ATV Florida Forum

What is going on at SandMountain ? I would like to go ride . When will they open again ?

Rumor is...... no..

I'm hearing BIG GOVERNMENT shut them down for good.

Their site is still up but it's been saying the same thing for the last few months now. They still have the title from Quadzilla 2005 series up... it's almost 2007  :-\

I ride a few different spots. Some trails and some MX tracks. Every now and then we sometimes head up to Ocala and ride the forest. What type of riding are you into?

sand drag track will be open soon come out and play

Has anyone tried calling? I know it usually takes them a while to answer, but I've gotten through to the owner a few times. I'll give a call tomorrow if I can. I'll miss that place if they don't open back up.

let us know if you here anything new, thanks.

hoosier tires and some flattrackin  just my 02

Tried calling  and the number listed on their site is out of service  :(
I sent them an email to see if they're opening again or not. Will let you know what I hear.


Cain

its not looking good :(

Is this all from that one neighbor that kept giving them problems?

Published Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Speedway Running Out of Time for Permit

By Suzie Schottelkotte
The Ledger

FORT MEADE -- The owners of Sand Mountain Speedway in Fort Meade are running out of time to get the permit they need to stay in business.

About six months ago, a Polk County hearing officer gave Dale Dierks nine months to get a conditional-use permit for the speedway. It usually takes about four months to navigate that process, said Don Boccaleri, development services coordinator with the county's planning department.

He's down to about three months now.

"If they came in right now and submitted an application, it would be very difficult for them to get through the process in three months," he said, "and if they've turned something in already, nobody has seen it."

Dierks didn't return a reporter's telephone calls for comment.

If he doesn't have his conditional use permit by May 18, the county could begin fining Dierks $150 a day or take steps to shut down the motorcycle speedway.

Neighbors are hoping for the latter option.

"You should try standing about a block away from a racetrack and try to carry on a conversation," said Jimmy Davis, who lives across U.S. 17 from the speedway. "That's what it's like in my backyard every weekend. And it's not like we moved in here knowing that we were building next to a speedway. We were here first."

The county's code enforcement department initially cited Dierks and his wife, Mary Ann, last June for code violations. The property where Sand Mountain Speedway is located, at 1980 U.S. 17 along Fort Meade's southern boundary, is zoned for agriculture/rural residential use, which doesn't include a raceway.

To come into compliance, the Dierks must apply for a land-use review and get approval for the racetrack.

They had until July 22 to take action, but they never did. Dierks said last summer that he tried to talk to county officials about it, but got a different answer every time he raised the question.

So when the July deadline rolled around, he closed the track voluntarily.

The Dierks went before a county hearing officer Aug. 18 for the code enforcement violation. At that time, Hearing Officer Tiffany Trussell allowed them to reopen the speedway and gave them nine months, until May 18, to get their conditional-use permit.

The speedway reopened in October, but so far the Dierks have done nothing toward getting their permit.

County Attorney Joe Jarret said it's not common for property owners to ignore an opportunity to get a conditional-use permit.

If nothing has been done by May, the county can seek an injunction through Polk Circuit Court to close the speedway, or take the issue before the Code Enforcement Board to begin imposing fines.

That sucks! Maybe we should all email sand mountain with our support. Hopefully they will get the permit and stay open, but at this point I doubt it.

I called the owner dale on his cell and left him a message. but i noticed they switched there last closed day on there website from sept 31st to oct 15th, so i think the owners really trying to get the track reopened. but ill let everyone know if i hear anything new.

thanks

That was a great track when you get any information please tell us so we can start racing agian.