Elroy neighbors fear future noise

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin’s first Formula 1 race is less than a month away, and Elroy residents are bracing for the traffic and especially the noise tied to the massive event.

Locals have seen the track go from nothing, in the middle of pasture land, to a full race track which will draw hundreds of thousands to Austin. They know a tsunami is coming, but some resent being left out of the process by F1 folks.

"The last community meeting they had I wasn't invited. I was really frustrated when they said their neighbor was Del Valle. Not Elroy,” said Elroy neighborhood association resident Cathy Olive. “There is our fence, the track is on the other side. This is Elroy."

Some 15 law enforcement agencies are expected to be involved in safety and security when F1 arrives in November. Today they wanted to hear what residents are worried about when it came to the impact on local residents.

"Not only traffic concerns, but also in regard to the noise, the noise they expect so I understand their concerns,” said Travis County Sheriff Deputy Manual Mancias. “We'll hope for the best and see what happens."

Resident Don Haywood doesn't mind the new neighbor, but he's lived in Elroy for years and appreciated the country quiet.

"You can hear coyotes right now,” Haywood said. “That's basically all I had to contend with, critters.”

As for Olive, she grew up next to the Indianapolis 500, so she knows what’s coming.

"I know what its going to look like,” Olive said. "I know how loud the cars are going to be, because I know that I'm going to be in my house with a pillow over my head."