the bb trackday thread.

[George29]

stew-S160 said:

Here's the kicker...the noise test was done by the TDO...BY EAR. Didn't use a meter. Just revved mine and other bikes up in the pit lane and told us to bugger off, we're not allowed on track. Heck, even some like mine, just looked at the exhaust for a baffle, if one wasn't fitted, they said go away.

It was the TDO for sure doing this. The guy who gave the morning briefing, was in the TDO stand during the day, wore all the company gear...

I was there on Monday and he did clearly state in the briefing that on a quiet day it's road cans or a baffle only, and the only noise testing is done on drive by - which is done by the circuit and linked to the council.

I agree it's a bit of a stupid rule but I can fully understand why it's in place, as otherwise there would be all sorts of tts rocking up and going out with ridiculously loud exhausts going out to see if it's acceptable and breaking the noise limits, causing the circuit to get in trouble with the council.

Also I agree that it's ridiculous that the track day was stopped on the first session because of oil not cleaned up from the weekend - again though that has to be the circuits responsibility

[Gavia]

George29 said:

stew-S160 said:

Here's the kicker...the noise test was done by the TDO...BY EAR. Didn't use a meter. Just revved mine and other bikes up in the pit lane and told us to bugger off, we're not allowed on track. Heck, even some like mine, just looked at the exhaust for a baffle, if one wasn't fitted, they said go away.

It was the TDO for sure doing this. The guy who gave the morning briefing, was in the TDO stand during the day, wore all the company gear...

I was there on Monday and he did clearly state in the briefing that on a quiet day it's road cans or a baffle only, and the only noise testing is done on drive by - which is done by the circuit and linked to the council.

I agree it's a bit of a stupid rule but I can fully understand why it's in place, as otherwise there would be all sorts of tts rocking up and going out with ridiculously loud exhausts going out to see if it's acceptable and breaking the noise limits, causing the circuit to get in trouble with the council.

Also I agree that it's ridiculous that the track day was stopped on the first session because of oil not cleaned up from the weekend - again though that has to be the circuits responsibility

Well that puts a different slant on things.

[stew-S160]

Gavia said:

George29 said:

stew-S160 said:

Here's the kicker...the noise test was done by the TDO...BY EAR. Didn't use a meter. Just revved mine and other bikes up in the pit lane and told us to bugger off, we're not allowed on track. Heck, even some like mine, just looked at the exhaust for a baffle, if one wasn't fitted, they said go away.

It was the TDO for sure doing this. The guy who gave the morning briefing, was in the TDO stand during the day, wore all the company gear...

I was there on Monday and he did clearly state in the briefing that on a quiet day it's road cans or a baffle only, and the only noise testing is done on drive by - which is done by the circuit and linked to the council.

I agree it's a bit of a stupid rule but I can fully understand why it's in place, as otherwise there would be all sorts of tts rocking up and going out with ridiculously loud exhausts going out to see if it's acceptable and breaking the noise limits, causing the circuit to get in trouble with the council.

Also I agree that it's ridiculous that the track day was stopped on the first session because of oil not cleaned up from the weekend - again though that has to be the circuits responsibility

Well that puts a different slant on things.

Indeed, it was covered in the briefing, but I ran without a baffle all day, except the last session when I wasn't allowed. They were not noise testing properly.

I completely understand why there are noise limits rule. But an older bike, pretty quiet system on it...

I did mention that mess on the track from the weekends racing.

[George29]

stew-S160 said:

Indeed, it was covered in the briefing, but I ran without a baffle all day, except the last session when I wasn't allowed. They were not noise testing properly.

I completely understand why there are noise limits rule. But an older bike, pretty quiet system on it...

I did mention that mess on the track from the weekends racing.

The only people noise testing were the circuit. I agree they should just have a static noise test and check each bike beforehand like at MSV tracks but that's down to Donington. It's no different on a no limits quiet day.

I had to run a baffle in my exhaust even though it would easily pass. They said baffle or road can else you're not going out, so you knew the risks and got away with it for the most of the day. Even though the customer service is usually poor and could be dealt with better I don't think it's the TDO's fault that you weren't allowed out. I really can't understand how that much oil wasn't cleaned up beforehand either.

