Sound levels ???
Discussion
Always been curious of what the sound levels are for a Top Fuel on a run but can never find any data on it. Anybody have any ideas or knowledge in this area ?? If no success I will email some of the european teams
Thanks in advance
p.s: and before any sarcastic answers go up I know its very loud !!!
Thanks in advance
p.s: and before any sarcastic answers go up I know its very loud !!!
DIABLO said:
Always been curious of what the sound levels are for a Top Fuel on a run but can never find any data on it. Anybody have any ideas or knowledge in this area ?? If no success I will email some of the european teams
Thanks in advance
p.s: and before any sarcastic answers go up I know its very loud !!!
Thanks in advance
p.s: and before any sarcastic answers go up I know its very loud !!!
Neil Bauman PhD said:
http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/ezine/march_21_2007...
Protect Your Ears—Or Else
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Drag racing is exciting! So is watching drag racing. No doubt about it! In her article "Races Give Fans an Earful" (Gainesville Sun, Florida, March 18, 2007) Diane Chun sucks you right into the excitement.
"Speed, a blur of colors, the smell of nitromethane and burning rubber. They're all part of the experience that draws a huge crowd to Gatornationals.
But it's the overwhelming noise that gets race fans where it hurts.
When a Top Fuel dragster throttles up, a wave of sound strikes your chest like a fist.
The smartest among thousands of spectators for Saturday's qualifying rounds for the 38th annual Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway came equipped with both ear plugs and sound- deadening ear muffs.
The neophytes are probably feeling the pain of a day at the races today.
A nitro-powered dragster at full throttle puts out 120 decibels of sound. That's not quite like standing next to a jet engine, which puts out 140 decibels, but who'd stand next to a jet?
On the other hand, spectators crowded as close to the Gatornationals staging area as they could get Saturday, not wanting to miss a split second of the action."
However the action wasn't quite what some people expected. It took place in their ears, and it wasn't fun! Bob's son was there. Bob writes:
"I talked to my son this morning and asked about the noise at the races, and about whether he and the kids wore ear protectors.
"Yes," he replied. However, during a break in the action, he had taken off his earplugs. They were in his pocket as he was returning to the stands when it happened. Without warning, a nitromethane dragster revved out in full fury. He was about 100 feet from the car.
Before he could clap his hands to his ears, it was already too late. Instantaneously he said, it felt like somebody was pushing a pencil eraser into the ear closest to the car.
The next day he was still complaining of a definite hearing loss in that ear, and is quite concerned."
Unfortunately, this is how it often happens. Noise strikes when you least expect it. and when your have left your ears unprotected, even if it was just for a moment.
The results can be anything but thrilling. First can be the incessant ringing in your ears that may go on day and night, week after week, month after month, year after year—a constant reminder how you foolishly left your ears unprotected. Second is the instant hearing loss from which your ears may never completely recover. Third may be a lifelong sensitivity to normal everyday sounds that now seem far too loud and hurt. (This goes by the fancy name of hyperacusis.)
This is the real legacy of going to the races (or any other extremely noisy venue) that few talk about.
Thus you must not let your guard down—not even for an instant. Put your ear protectors on before you think you will need them and leave them on until you are well away from the noise. The one time you take them off for a few moments is the one time you may live to regret it.
Around 120 dB (Presumably dB(A)) and enough to cause permanent damage (I have certainly started to develop Tinnitus as I get older) seems to be the answer.Protect Your Ears—Or Else
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Drag racing is exciting! So is watching drag racing. No doubt about it! In her article "Races Give Fans an Earful" (Gainesville Sun, Florida, March 18, 2007) Diane Chun sucks you right into the excitement.
"Speed, a blur of colors, the smell of nitromethane and burning rubber. They're all part of the experience that draws a huge crowd to Gatornationals.
But it's the overwhelming noise that gets race fans where it hurts.
When a Top Fuel dragster throttles up, a wave of sound strikes your chest like a fist.
The smartest among thousands of spectators for Saturday's qualifying rounds for the 38th annual Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway came equipped with both ear plugs and sound- deadening ear muffs.
The neophytes are probably feeling the pain of a day at the races today.
