We Might Lose Our Racetracks To This... Housing Development Update #1 

I do appreciate everyones concerns for the track and maybe that's why people ask me everyday, but hopefully this will avoid it being brought up so much! Thanks to today's video sponsor, go to buyraycon.com/cleetusmcfarland to get 15% off your Raycon purchase this holiday season! Brought to you by Raycon.

If people buy a house next to a race track, they have no right to complain.

With 100% certainty, those county commissioners are being paid by these development companies.

Cleetus and I are now spirit animals of being surrounded! My 100 acres has been in the family since the 60s, in the dead middle of nowhere back then...today it's surrounded by dozens of houses and I'M the 'crazy neighbor with all the property making all the noise' in the neighborhood. And all their roads are named after me, so that's cool.

You guys need to put signs up on every street corner in the area letting prospective home owners know about the racetrack and that they will now be able to stop it

I grew up in a very rural area. There was a gun range that was built in the 1930's that continuously operated without issue until the mid 1980's when two farms adjacent to the range started building. The smartest thing the range did was to erect 8X16" signs warning prospective purchasers, that if the objected to gunfire, don't buy here. They went as far as warning that the cost of all civil suits would be borne by those taking legal action. Over the years they were sued a few times, and the people bringing suit all lost. Get the signs up NOW.

Garrett I am a developer and we actually had the desoto track under contract prior to you purchasing it. After we did some research we decided it was best to not touch the track and do something next to the drag strip. We are big car guys and I am super glad you ended up purchasing it. If you ever need to chat about ways you can protect yourself against neighbors let me know. I don’t really have any other way to connect with you other than this comment. Glad you said you appreciate developers but also need boundaries set.. and as a developer completely agree with that statement.

This 99-44/100% about economics...racetracks were historically built on the outskirts of towns on cheap land not particularly suited for anything productive (particularly agriculture). If the land wasn't used for a race track, it got used as a drive-in movie theater. As cities and towns have grown and sprawled, the value of the land as a residential development outstrips the value of using the land for a racetrack (or drive-in). Even if the track survives the first subdivisions, the commercial development that follows--the supermarkets, big-box retailers--will see the land that the track is on as an opportunity. Sure, the first sign of trouble is when neighbors start complaining about the noise, and the greasers, and the stink. But the bigger issue is that the track owners will start getting offers for their land that involve life-changing sums of money. So a lot of the old tracks are pretty much doomed. Complain about the Karens if it makes you feel better, but it's the Benjamins (and Grants and Hamiltons) that call the shots in this world.

On the brightside you'll probably be able to create a RU-vid playlist for all your new Cleetus vs. Karen's content with the new neighbors

You should schedule drag races on Sundays during open houses so buyers will know what they’re really getting into

Keeping those tracks loud at all times is important. Let them hear the bald eagles when they show up to meet a realtor at 10:00am on a Monday morning. Keep those tracks active.

In Calgary they took our local racetrack that was located well outside the city and widely loved and respected, and turned it into a compost facility. When the subdivisions started popping up so did the number of noise complaints and eventually killed what was once an icon into a dump. All I can say is good luck Brother!

The developer is crazy to build homes that close! Interesting content my man

You should get a dB reader or some sort of sort of measurement of sound, run the loudest top fuel car and stand where the closest house is going to be, then take that to the developer so they can add that to the agreement, so the buyer is 100% aware of how loud it actually is.

Investigations for payoffs to the county commissioners needs to happen.

Bloomington Speedway has been around a hundred years racing on Fridays. They just recently got a 10 o'clock curfew imposed on them. And there are people trying to close them and make life as difficult as possible. In the end houses and people are gonna make more money for a county than a racetrack. We just gotta stick together.

Cleet thought he had 10 years. At the rate they are developing, I give it 3 years. Just like when we all protested this, the developers had the deeper pockets and got the commission to approve it. Unfortunately for cleet no matter how much support he has, the developers will always find a way to get their way. The amount of money that they have on the line is insane

We lost our drag strip just like this. People moved in next to the track. Developments replaced farms. I wish you luck Cleetus. I hope your in deed agreement holds.

Keep an eye on show dates for the homes and schedule top fuel races on those days so they can clearly see what they’re getting themselves into.

I love the fact that you are committed to keeping the racetrack in Bradenton. I used to work at the Hess gas station on SR64 about 20 or so years ago and I really looked forward to the weekend when all the race cars would come through the station . I feel as I'm sure many do that your track has been a big part of the fabric and culture of that area for decades and I want to thank you for fighting to keep that alive.

