Prediction of Sports Car Noise Propagation
from a Private Racetrack Using Mobile Point
Source Modeling Technique
Tyrone Hunter Brad Poppell
URS Corporation Bluegrass Motorsports Club & Road Course
San Diego, CA 92108 Sparta, KY 41086
Presented at NOISE-CON 2008 2008 July 28-30
ABSTRACT
To accurately predict operational sound levels at frequently-used outdoor areas associated with noise-sensitive
residential receivers neighboring a private motor sports mixed-use facility, this study considered high-perfor-
mance sports cars as mobile point sources on an irregular-shaped course built within a heavily wooded and
topographically variable ground setting. Cadna/A was utilized to define the model and run the analyses. An
additional model parameter was the proximity of an Interstate highway, modeled both with Cadna/A and the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Noise Model (TNM) to compare techniques and help differenti-
ate racetrack sound from highway traffic noise. The motor sports facility also has a variety of fixed and station-
ary sound sources relating to garages and idling vehicles, respectively. In addition to presenting the predicted
sound levels at multiple receiver locations, the study offers suggestions for further model refinement and sound
measurements at the racetrack to validate the findings.
1. INTRODUCTION
The Bluegrass Motorsports Club and Road Course At the time of this writing, Project construction is
(the Project) is a mixed-use private development that scheduled for completion in March 2009 and should
will offer the amenities of a members-only private result in completely new structures and facilities
golf country club, but with motor sports as the theme including the following:
and primary onsite recreational activity. With the
Kentucky Speedway just four miles to the southwest
• a closed-circuit roadway track suitable for
as its NASCAR-oriented neighbor, the Project expects
motorcycles, karts, and high-performance
to attract its own racing enthusiasts for a different kind
passenger cars with engines exhibiting
of world-class track experience.
nearly 750 horsepower;
• newly constructed single-family detached
As depicted by the proposed layout superimposed dwellings;
on a vicinity aerial photograph in Figure 1, the Project • automotive repair shops and garages; and,
has several community neighbors amidst the wooded • an administrative building and modest
glens and meadows of Gallatin County who are likely grandstand.
accustomed to a relatively tranquil and certainly non-
urban environment. URS was asked by Bluegrass The first of these also has pit areas where vehicles
Motorsports to carefully assess potential noise impacts may idle for undetermined lengths of time. In sum, the
on these noise-sensitive receptors and generally char- Project has a variety of different and multiple sound
acterize the future sound environment resulting from sources arranged on a topographically complex site
completion and operation of the Project. that only a class of versatile sound propagation predic-
tion tools like Cadna/A and comparable commercial
software can readily handle and output reliable data.
18 • Alumni Arsenal | November 2009 The Official Magazine of the NSBE Alumni Extension
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