Englishtown subject to hearing about noise levels-- here's how to help

[GN SBS]

Folks build houses near a track that has been running for 40 years and then complain about the noise. This kind of thing bugs me...

Even a brief email to the assembly folks listed below might help, remember to CC e-town.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=870582

On Thursday August 5th, a Public Meeting is being held to discuss the noise levels that affect the residents of Manalapan and Englishtown. Monmouth County Assemblymen Michael J. Panter and Robert L. Morgan will discuss their recent legislation proposal to remove the Motor Vehicle Racetrack Exemption from the Noise Control Act of 1971. This exemption is what makes it possible for racetracks of all types to operate unmuffled vehicles. This move would be devastating to Raceway Park, and could set off a number of changes the way racetracks operate both here in our area and all over the state. Founded in 1965, long before the wave of housing developments that now dominate our area, Raceway Park has remained a place for motorsport enthusiasts of all kinds to come and enjoy the sports they love. Raceway Park has been able to stay open these many years based largely in part on the vocal support of the many local race fans who have helped us to fend off these attacks in the past.

We now ask for that support again, so that we may silence those who oppose Raceway Park once and for all. The meeting is open to the public and will take place on Thursday August 5th at 7:00 PM in Manalapan Township at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters located at 125 Symmes Rd. The library is a mere 1/4 mile from the corner of Route 9 and Symmes Rd. and very easy to access. If you are unable to attend, please contact Assemblymen Panter and Assemblymen Morgan at 732-741-5599 and voice your opinion. You may also fax your thoughts to 732-741-0012 or contact them via email at AsmPanter@njleg.org <mailto:AsmPanter@njleg.org> or AsmMorgan@njleg.org <mailto:AsmMorgan@njleg.org>. If you e-mail, please copy Raceway Park at etownrcwy@aol.com <mailto:etownrcwy@aol.com>. You can send a letter to them at New Jersey General Assembly, Legislative Office, The Galleria, 2 Bridge Avenue, Bldg. 2, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701. Please come out and support Raceway Park, the home of fast family fun for over 40 years and for many years to come.

 

[Buicksx2]

I just emailed the two clowns directly and will be at the meeting on August 5th.

Lets get as many people there as we can before we run the risk of losing Raceway Pak and the starting line picture with weeds growing out of it ends up in an issue of Car Craft in the "what ever happened to this track" section.

 

[bishir]

Anyone tried to see if SEMA will help? They tried to do this to a local track once and failed miserably.

 

[steveX]

This funking sh!t really P!ss me off. I think some body need to start an assocation to save our race track. it represent the history of the automobile and a on going sport just like any other sport. We the racer`s spend Millons and Millons of dollars in this sport . I am tell you 99% of the people are so funking stupid. Why would any one want to build a house next to a race track. I think the same people should go build ther house next to a nuclear waste dump, or the Staten island land fill (dumb MF). this whole country is driven by numbers $$$$$$$. I will do what i can, but i don`t think it will make a differance, I look at it this way. i must have about 50 yrs left on the face of this earth. when i am gone everyone can lick the crack of my a$$. If these people keep passing laws everyday pretty soon we will all be walking around with micro-chip install in our brain from birth, like the jews chopping the D!cks in half. this place is really going to suck in 50 yrs. now i know why the senior look at this place like a DUMP. sometime i wish i was born in the 50`s

 

[steveX]

i have try. i send an e-mail to AsmPanter@njleg.org, AsmMorgan@njleg.org , etownrcwy@aol.com. hope it help.


"Please don`t close our race track. i have been going to this track of over 10ys. now i hear people are building houses next to the track. don`t these people know the track has been there are over 40 yrs. what are they thinking?. Racing is a sport just like another sport. i am sure when NHRA should up to the track the town must make a huge profit. sure we can keep building houses, but can`t we build somewhere else?. i don`t understand why anyone will want to build a house next to a track. maybe these same people should try build on the staten island land fill or the indian head nuclear power plant. I know most people are driven by the dollar bill but think about other people who have hopes and dream of been the next john force or angel savoy. the englishtown raceway park is a great place for family to visit and other to play in the automobile sports. we the racers have spend millions and millions in our sport, and we are not going to give up without a fight. this race track is here to stay. the real estate in this nation has gotten out of hand. Have seen what is going on, developer are knocking one family homes so they can build multi-family homes, are you people thinking about what you are doing?. where are all these people going to park they cars and how are they all going to get around, how are you going to move all this traffice. maybe the people who are buying houses in the old bridge township should pay the bill for new road construction and other problem which await them in the future. For over 40yrs the englishtown raceway park and been a clean responsible committe. now you are trying to close the race because of noise. let me ask you a question? what will become of our future (kids) in this sport. we have a lot of youth who are now joining this sport. youth who don`t make alot of money but some how they find a way to spend millions and millions of dollars in this sport by modifing they cars and paying to attend national even. I am sure you have kids, and one day when they ask you " dad/Mommy why don`t we have a race track like the good old day?" what will you tell them?.

