# 7-second grumbling noise **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 5, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869 "2017-08-05T21:58:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/1 "2017-08-05T21:58:08Z")
I was sitting here, puttering away on the computer, when I hear an intermittent low grumbling noise, lasting about 6 or 7 seconds. I recognize it immediately, and do a little Internet checking. Sure enough, they’re burning some methanol at Pacific Raceways this weekend; it’s the [NHRA Northwest Nationals](http://pacificraceways.com/). Pacific Raceways is 14 miles away, over a couple hills. Astonishing how well that low-frequency sound carries. When i was a kid I thought drag racing was the coolest thing ever. Now that I’m older (and drive a Fiat with all of 101 horsepower) I think it’s maybe just the wee-est bit silly. 😉 It does have an interesting history, though; it might be the only motorsport that has a blue-collar background. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/2 "2017-08-05T22:12:21Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > When i was a kid I thought drag racing was the coolest thing ever. Now that I’m older (and drive a Fiat with all of 101 horsepower) I think it’s maybe just the wee-est bit silly. 😉 It does have an interesting history, though; it might be the only motorsport that has a blue-collar background. Didn’t NASCAR come from a moonshine background? Or would that be a no-collar background? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/3 "2017-08-05T22:57:29Z")
I live about 3 miles from a race track. On motorcycle nights you can’t hear yourself talk. I can barely hear the jalopies. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/4 "2017-08-05T23:35:13Z")
Sorry, haven’t had dinner, yet. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/5 "2017-08-06T00:46:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Didn’t NASCAR come from a moonshine background? > > Or would that be a no-collar background? 😃 :smack: Of course! :smack: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/6 "2017-08-06T04:17:53Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Now that I’m older (and drive a Fiat with all of 101 horsepower)… Hah! My Scion xB has 103 hp. Meet you at the track, I’ll give you a .02 second edge. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/7 "2017-08-06T04:57:12Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Hah! My Scion xB has 103 hp. Meet you at the track, I’ll give you a .02 second edge… Oh, yeah? Well, my Fiat has SPORT MODE! (Not any increase in horsepower, but they remapped the throttle pedal to make it take off quicker) :rolleyes: :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/8 "2017-08-06T15:40:26Z")
We’re about a mile from the county fairgrounds and you can easily hear the demolition derby that they have every year at the county Fair. Luckily it’s just once a year. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/9 "2017-08-06T23:26:25Z")
Are you sure it wasn’t an incoming V-1? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/10 "2017-08-07T00:41:58Z")
\*\*7-second grumbling noise \*\* It’s Crohn’s Disease. Clench your butt cheeks and look for a bathroom. You will learn where all the restrooms are wherever you go. Keep a fresh pair of underwear in a zip lock bag in your car and you can almost make it where you need to go without shitting your pants. Almost. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/11 "2017-08-07T00:50:59Z")
It’s never Lupus. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/12 "2017-08-07T06:00:00Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > It’s never Lupus. [Lupus?](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjYzMzgyMjU4MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjQyNjg3MjE@._V1_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/13 "2017-08-07T15:00:15Z")
Niiiiice! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/14 "2017-08-07T15:07:17Z")
I use to live right next to Pacific Raceways, about 300 feet from the starting line of the drag strip. The part that use to amaze me was the people that would move into the neighborhood knowing the track was there then complain about the noise. I now live on the other side of Highway 18 now not far from Green River college and I can barely hear them now. A cousin of mine that lives on Lake Tapps complains about the noise too, she says it rattles the windows in her house. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/15 "2017-08-07T15:27:52Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > I was sitting here, puttering away on the computer, when I hear an intermittent low grumbling noise, lasting about 6 or 7 seconds. I recognize it immediately, and do a little Internet checking. > > Sure enough, they’re burning some methanol at Pacific Raceways this weekend; it’s the [NHRA Northwest Nationals](http://pacificraceways.com/). > > Pacific Raceways is 14 miles away, over a couple hills. Astonishing how well that low-frequency sound carries. > > When i was a kid I thought drag racing was the coolest thing ever. Now that I’m older (and drive a Fiat with all of 101 horsepower) I think it’s maybe just the wee-est bit silly. 😉 It does have an interesting history, though; it might be the only motorsport that has a blue-collar background. if you’re hearing it from that far away, it’s the Top Fuelers burning nitromethane. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/16 "2017-08-07T15:37:08Z")
7 seconds of grumbling? We easily have another 17 years until the kids grow out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-second-grumbling-noise/792869/17 "2017-08-07T16:17:32Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > …The part that use to amaze me was the people that would move into the neighborhood knowing the track was there then complain about the noise… Chowderheads!