Races In Calhan Bring Mixed Emotions
CALHAN – It doesn’t compare to Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, the granddaddy of all car races. However, dirt track racing is a big deal in Calhan–for different reasons. The sport returned to the El Paso County Fairgrounds Saturday evening for the first time in 15 years.
The loud roar of engines is part of the attraction for racing fans, but a source of trouble for neighbors who live around the fairgrounds. Less than a mile away in Mike Reynolds’ neighborhood, the noise was less than deafening, but still disagreeable to him. “And I’m a racing enthusiast,” he confesses. “I like racing. I used to race. But not this far from my house.”
Mike and his neighbors may have to get used to it. The fans certainly have. Some wore earplugs to the event. Organizers plan to race at the fairgrounds every other weekend this summer, running no later than 10 p.m. With the nearest dirt track 2-1/2 hours away in Fort Morgan, organizers hope people will come to see the different classes of racing vehicles, and spend money while in town.
Racing fans discuss whether the noise may drown out those perceived benefits. “We’ve been raised around it,” explains Aimee Lacy of Peyton. “I have five children, and I’d always come to the races pregnant, and it seems like my children were born with noise.”
“There are a few people who are against it,” echoes Bill Hoyt of Calhan. “I guess most of them are against racing in general. They don’t understand it. But the people who do, are excited about it. I know i’m really excited about it.”
Curtis Dooley recently moved to Colorado from Tennessee, which is in the heart of racing country. He plans to enter the next race in Calhan. “I do like the setup,” he says. “It’s real nice. The dirt looks real good. It dries out real fast. Of course, that’s good when you’re running as much horsepower as they are.”
The Calhan races are the first on a dirt track for veteran announcer Beck Bechtelheimer. His 45 years of racing experience came on asphalt tracks. “It’s a shame that a town like Colorado Springs does not have a local racetrack,” he explains. “Racing is the nation’s number-one spectator sport, and we need racing. People love it.”
However, some people hate it, especially the noise. Reynolds and other neighbors say they won’t give up on slamming the brakes on the races. Meanwhile, supporters hope opponents will give the sport a fair chance to succeed. The fairground’s rabbit population also seemed to dislike the racing. Several of the animals fled the area because of the noise.
Organizers say several hundred people paid the $10 admission fee for opening night. The fairground grandstands can hold as many as 3,300 spectators. Organizers expect larger crowds in following weekends.
