GRANBY, NY – On Monday, June 15, Scott Drake, co-owner of The Compound MX Facility, a motocross practice track in the town of Granby, discovered that someone had left a threatening sign and then noticed that a window was broken and fire bombs had been thrown into the shop.
The fire bombs did not fully ignite to burn it down, but damage was done to the shop.
The signs Drake had found said (word for word), “I was paid very well by them to stop you if another bike goes on that track I will do more like – around town or tress [tree] service even more like your homes I will not stop if you dont is it worth it.”
Drake said the tree services mentioned in the sign alluded to a family business.
After discovering the damage and threatening signs, he then filed a police report and the incident is now under investigation. Drake said there is a possibility fingerprints can be pulled from evidence gathered.
In a Facebook post about the damage done to the property, Drake said they are willing to offer a cash reward for any information that can lead to the arrest of those responsible.
Although they did not have cameras to catch the responsible party on video, they will be installing cameras on the property in case it happens again.
The Compound, which until recently, had been a private track for motocross and was bought by Drake and his business partner Angelo Komuda to be turned into a practice track and training facility for riders to practice and learn in a safe and controlled environment. Races will not occur at the track.
“We also provide a training program to teach kids to get better and quicker, that want to compete at a higher level,” Drake said. “It’s probably the most fun family-oriented sport you can do.”
Drake had three riders he has been helping out qualify for the national championship race and they finished in the top 15 of the whole country. He also trains his two sons.
For the past year Drake and Komuda have been preparing to open the track for the first time this season, but was held back due to the recent pandemic. It was supposed to open April 1, but the process for getting all of their permits was stopped due to the pandemic.
The only thing they are waiting on to open is their water withdrawal permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation to allow them to water the track with the man-made pond’s water.
Drake said it was a battle for them to get the town to approve their business because of opposition from local residents who live near the track. They have, however, complied with all permits and regulations and had a noise test conducted for 25 bikes on the track at once, which would be the maximum number.
“We went through like a year of town board meetings trying to get this place approved and eventually the town voted no for the track and we took the town to the Supreme Court and we won, got it overturned,” Drake said.
He said the property has been vandalized in the past with spray paint, but never damaged to the extent as what he found, and he suspects it may be a local resident who opposes the business.
“Some of the concerns these residents have in the area is that they’re worried the motocross community’s going to come in and trash the place and vandalize the place, and that’s not what happens. That’s not what these people are about. These people are about having fun and having a good time,” Drake said. “They’re worried about their areas being trashed and their stuff being vandalized and whatnot, but yet that’s never happened. And they’re coming out here and vandalizing and destroying all our stuff.”
Drake said now they should be opening any day now with social distancing and wearing face masks in common areas.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Drake said. “We’ve got too much time and money invested in this place to walk away… this has been nothing short of discrimination of the motocross community in a local business.”
The Oswego County Sheriff’s Department is conducting the investigation of the incident. Those with information can call the Sheriff’s Department at 315-349-3302.
“The Town is aware of a situation that happened in South Granby at The Compound last night,” said Town of Granby Supervisor John Snow. “We understand that there is an investigation into the incident and we will cooperate with law enforcement agencies should they need our assistance.”
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I can understand the neighbors objecting to the noise this track will project. I had a small track next to my house built by people up the street and the kids were out there every afternoon and on weekends. We couldn’t sit outside it was so loud. Maybe they could build a really tall barrier to muffle the noise. I feel bad for the homeowners. Their home value will definitely go down. Who wants to buy a house next to that?
Of course, your name is Karen ?
I can’t wait for winter when all the noise makers get put away and we can have peace and quiet again. The 90+ dB nonsense on the highways is a sign that law enforcement is complicit. Clearly illegally altered mufflers get ignored day after day by the police. I feel bad for the homeowners, too. They’re trapped and subjected to stress, hour after hour.
Hey Karen, Have you ever attended a motocross track? I am betting you have not, because the amount of “noise” that you are talking about here is not anyplace near what your projecting it to be. We all stand and talk to each other on a normal level while they are racing.Here you sit complaining about those kids who would ride on that track next to your house in the afternoons and weekends.. there really is worse things those kids could have been doing, but instead chose to have fun ! There is nothing wrong with that ! The ignorance that comes from people who have no clue about the sport amazes me. If you seen half of the compassion, devotion, hard work, fun and loyalty that comes with this sport you would eat your own words.
I hope they catch the person or people who did this.
Karen I would definitely buy a house next to that.
Motocross doesn’t happen at dark so your sleep won’t be disturbed. It’s a huge family sport. Motocross keeps kids off drugs and off the streets.
So sad how people are these days. So sorry this has happened to the compound.
There is a local sand pit we use to ride at.Not a lot of people.The owner did not care. But two neighbors lived thru the woods did not like it so they put pressure on the owner to close it off.Nicole and Brandi are spot on with their comments.This sport can keep kids out of trouble and keep families loving the same hobby.