Donington vs Bedford noise levels
Discussion
I'm in a situation where I'm worried about failing drive by noise tests at certain circuits, and I'm trying to get an idea of other peoples experiences.
Obviously it's very hard to compare direct numbers, as noise meters are at different distances from the track at different circuits. e.g. Donny has a higher noise level, but the meter is actually very close to the track.
Donington and Bedford are two circuits that a relatively high number of people have issues with on the drive-by noise reading.
I'm wondering if anybody has personal experience of being fine at one of those circuits, but have had issues at the other in the same car. i.e. you were ok at Donington but failed at Bedford, or vice versa.
Obviously it's very hard to compare direct numbers, as noise meters are at different distances from the track at different circuits. e.g. Donny has a higher noise level, but the meter is actually very close to the track.
Donington and Bedford are two circuits that a relatively high number of people have issues with on the drive-by noise reading.
I'm wondering if anybody has personal experience of being fine at one of those circuits, but have had issues at the other in the same car. i.e. you were ok at Donington but failed at Bedford, or vice versa.
My silencers had blown out all the packing by the end of last year, I did Donington with no issues. A week later I did Bedford after zero changes to the car where it failed driveby after passing the static test.
I carry a spare silencer and it's only a couple of V bands so I was able to fit that and carry on lapping for the rest of the day, but I can say Bedford is definitely more restrictive on driveby from that experience.
I carry a spare silencer and it's only a couple of V bands so I was able to fit that and carry on lapping for the rest of the day, but I can say Bedford is definitely more restrictive on driveby from that experience.
I found with Bedford that I was marginal on static noise tests, but could easily avoid pinging the drive by meters by seeing where they were and avoiding being at max revs when passing them.
I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
Paul_M3 said:
I'm in a situation where I'm worried about failing drive by noise tests at certain circuits, and I'm trying to get an idea of other peoples experiences.
Obviously it's very hard to compare direct numbers, as noise meters are at different distances from the track at different circuits. e.g. Donny has a higher noise level, but the meter is actually very close to the track.
Donington and Bedford are two circuits that a relatively high number of people have issues with on the drive-by noise reading.
I'm wondering if anybody has personal experience of being fine at one of those circuits, but have had issues at the other in the same car. i.e. you were ok at Donington but failed at Bedford, or vice versa.
No personal experience as I’ve not had issues at either (2021 Cayman GTS), but I know GT3s (997, 991) are definitely problematic at Bedford on drive-by, but when I spoke with a guy at Donnington in same type of car he was fine.Obviously it's very hard to compare direct numbers, as noise meters are at different distances from the track at different circuits. e.g. Donny has a higher noise level, but the meter is actually very close to the track.
Donington and Bedford are two circuits that a relatively high number of people have issues with on the drive-by noise reading.
I'm wondering if anybody has personal experience of being fine at one of those circuits, but have had issues at the other in the same car. i.e. you were ok at Donington but failed at Bedford, or vice versa.
I spoke with MSV people (company who own both circuits) and they said Bedford is the strictest of them all.
QBee said:
I found with Bedford that I was marginal on static noise tests, but could easily avoid pinging the drive by meters by seeing where they were and avoiding being at max revs when passing them.
I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
Same here. It’s easy to feather the throttle as you pass the mics at Bedford.I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
FWIW said:
QBee said:
I found with Bedford that I was marginal on static noise tests, but could easily avoid pinging the drive by meters by seeing where they were and avoiding being at max revs when passing them.
I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
Same here. It’s easy to feather the throttle as you pass the mics at Bedford.I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
Wh00sher said:
My silencers had blown out all the packing by the end of last year, I did Donington with no issues. A week later I did Bedford after zero changes to the car where it failed driveby after passing the static test.
I carry a spare silencer and it's only a couple of V bands so I was able to fit that and carry on lapping for the rest of the day, but I can say Bedford is definitely more restrictive on driveby from that experience.
MSV must have been a bit desperate then as it always used to be no second chances at all if you tripped the meter. I carry a spare silencer and it's only a couple of V bands so I was able to fit that and carry on lapping for the rest of the day, but I can say Bedford is definitely more restrictive on driveby from that experience.
