Anyone know (Environmental) Acoustics?

[CoryM]

Hi guys.

Our local autoX club has been getting noise complaints and I am wondering what could be done.

Info:
-Cars louder than 92dB at 50ft (tires or exhaust) are kicked out
-It's at an airport, so height of barriers etc is an issue

If you look at the picture below hopefully you will see the layout. There is no berm in the yellow part because, well.... airplanes. I was thinking if we placed 8ft tall shipping containers in the purple areas it should help? We should be able to place them just far enough apart to get a truck through. I figure an offer for cheap/free storage will get us at least several containers. I am not sure if we would be allowed to stack them.

If anyone has other options I am happy to hear them

Thanks,
Cory

[xnamerxx]

If the cars aren't blowing more than 92 db there isn't much more you can do. Berms could help but sound waves like to skip so being under 8 ft tall they may be ineffective.
Being that its an airport why are the noise complaints falling on the autox cars rather than the airplanes? A small cessna will blow over 100 db so I don't see a car being under the legal sound limit being a problem. It sounds like the homeowners are trying to improve their property value by pushing to have an airport close...but that's just my theory.

[toad]

If the cars aren't blowing more than 92 db there isn't much more you can do. Berms could help but sound waves like to skip so being under 8 ft tall they may be ineffective.
Being that its an airport why are the noise complaints falling on the autox cars rather than the airplanes? A small cessna will blow over 100 db so I don't see a car being under the legal sound limit being a problem. It sounds like the homeowners are trying to improve their property value by pushing to have an airport close...but that's just my theory.

i've gotta agree with this! i'm guessing the homeowners just don't like people driving cars fast near their homes(even though it's on a controlled course with experienced drivers).

i live a little over a mile from an international airport(yeah, i know- different animal), but the noise from those planes would certainly be louder than any cars!

the shipping containers is a great idea if you can get approval/money needed to do it. good luck!

[TLyttle]

We used to fly models near an airport, a lady complained. I spoke to her, and asked why she was complaining to us when there was an engine test blast fence right beside where we flew. She said "I can't do anything about the jets, but I CAN do something about you!" and slammed the door in my face...

This is an ongoing problem: in the 30s, British race cars had to have full exhaust and muffling systems to satisfy the neighbours, look in any book of old cars for examples.