🚀 go-pugleaf

karches@onramp.net (Tom Karches) writes:
>
>I am doing some research on sound levels around race tracks, specifically
>NASCAR or IndyCar events, though any information would be useful.


A similar issue came up recently near my town of Half Moon Bay, California.
Someone proposed the return of drag racing at the airport as a means
of raising money for the local kids as well as giving them something
to participate in once a month.  Drag racing had been common back in the 
'50's and 60's.
				
Knowing that there would be a kneejerk reaction from certain residents, the 
organizer conducted a one-day noise test on an eighth-mile track.  He 
invited drag of all types, from kiddie-racers all the way up to a jet 
turbine.  Noise monitors were placed at the start of the track and 
scattered around the area with the furthest one 3/4 mile or more away.

The result was that, except for the jet engine, the noise was no louder 
than your average small plane taking off at the airport.  Some people 
claimed they heard it while some of their immediate neighbors said boloney, 
they couldn't hear a thing. When I walked away from the event the noise 
seemed to dissipate very quickly. The few people who live almost on the 
airport definately heard it though when you live adjacent to an airport 
you do expect to hear some noise.

There was huge, organized protest from the people who lived in the area.
People phoned in 911 emergency calls about the noise even BEFORE the
the cars hit the tracks.  The proposal failed, not due to any real problem 
but that it didn't mesh with some residents' perceived idea of what the 
coastside community is all about.  I thought too much fuss was made of it.

In your case, the traffic will probably be a worse problem than the
noise.  Are there really going to be 110,000 spectators?  This sounds
kind of high but maybe it's true.