Infinite-Speed began racing of expensive sports cars at the airport in July.
A promotional photo for Infinite-Speed's racing events at the Batesville Airport. A neighboring resident has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the auto racing. Photo via Infinite-Speed.
(Batesville, Ind.) - A neighbor of the Batesville Airport is suing because he says auto racing taking place on the runway poses a danger to his home.
Earlier this summer, a business named Infinite-Speed began hosting high-end sports car races on the runway, with cars doing speeds around 200 MPH. Shorty Whittington, owner of the Batesville Airport, previously told Eagle Country 99.3 the landing strip reopened earlier this year and is hosting the auto racing events as a way to help keep the airport viable.
Infinite-Speed has advertised that the racing is held every other weekend.
William Kuntz is suing Batesville Aviation Services and Infinite Speed. In a lawsuit filed August 14 in Franklin County Circuit Court, Kuntz argues that the racing is illegal after the Franklin County Area Plan Commission determined the airport is not zoned for auto racing. The area is zoned for agricultural use.
“Racetracks are possible only in industrial zones (I-1 or I-2), and even there only with a Class 3 Conditional Use Permit,” Kuntz’s attorney, Jud McMillin of Brookville, wrote in the complaint.
A letter was sent by the plan commission’s director to Infinite-Speed on July 26, but racing events continued on July 28 and August 11. Additional events have been announced through November.
Kuntz says he is in constant fear for his life and property when racing is going on. His home is located a quarter-mile away from the runway drag strip, which has no barriers to prevent cars from wrecking onto his property. Any wrecks could damage to Kuntz’s crops along the airport.
“The racing is interfering with the quiet use and enjoyment of Kuntz’s property. As confirmed by the Zoning Code, drag racing is incompatible with the agricultural and country lifestyle of Franklin County,” McMillin wrote.
Eddie Perry, co-owner of Infinite-Speed, has contended to county officials that the noise level created by the racing on a few select days is no louder than farm equipment or quads.
Also alleged in the complaint is that the racing had caused severe traffic blocks on small county roads that were never meant to accommodate large spectator events. A portion of the runway is just 30 feet from Three Mile Road, which Franklin County Commissioners have previously given approval for Infinite-Speed to shut down during racing.
“Having dragsters thirty feet from a public road going more than 200 miles per hour with no safety barriers poses an obvious and immediate danger to the public.”
Kuntz is asking a judge to declare the drag racing declared a nuisance and halt the operation. He also seeks “all other proper relief.”
“On race weekends and during weekday testing, Kuntz lives in reasonable and constant fear for the safety of his life and property. This is a serious interference with the free use of his property,” McMillin argues.
Infinite-Speed and Batesville Aviation Services have not filed a formal response to the lawsuit as of Monday.
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