Noise testing of race bikes - what's the answer?

[Biggles08]

On some days ALL noise will be louder or quieter due to the surrounding weather /humidity etc. MNZ are good , but to try and out dodge nature, is probably a big call....

Makes sense tho to have.

1) Standardised meter type and brand
2) Standard location established for all tracks (position, distance etc)
3) Basic training of operator or an easy to follow guidline sheet that any muppet can follow
4) 95 is the max, so would suggest a "heads-up" warning at 93 be given to riders that reach that
5) Three passes at 95 or more in a single session and ya gotta get it fixed
6) Continued passing after fixing & still over limit - Welcome to Mr Black flag


Whilst the above guidlines might make 'common sense" they DO NOT fit in with the current rule book + they DO NOT fit in with the sound safetycrats (particularily line 5)

Ahhh see there it is...that phrase "Common sense!" I would also suggest maybe a scale to cater for weather conditions/humidity etc also as this obviously has a massive effect on the reading you will get on any given day. It needs to be a wholistic approach rather than a black and white...then black flag situation.

[Deano]

There is generally accepted up to 1dBA error for operator, 1dBA error for instrument and 1dBA error for environmental (meterological conditions). Background noise within 10dBA of the source noise level will affect measured levels of the source noise level up to 3dBA. Reflective surfaces (generally within 3m of the recveiver) will affect measured levels by up to 3dBA. Your average person will not detect a 1 or possibly 2dBA difference. 10dBA difference is perceived by people as a doubling of the noise. Also must use the correct descriptor (Lmax, Ln, Leq, SEL) and correct speed and weighting.
Low frequency noise also has more power than high frequencies, but may seem quieter as 'softer'.
There is a lot to consider in order to get accurate and repeatable results.

[nzmikey]

I was working down at HD in the weekend for the Nationals & I believe that they were testing around Flag Point3 , 30m from the centre of track, dont quote me but I am sure that there were no major over limit readings ..... ( due to the fact that the retards were not there ^(Motards) )

[CHOPPA]

I was working down at HD in the weekend for the Nationals & I believe that they were testing around Flag Point3 , 30m from the centre of track, dont quote me but I am sure that there were no major over limit readings ..... ( due to the fact that the retards were not there ^(Motards) )

About 2 superbikes were under the 96db rating on Sat.

[CHOPPA]

The crazy thing is that some of the guys noise levels were changing by 6 db at any given lap. They were running the same pace the entire session so that doesnt give much confidence to the fact that you try your best to keep noise down but a bit of cloud comes for 1 lap and you get black flagged.

That is the reality. Anything over 98db instant black flag

[nzmikey]

About 2 superbikes were under the 96db rating on Sat.

Yeah I was reading another thread & have seen alot of comments on it

So for the uneducated ( Myself ) why is the limit at 95db at HD since there is all of about 2 houses ( that i can see ) off the HD site .
& yeah I could hear the drag strip from where I was down at Metal Man clear as a bell go figure

[nodrog:Me]

I was working down at HD in the weekend for the Nationals & I believe that they were testing around Flag Point3 , 30m from the centre of track, dont quote me but I am sure that there were no major over limit readings ..... ( due to the fact that the retards were not there ^(Motards) )

It probably didnt help that he was standing against the bank, below the 2 or 3 generators that were powering the bouncey castle etc.

[Deano]

The problem is an unqualified kill joy or neighbour will say 'Oh thats too loud' and call the council who will seand out a semi qualified noise control dude with limited gear who is going to find it really hard to replicate an official noise test on the fly....

Ultimately if HE (or she) says its too loud its too loud.

Sigh....

No, security guards can only deal with excessive noise, using their ears. It is not appropriate for them to assess and enforce RMA provisions for unreasonable noise - this must be carried out using calibrated and certified sound level equipment. There is a technical and legal difference between excessive and unreasonable noise under the RMA.

