Palmer Motorsports Park

[moto316]

Have they started breaking ground on this track or are they still doing paperwork with the environment agencies? Theyre saying its supposed to be open by 2010, any new news on whether theyll allow motorcycles there?

[GixerJockey]

funny... We were just talking about that...

[DucDave]

funny... We were just talking about that...

...not 'ha ha' funny...

[gregp]

I hope not. Living only a short distance from the proposed site, I am not in favor.
This track supposedly will *not* be for motorcycles. Ever. Only sports cars will be allowed, and even then, only "members" with sports cars, and possibly their families and support teams. No spectators, or motorcycles, will be allowed. This is the "promise" they have made to the Palmer Board of Selectmen and the town council.
I hate to jump on the NIMB wagon, but try to put yourself in our position. For most in our neighborhood, our homes represent our largest investment and this track stands to reduce their value immediately and substantially.
There has been no sound level regulation nailed down, nor any enforcement policies mentioned other than "Don't worry, we won't let it get out of hand". I also have not heard of any proposed "hours of operation".

[Paul_E_D]

Have they broken ground?

Why would motorcycles be any different that cars?

[kb1]

It would be about 35 minutes from my house, not even. While I would love to have a track that close, I agree that they have literally sworn up and down that no motorcycles would be allowed on the track.

Seems silly to me, what's the difference between motorcycles and some of the cars that are going to race?

[Paul_E_D]

I think they are using the No Bikes line as a distraction to make residents feel better about the situation. Scape goat those nasty bikers. We're refined car people! Hey, everybody has a car.

Sucky as that is, it will probably work.

[kb1]

True enough

[Rambunctous]

I hope not. Living only a short distance from the proposed site, I am not in favor.
This track supposedly will *not* be for motorcycles. Ever. Only sports cars will be allowed, and even then, only "members" with sports cars, and possibly their families and support teams. No spectators, or motorcycles, will be allowed. This is the "promise" they have made to the Palmer Board of Selectmen and the town council.
I hate to jump on the NIMB wagon, but try to put yourself in our position. For most in our neighborhood, our homes represent our largest investment and this track stands to reduce their value immediately and substantially.
There has been no sound level regulation nailed down, nor any enforcement policies mentioned other than "Don't worry, we won't let it get out of hand". I also have not heard of any proposed "hours of operation".

Yeah. Palmer is known for high values. Right up there with Wellesley and Lancaster. Or did I mean Lowell and Chicopee. Anyhow, the values are in the shitter in Loudon for comparisons sake. Right? Sell your house in Palmer and try to buy in Loudon with the money you got. Good Luck.

[gregp]

Yeah. Palmer is known for high values. Right up there with Wellesley and Lancaster. Or did I mean Lowell and Chicopee. Anyhow, the values are in the shitter in Loudon for comparisons sake. Right? Sell your house in Palmer and try to buy in Loudon with the money you got. Good Luck.

Ouch. I actually live in Ware, not that it matters. A man's home is his castle, and we all try to protect our investments, no matter the location.
A nieghbor has a Miata, and his wife is all for this track, but when I discussed with her the possibility of Motorcycles, she immediately siad "Oh, No way, I would be against that!"
???
Personally, I don't care if it is for cars, bikes, MX, or lawnmowers. Noise is noise, and most folks would not want a track of any kind within earshot of their homes - unless they can both use it and control it.

[obsolete]

Makes sense, kinda like NED mandating mufflers on street nights but letting snowmobiles run.

If the people that live around there say no then piss off track. They were there first. Just like if you buy a house near a track and have a problem with the noise, you can piss off too.

[Paul_E_D]

Greg, Have they broken ground? I heard it was a done deal...

[spydah]

I hope not. Living only a short distance from the proposed site, I am not in favor.
This track supposedly will *not* be for motorcycles. Ever. Only sports cars will be allowed, and even then, only "members" with sports cars, and possibly their families and support teams. No spectators, or motorcycles, will be allowed. This is the "promise" they have made to the Palmer Board of Selectmen and the town council.
I hate to jump on the NIMB wagon, but try to put yourself in our position. For most in our neighborhood, our homes represent our largest investment and this track stands to reduce their value immediately and substantially.
There has been no sound level regulation nailed down, nor any enforcement policies mentioned other than "Don't worry, we won't let it get out of hand". I also have not heard of any proposed "hours of operation".

There is a serious lack of logic here, no motorcycle in the world is louder than a v8 with straight pipes (except maybe a boss hoss).

Lets think of when the noise would actually happen. Weekdays while you are away at work, and weekends when you are off doing other things. I can't imagine that this thing would be close enough to anyone that the noise would travel right through the walls of the house. Does that even happen at Loudon?

Now lets think of the positives. Generates tax revenue for the city. Generates revenue for local small businesses (hotels, food, gas). Creates jobs.

And in regards to house values... I think most people on here would pay and arm and a leg to live close to a race track and still be reasonably close to work

[gregp]

Greg, Have they broken ground? I heard it was a done deal...

I have not seen anything other than the logging that was done several years ago, which was quite extensive.
I don't mean to get on anybody's bad side here. I mean, hey, I love my bikes! I have been a dirt rider since I was 5 or 6, and I am 48 now. I have a wife and two kids. We moved from away from an HOA nieghborhood a few years ago (I just couldn't *stand* those people!) up to where we are now. We are pretty much surrounded by Conservation land and it is really nice here. There is a gun club up the street, and we knew about that when we bought the property. They have been great nieghbors, and have been cooperative and considerate. They have also been very prudent in enforcing their open range schedules and limits. The ranges are approximately 1/4 mile away.
We are all just nervous that once the track goes in, the rules that everybody agreed to kind of fall to the wayside, and a free for all opens up. It seems that the town of Palmer is so preoccupied with the whole casino thing that the race track just slid under the radar.
As far as I can determine, even though the proposed area is in Palmer, any abutting or nieghboring residences are in Ware or West Warren.
As far as this forum is concerned, they have been absolutely resolute in that no bikes will be allowed on this track at any time. Ever.
They have been a bit ambiguous about what types of vehicles will be on this track. On the other hand, I have witnessed many types of motorsports in my day, and I have never once heard a "quiet" race car. The location is such that, even if 2 stock, street vehicles were allowed to open their throttles all the way, at the same time, the noise level would be intrusive. If it were to carry on all weekend, it would certainly be intolerable.

[kb1]

I haven't seen the location or the surrounding neighborhoods so I can't comment on that. I will say though that race cars are usually much louder than bikes. I mean a bike can be loud but have people heard these race cars???

The no bikes crap is just stupid.

[daviid]

buying land is like buying stock, it goes up and it goes down. thats the risk you take when you buy. someone bought some land and you dont like what they want to do with it, oh well. thats part of the risk you took buying land.

[Rambunctous]

Scrap the race track . Build subdivisions , a fire station , enlarge your schools, traffic lights, a strip mall, crime. Yup, you would enjoy the quality of life in Loudon. Better than Laconia. Visit them both and you will see what choice Palmer has. None.

[kb1]

Scrap the race track . Build subdivisions , a fire station , enlarge your schools, traffic lights, a strip mall, crime. Yup, you would enjoy the quality of life in Loudon. Better than Laconia. Visit them both and you will see what choice Palmer has. None.

Residents don't usually know what's best for their towns, even if they think they do.