diff --git a/src/physics.cpp b/src/physics.cpp
index a4161bef7..8bd2a534e 100644
--- a/src/physics.cpp
+++ b/src/physics.cpp
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ void Physics::update(float dt)
  */
 void Physics::KartKartCollision(Kart *kartA, Kart *kartB)
 {
-    kartA->crashed();
-    kartB->crashed();
+    kartA->crashed();   // will play crash sound for player karts
+    kartB->crashed(); 
     Attachment *attachmentA=kartA->getAttachment();
     Attachment *attachmentB=kartB->getAttachment();
 
@@ -162,9 +162,6 @@ void Physics::KartKartCollision(Kart *kartA, Kart *kartB)
     {
         attachmentB->moveBombFromTo(kartB, kartA);
     }
-    if(kartA->isPlayerKart()) sound_manager->playSfx(SOUND_CRASH);
-    if(kartB->isPlayerKart()) sound_manager->playSfx(SOUND_CRASH);
-
 }   // KartKartCollision
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -215,14 +212,22 @@ btScalar Physics::solveGroup(btCollisionObject** bodies, int numBodies,
             if(upB->is(UserPointer::UP_FLYABLE))   // 1.1 projectile hits track
                 m_all_collisions.push_back(upB, upA);
             else if(upB->is(UserPointer::UP_KART))
-                upB->getPointerKart()->crashed();
+                // FIXME: sound disabled for now, since the chassis of the karts hits
+                //        the track when accelerating, causing a constant crash sfx
+                //        to be played. Might be fixed with better physics parameters
+                //upB->getPointerKart()->crashed();
+                0;  // avoid VS compiler warning while the above statement is commented out
         }
         // 2) object a is a kart
         // =====================
         else if(upA->is(UserPointer::UP_KART))
         {
             if(upB->is(UserPointer::UP_TRACK))
-                upA->getPointerKart()->crashed(); // Kart hit track
+                // FIXME: sound disabled for now, since the chassis of the karts hits
+                //        the track when accelerating, causing a constant crash sfx
+                //        to be played. Might be fixed with better physics parameters
+                // upA->getPointerKart()->crashed(); // Kart hit track
+                ;
             else if(upB->is(UserPointer::UP_FLYABLE))
                 m_all_collisions.push_back(upB, upA);   // 2.1 projectile hits kart
             else if(upB->is(UserPointer::UP_KART))
diff --git a/src/player_kart.cpp b/src/player_kart.cpp
index c20b36acc..448f80994 100644
--- a/src/player_kart.cpp
+++ b/src/player_kart.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ void PlayerKart::action(KartAction action, int value)
         m_controls.jump = (value!=0);
         break;
     }
-}
+}   // action
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void PlayerKart::steer(float dt, int steer_val)
@@ -167,22 +167,31 @@ void PlayerKart::update(float dt)
 void PlayerKart::crashed()
 {
     Kart::crashed();
-    sound_manager->playSfx( SOUND_CRASH );
-}
+    // A collision is usually reported several times, even when hitting
+    // something only once. This results in a kind of 'machine gun'
+    // noise by playing the crash sound over and over again. To prevent
+    // this, the crash sound is only played if there was at least 0.5
+    // seconds since the last time it was played (for this kart)
+    if(world->m_clock - m_time_last_crash_sound > 0.5f) 
+    {
+        sound_manager->playSfx( SOUND_CRASH );
+        m_time_last_crash_sound = world->m_clock;
+    }
+}   // crashed
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void PlayerKart::handleZipper()
 {
     Kart::handleZipper();
     sound_manager->playSfx ( SOUND_WEE );
-}
+}   // handleZipper
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void PlayerKart::collectedHerring(Herring* herring)
 {
     Kart::collectedHerring(herring);
     sound_manager->playSfx ( ( herring->getType()==HE_GREEN ) ? SOUND_UGH:SOUND_GRAB);
-}
+}   // collectedHerring
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void PlayerKart::reset()
@@ -197,9 +206,11 @@ void PlayerKart::reset()
     m_controls.wheelie = false;
     m_controls.jump = false;
     m_penalty_time = 0;
+    m_time_last_crash_sound = -10.0f;
     m_camera->setReverseHeading(false);
     Kart::reset();
-}
+}   // reset
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /** This function is called by world to add any messages to the race gui. This
  *  can't be done (in some cases) in the update() function, since update can be
diff --git a/src/player_kart.hpp b/src/player_kart.hpp
index 59c3f1202..a4d709146 100644
--- a/src/player_kart.hpp
+++ b/src/player_kart.hpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ private:
 
     Player *m_player;
     float   m_penalty_time;
+    float   m_time_last_crash_sound;
     Camera *m_camera;
 
     void steer(float, int);