Update On The Hearing.. Banned Drifting In Norcal....

[TRUENOCOUPE]

THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO REVERSED THE DECISION!

http://driftbattle.org/supportdriftbattle.gif



Motorsports in Northern California has been issued a direct and tremendous blow by the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County. At their past meeting, the Board – led by a tyrannical President Scott Haggerty – has banned Sprint Car Racing, Sports Car Racing, Figure 8 Racing, Autocross Events, Midget Racing, Kart Racing, Motorcycle Racing, Supermoto Events, Drifting, Enduro Racing, Driving Schools, Gymkhanas, and Club Rallies at Altamont Motorsports Park.

Why? Because a handful of neighbors living next to the 43-year old race track were able to convince Supervisor Haggerty that any form of motorsports, other than NASCAR, involves drugs, gangs, alcohol and illegal street racing. Who knows, maybe NASCAR is next on the list…

Supervisors Haggerty overstepped his authority and mishandled the decision that was presented to the Board. The fact that the Board was asked to answer the appeal… and ONLY the appeal… and that Haggerty took the discussion to a new level presents an opening for us to have the decision reversed.

The rationale for this heavy-handed decision is based solely on perception, bias and discrimination… and is without fact. So, we need to tell them the facts; the facts about who we are, what our families are like, what jobs and education we have, how much money we spend in Alameda County and throughout the State when we travel for motorsports. Most importantly, we need tell Alameda County that this issue will not rest until every segment of legitimate motorsports is available to all.

Send email, call or fax a letter to the following people. Let them know and be heard that you support DRIFTING in Alameda County.

Simple 1 minute phone call will help or letter will help keep drifting alive in Northern California.

Mr. Chris Bazar, Planning Director, is a GOOD GUY and friends to drifters and Altamont Motorsports Park… so don’t take your frustration out on him! Instead, be supportive and positive.

1. Alameda County Planning Department
Chriz Bazar – Planning Director.
224 W. Winton, Room 111
Hayward, CA 94544
E-Mail: [email protected]
Fax: 510-785-8793

2. Scott Haggerty - President of Alameda County
Phone: (510) 272-6691 –Leave a message if no one answers
Send him email here
(http://www.acgov.org/jsp_app/feedback/feedback.jsp?id=BOSd1)

3. Write a letter to Alameda County or call each person

The Board of Supervisor’s mailing address:
County of Alameda - Administration Building
1221 Oak Street, Suite 536, Oakland, CA 94612

Names of the Current Alameda County Board of Supervisors:

District 1: Scott Haggerty - President
District 2: Gail Steele
District 3: Alice Lai-Bitker - Vice President
District 4: Nate Miley
District 5: Keith Carson

Phone Numbers:

District 1: (510) 272-6691
District 2: (510) 272-6692
District 3: (510) 272-6693
District 4: (510) 272-6694
District 5: (510) 272-6695
www.acgov.org

4. Contact the Governor

Governor’s Office

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633

Email: To send an Email please visit:
http://www.govmail.ca.gov

We appreciate all your help and support.

For any question please contact [email protected]

[A Spec Products]

I sent mo emails again

Its the MOVEMENT!

Speaking of when the fat lady sings...reminds me of one of my fav songs of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ypFg-L1BrA

This needs to be the soundtrack to the next DB video...

GZA x MUGGS!

[cchan5k]

Man....I just heard about this and it seriously pisses me off. When I cool down a bit and think of something intelligent to say you better believe that I'm sending out a few emails. If you can't race on a track where the hell are you supposed to race? Burnouts and getting your mailbox knocked over? That isn't something exclusive to drifters...In fact, most people who race don't do that crap because they get to take it out on a track. Ugh. I'm too pissed right now to string together my thoughts so I'm stopping here.

Any plans on how to get the word out? I might just break my anti-sticker rule and design one to put on my car for this...