[moanthebairns]

To not give the rider the chance to put a baffle in or sort out the noise limit breach is utterly st Imo

No limits do it at every track day. It's only if your found to have removed your baffle after testing your sent home.

[George29]

moanthebairns said:

To not give the rider the chance to put a baffle in or sort out the noise limit breach is utterly st Imo

No limits do it at every track day. It's only if your found to have removed your baffle after testing your sent home.

Can't comment on that as I never saw it. I saw plenty of people get black flagged and go back out in another session though.. To be honest I take most things said about all track day organisers with a pinch of salt. There's 2 sides to every story and only one of them gets put on forums.

[2ono]

I'm doing my first track day, ever, at Silverstone on the 27th of September, this is a Focused Events day. I have a V4 Tuono with a Austin Racing GP1 can, can anyone tell me if this will be allowed, I'm going to take the standard exhaust with me just in case, it only takes 5 mins to change, but if I know it will get flagged I will just change it before I go.

Also any tips for a track day virgin?

[hebegb]

How many years of painfully hearing the same old cretinous nonsense regurgitated time after time after time with the sadly erroneous and misguided contentions that TDOs have a bearing on noise testing at trackdays must we be subjected to ?
It really is unbelievable that even some supposedly "experienced" and one would thus expect knowledgeable, give a moment's notice to the somewhat unaware " newbie" prattling on about the nasty TDOs and their noise testing stances....
The Circuits set the noise test limits - they vary , day to day as ,in line with local council noise limit allowances only so many noisy days , less noisy , quiet etc are allowed.
The Circuits police the noise limits , the TDOs are told as and when a breach has taken place and ,usually, if repeated, baffles taken out after tested with, etc etc - then they are forced to show somebody the door for these breaches.
MSV make it very obvious , static tests (plus selected drive by variable points) ,it is them and them alone who have any control , less obvious at Donington ( a private business) which do not do static but enforce rigorously. their own drive by limits.
Castle Combe- most know not to bother if you are anything other than v. quiet.but they , not any TDO , enforce the noise limits.

Is this simple enough for those but the most cerebrally challenged to comprehend ?

[Fleegle]

You're sounding like your old mate by the day

[Pebbles167]

I think his issue was more with the attitude of the TDO. I doubt Donnington said to them, "you will send noisy people home, and you WILL be rude and hostile about it".

I'd have been annoyed too. I'd have probably kicked up a fuss in fact, and i doubt I'd be alone. It annoys me that TDO staff often behave like everyone is in the military.

It's something that can be avoided if manners are used, and an explanation given.

[fergus]

Pebbles167 said:

I think his issue was more with the attitude of the TDO. I doubt Donnington said to them, "you will send noisy people home, and you WILL be rude and hostile about it".

I'd have been annoyed too. I'd have probably kicked up a fuss in fact, and i doubt I'd be alone. It annoys me that TDO staff often behave like everyone is in the military.

It's something that can be avoided if manners are used, and an explanation given.

Indeed. This is something that focused do very well (the rude bit)

Graham - you need to take an alka selzer

[hebegb]

fergus said:

Pebbles167 said:

I think his issue was more with the attitude of the TDO. I doubt Donnington said to them, "you will send noisy people home, and you WILL be rude and hostile about it".

I'd have been annoyed too. I'd have probably kicked up a fuss in fact, and i doubt I'd be alone. It annoys me that TDO staff often behave like everyone is in the military.

It's something that can be avoided if manners are used, and an explanation given.

Indeed. This is something that focused do very well (the rude bit)

Graham - you need to take an alka selzer

Haha - Alka Seltzer , to be precise , its more incredulity than ire, I just need to avoid reading the musings of tosspots and whingeing dreamers, but I guess, once again, I'm just stating the obvious..

