the greedy real estate types who wanted to shut down Laguna Seca lost their case, and Laguna Seca, racing cars since the track was laid out in 1957 on Fort Ord property provided by the U.S. Army, will continue racing
It's good that a racetrack will be able to keep racing against the complaints of the newer neighbors. But they may have to pay up to $2 million dollars for sound abatement measures, after doing a sound impact assessment.
or, they simply require testing of every vehicle on the track to be less than 80 decibles, or whatever the agreement is with the permit for the track, or arrangement to keep the track running. Race cars do NOT need to be straight pipes, they CAN run mufflers, and it's barely noticeable in the hp with or without mufflers. Way back in the 4 banger hot rod era, or the flathead times, sure, nothing made much power, and the 5 to 10 hp from an air filter and muffler delete, made a difference in winning or not getting on the podium. But we can see how the engine power evolved, and for anything under 3000 hp, they can use mufflers. Top Fuel? Nitro burning stuff? Nope. But the road track racers can tone it down. They just have never had to. And IF they choose to instead shoulder the burden on the race track, instead of the racers? 2 million isn't that much for a business this size. Spread over 10 year operating budget, that's 200k a year. Barely 20k a month.
Newer neighbors? I pointed out that the track took over the Army base, in 1957. Any "older" neighbors had been used to choppers, tanks, half tracks, or other non noise compliant military vehicles. I doubt any neighbor to the track is that old. Anyone newer, has NEVER known anything but that they deliberately and knowingly moved next to a race track, and so, that eliminates their claim of expectations of quiet neighborhood.
That's what I was trying to say, that the people moved into the area around the racetrack and then complained about the noise. Just like people moving to the country and complaining that the pig or cattle farm (that was already there) smells bad. Then don't move there!
As long as all of the competitors use the same muffler, or there is a requirement that the backpressure be the same, I think it's reasonable. I think I've seen sportsman dragsters with mufflers on them. It would be a good idea for the small tracks that are facing being shut down because of noise complaints.
And sometimes the Dragon wins!
ReplyDeleteIt's good that a racetrack will be able to keep racing against the complaints of the newer neighbors. But they may have to pay up to $2 million dollars for sound abatement measures, after doing a sound impact assessment.
ReplyDeleteor, they simply require testing of every vehicle on the track to be less than 80 decibles, or whatever the agreement is with the permit for the track, or arrangement to keep the track running. Race cars do NOT need to be straight pipes, they CAN run mufflers, and it's barely noticeable in the hp with or without mufflers. Way back in the 4 banger hot rod era, or the flathead times, sure, nothing made much power, and the 5 to 10 hp from an air filter and muffler delete, made a difference in winning or not getting on the podium.
DeleteBut we can see how the engine power evolved, and for anything under 3000 hp, they can use mufflers. Top Fuel? Nitro burning stuff? Nope. But the road track racers can tone it down. They just have never had to. And IF they choose to instead shoulder the burden on the race track, instead of the racers? 2 million isn't that much for a business this size. Spread over 10 year operating budget, that's 200k a year. Barely 20k a month.
Newer neighbors? I pointed out that the track took over the Army base, in 1957. Any "older" neighbors had been used to choppers, tanks, half tracks, or other non noise compliant military vehicles. I doubt any neighbor to the track is that old. Anyone newer, has NEVER known anything but that they deliberately and knowingly moved next to a race track, and so, that eliminates their claim of expectations of quiet neighborhood.
DeleteThat's what I was trying to say, that the people moved into the area around the racetrack and then complained about the noise. Just like people moving to the country and complaining that the pig or cattle farm (that was already there) smells bad. Then don't move there!
Deleteright! Exactly, my mistake.
DeleteHow about mufflers on race cars though?
As long as all of the competitors use the same muffler, or there is a requirement that the backpressure be the same, I think it's reasonable. I think I've seen sportsman dragsters with mufflers on them. It would be a good idea for the small tracks that are facing being shut down because of noise complaints.
Delete