[adrift707]

Everybody be cool and professional about it. Like he said we have to be mature about the situation and handle it will with respect and dignity. If we show them we're smart, dedicated, and a somebody!! Then we can change their minds.

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

Alex is right, maturity FTW!
please don't be a dick and blow it!

[kdashy]

Man that seriously sucks, whats up with elected officials in norcal?

[johngriff]

Where are the representatives from Altamont Motorsports Park.

There is only two things that matter to politicians. Money and Power.

If you put their power in danger, they will react. The residents are voters, that scared them, they reacted.

The only thing a politician will step all over a voter for is money.

I would graph lost tax dollars from A.M.P. now that only nascar can run. This is where you will need the officials of A.M.P. I would also get information on Police Responses to the Park over the last few years, and tally up the cost of police responses vs. the tax earned from other than nascar events.

I would then find a shitty place in the district, say an arcade or pool hall or bar with lots of crime. Find out how much they paid in tax over said period (tax franchise board, public record), then graph the information against police responses and associated costs.

This will make sense to them. I dont think the "begging and pleading" that you guys are 'great people' will have any effect. Especially from a demographic w/less than 30% voter turn out.

If they do not react to this, you can then proceed to film a commercial for public access tv in the area, and amass pamphlets and banners speaking to the fact that Scott Haggerty and the rest of the board is anti-business (a good conservative point), and is bad for funding the area w/ appropriate tax money (a good democrat point).

Most counties and city's are in a financial debt, how much is alameda county in currently? You can speak to the fact he cannot get the county out of debt.

I emailed everyone on the list, along with the governator, i read through the last thread, this is a pretty retarded action on behalf of this city.

My best--

[kawika219]

wow...this is pretty sad for the motorsports community. i know exactly how you guys feel. here on oahu our only motorsports facility has been shut down for over a year now and all i can say is it really sucks because the only way to drift legally is to ship our cars elsewhere, which i plan on doing. i wish you guys luck on your fight for motorsports. the best thing to do is stick together and like everyone else said be professional about it. maybe i can send in an email sharing our trackless experience in hawaii. anyway, best of luck guys

[SochBAT]

I for one shall be calling in on behalf of all trackwhores.

This is retarded.

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

Hey all dont forget about this
The Community for a better altamont website.
http://www.betteraltamont.org/contact.html

[AJ1356]

i believe the owner of Altamont is involved, in the news he was saying just by loosing drifting alone they are loosing 2-3 million per year in income, let alone all other motorsports that got banned.

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

Here is my email
Mr. Haggerty,
I don’t agree with your judgment regarding Altamont on Tuesday, your decision was based on a myriad of myths about drifting, that are commonplace with the uneducated and close minded people that set about to prevent motorsport evolution, and have nothing better to do (Community for a better Altamont).
First off, drifting is NOT like the sideshows the pollute the county you sit as president of the board on, where the emphasis is on spinning your car out of control in illegal parking lot events. Drifting is about keeping your car in control, and following a traditional racing line, yes it is judged instead of timed but who cares?! It is still a “motorsport” where people are competing against one another and isn't Altamont's official name "Altamont Motorsports Park"?
Second, people spinning donuts in front of the Rivard’s property IS NOT DRIFTING!!! Aside from the fact that Midway road is far too small to spin donuts on, like I said above, that’s not what drifting is. And how can she blame that on us? Any random person driving across Midway road could have decided to stop and spin their tires. It happens on rural roads all across the country all the time.
Third, if you we’re to come out to a drifting event or practice, you would know that we are not a bunch of rowdy out of control kids. We are respectable members of your community who need a place to practice our sport. Altamont was our playground, and you took that away.
Fourth, the video that you saw presented by Karen Rivard at the beginning of the hearing was not an accurate representation of drifting. She showed people spinning out, and not completing the course, making it look like we’re out of control, and resembling a sideshow. I would like to refer you to one of my videos to show you what drifting should look like: http://www.recproductions.net/DriftBattle2.mov
This is from the event in question, I chose to focus on the drifting elements because I find it more interesting to film.
Finally, another argument Karen Rivard pointed out was the empty grand stands at April 15th’s event. This event was an amateur event, the professional events scheduled for later on this year would have filled the grandstands and then some.
I am not here to defend Altamont Motorsports Park, some of their actions may have been reprehensible, but what I am here to do is defend drifting. I think the arguments you were presented we’re false, and made by ignorant people who know nothing about the sport. I think your decision, as it stands is a significant blow to Altamont as well as motorsports. You are setting a precident, based on false testimony and no facts that will have a ripple effect on your community and our great Nation.

