It’s the stuff of kid dreams: A half-mile-long Go Kart track outside your front door where you can practice your passion and become the envy of friends.
But the dad who built it for a son who wants to become a race car driver is now fighting to keep the $100,000-plus investment from being torn up, since he undertook the project without required permits from Howard County and the Maryland Department of the Environment.
With neighbors complaining about property value impact, wetland destruction, noise and the need to follow rules, Howard County has halted all work and issued violations.
The family is now trying to make things right – and going through the process of seeking permission after the fact. If not successful, they might have to tear the whole thing up.
The drama is unfolding in the rural Western Howard County community of Highland – a mix of mini-mansions, horse farms and the occasional Trump sign.
The track was built at 6717 Mink Hollow Road, on a portion of an 11-acre piece of agricultural land owned by Charles Siperko and Sarah Troxel. Aerial images of the track posted online show an enticing combination of straightaways, S-turns and even a 360-degree circle in the middle – all created out of asphalt.
“My ten-year-old son eat[s], breathes and sleeps motorsports,” say a change.org online petition started by Siperko (but which appears to be written by Troxel). “His passion holds the seeds of a future car-racing career, but it’s not an easy journey.”
“We didn’t know that we needed to pull permits or obviously we would have,” says Siperko in the petition to stop the removal of the track, which was started on Aug. 28 and has more than 800 signatures. “We were perhaps naively or stupidly not aware of the permitting requirements and believed the asphalt company when they told us that paving that doesn’t adjoin a public road doesn’t require permits.”
The family has now engaged prominent land use attorney Sang Oh as it seeks to save the track. Oh acknowledges that his client followed bad advice but says they are now committed to making things right.
“There’s a right way to do it,” Oh says, pointing out that county rules require that any paving of more than 5,000 square feet receive a grading permit. And any use of wetlands requires sign-off by the Maryland Department of the Environment. But Siperko wants that now, Oh says: “He’s not going to cut corners.”
Here’s what they are promising: there won’t be lights or night use; the track won’t be open to the public; only electric carts will be used, which are quieter than gas-powered versions.
After the county issued its violation, Siperko, who owns a roofing company, is now going through a process to get a “conditional use” permit – meaning the track would be allowed.
An early step was a community meeting in late July, where Oh, the attorney, and engineer Rob Vogel said creation of replacement wetlands is possible and that the family is willing to discuss a noise barrier. A decision would be made first by a county hearing examiner, followed possibly by an appeals board.
The story has caught the attention of some racing afficionados; James Gilboy wrote about it (and linked to documents) on the website thedrive.com, and there are extensive comments on Howard County Facebook groups. Many commenters praise Siperko and call him a model of a dad, and say that on private land, owners can do what they want.
While the track is not near Mink Hollow Road, it is close to neighbors, and it is unclear whether Siperko consulted with them.
Karina Fisher, a director of the Howard County Citizens Association, wrote on Facebook: “This is like developers razing the land and then saying oopsies to the County. They pay the small fines because the profit is much greater. In this case, this homeowner doesn’t care about wetlands or their community, and wants to do the same. They don’t play by the rules and then pay their way out of it to get what they want. If that track never was supposed to be there, than it should go! People should not be able to buy their way out of destruction.”
Siperko and Troxel say their main goal is to foster the passion of their son.
“Go-karting is recognized as the traditional starting point for professional car racers, and a private track will provide an accessible and safe environment for practice and development,” the petition says.
As one online commenter said after reading about the case: “This is why there are no Formula 1 drivers in the U.S.”
I wish I had a dad like him when I was a kid!!! I think it’s awesome!! Too many laws to govern what you can do with your own property! It seems like he’s doing a great thing to fuel his child’s hobby and he knows where his child is. Safe at home and not bothering anyone.
