LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – We’re learning more about a proposed legal drift track in the valley, so that street racing and drifting events don’t keep happening.
To make sure car fanatics don’t get too close for comfort, a community nonprofit president says she’s trying to work with the county on getting one built for locals. But getting the wheels turning could be a long process.
If you’re one of the viewers who’s called into FOX5 complaining about the noise and the damage left behind on the roads and in parking lots around the valley, Kamilia Hardwick of Explosion Las Vegas Sports says she’s annoyed, too that there isn’t a solution.
“I’ve made my mark several times in several parking lot streets, driveways. You’ve name it, I’ve done it,” Hardwick said.
But Hardwick says she, and other motorheads wouldn’t be tearing up our streets if they had a place to go.
“The incorporation of a drift track would definitely decrease this happening in the public lots, public streets. Thus, I do believe an overall decrease in racing fatalities in the streets of Las Vegas,” Hardwick said.
Those in the underground car scene do have a place to go. Like the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Take it from Vice President of Communications at LVMS, Jeff Motley.
“We’ve really created this program not as a profit center, but it’s something to be a community service and to curb the illegal street racing that we know is a problem not only in this valley but around the country,” Motley said.
The problem for locals, according to Hardwick is the cost, and how infrequently the speedway holds events.
“We would be open six days a week compared to the once a month and once every other month,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick is trying to get the county to approve the build for a drift track, dedicated to drifting, which is when a driver oversteers to skid sideways through a turn.
It’s illegal on public roads and can lead to jailtime.
The drifting and street takeover events keep happening though in spite of Metro cracking down on them.
A recent incident in North Las Vegas after a car meetup is making that a challenge.
“It’s getting harder and harder to pull off these meets,” Hardwick said. “Ever since the incident with the shooting and now it’s almost as if it’s hard to meet anywhere.”
The ultimate meetup for Hardwick, a legal drift track.
Hardwick says the wheels are in motion after contacting the zoning department and trying to get two pieces of land zoned.
She says it doesn’t hurt being supported by an organization with deep pockets.
“Nevada State Bank has been great with everything as far as my project is concerned. They believe in the mission and they support the idea 100%,” Hardwick said.
The zoning department says she’ll also need the support of the public in a town board meeting and from the planning commission or county commissioners.
The county tells FOX5 it’s waiting on more details from Hardwick before next steps can be decided, but the project has their attention.
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