[Maximamike]

Please email me privately about this matter. My work recently went through this bull shit and we recently got this all cleared up after a 4 year battle. Hopefully I can put you in contact with people who can point you in the right direction.

Here's some links for you to check out. The first one goes on about our next battle to build a new track in NY and the rest of my company links.
http://f1longisland.com/
http://www.f1boston.com/
http://www.f1outdoor.com/

My email is: [email protected]

[420sx]

im gonna go call Arnold in a minute. It is going down.

[street240]

I am going to call arnold as well. I am going to tell him to terminate this ban. This ban is pretty stupid. Good Luck guys.

[adrift707]

Fuck altimont and fuck Alameda County. Theres plenty of mt roads up north to keep me happy. I don't want to hear about saftey it gives me peace of mind and puts a smile on my face.

Can someone delete this please. It's just ruining this situation.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Hope you guys get to keep the only venue left in norcal...

[Tenchuu]

yeah i am thinking of adding something to the effect of " if it is made illegal to practice motor sports on the track, the patrons will continue practicing on the streets at the cost of public property and innocent lives. take away a legal outlet and the only option left is illegal highly dangerous outlets. look at San Diego for an example, since street racing and other incidents went down when they started havening drag and drift days at Quallcomm.

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

Any updates Jay or Al?

[J-Style]

yeah i am thinking of adding something to the effect of " if it is made illegal to practice motor sports on the track, the patrons will continue practicing on the streets at the cost of public property and innocent lives. take away a legal outlet and the only option left is illegal highly dangerous outlets. look at San Diego for an example, since street racing and other incidents went down when they started havening drag and drift days at Quallcomm.

I sent an E-Mail mentioning this same thing. I also talked about the people in my town that whip donuts in the vacant parking-lots and claim that they are drifting.

[santacruisin]

E-Mail Sent to Brokeback Haggerty. I wrote a ty note to the first guy.

Hello,

I hope that the Board finds that reversing the decision to ban niche motorsports at Altamont Motorsports Park is in the benefit of the county. For too long young lives have been cut short because their enthusiasm was greater than their abilities. Alameda, and every county, needs a safe, legal and potentially lucrative place where they can learn, express themselves and feel a sense of belonging and community. Motorsports have always transcended gender, class and ethnic barriers to bring different people together under a common cause. The county of Alameda should not prevent individuals from peacefully gathering somewhere to participate in their passion.

There is a misconception in the county that gangs, drugs and violence are prevalent in the motorsports community. This is far from true and there has yet been any evidence to make such a point valid in the defense of banning grassroots motorsports from AMP. Motorsports necessitate discipline, committment and focus for a driver to become successful. THese are all characteristics that the media time and again says is lacking in today's youth. Why take away that which is bettering our communities and inspiring young minds?

There is also the misconception that grassroots drivers are uneducated, belligerent and reckless. This is also far from the truth. Young professionals such as myself resent the fact that we are being labeled as gang members and other outlaws merely because we are young and doing something different from the status quo. We are individuals with families, responsibilities and real lives that we are not willing to sacrfice for things as assinine as violence or drugs. Without any concrete proof that illegal activity is occurring in or aound AMP do we not deserve the benefit of the doubt that we, as a group of motorsports enthusiasts, do not condone, endorse or participate in such behavior?

