Caterham and hearing loss
Discussion
I’ve finally seen the light and jumped ship from 911 ownership into a gorgeous 420R. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t do it sooner. However, there’s a niggling problem regarding my hearing. Years of being in a band, as well as DJing, have left me with bad tinnitus. Whenever I take the Seven out I put on a pair of ear defenders or ear plugs (I’m experimenting with each type, as well as combining them). Nonetheless I’m still experiencing severe ringing in my ears after a drive. Sadly I suspect there’s nothing to be done as a lot of the noise is through bone conduction, rather than through the ears.
Do any of you suffer from the same problem and has anyone found a solution?
Gratuitous pic of the new car:
Do any of you suffer from the same problem and has anyone found a solution?
Gratuitous pic of the new car:
It is a known issue ... vairous post eg this one on the club forum.
I don't know of a one-fits-all solution, but driving with ear protection, doors and a windscreen helps to reduce noise levels a lot. Noise levels are consderiably higher with no doors and an aeroscreen.
I've been driving 7s for around 10yrs and use Etymotic deep fitting, in-ear, noise isolating ear buds. These are are similar in design to in-ear hearing protection devices, except I can also play music while I'm on the move. Some people seem to get good results using noice cancelling headphones.
Also worth checking whether your exhaust silencer is repackable, eg. end caps can be removed and silencer wadding replaced. This also reduces noise levels and should help avoid been booted off circuits for noise violations. I use a raceco silencer on my 7, which works very well. Obviously the exhaust noise is only one of the noise components, but every little helps ...
Smashing pic by the way
I don't know of a one-fits-all solution, but driving with ear protection, doors and a windscreen helps to reduce noise levels a lot. Noise levels are consderiably higher with no doors and an aeroscreen.
I've been driving 7s for around 10yrs and use Etymotic deep fitting, in-ear, noise isolating ear buds. These are are similar in design to in-ear hearing protection devices, except I can also play music while I'm on the move. Some people seem to get good results using noice cancelling headphones.
Also worth checking whether your exhaust silencer is repackable, eg. end caps can be removed and silencer wadding replaced. This also reduces noise levels and should help avoid been booted off circuits for noise violations. I use a raceco silencer on my 7, which works very well. Obviously the exhaust noise is only one of the noise components, but every little helps ...
Smashing pic by the way
Thank you for the replies. I’ll keep trying various options but it’s sounding (no tinnitus pun intended) like I may just have to learn to live with it. It was interesting to read the Duratec engine is worse than the K series for vibration and noise problems.
Vertew, I was down your way this morning taking the car for a spin. When I used to live in Snorbens the Coopers Green Lane was one of my favourite roads as a biker.
Vertew, I was down your way this morning taking the car for a spin. When I used to live in Snorbens the Coopers Green Lane was one of my favourite roads as a biker.
I've a 7 with a straight cut box / no sound deadening etc and if I've driven it more than a couple of miles without ear defenders realise I'm suffering sensory deprivation when turn the engines turned off - seriously !
an earlier post mentioned repacking the silencers and my car needs this (even when wearing defenders) as deeper notes do seem to be transmitted through the body
an earlier post mentioned repacking the silencers and my car needs this (even when wearing defenders) as deeper notes do seem to be transmitted through the body
I’ve had several 7’s and now a BAC and the only thingI have found to work is custom moulded ear plugs. There are the ones you do yourself from eBay which are pretty good, or for £25 your local ear test place (eg spec savers or Boots) will make up proper deep moulds which you can post off to get really custom ones for about £100.
They make a massive difference and you will also find you will drive harder on track as the noise is more tolerable!
I drive my Mono from Anglesey to Surrey in one go with these with no problems!
They make a massive difference and you will also find you will drive harder on track as the noise is more tolerable!
I drive my Mono from Anglesey to Surrey in one go with these with no problems!
Tobermory said:
I’ve had several 7’s and now a BAC and the only thingI have found to work is custom moulded ear plugs. There are the ones you do yourself from eBay which are pretty good, or for £25 your local ear test place (eg spec savers or Boots) will make up proper deep moulds which you can post off to get really custom ones for about £100.
They make a massive difference and you will also find you will drive harder on track as the noise is more tolerable!
I drive my Mono from Anglesey to Surrey in one go with these with no problems!
Moulded plugs with or without sound (ACS are good), with ear defenders over these. They make a massive difference and you will also find you will drive harder on track as the noise is more tolerable!
I drive my Mono from Anglesey to Surrey in one go with these with no problems!
Also a rear exit exhaust will be quieter.
Wind noise is an issue for me - but I do run Brooklands screens and half / no doors. I have some Peltor Optime III ear defenders, but prefer to use a snowboarding helmet with in-ear bluetooth headphones for comms and turn-by-turn Nav.
The helmet is mostly to protect against stones and other debris, but it does muffle the wind with its soft earpads attached. The headphones act like ear-plugs though and block out most of the din, even when not 'talking'. My next move will be to in-ear-moulded-buds, but I have yet to find a bluetooth compatible set.
It's a serious issue. Bikers I know use decent foam plugs inside their helmets. Caterham drivers should do something similar.
The helmet is mostly to protect against stones and other debris, but it does muffle the wind with its soft earpads attached. The headphones act like ear-plugs though and block out most of the din, even when not 'talking'. My next move will be to in-ear-moulded-buds, but I have yet to find a bluetooth compatible set.
