Give Auto Racing Trial Run

It’s not hard to understand how differences of opinion can develop between the Del Mar City Council and the board of the 22nd District Agricultural Assn. over issues such as staging auto races at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The fair board, which is appointed by the governor, is responsible for operating the state-owned facility for the benefit of all residents of the county. The city has a different constituency, one which reaps considerable benefits from having the fairgrounds in its midst but which also pays a sometimes-heavy price in terms of seasonal inconveniences.

The fair board’s plan to hold two weekends of Grand Prix-style racing at the fairgrounds each year is just the latest of the irritants that have divided the two bodies. But because of the personalities involved, the cumulative effect of the disagreements over the years, or perhaps some other reason, the anger this time has reached such a level that the city has filed a lawsuit against the fair board, and the fair board is talking about trying to reverse its 1959 annexation by Del Mar.

We’ve listened to both sides of the argument over the auto racing and believe it should be tried. Yes, it will probably be a bother to some residents of Del Mar and neighboring Solana Beach, but the substantial revenue it will bring in for the fair board and the city make it worth at least an experiment.

What we can’t accept is the fair board’s interest in separating itself from the City of Del Mar. Regardless of one’s views on the planned auto racing, the City Council cannot be faulted for standing up for what it sees as the best interest of its constituency.

Del Mar and the Del Mar Fair board are fated to grapple from time to time over the permanent and temporary uses of a relatively small patch of earth. And that’s the way it should be. Sometimes the city will win, sometimes the fair board will prevail--as appears will be the case with the Grand Prix. With luck, a balance will be achieved.

For the agricultural district to separate from Del Mar without the city’s permission would require special state legislation. We hope the fair board chooses not to follow that route, but if it does, local legislators should refuse to carry such an arrogant bill.