Noise is getting the better of us!

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Pressure is coming to bare for event organisers to manage noise.

Factors that add to this noise level can include a low cloud base, rain and structure.

If we don’t manage the noise we may not be granted a licence to run the event again and worse still the circuit could loose its resource consent for meetings.
95 decibels is the limit imposed by the powers that be and the onus is on the event organiser to ‘police’ it.
This does not only apply to bikes, cars are under the gun too.

AMCC has had to ‘ping’ a few peeps at both Pukekohe and Hampton Downs.
Pukekohe have had to ‘ping’ both cars and bikes on their open practise days.
All events have to monitor and record noise levels with calibrated noise meters.

You get a warning and an opportunity to modify the exhaust to reduce the noise but a second ‘pinging’ is your last time out on the track that day. To reduce the noise a simple (removable) thin plate inserted in the back of the muffler with hole in (of course) can bring even the loudest machine to within the 95db range. Each circuit has a designated area for noise meter recording and more often than not nowadays will have to take recordings and act upon them.

Pukekohe are under the spot light following complaints from neighbours and as a result will be subjected to independent, permanent and monitored noise meters being installed outside of the circuit.

I am firmly in the camp that says don’t move near a race circuit and complain about the noise (aka western springs et-al) but the reality is we are only going to shoot ourselves in the foot if we don’t respond positively and simply put ensure we are under the 95db limit.

I’d hate to loose the facilities we have because of a few decibels so please be mindful of where the Steward/CoC is coming from if you get the hand on the shoulder asking for you to quieten down a bit.

[Taz]

Good it's about time people realised that power doesn't have to equal noise. Bring on electric bikes I say.

[Mental Trousers]

... I am firmly in the camp that says don’t move near a race circuit and complain about the noise (aka western springs et-al) ...

People like that need an enema with a fire hose.

Be interesting to find out exactly how loud my bike is.

[jellywrestler]

does this include SUZUKI21 from KB's farts?

[wharfy]

"Who won the world drivers championship in 1975 ?"

Lauda

"Who won the world drivers championship in 1975 ?"

Lauda !

"Who won the world drivers championship in 1975 ?"

Lauda !!

"no need to shout!"

deaf prick

[RobGassit]

When we all go electric they won't have anything to moan about!

[jellywrestler]

When we all go electric they won't have anything to moan about!

except the osh hazard when people leave the pits still plugged in and trip everyone up!

[gatch]

I'm off to pukekohe this afternoon with 2 bikes that have no silencers whatsoever. The norton has reverse cone megas and the douglas just has open pipes. It will be interesting seeing if the steward starts with the noise policing at the classics festival. Just about every single bike there will get the finger waved at them.

I'd like to wave something at the neighbours..

Yes, it is my dick.

[lukemillar]

How do you measure the 95db figure? I know from the UK, it varies i.e decibel meter must be 15 meters from the bike and the reading is taken at 6k rpm or something along those lines to determine a pass or a fail. Would be good to know!

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

How do you measure the 95db figure? I know from the UK, it varies i.e decibel meter must be 15 meters from the bike and the reading is taken at 6k rpm or something along those lines to determine a pass or a fail. Would be good to know!

A pre determined part of the circuit is allocated for noise testing.
This area is set back from the surface of the circuit but with an unhindered ‘view’ of the circuit. With the least amount of structure surrounding that area, so not to influence the reading.

For instance at Pukekohe it is just after the kink on the back straight, the wise (on test or track days) have been known to ‘role off’ slightly here .

At HD it is on the outside of turn 7 (real turn 3) along side the rear pit entrance.

Regarding the measurement it’s a simple case of reading the numbers the meter spits out, if you’re under your ok if you’re over your not.

A reading is rejected if two or more bikes are closely together.

[Taz]

I'd like to wave something at the neighbours..

Yes, it is my dick.

Do they have a magnifying glass??

[RobGassit]

Do they have a magnifying glass??

He passes out binnoculars.

[Maido]

How do you measure the 95db figure? I know from the UK, it varies i.e decibel meter must be 15 meters from the bike and the reading is taken at 6k rpm or something along those lines to determine a pass or a fail. Would be good to know!

I was watching the superbikes at Timaru and noticed the sound guy there measuring db's. He was setup outside of turn 8 (the left after the hairpin), he was on the grass where the spectators were sitting ( a good 15 meters). It was quite interesting to see what bikes were making what noise. I really through that the beemers would be loudest, but I think Strouds Gixxer was from memory. They were all around 89-96 db from memory. I only watched for about 2 mins though.

[SWERVE]

I live directly inline from Ruapuna when a Norwester wind blows..... probebly a good 20km.
I can hear the track when wind is in right direction............. only things that make enough noise to hear are V8s at the speedway or F5000 or similar at classic meets....................... so just ban the cars i say.
ChCh city council had right idea....... development around Ruapuna was getting to many complaints about track & quarry.... so they bought all houses along a section of Hesketts Rd............ currently un-occupied too. I would happlily rent one (cheap rate cos of the noise....of course)

The subject of noise always gets attention near race tracks generally by people who moved there after the circuit was built too. Donington in the UK has one of the lowest db limits........... but all the complainers live under the flight path of largest frieght airport in UK. Brands hatch too....and its next to one of busiest motorways the M20 which carries most of the cross channel traffic day & night.

Then take Hockenhiem in Germany.... all traffic has to drive through a heavily built up residential area to access circuit which is also on edge of Autobahn.... first time i went there i thought the signposts had been altered after having to negotiate residents parked cars on both side of street. Bet the Germans dont let nearby residents complain...... visit from the gestapo would be pending.

My granmother was the chief cook at Snetterton circuit and her house was only 800m from the startline....... my ideal house would be the derelict one in the middle of Cadwell Park infield.

Bloody greenies!

[Souther flags]

The sound level check point at Ruapuna is taken at Pothole . The left hander just past flag point 2. The highest reading at the Gp meeting was 94.3 decebels. It was from one of the 600 class bikes. Please don't ask which one .