Hey Cleetus, I live in Thorold, Ontario, Canada. My house is 2.5 miles from a dirt oval track called Merrittville Speedway. I have lived at this house for 36 years and the track has always been there. The sound of 20-30 dirt track cars can be heard, but its never been an issue. Every weekend from around May until September, they run races. Its actually kind of cool to hear the cars racing and once in a while if you know what to listen for, you can hear someone blow their engine!!! I hope your county can make better decisions,, and I hope that people who end up buying those houses realize that you were there first, and have every right to do what you do!!!!! Great content and always love watching you and your boys!!!!!

Cleeter, I would also HIGHLY RECOMMEND you team up with the local Police department. Start having them come out to events, possibly host a fundraiser, for the sole purpose of reminding council, what happened to "take it to the track." Without the Freedom Factory, street racing in the area will no doubt increase. So the police have an incentive to keep the track open and active and protect the public.

Hope you get to keep the track! And REALLY hope Sam keeps his pistol range 🤟

As a local Bradenton/Sarasota construction worker who's into cars and what you do for the local car scene... I can't fathom buying a house KNOWING there was a track across the pond and then complaining about it. I hear you guys testing your builds frequently and for me it makes my day at work fun, hearing the passes is my music on the jobsite. I really do hope all works out in favor of you guys and the track because there's nearly no other avenue other than doing what we do at the freedom factory/Bradenton motorsports, but illegally. Just know there's guys behind that fence that supports you and the freedom factory.

You're only saving grace is that those housing developments sit empty for quite a while sometimes, so you have time to come up with what you're going to do when the track is shut down, because you better believe when people start moving in it will be shut down like so many before it.

Put up a billboard warning potential home purchasers of the loud tracks. The developers don't give a crap once they sell it. Hopefully everything works out. Thanks for your videos!

As much as Im a proponent of keeping it on the track, I'm just going to say this now, if they end up closing down the tracks they'd better not be suprised when street racing starts to trend upward...

Hopefully they put some auto parts stores and even a performance parts store to support and grow the racetracks in the commercial development area

Big housing development corporations have a lot of legal tools at their disposal. Plus they will not hesitate to do illegal stuff in order to accomplish their goals, money and power which are the only goals of any big corporation. My advice is have a good legal team in your corner

You guys should keep tabs on when open houses happen, and plan events accordingly (so they get a sample lol).

You should get weekly aerial photos of how rapidly the development takes place

Sadly I don't see this being good long term, the government in the area already doesn't seem to care seeing as they allowed homes to be built in land previously barred from being built in, who knows what corrupt practices they'll pull to make it no longer worthwhile to run the track.

Thank you for posting this. We car people usually shy away from county commission meetings, and other local government, however it is so important we are engaged! Even better that you had the potential homeowner’s best interests at heart. Great job in getting those conditions added in.

I recommend hosting a two step test event every time they have an open house

cleetus should just get a bunch of billboards all over town that say "your buying a house next to a race track, dont complain later"

I've lived about half a mile from a military training reserve for many years and I'm used to often hearing explosions and machine gun fire. But over the decades many new residents in the area complain that it's too loud and should be restricted. It's 16 square miles in area with warning signs everywhere and they're still thick-headed enough to believe it shouldn't emit any noise. Most people just buy without question and then get pissed off that it's not the tranquil suburb they expected.

This is what happened to the drag strip in Topeka Kansas at heartland park. People complained but they didn’t shut the track down. The county raised the taxes on it to EXTREME prices and the land owner couldn’t afford it anymore so he shut it down. He said it was costing him $4000 a month just in taxes.. They ALWAYS find a way to get their way unfortunately.

Turn the strip into an airstrip and get airport protections. Primary airstrip, secondary drag strip.

That's a tough break with the building developments rushing in like that. You're fighting the good fight to keep the Freedom Factory alive and that's what matters most. Keep those wheels spinning, dude! 🤘🚗💨

its happened more than once in my town. one subdivision gets built somewhat close to a track, then the next subdivision is even closer, then come the noise complaints and town hall meetings, then a developer buys the track to make the land into homes. Some tracks are privately owned and the heirs dont want to take it on so owners sell it to developer.

Those homeowner contracts are going to protect you as much as the urban boundary line did. This isn't Granby Colorado, but you got some mechanics that could modify the hell out of a bulldozer for you.

As a surveyor myself, having the new homeowners include a covenant restricting their ability to take action against you on the deeds is a good move. Once those deeds are recorded, they carry a lot of weight that typically cannot be tampered with at a whim. Hopefully everything works out for you all ✌🏼

Fight it cleet, fight as long as you can. So many tracks are closing. You have the support and platform to voice your opinions and we have your back 100%..

