A January 17 public hearing held in Charles Town, West Virginia over planned expansion and proposed limits on racetrack operations at Summit Point Raceway was cut short when it was announced that the racetrack and its opponents had reached a compromise agreement. Details of the agreement were not revealed although a spokesman said that the track has agreed to certain restrictions on hours of operation and sound levels, which will be revealed after the deal is finalized and signed. Opponents had originally demanded a strict curfew and a 65 dBa noise limit on racetrack activities, including a ban on anything happening on track before noon on Sundays. (For reference, most tracks with noise rules limit racing vehicles to between 102 and 105 dBa). The track had been seeking permission to expand by building a new 2.0-mile road course in addition to the existing main racetrack and adjacent Jefferson circuit, which is mostly used for schools and track days. The main course is heavily booked for driver training programs catering to police and federal agencies. Meanwhile, opponents of a proposed new racetrack in Lake Elsinore, California are continuing to wage a vicious smear campaign based on disinformation and scare tactics, including claims that allowing the complex to be built will cause nearby property values to plummet, produce catastrophic pollution levels, attract drunken race fans who will clog city streets and run down citizens, and generate extreme noise that will be heard 15-20 miles in every direction. Opponents also claim that the track will not be financially viable and cannot possible attract enough business to stay afloat. Anyone interested in seeing the new facility be built–especially anyone who would be interested in renting the track for testing or would be interested in locating in an adjacent industrial complex–can help by writing or calling Lake Elsinore City Hall prior to January 25. Reality-based comments related to personal experience with racetracks, racing, race fans, and property values near major projects would be helpful. Estimates by team or business owners of how many rental days they might use the track in a given year would also help. Contact City of Lake Elsinore, 130 South Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530, phone (909) 674-3124, extension 5 for the City Manager or extension 4 for the City Clerk.