There are times where the benefits of the many outweigh the benefits of the few. Now is one of those times. Although there may be a handful of neighbors that make accusations towards enthusiasts and their events, no criminal convictions from the alleged behavior is on record and no individual has come forward with anything besides circumstantial evidence. Conversely, there is extensive evidence that providing a safe, sanctioned location for motorsports enthusiasts to practice and compete severley cuts down on street racing, reckless driving and teenage fatalities. One could make the argument that a reckless teenager must take responsibility for ending their own life in a street race but what do you say to the pedestrian or the normal driver killed as a result of an illegal race; a race that could have been prevented by a legal and safe racing venue. I think saving a life is more important than having to deal with noise on a Sunday afternoon. The people against AMP motorsports can move and live a happy life elsewhere, a dead pedestrian or innocent bystander will never come back. The Board of Alameda County has the power to prevent future tragedies.

Please make the right decision and reverse a ban on grassroots motorsports at Altamont Motorsports Park.

[TRUENOCOUPE]

Any updates Jay or Al?

The update is that I spoke to the county and asked me to tell everyone to stop emailing them since there's nothing they can do.

There's always something they can do...

and they noted that they are getting so much emails about this and can't even use their email.

[YUNG DRIF]

Keep Emailing Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

The update is that I spoke to the county and pretty ask me to tell everyone to stop emailing them since there's nothing they can do.

There's always something they can do...

and they noted that they are getting so much emails about this and can't even use their email.

Dope! Keep it up! :rofl:

[azndoc]

The update is that I spoke to the county and pretty ask me to tell everyone to stop emailing them since there's nothing they can do.

There's always something they can do...

and they noted that they are getting so much emails about this and can't even use their email.

LOLz that's awesome. I'll make it a priority to email them at least once a week now. No nasty letters but instead I'll smother them with kindness.

Maybe not now, but soon enough they'll realize it was a mistake. Don't stop the emails people. Keep up the fight.

[Okinawandrifter87]

lol werd!! keep it up!! im going to send friendly ones everyday when im at work =0)

[NemeGuero]

Just sent 2 mo' emails!

[kouki_s14]

i vote to ban ignorant people from living near race tracks

[supad0rk]

I think that if they can make ignorant judgements about a group of people like that, all we need to do is prove them wrong.

On top of that it also might not hurt to check to see what wrong doings they have done in the past, people that are bitter and greedy like that always have some kind of skeletons in their closet that they don't like to let out. Probably wouldn't hurt to browse around (shady business practices, illegal activities of their own, making donations to people to turn things their way) i mean nothing wrong with it, I guess they seemed to do their homework on "us" since we are all drug dealers and gang members. Higher a private investigator to follow them around and start making a list of all their illegal activities and look into their public records. We don't need to stoop to whatever low they went to, but things that are open to the public wouldn't hurt to see how and why these people are doing what they are doing.

I mean really, who is that bitter and ignorant, was there any proof or evidence of any of these alleged crimes? Chances are that they could be their own kids or someone else they decided to make enemies with that decided to do doughnuts and burn outs on the street.

Well anyways, my last suggestion is that someone takes legal action to look in to this. Can a county really ban a motorsport from a (if i'm correct) privately owned track? If so under what circumstances can they constitute this kind of action? Also if they haven't noticed these events have also been televised and sanctioned by many other tracks.

[TRUENOCOUPE]

Hey guys -- We just updated our website and hoping someone reads it and helps us get a new venue...

Everyone seems to know us as “Drifters” but we want to change that as a community and an organization. We want to help educate the public of what drifting and drifters are.

Who is Drift Battle; Drift Battle is run by a father, engineer, sales field engineer, student, artist and a hobbyist. We are the same as everyone else but we do this thing called “drifting”. Before we go on to tell you all what drifting is, we would like to continue giving you guys insight of who we really are. We have been profiled as ‘gangster’ and a threat to the community.