I want to see how you will explain this to them. Kids are very smart, i know this because we were all kids at one time. Kids are the future of america. Closing this track is just closing one door way to our kids future. You see i am going to tell you alittle about my self. i am a 30 yr old man. who has been in the automotive trade for over 15 yrs. i will never forget the first time my automotive teacher took us to the english town raceway. the feeling and joy i got out of the school trip i can never explain. So i put my feeling and hard work into the automotive trade. Now i support my family just because someone took the time to teach and show me the possiablity of have fun and earning a living. I am sure i am not the only one who feel this way.

You see i am sure what you are doing is good for now, But think about it. this may be a sport with alot of money exchanging hands, but from all the people who i have speak too. it seem like they put they hearts into what they do. We are all american and i am sure people are looking for homes to living (which i do support) but don`t crush one mans dream to full fill anothers. You are not really doing any thing good by doing this. sure you will have people you like you, but what about the people who don`t. i know some may not like the sport, but if you really thing about it. the technology that goes into race automobile are what you find in you everyday auto. the auto you go to work with, the auto you take trips with your family, and many other uses. this country has million of acer of land and i am sure something can be done. Closing this track is just going to cause more problem in the nation, cause this is not just one track. pretty soon developer (home) will try and do this to every track in the national. Now if racer don`t have a place to race they will take it to the streets. We all now what happen when races are conduct in the public streets. Inocent by standard gets hurt and so are the drivers. this will cause use to spend more money on law enforcement and placing incocent indiviual at risk. they must be something else other that closing the old bridetownship raceway park. what if one of these street racer is your kid?.

I hope my message will change your ideas.

thank you for consideration.
steve naidu"

 

[8587GN]

This reminds me of a lady in our subdivision.Complaining to the township about a barn falling down. Now the barn has been here for at least 70-100 years,the houses about 3-5.I told her that it doesnt bother me,so why is it bothering you? Some people just love to bitch about anything

 

[Ian_F]

this is what I sent them.

I honestly do not understand how you could possibly think of closing Englishtown Raceway Park. I do understand that New Jersey is becoming very over-populated as of late, but this is ridiculous! I am only 20 years old, but I have very fond memories of Englishtown. That's where I "cut my teeth" in the drag racing world. I attend many events there and it's one of my favorite places to be.

By closing Englishtown, you are only inviting more problems into your community. How many street cars do you think go there to race every week? Now imagine if you will, that the track is no longer there. There are still the same amount of cars wanting to race, but there is no track within reasonable distance. Do you see where this is going? they are just going to race on the street. Can you see that that's a problem?

Englishtown is a legendary racetrack know across the country. I go to school (WyoTech in PA) with people from all across the nation and every single one of them has heard or even been to Englishtown. One of my friends from Maine has even raced his motorcycle there. It is one of the best tracks in the United States, if not the best.

I understand that you want to build houses near by, but the track has been there much longer. Lets say, hypothetically, you move to a new neighborhood and you don't really like your neighbors. Would you demand that they be removed from the town? No, because they were there first. You need to cope with your environment, thats the beauty of human survival, the ability to cope.

In closing, what you are planning to do to Englishtown is uncalled for. That track means so much to people in this country and it also brings in a lot of business to your town's economy. Closing it will just cause problems such as street racing. Your town's economy will fall. Englishtown is legendary, will the houses that replace it be?

 

[GN SBS]

Originally posted by Ian_F
I honestly do not understand how you could possibly think of closing Englishtown Raceway Park.

They are proposing to regulate the noise outputs, not utterly close them down. Still requiring muffled vehicles or limiting the hours of operations would s*ck.

Scott

 

[troGNman]

I work p/t as a track official at Raceway Park during Import and show events. Racing during the week and on Saturday, the noise levels are kept under strict control by the tech inspectors and also by the starter/bleach box crew. The 90dB rule is measured with a meter and if your car is too loud, you will be sent home.

