Regarding Michael B. Snow's letter "Speedway will benefit Spotsy in the long run" [Dec. 23], I must respectfully submit that he is misguided and misinformed.

He says that this development will benefit Thornburg and Spotsylvania businesses when that is not true--the racetrack plans on having its own restaurants and shops, so why would race-goers drive to Thornburg?

The traffic issue: He states that the races will be held after rush hour is over! Rush hour is the least of the traffic problems; Interstate 95 is a parking lot southbound on Saturdays and northbound on Sundays. One small fender bender or someone pulling off the road leads to gridlock in a matter of minutes.

What is the traffic mitigation plan for the speedway? "Traffic will have excellent access"--how? There is no left-hand turn light on the ramp from I-95 south or on U.S. 1 south, which will lead to huge traffic jams on both highways.

The endless drone of I-95 is quiet compared to the loud revving engines of the raceway cars. How can the endless drone of the I-95 traffic drown the sound coming from the raceway? That does not make sense.

Residents of Thornburg do not oppose development; they welcome it--development already approved by the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors: technical development, office parks, warehouses. We would even welcome a Walmart.

I agree that development is inevitable, but not in the shape of a raceway that needs waivers--from VDOT, the Board of Supervisors, and the Planning Commission--in order to proceed. Residents do not claim "the sky will fall"--just that the peaceful, bucolic nature of the area will be forever ruined.

Jean Klinger

Spotsylvania