How do they test car noise at a track day?
Discussion
Discovered that the engineers where I work have a sound level meter (an RS 232 / datalogger ISO-Tech hand held sound level meter) and I was wandering if I could use it to measure the noise from my Caterham R500? I haven't taken it on the track yet so was wandering how they do it, distance from car, rpm level etc? Being a K-Series R500 it would be nice to know how much it will be over for most track day events.
Thanks,
James.
Thanks,
James.
Depends on the venue but generally they will stick the probe up the end of your exhaust pipe and get you to hold the revs. @ .75 of maximum. Sometimes I have noticed that they hold the probe slightly away from the end of the pipe. Remember, that is a static test, then there is a drive by reading usually taken from 3 or 4 set points around the track. Not all tracks will do both so it will be one or the other.
On a separate note I happened to look at your profile ( prompted by seeing your nick name ) and noticed that you have an Ultima GTR in your fantasy garage. Guess what; I have an Ultima GTW in my real garage! what are the chances of that then 'eh?
If you look in the gallery on page 3 of the Ultima forum you will see pictures of my car posted by my good friend LuckyP.
On a separate note I happened to look at your profile ( prompted by seeing your nick name ) and noticed that you have an Ultima GTR in your fantasy garage. Guess what; I have an Ultima GTW in my real garage! what are the chances of that then 'eh?
If you look in the gallery on page 3 of the Ultima forum you will see pictures of my car posted by my good friend LuckyP.
GTWayne said:
On a separate note I happened to look at your profile ( prompted by seeing your nick name ) and noticed that you have an Ultima GTR in your fantasy garage. Guess what; I have an Ultima GTW in my real garage! what are the chances of that then 'eh?
If you look in the gallery on page 3 of the Ultima forum you will see pictures of my car posted by my good friend LuckyP.
Yes its quite embarrassing really. Been following the Ultima forum for a couple of years now. Seen all your photos, dribbled over LuckP's car at the Factory Open Day, etc. Actually went to see an Ultima for sale, then a couple of months ago had a chance to buy a Caterham R500 on my door step (South France) and went with that, even though I had never spent any length of time researching Caterhams. Just could not get the time off work or make a final decision or save the extra penny for what I wanted in an Ultima. I guess I should change my forum name as a token of respect? Anyway I believe the R500 is actually a good introduction to performance car mechanics and handling 500 break horse power per tonne.If you look in the gallery on page 3 of the Ultima forum you will see pictures of my car posted by my good friend LuckyP.
GTwayne I am interested to here more about the history of your car and your thoughts of Ultima ownership. From reading the Ultima Forum there is a certain degree of mystery surrounding your car and experiences with it.
Thank you all for your comments on sound testing. I'm working on a boat docked on the IYCA Antibes in the Med. If you know the dock at all it makes a good race strip so may have to get my engineers to do a sound test as I drive down the port.
^^^ Don't sweat it Jim, anything that has the letters Ult anywhere near it is cool 
The Caterham and the Ultima could not be more different Jim. I once owned a Birkin ( a South African Caterham the same in every respect bar the rear axle ) but did not get on with it at all. The Caterham is like an adults go cart and really does make sense on many levels; it is light and therefor handles very well + is very considerate on brakes, tyres etc. as a result. The model you have there Jim is better than most for straight line speed but for me I just found the car to be too small and toy like.
The GTW fits the bill exactly; 650bhp + 1060kg + many modifications that make it unique = just what the doctor ordered
For me the remit was simple; I would love to have a real racing car ?( GT type ) but it is simply not possible. I do not have enough money, I would never be able to use it as it was meant to be used and in short, it ain't going to happen. O.K. then, what can I do instead? the Ultima GTW, VOILA!
Don't get me wrong here Jim, I am not putting your Caterham down, oh no, a very capable car all be it a very focused car too. I think that if you can get on with the Caterham then it will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for you not to mention the education you are likely to get along the way.
The GTW has been fraught with problems from day one, the price of going out on a limb I guess. The original plan was to build a simple low budget car myself but I was running two businesses at the time and the chassis lay untouched on my garage floor for more than a year before I made the decision to have the car built for me or face the prospect of it never being built at all. I was very lucky in the respect that the man I had build the car for me was hugely capable in every area but cursed a little in the fact that he was innovative and keen and combined with my obsession to have everything and anything available at the time incorporated into the build of the GTW, an over complicated and complex creation came to be. The fella that built the car has since emigrated to Canada and any problems that occur are made all the more difficult to trace and rectify due to his absence.
