Having lived next door to a well known aviation museum that has flying as well for a long time, I am not surprised at all by people complaining about any aspect of the what goes on there. Over the years, someone living in a nearby village started to get upset by the flying and stated that when the airfield was Royal Air Force operated, that was alright, but “these wealthy collectors playing with their toys is all wrong”. And, someone bought a house next to the airfield and within six weeks of living there decided it had to be closed as it was too noisy and caused congestion on the road, thus impeding her ability to get to Tesco!
However, the noise of a major road and a motorway nearby was never ever complained about, even though it was audible 24/7.
The e-petition about motor sport may work, but I doubt if airfields with vintage aircraft will get thought of in the same way. Planning applications for housing, shopping centers and business parks abound near this particular site, they will not give up and eventually, the onrush of new building will become too close for safe flying activities.