[graeme4130]

hebegb said:

How many years of painfully hearing the same old cretinous nonsense regurgitated time after time after time with the sadly erroneous and misguided contentions that TDOs have a bearing on noise testing at trackdays must we be subjected to ?
It really is unbelievable that even some supposedly "experienced" and one would thus expect knowledgeable, give a moment's notice to the somewhat unaware " newbie" prattling on about the nasty TDOs and their noise testing stances....
The Circuits set the noise test limits - they vary , day to day as ,in line with local council noise limit allowances only so many noisy days , less noisy , quiet etc are allowed.
The Circuits police the noise limits , the TDOs are told as and when a breach has taken place and ,usually, if repeated, baffles taken out after tested with, etc etc - then they are forced to show somebody the door for these breaches.
MSV make it very obvious , static tests (plus selected drive by variable points) ,it is them and them alone who have any control , less obvious at Donington ( a private business) which do not do static but enforce rigorously. their own drive by limits.
Castle Combe- most know not to bother if you are anything other than v. quiet.but they , not any TDO , enforce the noise limits.

Is this simple enough for those but the most cerebrally challenged to comprehend ?

I've been on the 98DB days at Donnington with NL, and it was the circuit guys that flag up people triggering the drive by meters. However, the circuit guys would give the rider a black flag (they control the trackside marshals) and the NL guy would then meet the rider back in the pits with the circuit steward, who'd then both explain why and ask if you can either fit a baffle, find another way of making your bike quieter, or not ride again if you can't/won't
The circuit guys were very helpful, and in no way hostile about it, and it was more of a yellow card than a straight red
If the FE guys are doing static testing by ear, then that's bloody odd, as human perception of sounds can be way different to what a sound meter would pick up purely by pitch. A Panigale for example, is generally bloody loud if you're stood next to it, but as the sounds level is more bass than treble, the sound meter will read lower as the higher the pitch, the further than sound travels, and drive by is normally at a reasonable distance
That was much earlier this year, so it's possible that the circuit policies have changed, but it seems as soon as FE are involved in anything, all I ever read about is hostility and angriness and generally cr@p customer service
I'd be well annoyed it someone listed to my bike by ear and sent me home

[graeme4130]

Also, Ironically, as the briefing went into the talk of sound testing, it had to be stopped for a minute as there was a jet taking off from East Midlands airport above them
Even the NL guy thought it was perfectly timed

[hebegb]

Perfectly timed.....
now there's irony for ya !

[Prof Prolapse]

Frankly I'm baffled.

[hebegb]

Prof Prolapse said:

Frankly I'm baffled.

I'm exhausted.
I thank you .

[graeme4130]

Stopping gassing hot air

[Gavia]

stew-S160 said:

Gavia said:

George29 said:

stew-S160 said:

Here's the kicker...the noise test was done by the TDO...BY EAR. Didn't use a meter. Just revved mine and other bikes up in the pit lane and told us to bugger off, we're not allowed on track. Heck, even some like mine, just looked at the exhaust for a baffle, if one wasn't fitted, they said go away.

It was the TDO for sure doing this. The guy who gave the morning briefing, was in the TDO stand during the day, wore all the company gear...

I was there on Monday and he did clearly state in the briefing that on a quiet day it's road cans or a baffle only, and the only noise testing is done on drive by - which is done by the circuit and linked to the council.

I agree it's a bit of a stupid rule but I can fully understand why it's in place, as otherwise there would be all sorts of tts rocking up and going out with ridiculously loud exhausts going out to see if it's acceptable and breaking the noise limits, causing the circuit to get in trouble with the council.

Also I agree that it's ridiculous that the track day was stopped on the first session because of oil not cleaned up from the weekend - again though that has to be the circuits responsibility

Well that puts a different slant on things.

Indeed, it was covered in the briefing, but I ran without a baffle all day, except the last session when I wasn't allowed. They were not noise testing properly.

I completely understand why there are noise limits rule. But an older bike, pretty quiet system on it...

I did mention that mess on the track from the weekends racing.

The trackday company told you road can or baffle and you had neither. Unsurprisingly the track took issue with that. I'm not sure I see the problem though. The track owners makes the rules, the track day company was very clear on those rules with you and then you and many others it seems chose to break them and then get huffy about it.

[Fleegle]

But waited until the last session to say something???