ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — People who live near a race track in East Orange County say the events are too loud.
But the owner is seeking approval to keep drag racing at his track after temporarily stopping.
For the last three weeks, the drag strip has been empty. The question remains whether the main attraction at the complex will be allowed to continue again.
The sound of a lightning fast car tearing down the track at speeds north of 100 mph is part of the thrill that draws speed junkies to the Central Florida Racing Complex.
It's also the reason for a contentious battle between track operators and residents who live nearby.
"Just when you get ready to go to sleep you hear 'Vroom! Vroom!' and you say 'OK, it's time to wake up again,' " said Jose Diaz, who lives nearby.
Diaz has joined with neighbors in a push to have drag racing at the complex banned. They said it makes too much noise.
The sound starts on the drag strip at the Central Florida Racing Complex but in a quick one mile trip, it ends up in a South Chase neighborhood, where it rattles the windows of residents trying to sleep.
But track operators said the residents' complaints are overblown.
"I mean the county came out here. Commissioner Thompson and somebody from the mayor's office," said Donald Vivier, operations manager of the Central Florida Racing Complex.
Race track officials point to tests showing noise levels are below what Orange County prescribes.
Still, three weeks ago the track was forced to stop running drag races after the county realized they violate the agreement that approved the complex.
Operators are now asking county commissioners to modify the agreement to allow drag racing. They said the 3-year-old business can't survive without the races, and they said it keeps racing off the streets.
"No sooner did we announce that we couldn't do it, they were already looking for a place on the street to go," said Vivier.
Another change track operator wants approval that would allow them to sell alcohol, something they’ve been doing all along even though that also violates the original agreement.
A final vote is set for Tuesday.
WFTV