Thank you so much Cletus that was very informative answered some of my questions and also you're not going to have to worry too much about this most of those houses won't even sell!!!!! See you in March!!!!

I live across from Pencam speedway in Pennsylvania and love hearing the engines.

Just invite any potential buyers to a big event when both tracks are at capacity, make sure they know what they are signing up for.

You should try to get the Freedom Factory and the drag strip classified as historical sites so they can’t close them down or give you any problems

Problem is its only a matter of time until the homeowners win. Look at Nashville. They knew they were buying outside a track. Now they can only run one night limited time and in danger of bring shuttered

Man the look on his face said everything. It's really hitting home for him now. I can't imagine how he be feeling. Brother you've got a whole community of supporters behind you.

You should put up billboards everywhere. Potential homeowners should know what they’re getting into.

I think all the Cleetus fans just need to be the people that move into that entire subdivision. Imagine the epicness.

Hopefully it works out well. Personally I wouldn't but a home in any development, I don't need a HOA to tell me what I can and cannot do with my property bought with my hard earned money. I can't wait to get down to your track and enjoy it👊

We have road America in WI and there's a lot of well to do houses near by, but there's a culture of cars in the area and the relationship between the track and the homeowners seems pretty good.

WE CANNOT LET SAM LOSE HIS PISTOL RANGE.

Sam looks like a young man around you guys, idk how to explain it.. he just looks so full of life when he’s with y’all. Shout out to Sam the man 🥳

That's like in Calif. , Laguna Seca , people bitching about the traffic and noise. That Track has been there from the late 50's. I use to Race Go Karts there, in the 80's , and at turn 6 you had to let up off the gas because there was a park ranger there with a decibel meter reading to the start finish line who was to loud, and get black flag to pull into the pits. Its was mostly the 250 shifter karts , and the dual Enduro karts that run on Alcohol that was to loud. It was a cheap way to go fast , that's for sure ! LOVE All your videos Cleetus.......................Git-R-Done !

The only thing they can do legally for the noise, is to make you stop the tracks between the quiet hours. My suggestion for you, is to search already for “mechanisms” that cutting the noise from the area. One example is to plant trees at the end of your fence, that are going to get tall. (This might be a long journey😅)

You should buy the closest home to the track for friends visiting and join the HOA that will inevitably crop up.

Sam being mad at losing his pistol range was the best part!

This reminds me of the North Broward area in the late 80's and early to mid 90's. Just cramming them in. I remember when Coral Springs was mostly farmland.

This is how all of Florida is now, especially the Tampa/St. Pete and surrounding areas. I'm just a couple years older than you, but I grew up in Odessa, when 54 was 2 lanes, we had a small airport, and held annual Rodeos on Starkey property. It's now 6 lanes and packed. Hundreds of thousands of new homes, apartments, condos. Literally that same intersection that held a rodeo, is now a Greenwise Publix and 50 other things, with another Publix about a half a mile down. The Odessa Flea Market, gone and about to be a Home Depot. Every time I'm in the area there's something new that has gone up and is going up. The traffic in the area is unbearable. It's worse than Orlando, where I live now. Honestly, all these places have been ruined by tearing everything up for more neighborhoods and apartment complexes. Wish you and your track the best bud.

Such a disappointment from the commissioners. Money is the root of all evil. It started with the swamp now they are taking out the farmland. Florida will not survive on tourism when all thats left is housing and shopping centers. Good luck Garrett, we are all rooting for you and victor to succeed

This is my home track, which is the only place I can go legally and safely to test and tune my car, and have a blast with great people. Destroying race tracks left and right is just going to push more people out onto the streets. The end result is us losing a safe place to have fun and race our cars, and pushing us out onto the streets because we have nowhere else to go for a hobby we love

I raced at Riverside. Eventually the few homes in the atea began to bitch. Then they capped the decibel level of the cars. We had just finished the car and set 7 restrictors on each exhaust. We brought 14 for each pipe. On the practice session we set up our meters so we could add more restrictors. We were over on the first pass. Sadly, the track marshal also took a reading and refused to let us race. We explained but he refused to let us add restrictors so we packed up and went back to Arizona. And the neighbors multiplied and bitched louder. Ultimately they sued. Ultimately the track folded and is replaced by a shopping center. When visiting family in Ca. I do not take highway 60 since it passes by the track site. What a loss but,,, Progress Happens.