The car is due to do it's first TD @ Goodwood on 24.7.09 and I am of course hugely excited by the prospect. It has been a long 2.5 years since the GTW first turned a wheel under it's own steam with a mere 500 odd miles covered to date but my time is coming, you mark my words.
And lastly Jim, you make sure you get to drive down that port, noise test or not
The Caterham and the Ultima could not be more different Jim. I once owned a Birkin ( a South African Caterham the same in every respect bar the rear axle ) but did not get on with it at all. The Caterham is like an adults go cart and really does make sense on many levels; it is light and therefor handles very well + is very considerate on brakes, tyres etc. as a result. The model you have there Jim is better than most for straight line speed but for me I just found the car to be too small and toy like.
The GTW fits the bill exactly; 650bhp + 1060kg + many modifications that make it unique = just what the doctor ordered
For me the remit was simple; I would love to have a real racing car ?( GT type ) but it is simply not possible. I do not have enough money, I would never be able to use it as it was meant to be used and in short, it ain't going to happen. O.K. then, what can I do instead? the Ultima GTW, VOILA!
Don't get me wrong here Jim, I am not putting your Caterham down, oh no, a very capable car all be it a very focused car too. I think that if you can get on with the Caterham then it will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for you not to mention the education you are likely to get along the way.
The GTW has been fraught with problems from day one, the price of going out on a limb I guess. The original plan was to build a simple low budget car myself but I was running two businesses at the time and the chassis lay untouched on my garage floor for more than a year before I made the decision to have the car built for me or face the prospect of it never being built at all. I was very lucky in the respect that the man I had build the car for me was hugely capable in every area but cursed a little in the fact that he was innovative and keen and combined with my obsession to have everything and anything available at the time incorporated into the build of the GTW, an over complicated and complex creation came to be. The fella that built the car has since emigrated to Canada and any problems that occur are made all the more difficult to trace and rectify due to his absence.
The car is due to do it's first TD @ Goodwood on 24.7.09 and I am of course hugely excited by the prospect. It has been a long 2.5 years since the GTW first turned a wheel under it's own steam with a mere 500 odd miles covered to date but my time is coming, you mark my words.
And lastly Jim, you make sure you get to drive down that port, noise test or not
Cheers GTWayne for filling me in with your Ultima History. I agree with the adult go-kart description of the Caterham which works well on the Alpine roads north of the coast here. All my inspiration for owning a performance car has come from reading the Ultima Forum and have much appreciated all the contributions made by all the Ultima Owners. I will wait a little longer for funds before indulging in participating in the complete Ultima experience, plus trying to make a decision on the power plant and upgraded spec which will make the car work for me.
Caterham R500 K-series noise levels pending.
Caterham R500 K-series noise levels pending.
If I could just add that our experience is the same as Munter. The probe is held a metre away from the tailpipe at (about) 45 degrees. Then you are asked what the red line is and the tester tells you what he wants the engine running at. 3/4 of that red line is normal.
I have known cars fail the test if not correctly warmed up first though. Notably a COuntach at Goodwood a couple of years ago. Passed when warm. Mind you, there's a lot of things to rattle in that engine if it's not warm!
The advantage is that he is normally testing alone so can't see your rev counter. In our Radical we try and be a little conservative on the revs if we can get away with it just to make sure. Spent too many hours playing with exhausts, mostly at Castle Coombe, which has a sensitive drive by test at the entrance to the pits. Don't bother going there any more as they are absolutley rigid!
On the other hand, at the Le Mans Bugatti days at the end of May they didn't test at all, although it said it was a 105 db session. We swapped to the straight through which is much better, but noisier. Mind you there was a BMW batmobile from (I think) Belguim running short open pipes. Fabulous to share a track with something like that.
I have known cars fail the test if not correctly warmed up first though. Notably a COuntach at Goodwood a couple of years ago. Passed when warm. Mind you, there's a lot of things to rattle in that engine if it's not warm!
The advantage is that he is normally testing alone so can't see your rev counter. In our Radical we try and be a little conservative on the revs if we can get away with it just to make sure. Spent too many hours playing with exhausts, mostly at Castle Coombe, which has a sensitive drive by test at the entrance to the pits. Don't bother going there any more as they are absolutley rigid!
On the other hand, at the Le Mans Bugatti days at the end of May they didn't test at all, although it said it was a 105 db session. We swapped to the straight through which is much better, but noisier. Mind you there was a BMW batmobile from (I think) Belguim running short open pipes. Fabulous to share a track with something like that.
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