The mission of Drift Battle is to grow the drifting scene in Northern California in a positive way. We will strive to work with the public, government, local businesses, and fellow drifters to provide a venue in which drift enthusiasts can practice their passion in a legal environment. Drifting is much more than sliding through turns: it is a lifestyle, a sport, and a show of individualism. Whatever it takes, we will do to further our mission.

read more.
http://www.driftbattle.org/letsgo/

[Maximamike]

No emails, so I gather my assistance is not needed?

[delphis]

maybe if we charge a little more at the door or for drivers and offer to give it to proceeds of needy children somewhere in the county it would also help prove that we are about something and aren't all just a bunch of selfish young degenerates and that we actually want to give back to the community and help expand it and that would be comming out of our own pocket maybe an extra $10 per driver and $2 per event attendee. Just a thought that we might want to email to the county to make them give us a chance. Also going higher in the chain will result in a better final turn out because emailing just the county, If they say they can't, it might be true but they didn't say they we have to go over their head to achieve what we want.

[misfitsfreak81]

E-Mail Sent to Brokeback Haggerty. I wrote a ty note to the first guy.
(Quoted from santacruisin)
Hello,

I hope that the Board finds that reversing the decision to ban niche motorsports at Altamont Motorsports Park is in the benefit of the county. For too long young lives have been cut short because their enthusiasm was greater than their abilities. Alameda, and every county, needs a safe, legal and potentially lucrative place where they can learn, express themselves and feel a sense of belonging and community. Motorsports have always transcended gender, class and ethnic barriers to bring different people together under a common cause. The county of Alameda should not prevent individuals from peacefully gathering somewhere to participate in their passion.

There is a misconception in the county that gangs, drugs and violence are prevalent in the motorsports community. This is far from true and there has yet been any evidence to make such a point valid in the defense of banning grassroots motorsports from AMP. Motorsports necessitate discipline, committment and focus for a driver to become successful. THese are all characteristics that the media time and again says is lacking in today's youth. Why take away that which is bettering our communities and inspiring young minds?

There is also the misconception that grassroots drivers are uneducated, belligerent and reckless. This is also far from the truth. Young professionals such as myself resent the fact that we are being labeled as gang members and other outlaws merely because we are young and doing something different from the status quo. We are individuals with families, responsibilities and real lives that we are not willing to sacrfice for things as assinine as violence or drugs. Without any concrete proof that illegal activity is occurring in or aound AMP do we not deserve the benefit of the doubt that we, as a group of motorsports enthusiasts, do not condone, endorse or participate in such behavior?

There are times where the benefits of the many outweigh the benefits of the few. Now is one of those times. Although there may be a handful of neighbors that make accusations towards enthusiasts and their events, no criminal convictions from the alleged behavior is on record and no individual has come forward with anything besides circumstantial evidence. Conversely, there is extensive evidence that providing a safe, sanctioned location for motorsports enthusiasts to practice and compete severley cuts down on street racing, reckless driving and teenage fatalities. One could make the argument that a reckless teenager must take responsibility for ending their own life in a street race but what do you say to the pedestrian or the normal driver killed as a result of an illegal race; a race that could have been prevented by a legal and safe racing venue. I think saving a life is more important than having to deal with noise on a Sunday afternoon. The people against AMP motorsports can move and live a happy life elsewhere, a dead pedestrian or innocent bystander will never come back. The Board of Alameda County has the power to prevent future tragedies.

Please make the right decision and reverse a ban on grassroots motorsports at Altamont Motorsports Park.




this is a great letter and a fine example of exactly how this type of thing should be handled. goodluck to everyone out in norcal, i really hope this goes the way it should.

mike

North Shore Performance Auto

[santacruisin]

thanks...

we need to keep sending these e-mails so we freeze their system. don't send the same letter over again, just word it different. as long as they can't use their e-mail this issue will be on their minds.

I'm quitting my job soon and going to picket the Rivard Moto-x course. I'll start a thread about it so we can press the issue with that asshole.