Please stand your ground. We all love the videos and love going out and seeing your events. I can speak for every Coloradan when I say it’s a terrible loss to lose a race track. Bandimere speedway here is Morrison, Colorado has recently finished their last season at Thunder Mountain. It burns inside that developments can be approved right next to race tracks and then have the ability to have an effect on that race tracks operation when it has been open for the past 62 years. It’s been hard to see Bandimere go and I hope they build another. Please never back down. Keep the freedom factory going so my kids can see a good ole Cletus McFarland event someday!

The clause in the deeds is absolutely incredible. Not as protection, but as a deterrent.

People ask you because they are concerned. You may not realize it but you are a hero to a lot of people, including myself, who live in a small lot or apartment that cannot do the things you have achieved. You are our spirit bald eagle! Without you, I would have continued making my car payments, hammering through life. But instead, i built my first real build. It is a 500hp Turbo K24 powered Mini Cooper. Was it a dumb decision? Hell yes. Do i regret it? Not one daggone bit. Keep on inspiring us Garrett, your videos bring us so much joy.

I grew up in a neighborhood directly across the street from Kirtland AFB and the Albuquerque Sunport. I can assure you that having fighter jets, helicopters, massive military cargo planes, and commercial airliners roaring several hundred feet overhead is comparable if not louder than living within a couple of miles of your tracks, plus it was an everyday occurrence. It gets old at times but you actually get used to it fairly quickly and oftentimes stop noticing. You'd be amazed at how easily the mind can adapt to things like that.

You have to make sure the people selling those houses put a big emphasis on making sure people know that they are buying a house near a race track and that it will be very loud.

You need to figure out a way to put a HUGE bill board just across the road from that close development that says, "If you purchase a home here, you will be hearing a loud race track." That deed stipulation will last until about 100 rich folks and their multi million dollar law firms get tired of the noise. Then it will be removed and your problems will get a LOT worse.

Your fans should buy all the houses near the tracks. Happy neighbors and packed stands at every event.

I see the track as a way to bring families together for events. With the space you could even have small concerts there

Man you're fighting the good fight, im having an extremely similar situation out here in Clarksville Tennessee, we have a dirt track and 1/8th mile in town and they built houses around it and have been trying to buy out the track and turn it into a park and the owner has been resistant up until recently, he's in his 80s and can't care for it anymore and as much as he doesn't want to sell it he will end up having too unless we get a miracle, stay strong with your track man, don't let them snuff us out! 💪💪

What really protects you is that based on the writing in the deed, each home owner that complains can be individually sued. Not only that, but with the FOIA, any writing to any city trustee will get them sued, long before they can organize. You will need to be diligent about keeping up with it, but a violation could mean they lose their house. That might get real interesting, especially since a bank would likely be involved. Its one thing to be fined, but a completely different one to potentially lose your home.

Just spoke to my neighbor, who is a land and development lawyer. He said if, and when a problem does arise, it doesn't matter if your people who go to bat for you are in the state, or out of state, in the neighborhood, or homeless. He said that with more numbers and sound reasoning on the business model and support of the entire community (which inculdes all of us too), if we all come together with a pre-draft "this is what you signed up for" letter to be signed and submitted via email, in person, and at town halls and other sorts of court room's... that the majority wins regardless of a vested interest in peaceful enjoyment to their homes they purchased with the agreement in their deeds stating that the race tracks are and have been a positive and active oart of the community as whell as an anchor to the community and without the track, their community wouldn't be thriving as it is now. So they are LEGALLY BOUND to their DEED AGREEMENTS, and the ones who don't think they are can be taken on in court, and we can stand on behalf of the freedom factory! Garrett , we got your back! Not just for you but for Madi, and Ripper! This is your lively hood and we take it seriously! 🖤🫡

Good luck with that Cleetus.. If the good O' US of A is anything like here in Australia.. We have had race tracks / drag strips with gazetted emergency airfields closed, regardless of what conditions the lands around them were bought under .. Hell they even get international airport flight paths altered .

in the UK on most tracks, if you live near you get season tickets for free or discount. if u can get a community to embrace it then it could be a win win.

Builds houses next to race track. Then proceeds to complain about said race track. It's so aggravating how this always seems to happen. These tracks need to start being protected from developers/real state companies.

When they start doing showing and open house stuff on that development, I vote for day long two step checks…

It happened here in Connecticut. Drag strip in Colchester was closed after the new subdivision next door complained about noise. One of the automotive testing outfits own it now.

