Mufflers
 

“Every motor vehicle used in a race or contest of speed at a facility located within three-quarters of a mile of an occupied residence shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler and exhaust system to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, provided the residence was constructed prior to the construction of such facility.”

Of course though, before you get too upset, this was taken from the June 1972 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated penned by then editor Jim McCraw. I doubt that “Bill” is even on the books today.

https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/mufflers/

Re: Mufflers
 

I can give many arguements for both sides of the noise issue. For example, when Englishtown was built the only time cars over 300 HP was when they had fuel dragsters that probably made 1,000 HP. Now we have street cars making 1,000 hp and top fuelers making 11,000 hp, It is significantly louder. You have to try to work with the community, Atco was doing a good job with community events to keep track going, but was blindsided by a crazy offer form a non racer.

Re: Mufflers
 

"Maybe that’s the problem today. People are afraid to say what’s really on their minds."

Or maybe if they do and someone doesn't appreciate it, you will be censored.

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I have two stories in this regard:

A close friend of mine was excited to tell me one day that his daughter and her husband were buying a house within a mile of New England Dragway. I could leave my car and trailer there, if I needed, or possibly even stay with them. I asked if the realtor had mentioned the dragstrip and the noise. Not a word. While I fully believe that the dragstrip was there first and has every right to continue to make the noise that it has always made, can you imagine making the biggest purchase of your life on Thursday, only to wake up and wonder, "What the hell is that noise?" on Saturday morning. The realtors have a responsibility to inform the buyers.

I went to the tower at Lebanon Valley about 5PM one Sunday evening to pick up my winnings. A neighbor was there giving the track owner a hard time about the noise. I asked, "Was the dragstrip here when you bought your house?" He just glared at me without answering.

Racecars don't need mufflers!

Re: Mufflers
 

It's the "new" America, which is chock-full of "Karens". They buy a house near the airport for $5.00 (because it's near the airport), and immediately start going to City Council meetings, trying to get the airport closed (or property tax busting noise abatement measures imposed).

Re: Mufflers
 

Fighting noise ordnance laws is just another expense added to the cost of
running a racing facility and if they don't do it laws are passed that can
eventually put them out of business.

That's what happened here on Long Island and now we're shxt out of luck!

Re: Mufflers
 

I can see both sides of the discussion about mufflers or not.

Here's how I handled the question several years ago to a group of home owners.

I was racing at Bremerton Raceway (not far from Seattle) in 1996 and invited a friend from work to come and visit and bring his kids. After the racing was over for me that day my friend invited my future wife and myself to come to his home. Many neighbors come over to see my car and ask questions. One question that was unanimous was about the noise from the track and traffic coming and going. I asked all of them when they purchased their homes. It was in the last few years(5 to 10). I informed them that the track was there since 1959. Informed them that if they had any complaints about the noise they should contact their real estate agent and ask why they weren't informed of the track and noise from said track. The track was not at fault, but full disclosure from their agents was. A lot of blank looks on their faces followed. End of discussion.

I don't get the mentality of people who move near a noise making situation and then complain. DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

Re: Mufflers
 

I remember when I was in grade school in the 1950's. In geography, the teacher informed us that soon there would be 2 billion people on earth.

Today there are over 7 billion. The world is really changing.

No doubt, noise pollution and many other types of pollution are going to make life more difficult. We are going to need to deal with lots of issues in the future. If you are not effected, you are very lucky.

Re: Mufflers
 

So here is a good one for you, I get a call for a Home improvement project because the guy is fixing up to sell his relatively new house. I get to house and ask why he is selling, the Trains are too loud, I look out window and train tracks are about 400 ft from house?

Re: Mufflers
 

Our local track had new big buck home owners protesting at the track entrance as racers were leaving about 2 years ago. The homeowners got more than an education from each racer they approached. Basically the track was operating long before any homes were there, builder never mentioned the track was there. Their complaint should be with the builder. So far all is well for racing....

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Maybe if racecars had mufflers starting 50 years ago there wouldn't be as many racers with significant hearing loss :rolleyes:...hindsight observation

Re: Mufflers
 

Pacific Raceway has been dealing with this for years and has worked with the City of Kent and Washington State to keep the track protected. There are several homes - big ones - that have been built within the past few years within 100 yards of the staging lanes.


The track is on one end on a long sand and gravel pit parallel to SR18 between Auburn and Kent. The urban legend is that the Kent people tried to shut the track down and the business owner/track President, Jason Fiorito, told them that if he shut the track he would move his rock crusher over to the site and run it 24/7.


When they started their expansion the track cut trees from the buffer between the parking lot and sub division for rental garage spaces for racers. Neighbors took photos and complained about the tree clearing even though their homes are are on cleared land.





There is a sign on the ticket booth that reads "The Neighbors Do Not Get in Free"

Re: Mufflers
 

Ask the racer's on Long Island if they would use mufflers now, West Hampton raceway used to be open, but the town got lawyers because of noise. Now there's no dragstrip on Long Island. You have to ask yourself this question, are you there to race or make noise while racing? I for one would prefer to race with mufflers than to have no place to race at all. Society is moving into areas that no one would ever think they would, so as racers we should adapt if we want to continue race. There's a lot of them and not enough of us.

Casey Miles
248H Stock

Re: Mufflers
 

Here's a good one, I live about 1/2 mile from the tracks for N.A.D. Earle,where the fleet in the Atlantic goes for ammo.,the place has been around since WWII, well some whiners in the phony mac mansions cried and moaned, and now the engineers cannot properly blow the horn for the crossing on my road. To me, go the hell back to the cities you came from, enjoy; the drive by shootings, cop cars,& garbage trucks. John Kissel I almost forgot, they whine about the National Anthem played each day at 8:00 am being too loud

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FLASH-NPR NEWS- Elon Musk will be entering into a $15 million deal with NHRA to promote electric drag cars in all categories of NHRA racing. Looks like the internal combustion engine and flatulence from the racing community has sealed our fate. This will also be joe bidens 46th mandate.



Is it necessary to write LOL? Can't be too sure days.

Re: Mufflers
 

If Elon Musk is giving the money to NHRA they will just squander it. Musk would be better off to develop some electric race cars then get NHRA to develop a class for them to race. Once Top Fuel and Funny Car are gone or down to 8 car fields there might be some room for electric exhibition cars. I don't see electric cars racing in our classes for quite a while.

Re: Mufflers
 

puke !