Muffled cars should have a chambered or baffled exhaust that must terminate at the rear of the passenger compartment with turn-downs. No bullet style mufflers are aloud period. Turbocharged cars are exempt from the muffler rule as the turbo tends to act as a noise suppressant. It may still be checked for noise levels regardless. Sunday is the only racing day when open exhaust is permitted with the exception of event days like the K&N Supernationals, Division 1 meets, etc.

Yes, I strongly agree that who the heck would build a house next to a racetrack? I believe it all boils down to greedy developers that care about nothing but making a buck. The entire Old Bridge/Manalapan Twp. area is prime real estate for transplanted Staten Island and New York City "wannabe country folk". I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the realtors or parties involved had made the buyers feel assured that the track wouldn't be around for much longer.

I think an honest solution would be to build a sound barrier similar to the ones that you see everyday along the nation's interstates. This would contain the noise levels and make for good neighbor relations.

 

[ShouldofhadaV-8]

What if they were to require mufflers, but leave th track open? Yes, I know, I'm not from those parts, but I can tell you that every time a 14 second uncapped P.O.S. drives by me at the track, I shake my head in disbelief. With today's mufflers, I think it is possible, if not easy to run 7's with mufflers that actually "muffle." I think the days of uncapped ludicrously loud cars are days gone by.

By the same token, I adamantly disapprove of a housing development springing up and being able to close down whatever it doesn't like in the area.

So, if it's only mufflers, I think I would actually approve. I'm sure I will get some criticism here, but then again most of you Buick guys' cars are extremely quiet to begin with.

 

[86brick]

Originally posted by ShouldofhadaV-8
What if they were to require mufflers, but leave th track open? Yes, I know, I'm not from those parts, but I can tell you that every time a 14 second uncapped P.O.S. drives by me at the track, I shake my head in disbelief. With today's mufflers, I think it is possible, if not easy to run 7's with mufflers that actually "muffle." I think the days of uncapped ludicrously loud cars are days gone by.

By the same token, I adamantly disapprove of a housing development springing up and being able to close down whatever it doesn't like in the area.

So, if it's only mufflers, I think I would actually approve. I'm sure I will get some criticism here, but then again most of you Buick guys' cars are extremely quiet to begin with.

http://www.etownraceway.com/news/noisereg2003.html

 

[86brick]

FWIW Moroso Motorsports Park of Hollywood, Florida got closed down about 12 years ago if my memory serves me correct for the same reason (houses kept getting built closer and closer to the track and a bunch of people complained to the City/State about the noise)

 

[Buicksx2]

Heres the letter I sent them and I will be at the meeting.

Dear nearsighted politicians,

I am looking forward to attending the town meeting on August 5th so you can get up there and act as a puppett to all the somewhat confused homeowners who were very smart to not buy a $500,000 cookie cutter McMansion along the turnpike near Newark Airport. They were smart enough to buy their $500,000 cookie cutter McMansions along union hill road and yet were not smart enough to scout around the area nor have their real estate agent tell them there is a major NHRA racetrack in their neighborhood.

I know alot of the homeowners along Union Hill Road and other parts near there consider Manalapan the suburbs, heck when most moved from Staten Island I too would have considered it suburbia but bottom line is they CHOSE to buy a home there and the Raceway Park HAS BEEN THERE 40 years, when all that land was farmland and no one wanted it, the Napp family decided to take a risk with their own money and invest in the town of Manalapan and develop a park where people can come and enjoy drag racing and other motorsports safely.

Perhaps all the homeowners and and yourself would prefer that everyone drag race along Union Hill Road and parts of route 9, because lets face it you politicians if you hope to get elected will only champion the cause of these folks who only want to see Raceway park shut down.

As a drag racer who has patronized Raceway Park for almost 20 years I can tell you they have done everything possible to help be a good neighbor and comply to the whims of these whiny homeowners. Years ago there were more open exhaust nights, now there are less, you can not race on fridays and saturdays anymore if you dont have mufflers and I have seen 1st hand them tell people they can not race because the decibel level is too high.

Perhaps if these homeowners get their way and shut down the track they will be more than happy to watch their property taxes soar because lets face it I am sure Raceway park pays a pretty penny with all the acres of land they own in real estate taxes. I am sure once that is accomplished your next "mission" will be to get the property taxes of these homeowners down.

