Racing in Kart Dromes: Laboratory and Site Assessment of Noise Levels from Competition and Rental Karts

Abstract

Kart racing is one of the hobbies that people get passionate about from a young age. Kart dromes are commonly built in suburban or rural areas, generally surrounded by industrial zones and sporadic residential buildings. The circuits are primarily active during summer, hosting races that often extend into the evening and night hours, where each race has a duration of 20 min. This study examines the noise generated by kart dromes through acoustic measurements conducted at a kart drome located in southern Italy, where a microphone was placed at the side of the circuit for short periods in addition to a survey conducted at the nearest sensitive receptor. Another survey was conducted within the kart drome for a long-term period to record all of the variations in noise levels of a typical summer day when the races are organized during the nighttime; for this type of data, the hourly average values were taken for one week in June, July, and August, highlighting the increasing trend in the noise levels due to the kart races. However, a detailed analysis of noise emissions during different phases of kart operation revealed two significant acoustic events, such as the acceleration of pass-by peaks centered on high frequencies and strong breaking noise at curves that are centered at low-medium frequencies, causing a whistling noise of the wheels while turning the kart. This paper highlights the increasing trend in noise levels during summer nighttime races, compares on-site measurements with laboratory data, and discusses the implications for local communities and noise regulations.