Ask The Answer Person: "What's the best way to block out the racetrack noise?"

Posted: Wed, Mar 20, 2019 9:06 AM

(Joel, a new Decorah resident, e-mails The Answer Person: "What are the best solutions that Decorah residents have found to cope with noise from the Speedway on race nights? Are there good technological solutions, such as noise-canceling audio listening headphones, safety ear muffs or plugs, or white noise generators?"):

The Answer Person says: "My first reaction to your e-mail was that we're too busy discussing the proposed Hy Vee; the Alliant rate hike; potholes; flooding damage; the new Luther college president; and the latest bills in the Iowa Legislature to handle one more question. But, since you ask, there have been steps in recent years taken by the races to reduce the amount of noise. Nevertheless, noise is still an issue for some people on race nights, depending on where you live and how the wind is blowing. In other words, sometimes the noise seems loud and other times it doesn't.

Readers, do you have any suggestions? And race track fans, don't e-mail to suggest people who don't like the noise should just suffer--remember that the fewer complaints there are about racetrack noise, the more you get to enjoy the races!"