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Date: 4/25/2022
MONSON — The Quaboag Riders Club, in business since 1944, has been shut down by the town of Monson over what the club calls “vague allegations.”
Quaboag Riders President Bill O’Donnell said the off-road racing club received a cease and desist order from the town on March 22 that shut down operations on the dirt track and trails off Main Street.
The club has 100 members who race their motorcycles or 4x4 trucks up the dirt hill. There is also a track where trucks and motorcycles can race off-road.
By issuing the orders, the town claims, according to O’Donnell, the Riders Club is breaking two laws — one that prohibits them from bringing in or taking out landfill. O’Donnell disagrees with the charge.
“We don’t bring any kind of fill material to build the hill and we don’t take anything off our property. So, it makes no sense,” he said.
The other law cited in the cease and desist order challenges the height of the hill, stating it is too tall and should be no higher than what it was in 1992. O’Donnell also balks at this allegation – he told Reminder Publishing the hill is well within the limits of the law.
“They want it restored to what it was before 1992. They’re telling us it’s bigger and we’ve violated the law but it’s actually a lot lower than what it was then,” said O’Donnell.
O’Donnell said the hill was 400 feet high when the club was founded nearly 80 years ago. Through the years, the club has moved dirt around to prevent erosion and make changes to the trails. O’Donnell stated the hill is now 340 feet tall.
For now, the not-for-profit club has been silenced – no racing or practices. The organization survives on membership and admission fees. But with nothing going on, the coffers are running dry. A social media campaign has been started to raise money for the club.
When the club was originally built on undeveloped land, there was nothing in the area except trees. Through the years, homes have been built along the club’s land. There are nearly a dozen homeowners now, and O’Donnell said a couple of them don’t like having the club as a neighbor.
“We have one abutter and one neighbor that just doesn’t want us in town. They want to shut us down and get rid of the club. It’s just these two people who have pounded on the town and they’re sick of hearing them at meetings. They think it’s easier to shut us down and hope we go bankrupt,” he said.
O’Donnell said he and the club are fighting to resume racing. The Riders have hired a lawyer who is trying to get the cease and desist order reversed.
After many years in business, O’Donnell said he isn’t sure why the shutdown order is coming now. He said he would like to respond directly to the allegations, but there are none. The cease and desist order said the club is breaking two laws, but O’Donnell said officials aren’t being specific.
“They haven’t said what we’re doing wrong. Everything was very vague. They haven’t given us any information about what they want. They just said we’re shutting you down. They haven’t given us a direct accusation. We’re all in the dark,” said O’Donnell.
O’Donnell claims the shutdown order isn’t sitting well with Main Street businesses that benefit from the increased traffic on race weekends. He also claims the people of Monson want the track to remain open.
“People like the events. They like to come and enjoy the hill climbs and the racetrack. They just think it’s a fantastic venue. It’s the only one of its kind in Massachusetts,” he said.
The Riders Club uses the money it generates through membership and admission fees to fund improvements to the track and support local charities.
“We’ve donated money to all kinds of charities in the town in the last 80 years. The town is going to find out that a lot of people are going to start screaming about shutting us down,” said O’Donnell.
Off-road racing has always stirred up dust. Now it’s stirring up the political scene as well. For his part, O’Donnell wants his club to reopen but is trying to keep the peace.
“We’re not doing anything we’re not supposed to do,” he said. “We’re not going to ruffle any feathers. We’re just going to let the lawyers handle everything.”
Reminder Publishing made numerous attempts to reach the Town of Monson as well as the town attorney for comment but did not receive a response before press time.