullshit:
http://www.betteraltamont.org/pictures.html
...remember they have a motocross track on their property.
I love the "information" they have on their site...they posted links to Yahoo movies about the fast and the furious movies.
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LVD 8:30AM (4/26/2007)
I went to the betterhypocracy website.. emails are fun..... hope u all join in.
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Gene 3:53PM (4/28/2007)
I've been to two drift battles at the Altamont Motorsports Park as a spectator. I thought it was great. I firmly and actively support these young people who are on the cutting edge of an emerging sport. I would like to see a solution to this disaggreement that is equitable to all parties involved. Long live drifters.
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