It's a serious issue. Bikers I know use decent foam plugs inside their helmets. Caterham drivers should do something similar.
Edited by Tupwood on Saturday 24th September 17:47
Chubbyross said:
Vertew, I was down your way this morning taking the car for a spin. When I used to live in Snorbens the Coopers Green Lane was one of my favourite roads as a biker.
Haha, I was out at a similar time, but on the south side of St Albans, enjoying the occasional vintage classics coming to and fro from the Kop Hill Climb up in Bucks. Coopers Green Ln is a great road and they're not so many of those around St Albans. Drop me a PM if you're in the area again cheers, Andrew.
Chubbyross said:
Thank you for the replies. I’ll keep trying various options but it’s sounding (no tinnitus pun intended) like I may just have to learn to live with it. It was interesting to read the Duratec engine is worse than the K series for vibration and noise problems.
Vertew, I was down your way this morning taking the car for a spin. When I used to live in Snorbens the Coopers Green Lane was one of my favourite roads as a biker.
I race Caterhams and have tried a few. My custom moulded ones are probably 'best' in terms of sound, but I don't find them that comfortable (probably a mould issue rather than a fundamental issue). The best non-moulded ones I have used are Ear Peace, which also come with different filters for different sound attenuation levels.Vertew, I was down your way this morning taking the car for a spin. When I used to live in Snorbens the Coopers Green Lane was one of my favourite roads as a biker.
I have tinnitus too but don't notice an issue post race if I am wearing the earplugs.
BTW, if you do wear a crash helmet in a car with harnesses it's highly advisable to wear a HANS device, otherwise there's a much higher chance of cervical spine injuries in the event of a crash. They're mandatory in motorsport now, and really should be on road as well because your neck is not able to cope with the rigid fixation of the harnesses coupled with the additional mass of the helmet.
I would definitely recommend proper moulded earplugs inside a helmet as well, I find that the helmet acts like a resonator otherwise and the earplugs reduce this effect. For that reason I tend not to wear a helmet at all on road and just rely on shatterproof wrap around sunglasses, it's much nicer! I drive to and from track days this way and leave the helmet in the boot till I get to the track.
I would definitely recommend proper moulded earplugs inside a helmet as well, I find that the helmet acts like a resonator otherwise and the earplugs reduce this effect. For that reason I tend not to wear a helmet at all on road and just rely on shatterproof wrap around sunglasses, it's much nicer! I drive to and from track days this way and leave the helmet in the boot till I get to the track.
Tobermory said:
BTW, if you do wear a crash helmet in a car with harnesses it's highly advisable to wear a HANS device, otherwise there's a much higher chance of cervical spine injuries in the event of a crash. They're mandatory in motorsport now, and really should be on road as well because your neck is not able to cope with the rigid fixation of the harnesses coupled with the additional mass of the helmet.
Downside is looking a massive gimp with bucket seat, harnesses and hans device while pootling on the public road 
Olivera said:
Tobermory said:
BTW, if you do wear a crash helmet in a car with harnesses it's highly advisable to wear a HANS device, otherwise there's a much higher chance of cervical spine injuries in the event of a crash. They're mandatory in motorsport now, and really should be on road as well because your neck is not able to cope with the rigid fixation of the harnesses coupled with the additional mass of the helmet.
Downside is looking a massive gimp with bucket seat, harnesses and hans device while pootling on the public road Tobermory said:
HaHa, very true. Still not a risk I would be prepared to take. Sunglasses are way cooler, I agree.
It's arguably technically illegal to wear a hans device on the public road, as you're not then able to turn your head sufficiently to look over your shoulder. This is enforced in Germany at the Nurburgring on tourist days, where despite really high speeds they enforce the road legal requirement to be able to look over your shoulder, so hans devices and winged seats are not permitted. I suspect it's similar in the UK.Do you drive with a screen and no doors? That caused a lot of wind noise for me.
I can vouch for the rear exit exhaust quietening things down a lot.
I used to use ear defenders made for shooting and that worked for me when I was doing mega miles. Got uncomfortable after a few hours.
I use moulded earplugs for motorsport and they are very good.
Bert
I can vouch for the rear exit exhaust quietening things down a lot.
I used to use ear defenders made for shooting and that worked for me when I was doing mega miles. Got uncomfortable after a few hours.
I use moulded earplugs for motorsport and they are very good.
Bert
Olivera said:
Tobermory said:
HaHa, very true. Still not a risk I would be prepared to take. Sunglasses are way cooler, I agree.
It's arguably technically illegal to wear a hans device on the public road, as you're not then able to turn your head sufficiently to look over your shoulder. This is enforced in Germany at the Nurburgring on tourist days, where despite really high speeds they enforce the road legal requirement to be able to look over your shoulder, so hans devices and winged seats are not permitted. I suspect it's similar in the UK.It would be an interesting case were you to be prosecuted for wearing a HANS given the very clear medical evidence in their favour. Eventually there will be a test case I suspect, but I imagine the answer is that there are few, if any, road legal cars where you absolutely have to wear a helmet.
https://thejns.org/spine/view/journals/j-neurosurg...
There's no question that not wearing a HANS is incredibly risky. You're taking your life in your hands if you do.
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