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Man protests noise from Rolling Thunder Raceway

By Nancy Lindsey

A man who lives on Groundhog Mountain above the Rolling Thunder Raceway told the Patrick County Board of Supervisors April 28 that the race track is "a public nuisance."

Herman Logan Jr., a Patrick resident whose address is Laurel Fork, said he knew nothing about the race track until he heard the loud noise while standing on his deck.

"I can hear it above the television and the ceiling fan," Logan said. "A man shouldn't have to go in his house to get away from noise."

He said the sounds from the raceway can even be heard across the Blue Ridge Parkway, where his daughter lives.

Logan said he had read the minutes of board meetings in which the raceway was discussed, and saw that only two people spoke out against it. "There is far greater opposition than you're aware of," he told the supervisors.

Logan said the suggestion made last year to plant cypress trees around the raceway would not stop the noise. Limiting the days and hours of operation would be a reasonable way to control it, he said.

The former county attorney offered to draw up a proposed ordinance for the board's consideration, Logan said, but the board did not pursue that option. Logan said a noise, zoning, or public nuisance ordinance could address the problem.

"There's no way to make a noise ordinance retroactive," said Peters Creek District Supervisor Lock Boyce.

County Attorney Alan Black said there generally hasn't been much support in Patrick County for a noise ordinance, and such an ordinance is difficult to enforce.

Boyce said the owners followed all the rules and regulations and got the required permits before opening the race track.

"An entire segment" of Patrick County residents living on the mountain had no way of knowing about the race track until they suddenly heard this "huge noise," Logan said. He said it has decreased property values in the area.

"Can you stop it at 11:30 p.m.?" Logan asked.

Smith River District Supervisor Crystal Harris said the board had asked the owners to cut off activities before midnight.

Sheriff Dan Smith said the Patrick County Sheriff's Office has received "many, many, many complaints" about noise from the race track, but is "powerless to do anything about it," because there are no laws regulating it. Neighbors in Ararat and Groundhog Mountain have said the noise "extends late into the night," Smith said.

Logan said he invites anyone to visit his house to hear the noise, or go to the Groundhog Mountain Overlook.

He said he has owned his land for more than 16 years, but just finished building his house a year ago.

"I certainly sympathize with you," said Blue Ridge District Supervisor Karl Weiss, "but the man jumped through all the hoops." Weiss said a noise ordinance would have to apply to all noise, including that of industries such as the sawmill that wakes him up every morning. "We can't pass an ordinance to shut that down, a business that provides jobs," he said.

Logan said he understood that there had been no public hearing before the race track was built. "I would have been there," he said. "It's a real nuisance. I know we can write laws to do anything."

He said he has also learned that there is a civil process available to citizens who want to protest a nuisance. "But it should be handled at this level," not through the courts, he said.

Dan River District Jonathan Large, whose district includes the race track, did not attend the meeting.


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		Man protests noise from Rolling Thunder Raceway By Nancy Lindsey A man who lives on Groundhog Mountain above the Rolling Thunder Raceway told the Patrick County Board of Supervisors April 28 that the race track is "a public nuisance." Herman Logan Jr., a Patrick resident whose address is Laurel Fork, said he knew nothing about the race track until he heard the loud noise while standing on his deck. "I can hear it above the television and the ceiling fan," Logan said. "A man shouldn't have to go in his house to get away from noise." He said the sounds from the raceway can even be heard across the Blue Ridge Parkway, where his daughter lives. Logan said he had read the minutes of board meetings in which the raceway was discussed, and saw that only two people spoke out against it. "There is far greater opposition than you're aware of," he told the supervisors. Logan said the suggestion made last year to plant cypress trees around the raceway would not stop the noise. Limiting the days and hours of operation would be a reasonable way to control it, he said. The former county attorney offered to draw up a proposed ordinance for the board's consideration, Logan said, but the board did not pursue that option. Logan said a noise, zoning, or public nuisance ordinance could address the problem. "There's no way to make a noise ordinance retroactive," said Peters Creek District Supervisor Lock Boyce. County Attorney Alan Black said there generally hasn't been much support in Patrick County for a noise ordinance, and such an ordinance is difficult to enforce. Boyce said the owners followed all the rules and regulations and got the required permits before opening the race track. "An entire segment" of Patrick County residents living on the mountain had no way of knowing about the race track until they suddenly heard this "huge noise," Logan said. He said it has decreased property values in the area. "Can you stop it at 11:30 p.m.?" Logan asked. Smith River District Supervisor Crystal Harris said the board had asked the owners to cut off activities before midnight. Sheriff Dan Smith said the Patrick County Sheriff's Office has received "many, many, many complaints" about noise from the race track, but is "powerless to do anything about it," because there are no laws regulating it. Neighbors in Ararat and Groundhog Mountain have said the noise "extends late into the night," Smith said. Logan said he invites anyone to visit his house to hear the noise, or go to the Groundhog Mountain Overlook. He said he has owned his land for more than 16 years, but just finished building his house a year ago. "I certainly sympathize with you," said Blue Ridge District Supervisor Karl Weiss, "but the man jumped through all the hoops." Weiss said a noise ordinance would have to apply to all noise, including that of industries such as the sawmill that wakes him up every morning. "We can't pass an ordinance to shut that down, a business that provides jobs," he said. Logan said he understood that there had been no public hearing before the race track was built. "I would have been there," he said. "It's a real nuisance. I know we can write laws to do anything." He said he has also learned that there is a civil process available to citizens who want to protest a nuisance. "But it should be handled at this level," not through the courts, he said. Dan River District Jonathan Large, whose district includes the race track, did not attend the meeting.