Speedway brought to a screeching halt with permit problems
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. -- City hall has stopped all racing at the dirt track until the Cottage Grove Speedway gets building permits approved.
The Cottage Grove Development Department put a stop to all racing until it pays for permits on all of the projects it has built without getting city approval. Bob Farwell made additions to the Cottage Grove Speedway grounds since he purchased the track in late 2010.
The city said that Farwell dropped the ball on meeting the terms of the 2010 master plan that governs the track. Some of the permit-less projects that have been added include two grandstands, an observation deck and an archway over the speedway entrance. Some of the engineering paperwork is also missing for projects that connected to the city water and sewer lines.
Community Development Director Howard Schesser is in charge of making sure all of the speedway's permits are in place.
"When the new owner took over, the master plan was in effect." Schesser said. "He knew what the conditions were and it is his responsibility to follow through to be able to operate."
Farwell hasn't returned KVAL's calls to get his stance on the permits and Cottage Grove Speedway closure.
It is up to the Speedway to get the necessary paperwork turned in in order to save the race season, scheduled to end next month.
I am just wondering if any of you people on here have actually been to a dirt track race all you talk about is the politics and money. Â Have you ever went to a race or been involved in anything dirt track racing? It takes a lot of work and money to maintain a track. Â I by no means am sticking up for Cottage Grove Speedway they made their bed and now its time they lie in it. Â They had known for years of the improvements and permits they needed to obtain and keep the track open. Â I personally have been there a few times and they need to make improvements to the employees, the security guards and the stands. Â They are all horrible and falling apart. They need to learn how to prep a track for racing and get a flagger who knows what they are doing and how to call a race. That is the most UNORGANIZED place I have ever been to. Â So before all of you guys on here start going off about the noise it makes in the city just think it was probably there before you moved there so if you don't like it, you should not have moved there. Â Its like if you move by a train station if you complain about the noise, o well lets just get them to close down the trains we don't need them at all. Â What is in Cottage Grove for people to do? Â O you can go bowling thats so fun but are you guys gonna start complaining about the noise of that too? I mean really people will complain about anything to be heard, sometimes you need to stop and look at the big picture, the track was there before a lot of you lived there and will be there after you are gone. SO GET OVER IT!!! Â
@LJ29 while i agree with what your saying whole heartedly I must ask you to think of everyone and the tone your taking,we have a great family oriented board here with little or no fighting going on,just my two cence
I'm sorry about some of my prior comments.  I'm learning the city has worked with who's running the track and the place just hasn't been taken care of as it should have been.  I'm hoping someone else can get in there and make it the place it can be.  The driver' talents should be respected and the money they bring to the place should be thought of as a blessing and  partly reinvested to improve the facility and track.  It's a shame that it come to this situation.
so in a recession we need permits and no one works until we get them.as apposed to hey listen I am gona let you finish but you are now on borrowed time and it is moving very quickly
 @Iam1woody They have already been on borrowed time these changes were supposed to be fixed LONG ago and were never taken care of.
More parasitic government terrorism , gimme money, gimme money....
The Riverside Speedway is a wonderful, wonderful place of entertainment.  I'm  a woman 60 years old.  When I was 16 years old my step dad made one of our family cars into a race car.  His son and two grandsons also had race cars  up through the years  and Cottage Grove Speedway was their home track.  His brother and  another brother's sons and a brother-in-law were racing there before he was.  Some of their children and grand kids have also raced.  Still are!  I've never had so much excitement and joy as when I'd get to see them out there racing.  There are many families with histories there.  The stands get full of cheering fans of the sport.  Nascar racing roots come from tracks just like this one.  There would be no famous drivers had it not been for places like this.  The City of Cottage Grove should bend over backwards many times over to help keep this Icon alive.  Citizens of Cottage Grove please rally once again to keep this jewel alive.  Really, city development dept. , help the track along, ( financial leniency, compassion for the town track fans -1000's of them)  Cottage Grove Riverside Speedway is a destination for thousands of the out of area racers and fans.  Many have great memories of  the Cottage Grove speedway.  Eugene, Lebanon fans and racers from all over love this speedway.  This track ( I don't know anything about who owns it or how it's operated) should be treated like a Historical National Treasure and should be delicately delt with.  As an example, all this could have been handled after the end of the  racing season.  I know when the local drivers travel to other town tracks, they spend big money on expenses for the night's stay.  It's ok to not be the statis quo tyranist leaders and show human kindness
Oregon gov. has become a bit like the mafia in its tactics. Â
I agree that public safety needs to be kept at the forefront and the venue needs to be built safely. Â But it sure seems like a small disgruntled group is at work here.
These requirements were put in place several years ago. Â They were agreed to by the owners when the city paid off some of the state and federal fines in exchange. Â Everyone else in town building anything has to obtain permits. Â These people have been given a really huge pass for years and years. Â So, pay up if you want to conduct business, folks!
i practically grew up at Saugus Speedway in CA. in the 80"s ...Cottage Grove Speedway will see the same fate eventually.. beat down and killed by people who have most likely never even went to an event.. No public official should have the ability to require a permit regarding the track surface, thats just stupid. good thing the baja 1000 is held in mexico...where the desert freely decides what the track surface will be
They have been after this speedway for years, and eventually they will kill it.
 @souptonuts The speedway has been after the rest of the town for years.  Maybe that will end the death threats and callous noisy scheduling during other city events.  Not to mention the long-tolerated scofflaw behavior of the owners.
Obviously the money for building permits was not invested in the Track's Surface ! They should also be required to fix the Deplorable Track surface which as it is not only results in a very bad day of racing for the fans but also is potentially hazardous for the Drivers who Race there causing personal injury and broken equipment .
 @raknecv80 just wonder how long it takes for a permit to get in a wreck cause that is hard on equipment and people and it slows the race down
 Perhaps a roll of bills will tip the scale to enhance business.  As usual, the permit holding agencies  hold out for extra cash or, want business to go only to their friends.  The Oregon way is to pay, pay, and pay again, then tip the agent until he signs off on the clearance of permission to participate in civil/affairs.  Even when permits are in complete compliance, more money is the personal issue.  Get out of the way for business or depend on welfare for the rest of your lives!  Make a choice today.  Business or welfare.  Welfare or business.  What will it be in November?  Â
One has too ask how many people wont be employed on race weekend. You got to love the california regulations we have adopted
Can't operate until you grease the necessary palms.
@givupongod Yep. Always have to appease the Great Big Brother in some form or another.