Chris Siperko’s 10-year-old son, Achilles, has a passion for go-kart racing and a dream to one day become a professional driver.
The Siperkos travel to Florida from their Western Howard County home each weekend to practice racing, and often travel abroad to compete, but Siperko wanted Achilles to have a spot closer to home where he could practice. So, he built one in the family’s expansive backyard.
It took about a month and a half to build the track on their land in Highland off Mink Hollow Road. Siperko, 48, who owns a construction company, has said he poured about $100,000 into the asphalt track and that he didn’t think he needed permission from the state or county to build it. Construction was complete by May 2023, and neighbor complaints started arriving to the county in December, leading to citations from the county and state.
In the process of building the 1.5-mile track, nontidal wetlands were disturbed, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment. According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, wetlands play an integral role in the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, as they reduce storm damage and flooding, control erosion, improve water quality, help fight climate change and provide crucial habitats for wildlife. And the go-kart track violated zoning and subdivision regulations, the county found.