I live in Benicia, which is three hours away from Lakeport. On Oct. 16, we decided to drive to Clear Lake. Driving along the lake was very enjoyable. When arriving in Lakeport we made the decision to stay overnight in a campground along the lake. Early afternoon we started hearing the noise of many cars racing. We imagined that it was a city event and that it would last for a short time.
At 6 p.m. we went to eat on the terrace of a small restaurant overlooking Clear Lake. During the entire meal we could hardly have a conversation as the noise of the racing cars was so loud. We still did not know what was going on and why such loud noise was allowed in Lakeport on a Saturday evening. The waitress told us that the Lakeport Fairgrounds had car races every Saturday from April through October. We were very surprised as nowhere had we seen any signs informing us of such loud events. At 10:45 p.m. the noise was so unbearable that I decided to call the Lakeport police. The person who answered was very kind and apologized for our inconvenience. A police officer had just left for the Lakeport Fairgrounds and I was told that the races had been stopped. What a joy.
Sunday morning when walking through the town of Lakeport, still positive and thinking about staying a second night at the campground in Lakeport, we saw one very small poster in a store giving the 2010 schedule of the car races. We saw with great surprise that car races were also scheduled for Sunday. We chose not to stay a second night in Lakeport and stayed elsewhere along Clear Lake.
Have you thought about placing very large banners along the streets of Lakeport from April through October so that the tourists are informed when entering town that races will take place every Saturday? This important information would help the traveler make the right choice when they plan to stay overnight in town. The town of Benicia, where I live, has a strict noise ordinance and I am wondering why it is not the same in Lakeport.
Christiane Smith
Benicia