Paul_M3 said:
FWIW said:
QBee said:
I found with Bedford that I was marginal on static noise tests, but could easily avoid pinging the drive by meters by seeing where they were and avoiding being at max revs when passing them.
I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
Same here. It’s easy to feather the throttle as you pass the mics at Bedford.I guess it depends on where you are on the rev limiter on the track.
Never had an issue with Donington.
Paul_M3 said:
Nice, thank you. I’d been trying to search for a map like that without success.
Hopefully I’ll be ok, but if I am only just over the limit by a tiny amount I can avoid high revs in those areas.
Speak to the noise marshal (office at end of pits) he’ll give you a warning if you’re getting close. They are very strict though.Hopefully I’ll be ok, but if I am only just over the limit by a tiny amount I can avoid high revs in those areas.
Actually, lets be fair here.
The circuit are trying to stay open for track days.
Sound carries, and airfields tend to be high up and in flat open spaces, so sound carries from them even more.
The local county council are the ones being strict.
And they are driven by local residents living several miles to the east, who can hear every gear change when the wind is from the west, and let the council know.
The noise meters are connected directly to the council, so Bedford circuit have to prove they are being strict when someone violates the limits
The circuit are trying to stay open for track days.
Sound carries, and airfields tend to be high up and in flat open spaces, so sound carries from them even more.
The local county council are the ones being strict.
And they are driven by local residents living several miles to the east, who can hear every gear change when the wind is from the west, and let the council know.
The noise meters are connected directly to the council, so Bedford circuit have to prove they are being strict when someone violates the limits
Instead of the "look at me, I can beat the noise meters" actually think of what it could mean these venues.
Councils can (and do) attend tracks and do their own noise checks.
We may lose Pembrey due to noise complaints, look what happened to Croft.
So why not consider running a quieter car?
Drumroll said:
Instead of the "look at me, I can beat the noise meters" actually think of what it could mean these venues.
Councils can (and do) attend tracks and do their own noise checks.
We may lose Pembrey due to noise complaints, look what happened to Croft.
So why not consider running a quieter car?
Totally agree with this (despite producing the map above - maybe I shouldn’t have?). Not having a go at anyone specifically, but I don’t get this obsession with overly loud exhausts. Doesn’t make you go any faster. Councils can (and do) attend tracks and do their own noise checks.
We may lose Pembrey due to noise complaints, look what happened to Croft.
So why not consider running a quieter car?
Not as bad as the people who move next to a circuit and then complain…
Drumroll said:
Instead of the "look at me, I can beat the noise meters" actually think of what it could mean these venues.
Councils can (and do) attend tracks and do their own noise checks.
We may lose Pembrey due to noise complaints, look what happened to Croft.
So why not consider running a quieter car?
I do fully understand your point. But the thing is, I bought my car mainly to be used on track and at weekends. It has the bog standard exhaust on it from the factory which met EU approval. I haven't changed a thing. Councils can (and do) attend tracks and do their own noise checks.
We may lose Pembrey due to noise complaints, look what happened to Croft.
So why not consider running a quieter car?
Not only that, I personally designed and fabricated what is effectively a full size additional silencer with a down turn (to direct sound to the ground) which I add on for track days.
My 'arrangement' has so far allowed me to easily do Snetterton, Cadwell and Donington. But because it is custom, I cannot use any other cars as a point of reference for how I will fare at other circuits. (Hence my original question about how Bedford compares to Donington)
That's the problem with drive-bys; every one is different. At least with static tests in theory you should have a rough idea of where you are. The only way to know if I can use my car at Bedford is to spend the money and book a day there.
I know this is subjective and everyone will have a different opinion, but if I get black flagged for genuinely being just 0.5db over the limit then I wouldn't feel too guilty about short shifting past the noise meters to allow me to finish the day. (And I'd never go back) If I had a car that was 10db over around the rest of the circuit and I coasted past the noise meters, then I would consider that to be a bit different.
Paul_M3 said:
I know this is subjective and everyone will have a different opinion, but if I get black flagged for genuinely being just 0.5db over the limit then I wouldn't feel too guilty about short shifting past the noise meters to allow me to finish the day. (And I'd never go back) If I had a car that was 10db over around the rest of the circuit and I coasted past the noise meters, then I would consider that to be a bit different.
