I am a resident of Catoosa County. We have lived in a subdivision over five miles away from the Boyd Speedway, the Drag Strip and now the motocross track. In the summer, my family and others in my subdivision and other nearby subdivisions and apartment complexes cannot even sit on our back porches or decks (or have company) because of the noise level from these businesses on Friday and Saturday nights (and now on Sunday afternoons). You can even hear the roar of the engines with all the doors closed; we turn up our televisions to cover the noise. Although these events are supposed to close at 10 p.m., we have often heard them as late as 11:30 p.m.
We are told these businesses were here a long time before us, so we don’t have a leg to stand on. We are also told that meetings about these businesses are posted at the tracks (which no one ever goes by except for patrons of the events). We are told that announcements are in the newspaper which I have never seen, and I read the newspaper from cover to cover. We are told to come to the commission meetings; however, many of our residents are senior citizens who are not able to attend these meetings. We are also told the taxes from these businesses are so great that the county cannot do without them.
Fellow Catoosa County residents who pay taxes too, it is a travesty for a few people to enjoy themselves at the expense of thousands of residents who have moved into a beautiful county who can’t even enjoy weekends. (My husband and I are retired school teachers who were hoping to enjoy our weekends in a beautiful part of the country!)
A few years back, one of my neighbors, who has since died from cancer, was a captive in her own house because she could not sit outside and talk with her family because of the noise.
A warning to future home and apartment seekers in this area: you might want to look somewhere else!
Pat Taylor, Ringgold
My name is Darrel Lynn,
I am the owner of the new Motocross track
in Catoosa county, I completly understand
your concerns and would like to say a couple of things,
We have owned our current track on Scruggs rd. in Catoosa county over 10 years, We have raced on Friday nights, Saturday nights and Sundays
over the past 10 years, we have never had a single noise complaint according to Catoosa County Sherifs office, The motorcycles all run mufflers and are nothing like the cars,
I know the cars are loud and make a powerful noise that travels, I assure you the motorcycles are much different, the noise they make will not be heard far from the property, I would even like to invite you out to a race to watch these kids have fun and ride there motorcycles, send me a msg, and I will see you get in the park and see first hand the noise level and the fun our community youths have in our sport!
Thanks for being a concerned resident and I hope you take me up on our offer.
Darrel Lynn
Why should we have to move when I can almost guarantee you that the property taxes paid by ALL of the homeowners in the area that have to hear the track outweigh the taxes paid by the speed track. While Pat might live in a new subdivision, there are also residents who live nearby who have lived in the area longer than the track has been open. Why doesn't the speed track move? I also live near the interstate, but I don't hear the cars / trucks on the interstate. I have planes fly over my house, but don't hear them.
Pat Taylor has a legitimate complaint.