A potential solution: Put up billboards, within your perimeter fence, facing the developments, stating something like 'There's a racetrack here, and it's sometimes really loud, hope you like sweet race car action all the time!". This will scare buyers away. Which will drive down the price. Which will dis-incentivize the developer. While reducing (at least partially) the amount of revenue they take in. Which will dis-incentivize said developers taking future legal action against you. Which they most certainly will (regardless of what you do). Or, you go into the rental market, start buying up the houses closest to the track. Do all of the above, plus put some T&Cs in the rental agreements about "you know what this place is next to, right?". Belts+suspenders+light weight pants = Better than nothing.

The same thing happened to Old Dominion Motor Speedway in Manassas. It was a really cool drag strip... and then the farmer who owned the adjacent property sold his land to developers. A subdivision was built and the new HOA successfully petitioned the city to shut down the race track due to noise complaints. After it was shut down, the developers bought it and bulldozed the drag strip to build more townhouses.

“It’s gonna be like Yellowstone in here if they try and come for our land” Spoken like a true red white and blue patriot!

That’s what happened in Sacramento ca. drag strip is closing. 6 miles from my house. Sacramento Raceway has been there for 50 years. They build all these houses around it then the people in the houses don’t like it somebody offers the owner of the dragstrip ungodly amount of money and they take it.

Your County Commissioners were paid off 100%!

I think you need to do what Walt Disney did and buy up all the land around the track then slowly open up different amusement parks. Burnout World, Ripcot, Turbo studio’s. Sky’s the limit!

Being born and raised here in Bradenton, FL and hearing you say no matter what happens you're staying in this community makes me SOO happy!! Cleeter is the man!!

Power to you Cleetus, fight them all the way...100% behind you!

@Cleetus McFarland - Cheap and effective sound\visual barrier solution is to build rows of bamboo along those fence lines. Bamboo can grow dense and tall.

Mr Sam just gets cooler every time we learn more about him. He’s got his own pistol range?!?! Hell yeah 🤘🏼

Unfortunately most of our elected officials dont give a damn what their constituents want. God Bless and keep up the good fight Cleetus.

In my community we have a drag strip for public use and have events held. You can hear it all through out the surrounding areas. There are homes near by. My county has noise ordnance only restricted by time of day

Well put Cletus. Wish you the best with your endeavors.

Imagine sleeping at 1am and hearing Leroy just scream down the track, fuckin awesome😂😂😂😂😂

In my hometown they built houses around a dirt track that had been there for decades. 10 years later they got the track shut down. I still can’t believe it. Such a huge loss for our community. I hope for the best for the freedom factory.

The FAA works with some regional airports to determine which homes are impacted by airplane noise associated with the airports, then provides funding to those airports to run programs that pay for elligible homeowners install improved soundproofing and noise mitigation on their properties. One example is the Louisville Regional Airport Authority's "Quieter Home Program," which is completely funded by the FAA. I think most people here would agree that the track was there first, so the homeowners dont have much right to complain. But i think it would be great if organizations like the SCCA, ADRA, or even larger racing organizations like Arca, NASCAR, and Indycar would cooperate to eatablish funding to help both big and small tracks under threat in the US fund similar programs in their areas. Even if some of us dont think they should have to, helping people soundproof their homes around tracks could be a great good-faith/good-neighbor program to help drum up some support for the tracks, appease the most upset neighbors, and keep them from closed down. Showing some effort to help kitivate the problem could give them a better chance at survival than outright resistance

Thanks for the lights on this development.I live about 5 miles from Lowes Speedway Charlotte and any given race day you will ear the beautiful sound of them machines bro 😂 . As we speak lots of housing development are popping up, left right and center of the S/W. l am sure the future buyers of these homes knows what they are buying into, for Lowes here to stay.

As a farmer who has seen new communities successfully implement “working curfews” only allowing a small window for field work I definitely see the double-edged sword that is urban sprawl. I wish only the best outcome for the FF and BMP and hope that new community that embraces and supports them fully as the gem that they are. Edit: if the feared day ever comes I’ve got a whole bunch of ground in E. Wa that you can build tracks, sloughs, shops, and whatever else around them as long as I and my kids get to farm around it.

What we need to do is leave this man alone when he’s out with his family.

"I have altered the deal...pray I don't alter it further" -some county supervisor for real, it's good that these new homes have that clause, but we all know it won't hold up forever. that area was zoned to not be housing developments and look how that turned out. the hill behind the house I grew up in was zoned for open space and now there's hundreds of houses there. it's only a matter of time. I wish you the best of luck and I'll continue to enjoy your videos!