I agree…the supercharger doesn’t help!You can go to any MSV circuit by prior arrangement (or on the day of a track day) and have the car static tested. They are happy to do this - they want you on track.
You will need to call them and see if they can help with a drive by test, because there are safety aspects to bear in mind if you are driving on the circuit at speeds quick enough to be realistic in practice.
You will need to call them and see if they can help with a drive by test, because there are safety aspects to bear in mind if you are driving on the circuit at speeds quick enough to be realistic in practice.
QBee said:
You can go to any MSV circuit by prior arrangement (or on the day of a track day) and have the car static tested. They are happy to do this - they want you on track.
Yeah, the static is the easy bit. Assuming it's not your first track day you'll know roughly what your static level is. (ignoring day to day environmental differences). All the static tests are carried out the same way so you can do a direct comparison.My last static test with the track silencer added on was 99.9dB.
The drive by is the hard bit. Every circuit will obviously have the meters at different distances from the track and in different locations. It may even be down to the luck of your gearing whether you pass. One car might be getting to the top of it's rev range as it passes the meter, but in another car you may have already just changed gear and you are only at 5000 rpm instead of 7000rpm.
QBee said:
You will need to call them and see if they can help with a drive by test, because there are safety aspects to bear in mind if you are driving on the circuit at speeds quick enough to be realistic in practice.
To be honest, I've never heard of any track arranging to do a drive by noise test for you in advance of the day. I guess this is something Bedford does because of their lower limit? (Even then, I assume it's not necessarily the easiest thing to arrange?) And unless it's your local circuit, it's going to take time and money to do it. For me to go do a drive-by noise test in advance would probably take a total of 6 hours, and about £60 in fuel. At that point, I may as well just book the track day, be fairly confident of passing the static and hope for the best with the drive by. Worst case is you'd try and blag a load of passenger rides and still try to have some fun. The other problem is cars are different, so my anecdotal evidence doesn't necessarily help you.
When my car was normally aspirated it was a 5 litre V8, so lots of low growl but topped out at 6000 rpm.
And I had decatted it, so it was about 7db louder than an ex-factory car. It usually read between 103 and 107 dB static
Last time at Bedford, on a foggy damp morning, I rocked up, clamped on my extra silencers (which took about 5dB off) and still failed the 101 dB static test.
They tried it three times for me, but the test station was right next to a brick shed, which amplified the noise, so i was stuffed..........or so I thought.
Next up was a guy called Ted (according to his number plate) in a GT3 Porsche. He too failed, same amount over the limit as me. Not helped by the induction roar being close to the exhausts thanks to Stuttgart building 911s back to front.
Much scratching of heads, then because Ted was well known to them they let us both through, but with dire warnings about the consequences of failing the drive by. Yes, sir, we both said, and set off the for the cafe. Neither of us got any drive by warnings. So if you can pass 101db static maybe you will be ok on the drive by.
I did have a passenger ride later on in Ted's GT3. 147 mph turning into the back straight chicane is what sticks in my mind. I tried to get near it in my TVR and ended up going straight on instead of turning.
Change trousers and start again.
When my car was normally aspirated it was a 5 litre V8, so lots of low growl but topped out at 6000 rpm.
And I had decatted it, so it was about 7db louder than an ex-factory car. It usually read between 103 and 107 dB static
Last time at Bedford, on a foggy damp morning, I rocked up, clamped on my extra silencers (which took about 5dB off) and still failed the 101 dB static test.
They tried it three times for me, but the test station was right next to a brick shed, which amplified the noise, so i was stuffed..........or so I thought.
Next up was a guy called Ted (according to his number plate) in a GT3 Porsche. He too failed, same amount over the limit as me. Not helped by the induction roar being close to the exhausts thanks to Stuttgart building 911s back to front.
Much scratching of heads, then because Ted was well known to them they let us both through, but with dire warnings about the consequences of failing the drive by. Yes, sir, we both said, and set off the for the cafe. Neither of us got any drive by warnings. So if you can pass 101db static maybe you will be ok on the drive by.
I did have a passenger ride later on in Ted's GT3. 147 mph turning into the back straight chicane is what sticks in my mind. I tried to get near it in my TVR and ended up going straight on instead of turning.
Change trousers and start again.
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