Sound / noise limit - NEW RULE

[Native]

Just want to give you all a bit of advance warning about a sound limit we're going to be imposing soon. Some of you have already heard some of the discussion, and may have seen other posts, and it's true that Loren and I have been playing around with a sound meter to get an idea of just how loud some of the cars y'all drive are. After we recently received some feedback from a "neighbor" about the noise emanating from our event, and since, coincidentally, we had already been discussing the issue, we decided it's time.

Each of the 3 sites we lease are very close to residential neighborhoods (yes, even the airport). We don't want to draw any more (negative) attention that the bit we do now, so in effort to be neighborly, we're gonna try to keep it down some. For the most part, the rule will only affect a few of you. We're trying to figure out where to set the limit (and how closely we want to mimic local noise ordinances). As we have more information, we'll spring it on you.

One thing we do know is that the rule will apply uniformly to all sites we use. Way simpler than having 3 sets of sound rules.

Stay tuned...

[BigBlue]

What? I couldn't hear you.

[jbrannon7]

For the most part, the rule will only affect a few of you.

Stay tuned...

"Few" Generally means three. No less than three can be slightly more. Three is the most common number associated with few.

[Loren]

Last I checked, we were looking at about 3-5 people that were on the fringe (or beyond) of where we're likely to set the limit.

The bulk of folks seem to be below 90db. A few in the 90-93 range, and a few more beyond that. The ones that seem "loud" to the ear are always the ones above 93db.

But, we're still studying...

[Native]

For the most part, the rule will only affect a few of you.

Stay tuned...

"Few" Generally means three. No less than three can be slightly more. Three is the most common number associated with few.

Dictionary.com says "few" means "not many but more than one." Still, so sorry to have confused you like that, Joe. Would "several" be a more appropriate term? It's first definition is "being more than two but fewer than many in number or kind." But, an iteration of "few" is in the definition...probably still confusing. Or, "smidgeon." Yes, the rule will likely only affect a "smidgeon" of you. But "smidgeon" refers to an amount, as opposed to a number or count...hmm... Perhaps I should have said, ...only affect an as yet undetermined number of you... Or, hardly any, or scarcely any, or

[Jamie]

...the rule will only affect a few of you if you're too loud.

Steve -- fixed it so Joe can understand it.

[twistedwankel]

If no one can hear me call in on the radio and I cannot hear them answer for 600ft it's way too loud. Honestly I've never had an issue with Joe's car as it has "deep throat" and he only gets really on it when I ride with him...which is an experience within itself.

We could have ear buds for the starter but then he cannot hear the radio...hold the start....oops.

Fingers in ears works most of the time...but not always. Give starter a box of potatoes to stick in exhaust.

Doug

Turbos don't really need anything but a straight pipe.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ras ... FORM=VIRE1

Flowmaster tutorial:

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Dif ... 340D7EB042

[jbrannon7]

Sonic reduction. Swapped the mid pipe resonator. The new one is longer and larger allowing for more gas expansion. Both resonators are very light and straight thru. Sounds much quieter to me. Cost me 2 events $$$$ and 5 hours. I have the mini bullet if anyone wants to buy it.

OLD


NEW

[Loren]

Looks good, Joe! Your car was one of those "right on the threshold" ones. Not "super loud", but right on the fringe of what seemed too loud.

Steve and I collected more data at the Dog Track and are very close to having our new sound rule ready to present.

[BrilloHeadBen]

Did the DB meter get put in the box with the timing heads? I should probably get a reading on my car.

[Loren]

Yeah, should be in the timer box.

[twistedwankel]

Funny I was/am considering an XS turbo cat back for Rx8 so I can actually hear the car running, save 20lbs and maybe gain 2.5HP at 8500rpm? So far not ready to spend the loot as fear of 70mph 6th gear drone bothers me more than low end howl. Or spend event money on 17" RS3's?

Joe that looks like a much bigger echo box. Cool. Be funny if it has even less back pressure and only double the baffles doing the job.

