An important note from The Lime Rock Citizen’s Council:
We would like to inform you of important changes happening at Lime Rock Park race track.
The new Track owners, who cannot race on Sundays (thanks to the support and donations of hundreds of concerned citizens), are actively seeking new sources of revenue. Unfortunately Drifting is one of those activities. Drifting has become an extremely popular new style of motor sport activity, and Lime Rock Park race track wants to incorporate it into their annual schedule.
Over the weekend of Aug 18, 19 and 20th,2023 LRP hosted Gridlife Circuit Legends, with a “Drifting” event. Drifting cars are equipped with special tires that smoke much more than standard tires (naturally the smoke is really hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere) and modified brake systems allowing for braking coinciding with acceleration, causing even more smoke. The environmentally dangerous smoke is produced strictly to entertain the crowds. We cannot agree with Lime Rock Park that this is an appropriate activity for our pristine residential area.
The smoke from the 2 day drifting event filled the sky, covering the Race Track and spilling out into the abutting lands. The LRCC Steering Committee in an effort to protect the natural environment of our beautiful area despite being in the presence of a Race Track, is very concerned with the potential dangers and environmental damage caused by drifting. As the attached photos and videos show, smoke from the track quickly spread out of the track property an into the surrounding area, which include homes, back yard vegetable gardens, farms and the Housatonic River.
If you agree with the Steering Committee that Drifting needs to be properly evaluated environmentally, please contact the Town of Salisbury, Torrington Area Health, the Lakeville Journal or the DEEP, asking that this activity be investigated for compliance with town regulations on burning, local regulations on health & safety and national regulations such as the EPA Clean Air Act.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL30853 .
In this day & age where we are all so conscious about air quality and pollution, the intentional burning of tires and subsequent environmental damage by an entertainment company, should be questioned.
The Lime Rock Citizens Council feels that Drifting is an unacceptable Track activity because:
Burning Tires is not and never has been an approved activity in Salisbury (No Burn Permits will be issued for burning tires)
Airborne hydrocarbons from burning tires are known carcinogens.
Drifting should be evaluated for compliance with local, regional and federal air quality regulations.
Drifting, as a new category in the motor sport world, and is not listed as a permitted track activity according to the LRCC interpretation of the zoning regulations
Lime Rock Park cannot control the smoke to keep it on their property, and should not be allowed to spread airborne carcinogens outside its property lines.
The previous owner of Lime Rock Park, stated at a Public P & Z Hearing in 2015 that Lime Rock Park would never host Drifting events, due to complaints from neighboring properties about environmental concerns.
Also, for some reason, this Gridlife event had more uncontrolled speeding and reckless driving outside the track than previous events. This is a very real concern, as we have seen numerous serious accidents and deaths on these roads in recent years.
Thank you for taking an interest in keeping the beauty of our local area as pristine as possible. You may contact Doug Howes with any additional thoughts or questions. Doug Howes 413-446-1105