Why are racing cars so loud?

[Eric Mc]

But a disaster as a racing car.

[spectatorsam]

pardon

[alexpez]

didnt that mazda make one of its drivers deaf?

[Exige46]

Decibels are a measure of the amount of sound energy. The energy of the wave is related to both the frequency (or pitch) of the wave, and the amplitude. Our perception of 'loud' is a measure of the amplitude of the wave, but not frequency. So if there are two cars that sound as loud as each other, the one with the highest pitch will have more energy.

Therefore if you are restricting cars to a decibel limit, an engine emitting low frequency and large amplitude sound waves at 105dbs will sound louder than an engine emitting higher frequency and lower amplitude sound waves at 105dbs.

[ahonen]

alexpez said:

didnt that mazda make one of its drivers deaf?

Volker Weidler, I think. He had to retire from motorsport shortly after the win because he suffered an ear problem that was affecting his balance and, as I remember, he put it down to the noise of the 787B Mazda.

So the car that gave him his greatest result in motorsport also ended his career.

Jim Clark suffered from partial deafness due to a race in a Lotus Elite (or Elan or similar) very early in his career. Can't remember the exact details, but I think the routing of the exhaust through the cockpit made it so loud that Clark's ears were permanently damaged.

We all love loud racecars and I've spent many happy years amongst unsilenced sportscars, but sometimes they can be a bit too loud...

[skinny]

they're loud because generally they have looser regulations on emissions and noise limits so you can lose mufflers / cats etc.

f1 cars used to sound better with v10's - the v8's are too quiet! but the pops and bangs on the over-run are a massive part of the sound - and something you never ever hear on tv.

[Andy Mac]

Not so sure about the Audi R10... Sounds pretty damn like a Jet Fighter to me! Love the noise it makes!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChGGWY_CwO0

[D_Mike]

our ears are more sensitive to some frequencies (eg particulary human vocal range) than others, though.

[DBSV8]

frazer guest said:

hows about a V16 BRM, both beautifull and loud, in fact, beautifully loud.

beutifull ....orgasmic ...


http://gpl.krej.cz/mp3/BRM%20-%20full

[DBSV8]

alexpez said:

didnt that mazda make one of its drivers deaf?

hearing protection is reccommended ( industry ) at noise levels above 83dba

any measurement above 90 dba without protection will start to damage your hearing ... depending on exposure times and frequency to these levels ,

i took a measurement of 105 dba from the drivers seat of the lotus at 10,000 rpm head was ringing now wear emtec protectors when out for a spin

[Mannginger]

DBSV8 said:

frazer guest said:

hows about a V16 BRM, both beautifull and loud, in fact, beautifully loud.

beutifull ....orgasmic ...


http://gpl.krej.cz/mp3/BRM%20-%20full

I've never heard that full track - excellent post, many thanks. I've downloaded it, now to find a way to get the in car stuff as my ring tone...!

Phil

[guyh]

Watched the TGP at Monza Last year, was excellent, the noise of the Mclaren Can Am's was just incredible, noise is a huge part in spectator interest.