[CHOPPA]

Yeah I was reading another thread & have seen alot of comments on it

So for the uneducated ( Myself ) why is the limit at 95db at HD since there is all of about 2 houses ( that i can see ) off the HD site .
& yeah I could hear the drag strip from where I was down at Metal Man clear as a bell go figure

The noise wasnt an issue for the track. The track manager was happy.

We have to run to the MNZ rule book though which states 95db

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Below is the rule as it stands;-

10.6.3.1 Noise Emmission Road Racing

All Road Racing Events on Permitted Circuits (Teretonga, Levels, Ruapuna, Manfield, Taupo, Pukekohe, Hampton Downs as of this point) the noise limit is 95dBA.
All machines are to be effectively silenced so as not to exceed 95dBA “ride by”, measured by the official meter mounted 30 meters from the track centre line, at the position on the circuit nominated by the circuit owners/managers. Machines registering readings consistently in excess of this limit will be brought to the attention of the officials for action to be taken as follows:
Exceeding 95dBA but not exceeding 98dBA: On the first offence during the meeting, the rider will be warned that this has occurred and instructed to rectify the meeting, the rider will be warned that this has occurred and instructed to rectify the situation. For the second and subsequent infringements, the machine/rider will be Black Flagged from the practice or race without further warning. If circumstances do not allow the machine to be Black Flagged, the competitor will be excluded from the results of that practice or race.
At all Street Circuits machines must operate as per the conditions (if any) listed in the local Councils resource consent for the event. Should these conditions require special procedures and/or testing at the event, then these must be listed in the Supplementary Regulations.
Effective 1st January 2012
For special demonstration races/displays exemptions may be applied for, local council resource consent forms must be attached.

If as Choppa is saying a 6db variation is possible should we be looking at silencing to 90db to account for this variation!?
Its all very well being able to say "my bike passed the noise test this morning so shouldn't have got black flagged this afternoon" but the council noise tester wont give a shit about what passed this morning, he'll pull the pin on the event based on whats in front of him there and then!

I note in the rules it states special demonstration races, could the Nationals be classed as that? then what about club rounds, the classic festival....what are the chances of getting resource consent for the 6 or so events run each year?

Cat in with the pigeons

[Voltaire]

Yeah I was reading another thread & have seen alot of comments on it

So for the uneducated ( Myself ) why is the limit at 95db at HD since there is all of about 2 houses ( that i can see ) off the HD site .
& yeah I could hear the drag strip from where I was down at Metal Man clear as a bell go figure

It was explained at the recent NZCRR events that the noise level was to be across the board built up area or not.They went on to say no point having multiple exhausts for different tracks. They will probably end up with a cert you have to produce for your vehicle.

[CHOPPA]

Thing is that councils take noise from the boundary

[CHOPPA]

From what I have seen, none of the riders have actually said I want a noisy bike. We have all been keen to make the bikes fit the rules.

The problem here is that we cant actually test this ourselves and if it does get tested, one day its good and the next its not.

This is the problem

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

The noise wasnt an issue for the track. The track manager was happy.

We have to run to the MNZ rule book though which states 95db

Yes Hampton Downs were ok with the noise but our rule from our govening body that has give it a number, Pukekohe have a number too as well as other circuits I'm sure and that munber is 95db.

If MNZ raised that number and we were to run at Pukekohe or any other circuits with 95db as the consented noise limit they could loose resource consent to run that or any other motor event. This is what I'm sure the spoilers are trying to achieve that have moved closer to circuits and are banging on council doors.

Simply put if we dont do something about it, you can bet your ass they will.

Only suggestion is to look at in the short term is to silencing the mufflers more, look at how the quick shifter is wired (fuel or ignition circuit) and that will be a bloody good start.

[Morcs]

Seems like the solution is to make complaints to the relevant councils any time another motorsport event is on anywhere, then the issue will spread, more people involved to the point of the entire motorsport contingent of New Zealand, then we may see some action.