Should be quite an interesting meeting and I hope you have earplugs for all the "noise" you will here from all us supporters of Raceway Park and the Napp family.

Rich Rezes

 

[turbojimmy]

I sent my e-mail in. Basically said the same as everyone else. We need to stop rewarding developers for their greed and town government for bowing to builders' demands to change zoning. Good luck trying to get any other defect in a home corrected - caveat emptor applies in all other cases why not location? I'm sick of people blaming others for their own mistakes. People buy houses on top of highways, airports, stadiums and racetracks and then cry to their goverment to help them with their "quality of life".

Here's an article: http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,1007591,00.html

And a quote:
"A large number of constituents have come forward and asked for our help," Panter said in a prepared statement. "It is clear that the majority of residents living in these communities feel that the level of noise coming out of Raceway Park, and its hours of operation, are significantly impacting their quality of life."

That article says they've invited 3,000 residents of the area to the 8/5 meeting.

This won't just affect E-town. If these cheddar heads are successful in removing the racetrack exemption from the state law then ALL N.J. race tracks will be affected. Island's been fighting this B.S. for years, too.

Jim

 

[Wet1]

For what it's worth I sent them a letter...

"I will be unable to attend the meeting on the 5th, but I would like to make sure that I'm represented...
I am completely opposed to more noise restrictions! This track was here long before the residents, and they knew they were buying a house next to the track (likely at a discounted rate because of it).
"A large number of constituents have come forward and asked for our help," Panter said in a prepared statement. "It is clear that the majority of residents living in these communities feel that the level of noise coming out of Raceway Park, and its hours of operation, are significantly impacting their quality of life." If they don't like the noise, then should move... the track was there first! This is like me moving into a new neighorhood and telling all of my neighbors that I don't like to move! Hello!!! The track was there before these idiots built the houses!!! If it's to loud for the residents, then they can wear ear protection or MOVE!!!

Thank you,"
Me

 

[NJVetteGuy]

This is also a hot topic on the Vette forums, http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=870582 . Do these people really think that they have the right to move into a neighborhood and change the way things have been for 40 years? If anything, they should be filing suit against their real estate agents I guess they won't be happy until everyone takes it to the street, and a fatality occurs. I have nothing against organized street racing, but the ricer crowd that thinks street racing means driving like an ---hole through traffic will be the ones causing a problem. At least at the track, there's no worry of a child walking out in front of your car while you're driving 100+ MPH. Having a track where everyone can race in a safe environment makes the streets safer for all of us IMHO. I also like how the meeting is "conveniently" scheduled right after the jet car nationals

 

[TurboJim]

Originally posted by turbojimmy

This won't just affect E-town. If these cheddar heads are successful in removing the racetrack exemption from the state law then ALL N.J. race tracks will be affected. Island's been fighting this B.S. for years, too.

Jim

But Island has/had the backing of all the local businesses. They thrive when the track is open and would lose biz/close down if the track closed. This would be major loss of revenue for the town, state and feds.

Last I heard the track wasnt going anywhere.

As for etown, this is so stupid. You buy a house near a track thats been there longer then most of the purchasers have been alive and they complain about noise. What a joke. There arent many biz's that thrive from Etown. Maybe a mom and pop sanwick shop on 527, or the Wawa on Union Hill rd, other than that, its all residential.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Originally posted by ShouldofhadaV-8
What if they were to require mufflers, but leave th track open? ...
So, if it's only mufflers, I think I would actually approve. I'm sure I will get some criticism here, but then again most of you Buick guys' cars are extremely quiet to begin with.

Don't forget, you're not going to get mufflers on Top Fuel and Funny Cars. If a 'mufflers only' rule goes into effect, E-town would be unable to host the NHRA national event which probably brings a lion's share of their revenue.

Too bad I can't attend that meeting. I'd hate to see RP get pushed around by these suburbanite pansies so those that can attend, please do. That too was my hometown track and the noise was part of the fun. I can remember many times when I was real young playing in my yard in Freehold, I could hear the fuelers making passes miles away. I could enjoy it without even being there.

 

[neverenuf]

It is amazing how common of an occurrence this is. The consulting engineering firm that I am a part owner of is the statewide noise consultant for IDOT. The things that come from people's mouths while discussing noise problems are amazing. Unfortunately it does not always go well in situations like this. Noise barriers are an expensive proposal and are seldom deemed feasible.

 

[NJTurbo]

Serious issue. Going to the top until after the 5th.