Originally Posted by tknbkthrsdy4anfg

Well the gist of what I got from talking to John Condren (the guy that owns the track) Al Lagura, and a few other folks is that the track has been there since the 60's. They had a big Rolling Stones concert there and Hells Angels ran security and I guess people died. Anyways, the Rivards bought the land next to the track several years ago when the track was run down shape, but still holding events. The Rivards built a professional motocross track on their property dubbed "R Speed" from the pictures I've seen. They held more then one public event there until somebody got hurt and sued the Rivards. So they closed their property and only let friends ride on the property and again someone got hurt and sued them so they closed the property to themselves for a private motocross venue. In the mean time Altamont Motorsports Park came up for sale from the previous owners. The parcel was offered to Mark Rivard as well as John Condren and others.
From what John told me Mark offered pennies on the dollar for the property, probably to tear it down and expand his moto empire, and John Condren simply offered more and bought the parcel.
This is when everything began. Because Altamont's use permit from Alameda county does NOT specifically state "Drifting" because it was written in 1996, when drifting was just emerging in the US, that is the Rivards (and the community for a better Altamont) only way in. The use permit expired in 2006 and they are allowed to continue use because they are making an effort to renew their use permit. Since it doesn't specifically state drifting that is the only way the neighbors can try to get this track shut down. The Rivards specifically have made numerous threats and erroneous claims about the track. Including but not limited to "Riots in the grandstands" when everything was going good. "Explosions and Fires in the paddock" again when nothing was going wrong. Mike, the track manager has even said that Mark Rivard has driven on to the property with a loaded handgun sitting in plain view on the passenger seat of his truck, well exceeding the speed limit posted and barrelling past security checkpoints. Mark is also quoted to have said "I have a nice view of you through my scope."
The current state of affairs is that the Rivards have random people who have nothing to do with the situation, but are well spoken come to county board meetings spouting off erroneous accounts of drifting causing hearing loss, tire smoke being bad for your health, and that drifters are gang members and drug users. It was really painful to go to the country board meetings when people just tell blatant lies, and you have to sit their quietly and wait your turn.
Now this isn't to say the Altamont is holier-then-thou in the matter. From what I gather the expansions to the track including the X and the bunny ear were done without a permit as well as adding the large light towers to the track. However those shouldn't have any weight on the matter. They also according to Alameda County Board of Supervisors President Scott Hagerty lied to the county about holding events after the drifting ban was in place calling them "auto-x" events.
Regardless of how the past actions have unfolded, the current fact on the matter is that Altamont is preparing an environmental impact report on the track and (I guess) is using to to renew their use permit to include drifting. The demo we did was to gather sound data for this report. From what Mike said Altamont has lost approximately $50,000 in revenue this year from this drifting ban as well as businesses like SDP going out of business. If the drifting ban is lifted Altamont plans to have plenty of events, including D1.

Thats about all I know, anyone care to edit or add?

Originally Posted by Brian

well I suppose you can imagine it like a parking space that you think "gosh, I’ll never fit in there" But then you fold in the side view mirrors and what do you know, your in.