Motocross track evaluation raises old debate

The reviews are in, and few minds have been changed regarding a temporary motocross track near the Pine Nut Mountains.

On Tuesday, more than 50 people showed up at a county parks and recreation commission meeting to comment on the track, which, after 19 events over the summer, is in the process of being dismantled. After three hours of impassioned exchange between opponents and supporters, the parks commission voted 4-0, with commissioners Jacquie Manoukian, Elaine Flynn and David Craig absent, to deem the track successful and the criteria of the parks use application met.

Approved in May, the track was built on 15-20 acres of county-owned land across from the fairgrounds, between the animal shelter and the transfer station. The 19 events held there included practice race days and both pro and local races, with the last event on Sept. 27.

On Tuesday, critics continued to argue that the location is unsuitable, with noise being the chief complaint.

"It's in the middle of several residential neighborhoods," said Ruhenstroth resident Joyce Eckrem, who picketed some of the events. "I don't think we're entitled to more noise. I don't hear the transfer station from my house, I don't hear the shooting range or model airplane complex, but I do hear the motocross track."

However, Bill Chernock, executive director of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Authority, which had submitted the original application, said noise produced from the events was fairly minimal.

"It wasn't that intrusive," he said. "On calm days, there was discernible noise from the track, but it was less noticeable during days with any wind. It was not really what people feared and anticipated."

One source of contention was whether dogs at the nearby animal shelter were affected by the races.

"You cannot hear noise in the shelter if the wind is blowing right, but in the yard, it's another matter," said Douglas Animal Welfare Group volunteer Dottie Mainberger. "The dust was enough to choke you."

Mainberger said it was impossible to talk with prospective adopting families in the shelter's exercise yard during race days. She also blamed the track for a rise in stress-related allergies afflicting the dogs.

"I've never seen so many cases of allergies as this year," she said.

Chernock said he routinely walked the perimeter of the shelter, including the exercise yard, and found little impact on the animals, if any.

"I spent a lot of time out there," he said. "The dogs don't care. They're oblivious."

Kathy Graff, another DAWG volunteer, refuted that argument.

"Truthfully, it bothered the crap out of me," she said. "You could hear noise inside the kennel area, not all the time, but to say you couldn't hear it is wrong."

Proponents of the track pointed out that measures such as sound barriers and fixed speakers would help mitigate noise, but would likely upset residents because of their appearance of permanence.

Douglas County Community Services Director Scott Morgan assured the public that the current location of the track is temporary. He said the county is committed to finding a permanent site farther away from residential neighborhoods.

"We've never pitched it as a permanent facility," he said. "The whole reason this track is temporary is that we think we need this type of track but don't know where to put it."

As of Tuesday, track organizers hadn't submitted an application for next year, although they are considering different seasons for the motocross events, possibly spring and fall.

Chernock said the summer's test run of the location more than met his expectations. Nearly 1,000 riders attended the practice sessions, 648 racers paid entry fees for Sunday races, and more than 2,000 people paid spectator fees, he said.

The visitors authority has also hired a company to analyze the economic impact of the track, the results of which will be available by the end of the month.

"Our job is to try to generate business and visitation to Douglas County," Chernock said.

Karen Irvine of Testa Motorsports said the races considerably impacted her business.

"We picked up many new customers in the community," she said.

Irvine volunteered several mornings at the track, and said she and other volunteers would go into town and spend money.

"We'd get coffee or breakfast and spend money not normally spent," she said. "It was a little amount, but it all adds up."

However, Susan Cryderman, who lives on Log Cabin Road north of the site, questioned whether track operator Nevada Motocross Park, a private corporation, should receive water and other resources for free.

"Like the site restoration - who pays for it?" she said.

Chernock said the visitors authority, which is funded by the room tax, is responsible for re-vegetation. Morgan said water to the site cost the county nothing, as the county pays a flat rate to use the subject well. He said the $1,250 fee the applicant paid is similar to other event fees - designed to compensate the community for private use of public facilities.

Ruhenstroth resident Mark Gonzales said he was not against the track, but suggested the country increase the permitting fee in the future to offset the cost of extra staff monitoring. He also suggested charging the applicant for water.

"I'm not opposed to the track. I'd rather have a controlled atmosphere for riders," he said. "But as taxpayers, we don't want to be subsidizing this."

Steve Brown, one of two principals of Nevada Motocross Park, said the temporary track barely paid for itself. He took exception to suggestions that his company was receiving a sweetheart deal or reaping a profit.

"You're all missing the main thing here - that this is for the kids in town," he said. "I haven't made a dime, not a thing. I've done it out of my own pocket. There is a huge rider base here that needs a place to ride motorcycles. I don't care what anyone says, this is a good thing for the county."