A nitro-powered dragster at full throttle puts out 120 decibels of sound. That's not quite like standing next to a jet engine, which puts out 140 decibels, but who'd stand next to a jet?
On the other hand, spectators crowded as close to the Gatornationals staging area as they could get Saturday, not wanting to miss a split second of the action."
However the action wasn't quite what some people expected. It took place in their ears, and it wasn't fun! Bob's son was there. Bob writes:
"I talked to my son this morning and asked about the noise at the races, and about whether he and the kids wore ear protectors.
"Yes," he replied. However, during a break in the action, he had taken off his earplugs. They were in his pocket as he was returning to the stands when it happened. Without warning, a nitromethane dragster revved out in full fury. He was about 100 feet from the car.
Before he could clap his hands to his ears, it was already too late. Instantaneously he said, it felt like somebody was pushing a pencil eraser into the ear closest to the car.
The next day he was still complaining of a definite hearing loss in that ear, and is quite concerned."
Unfortunately, this is how it often happens. Noise strikes when you least expect it. and when your have left your ears unprotected, even if it was just for a moment.
The results can be anything but thrilling. First can be the incessant ringing in your ears that may go on day and night, week after week, month after month, year after year—a constant reminder how you foolishly left your ears unprotected. Second is the instant hearing loss from which your ears may never completely recover. Third may be a lifelong sensitivity to normal everyday sounds that now seem far too loud and hurt. (This goes by the fancy name of hyperacusis.)
This is the real legacy of going to the races (or any other extremely noisy venue) that few talk about.
Thus you must not let your guard down—not even for an instant. Put your ear protectors on before you think you will need them and leave them on until you are well away from the noise. The one time you take them off for a few moments is the one time you may live to regret it.
HTH
Edited by Jon C on Wednesday 6th June 00:47
What´s the topic ? Could you write a litte louder..........
?
Some years ago, I recall Graham
(acoustic engineer, photographer and co-author of "The Santa Pod Guide to Drag Racing" )
doing a noise level job for the promotor.
At first attempt, he only had a meter that ranged up to 130 dB,
and that went onto its limits very fast.
At second attempt, with another metering device,
he was positioning the tripod in front of the grandstand,
some metres away from the wall.
When a top fuel car launched, it recorded 144 db...
What was more astounding : when Charlie Karling launched on his blown Harley,
it also recorded 144 dB, but the Uddeholm machine is/was known as one of the loudest bikes around,
together with Bengtssons blown parallel twin.
The sound at the wall itself/on track/inbetween two TFs -
Hello startcrew- must be even louder.
For me as press guy at the wall,
it feels like someone grabs my shoulders and shakes me violently, a real attack.
I always wear the "peltor optime 3" mickey mouse things, they take away about 23 dB.
Tey are the black ones with the red stripe.
And I followed a tip from Graham, who was involved in developing these:
"To further dampen the low frequencies,
put a stripe of body sealant inside the capsules." Yes, it works.
Cheers,
Benni
€dit : I can only guess at the level of jet afterburner pops, 160 dB ?
?Some years ago, I recall Graham
(acoustic engineer, photographer and co-author of "The Santa Pod Guide to Drag Racing" )
doing a noise level job for the promotor.
At first attempt, he only had a meter that ranged up to 130 dB,
and that went onto its limits very fast.
At second attempt, with another metering device,
he was positioning the tripod in front of the grandstand,
some metres away from the wall.
When a top fuel car launched, it recorded 144 db...
What was more astounding : when Charlie Karling launched on his blown Harley,
it also recorded 144 dB, but the Uddeholm machine is/was known as one of the loudest bikes around,
together with Bengtssons blown parallel twin.
The sound at the wall itself/on track/inbetween two TFs -
Hello startcrew- must be even louder.For me as press guy at the wall,
it feels like someone grabs my shoulders and shakes me violently, a real attack.
I always wear the "peltor optime 3" mickey mouse things, they take away about 23 dB.
Tey are the black ones with the red stripe.
And I followed a tip from Graham, who was involved in developing these:
"To further dampen the low frequencies,
put a stripe of body sealant inside the capsules." Yes, it works.
Cheers,
Benni
€dit : I can only guess at the level of jet afterburner pops, 160 dB ?
Edited by Benni on Wednesday 6th June 01:55
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