[Jamie]

Yeah, should be in the timer box.

Yes, I watched Ron put it in the timer box, which is just inside the side door.

[jbrannon7]

Funny I was/am considering an XS turbo cat back for Rx8 so I can actually hear the car running, save 20lbs and maybe gain 2.5HP at 8500rpm? So far not ready to spend the loot as fear of 70mph 6th gear drone bothers me more than low end howl. Or spend event money on 17" RS3's?

Joe that looks like a much bigger echo box. Cool. Be funny if it has even less back pressure and only double the baffles doing the job.

It is a straight thru, aka glass pack, muffler so it should not affect power or torque. But due to its volume it is quieter and the annoying mid range rasp BMW 6 bangers are known for is nearly eliminated. It is 1/2 in taller so I lose a slight amount of ground clearance.

[Loren]

Okay, folks, we've mulled over the data and come up with an official rule:
FAST Exhaust Sound Level Policy

In summary:

• We have a "soft limit" of 95 db. If you reach 95 db, we'll ask you to do something about it before your next event.
• We have a "hard limit" of 98 db. If you reach 98 db, we will very likely shut you down.

To date, the only people with cars reaching 95 (but not 98) are: Frohnerath, Azeri, Gomez, Brannon, Day, Smith

And the only people with cars reaching 98 or higher are: Amoroso, Taunton, Davis, Zapanta, Risberg, Schoonover

[Carracer]

Any chance of releasing the sound level information you have collected? I'm sure I'm not the only one that is a little curious how loud (or not) their car is.

[Loren]

If you want to know, just ask. We can check it at any time.

Stock exhausts are almost always below 85-87. Some even below 80. An exhaust with a 'nice sound' is typically in the 90-93 range. 94 is getting to where most people would agree that it is 'loud'.

As for releasing numbers, I'd have to go back to sloppily written notes. All I have readily available are stats for anyone under 94 because we weren't worried about them. We only transcribed names for the loud ones so that we'd have something to correlate a number with.

Suffice it to say that your stock Miata isn't anywhere near loud.

[ImpostorDan]

Can you give us a reference measurement with inquiry, like Ron from 50ft out is XX.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[Loren]

We haven't standardized our sound measurements to the Ron unit of measure. Yet. (the "Ron" is a convenient measure of torque, btw)

Without going back to paper, here's some data from the online discussion that Steve and I had. Really, if you think about the data below, it backs up the simple statement that "loud is loud". We've always known what loud was. Now we simply have numbers to back it up. Nothing has changed. What we thought was "kinda loud" was 94-95. What we though was "loud" was 95-98. And 98 and up is just plain "obnoxiously loud".

Jan 2
45 drivers
3 drivers at 95-96 (Frohnerath G8, Azeri FR-S, Taunton Mustang)
2 drivers at 93-95 (Brannon Z3, Graham Integra)
6 drivers at 90-93
17 drivers 85-90
17 drivers 75-85

Jan 16
84 drivers
3 drivers at 97-110 (Amoroso Exocet, Taunton Mustang, Davis Corvette)
4 drivers at 95-97 (Gomez Mustang, Brannon Z3, Day Mustang, Smith Mustang)
3 drivers 94-95 (Suarez 911, Azeri FR-S, Harvey Datsun)
4 drivers at 93-94 (Anast 370Z, Koselak Camaro, Russell S2000, Graisbery Mustang)
14 drivers at 90-93
56 drivers - below 90

Jan 30
39 drivers
1 drivers at 97-110 (Zapanta FR-S)
3 drivers at 95-97 (Risberg & Segal same BRZ)(Schoonover STI)
1 drivers 94-95 (Amoroso Miata)
1 drivers at 93-94 (Thompson RX-7)
7 drivers at 90-93
26 drivers - below 90

EDIT: Added vehicles to the names above to help you identify folks.

[aw614]

now im wondering if my GTI is at 75-85dB, I think the tire noise on course is louder than the engine lol.

Gonna tell Steve about his Integra being at 93-95 range