Track to address noise complaints

Aug. 12, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Alaska State Fair officials are busy preparing to host the second day of racing on their newly constructed quarter-mile high-bank dirt track. The work includes bringing in additional dirt to resurface the track and plotting locations to record sound levels in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Fair and track officials reported the plan to address during tonight's races a reported noise problem resulting from the track's events.

Several neighbors con-tacted the fair and the city of Palmer following the first race in July, complaining about the loud roar of engines emanating from the track.

Dean Phipps, events promoter at the fair, said the fair does not intend to become a disruptive part of the community.

"We're committed to being a good neighbor," Phipps said. "We have plans to determine the scope of the problem and determine what action we need to take to resolve things."

The track was born when sprint car racer Jackie McGahan asked about renting the grandstand area to host races and build a suitable track for sprint car racing. After an agreement was reached, nearly 55,000 yards of gravel and dirt were brought in to build the track.

Phipps said fair officials agreed to allow the track only if the fair was the majority partner, allowing some level of enforcement and control of the racing and related activities. The main concern was being able to stop all racing by 9:30 p.m.

He indicated after taking noise-level readings during the next race, addressing the roar from the exhaust at the track may be next.

At tonight's race, Phipps plans to set up four noise-monitoring devices in the neighborhoods around the fairgrounds to determine if the noise is beyond allowable limits set forth in Palmer city code.

The standards set forth in the city code for determining whether a violation of the nuisance law exists include the level of the noise, proximity of the noise to residential dwellings, the time of the day the noise occurs and the duration of the noise.

City code also limits excessive noise to hours other than between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"We don't want the track to be a nuisance to the surrounding community," Phipps said. "At this point, we're trying to get a reading on the issue. Right now we're not sure if this is a sound issue or a racing issue."

McGahan, who is both a driver and race director, indicated that they take the issue of noise seriously, adding that they had to refuse entry for two cars during the July race because their exhaust systems did not meet national sprint car-racing standards.

"We've contacted other sprint car tracks in the state and across the nation to see how they comply with local zoning standards and noise issues," Phipps said. "I believe there is a middle ground that can be reached."

According to Sara Jansen, community development coordinator for Palmer, the Fair has been in operation since 1936 and there are no problems surrounding events held during the two weeks of activities.

"The main concern is that since the Fair is operating in an area zoned for public use, they are required by code to obtain a conditional-use permit when they host races," Jansen said. "Since they just built the track, there is no claim to having grandfather rights."

She said that following the July race, the city informed the fair of the need for permits for future races beyond those already on the schedule.

The permit requires certain noise restrictions, limiting the hours of activity and the number of events that can be held during the summer.

"Racers like to have races every weekend, but that is not a possibility here," Phipps said. "The fairgrounds are used for horse shows, dog shows, a Girl Scout camp and many other events during the summer. Combining racing with those activities just doesn't make sense and isn't part of our plan. We intend to host a limited racing schedule as part of the Northern Lights Dirt Series, which also holds races in Kenai and North Pole."

"We live here too, and have the same concerns as our neighbors," Phipps continued. "We want to find an amicable way to get through this."

Contact Darrell Breese at

352-2267 or darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.