I agree with the Howard County Citizens Assoc. that people should not be allowed to buy their way out of breaking the rules. I live in the western part of Howard County and we are facing similar problems. Wealthy people are buying agricultural preserved lands which is less expensive and then defying the restrictions to do what they want in violation of the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning laws. Please write an article about illegal Commercial Mulch operations on agriculture land in the Lisbon area of Howard County. The go cart track issue is not the only case of breaking the rules that Howard County DPZ is dealing with, common denominators are wealthy people who think they are above the law and can afford well known land and expensive land use attorneys.
Excuse me but why are you so worried about what someone else is doing on there land did u pay for it? Then mind you’re own business keep you’re nose outta other peoples business he is simply trying to help his son fulfill his dreams more parents should Take note
The house in the image isn’t his house, for the record. He literally built this track in front of his neighbor’s house – which will absolutely impact property values. He did not consult with any neighbors prior to constructing the track.
Love this, awesome dad. Howard Co., please consider keeping the track.
I think this was bred from jealousy and resentment more than outrage.
The track takes up 2 acres. It is commercial in size and there will be a real temptation to use it as such. Any agreed to restrictions will be inevitably violated.
This is terrible. An outrage. It’s un-American and I’ll be damned if I let allthis type behavior go unchecked. I propose the following:
1. Two weekends a month, a food truck must be available on the property.
2. On those weekends, similarly aged children and their guardians shall be in attendance to further inspect the track. The children particularly must be outfitted in the proper safety apparel, and given the proper equipment to traverse said track.
3. Parents or guardians will require the proper seating to oversee their children’s progress along said track, and must also be provided occasional sustenance and hydration.
4. Finally- the child that finishes their inspection the quickest gets a prize.
That’s the punishment they deserve.
I had an auto-racing career and it all started when my Father paved a go-kart track using part of our driveway. I credit my success to my Father for starting me when I was eight years old. If not driving our go-karts we were riding dirt bikes, working fields driving tractors, etc. hopefully they sort it out🏎️🏎️🏎️
It is the owner’s private property. He owns 11 acres. Let him use it as he sees fit. If they make him tear it up, replace it with several head of cattle, or even better donkeys. See how the neighbors like that!
This guy owns a construction business and claims he didn’t know he needed a permit for a racetrack in a residential area? There is no way this should be allowed. Allowing this would tell people all over the county that they can break the law with little repercussions. A quick Google search shows this guy’s baby mama has an IRS lien on the house. and he’s been in court repeatedly. Seems like they should be focusing on following the law rather than breaking it. I hope the county makes an example out of this lot. Wasn’t Howard County’s logo “Choose Civility?” This guy doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I doubt this is even for his son, probably an attempt at a get rich fast scheme. Tear. It. Out.
Looks like a driveway to me.
These people knew exactly what they were doing when they skirted getting permits, and are now playing the victims, and that was obvious at the community meeting a few weeks back. Letting this slide would set the precedent that this type of behavior is fine. Write to your local elected officials and demand that the county put this to and end and make an example of these people to show that this is in fact not ok. Who knows, the next illegal monstrosity might be in YOUR backyard.
I wish a shooting range could be built in my backyard since my son is a great long gun shooter at only 18 years old but that would disrupt my neighborhood peace and wild life. There are rules and regulations we all have to follow and abide no matter how much wealthy we might be. There are shooting ranges and race track near by for a reason.
I don’t see what the problem is. If this guy built a go kart track for his son entirely on the property of their family home, it shouldn’t be an issue. Plus, the go karts his son will use won’t require any gas or fuel whatsoever. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t seem like this man broke any laws. He just wanted his son to have fun.
Howard County Citizens Association doesn’t value private property right. Probably a bunch a childless communist cat lady busybody Karens who hate their lives because their husbands left them for younger women years ago.
Ah, rich people problems…
Dad is a roofer and didn’t think about ensuring permits were in place?
I personally think they will only use quiet electric carts and it is his property its not like his son will be on it 24/7 let it go or give time and date restrictions
His money spent on private land for private use and it’s not hurting anyone. Mind your own business neighbors! If you care so much – next time buy out the land around you and do with it what you wish.