This is a message to RACERSand CAR CLUBS on the Riverside Motorsports Park e-mailing list.
If, for any reason, you wish to remove yourself fromthis list, please send an email with that request tojharper@rmpracing.com

HELP KEEP MOTORSPORTS-BASED RECREATION STRONG IN CALIFORNIA


From: John F.S. Condren, Chairman & CEO

Subject: Riverside MotorsportsPark ? Progress Report

The last 12 months have been a difficult one for California racers,race teams, car clubs and anyone who enjoys a good car show ormotorsports event. Since November of last year, we?ve heard theannouncement of 5 major race track closures within the State ofCalifornia: Santa Maria Speedway Stockton 99 Speedway El Cajon Speedway Mesa Marin Raceway Park And, just last month? Hanford Kings Speedway Just like Riverside International Raceway, Orange CountyInternational Raceway, Lions Drag Strip, and Ontario Motors Speedway,most of these tracks were developed in the 50?s and 60?s and 70?s -- backwhen many of California?s cities still seemed to have some room, and whenEnvironmental Impact Reports were still ten to twenty years from evenbeing considered. However, today, with residential and commercialdevelopments being created as next-door neighbors, race tracks havelittle protection. And, in addition to the 5 tracks that we?vealready lost, there are other tracks and drag strips in the State thatare also feeling the pinch of encroachment. What we need are newrace tracks and facilities that are built having the legal protection ofan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and planned development bufferzones.

Riverside Motorsports Park is just that. But, we need yourhelp in completing the last step of approval.

For more than 5 years, Riverside Motorsports Park?s management team hasbeen working to bring a world-class, multi-use motorsports facility toCalifornia. As of today, we have over 50 sanctioning bodies thathave committed to hold premiere events at Riverside Motorsports Park and,I can assure you, that the list includes all of the major names.

If the Riverside Motorsports Park project is new to you, I invite you tovisit our Web site(www.RMPracing.com). TheWeb site outlines most of the project?s developments and progress, andalso gives an overview of the eight (8) race tracks that will be includedin one centrally located facility.

So, what is the current status of the project?
The engineering and architectural designs for the facility arecomplete, and the leading contractors of the construction team have beensecured. The most recent news is that on 7 July, 2005, after 2-1/2years and over $1.5 million invested, the 3,200 page administrative draftof the Environmental Impart Report (EIR) was delivered to the MercedCounty Planning Department. Just last week, the County released thedocument for the required 45-day Public Review period. The EIR isavailable to anyone wishing a copy from the Merced County PlanningDepartment.

What this means and why we need your help?
California law requires that the public be informed about andallowed to comment on any EIR prior to hearings leading to projectapproval. In our case, there are two voting bodies that willapprove the project: (1) The Merced County Planning Commission and (2)the Merced County Board of Supervisors.

In addition to comments generated from State and local agencies, the45-day review period is used by the Merced County Planning Commission andMerced County Board of Supervisors as a key indicator of publicopinion. Typically, the side that receives the larger number ofletters and e-mails ? in opposition to or in support of the project ?also receives significant political weight in the approval process. Public opinion counts!

It?s not difficult to understand that Riverside Motorsports Park hasencountered some opposition to its project. There are those who areagainst motorsports, motorcycles, street rods and car clubs, ingeneral. There are those who oppose any kind of change, growth ordevelopment. And, there are those who prefer that the low-gradeag-land we have purchased adjacent to Castle Airport and the AtwaterFederal Penitentiary remain as ag-land. (NOTE - There is no PrimeFarmland on the Riverside Motorsports Park site. 84% of the landmaintains a grade-3, ?Unique? farmland classification with a Storie Indexof 25 points out of a possible 100--one class higher than grazingland.)

It also is clear that the opposition will call-to-bear every sympatheticorganization it can enlist to write letters opposing RiversideMotorsports Park.

What we need?
Well, quite simply? we need to have more letters in favor of theproject sent to the Merced County Planning Commission and the MercedCounty Board of Supervisors than those in opposition.

We?re hoping that we can count on you to send in a supportive letter ore-mail to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, and also askyour friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to do the same.

How to help? it?s a 2-step process:
1) Write a letter to each of the 2 MercedCounty officials (below), clearly stating your support for RiversideMotorsports Park:

Merced County Board of Supervisors

Mr. Jerry O?Banion, Chairman
Merced County Board of Supervisors
2222 M Street ? Third Floor
Merced, CA 95340

email:dist5@co.merced.ca.us

Fax: (209) 726-7977

Merced County Planning Commission

Mr. Steve Sloan, Chairman
Merced County Planning Commission
2222 M Street ? Second Floor
Merced, CA 95340

email:klewallen@co.merced.ca.us

Fax: (209) 726-1710

2) Pass the word. Tell those in your clubor race team. Tell those who you work with. If your organizationhas a Web site, please ask your site administrator to add a link to ourWeb site atwww.RMPracing.com.

If you have any questions, or if our staff can be of any assistance,please contact our offices at 209.383.7671, or e-mail us atinfo@RMPracing.com.

Thanks for your help and assistance in making Riverside Motorsports Parka reality!

Meanwhile, I'll see you at the races?

 

Sent my email

 

the plans look absolutely amazing wish i lived in california.

 

100% support

 

E-mail sent

Jason

 

i'm so lucky to live down the street from where this is getting built

 

awesome glad you guys are doing this

 

I'll be sending an email...but just a little heads up. that is a lot to read with the misspellings and bad punctuation. Not to cry about it, but I think more people will actually read it, if it was spell checked.

 

Got a reply email today form one of the chairmen on the Merced County Board of Supervisors.

Says that the draft enviormental documents were released today and should be available for public view in 45 days. Stated that, "Soon after the first of the year we should know if racing events will be in the future for Merced County."

Jason

 

bump....

keep this up for any updates.

 

bump ...cause im very intersted

 

Here's a quick update if anyone is interested!

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/l....html

 

gets a green light

another place for californians to race....i wonder if it will be an NHRA approved track. Look like in the near future we can have a true west coast series...

LACR
Famoso
Fontana
Pomona
LVMS
Oregon
Seattle
Drag City
Firebird

 

yes in my backyard finally!

 

I'm not sure when they're going to start building but as of now they got the green light!

Although with complications...the farmers, prisoners(yes, there's a prison near) & Foster Farms are all suing...

So many issues!!!Just build the damn thing already....haha

There's rumors of it being done sometime in 2008

*Crosses Fingers*

 

it would be nice if we can pm each other and get a layout emailed so we can foward to all our contacts then we can do some serious damage in getting a approval

i have at least 100 friends that will foward the letter

 

Here's a link to where you can get in contact with them...also more info.

http://www.rmpracing.com/index2.htm

Here's the website to where you can get all the info...including pictures of how it's suppose to look....

http://www.rmpracing.com

 

I was looking over the plans for the park and this place is going to be off the hook