R400 track day noise probs.

R400 track day noise probs.

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Discussion

bertie

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

285 months

Tuesday 29th March 2005
quotequote all
I was at a track day at Donnington briefly yesterday until I got chucked off for noise problems on lap 2.
The circuit limit is 98dB and my totaly standard R400 with the standard exhaust and cat on was measures at 102dB!!

It needs sorting, what's the point of having a Caterham you can't go on track days with!

I have spoken to Caterham and they suggest a large silencer and short collector @ £550 and a carbon airbox and scoop at £850, both plus VAT.

So that's £1645 all in!!!!!

So back in the real world I'm looking for suggestions.
I think I'd already decided that Raceco is the way to go on the silencer but what about the induction side?

Any suggestions gratefully recieved.

jeremyc

23,512 posts

285 months

Tuesday 29th March 2005
quotequote all
I've got the largest Raceco possible on my SLR and I'm just about OK at Donington - sometimes I have to short-shift past the noise meter at the start of the straight.

The R400 may have slightly greater induction noise than my SLR - have you got a cut-out on the bonnet? If so, then I'm afraid some kind of airbox seems to be the only alternative.

bertie

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

285 months

Tuesday 29th March 2005
quotequote all
Hi, I too used to short shift at the start of the straight, but the problem at Donnington is that now they have 3 noise meters round the circuit and they are linked to the local council.

The limit is 98dB drive by too so the induction is barking, no bonnet cutout on mine but I reckon the induction is still louder than the exhaust.

You'd reccomend Raceco then?
What size is yours (ooh err missus!)

jeremyc

23,512 posts

285 months

Tuesday 29th March 2005
quotequote all
bertie said:
You'd reccomend Raceco then?
What size is yours (ooh err missus!)
I've managed to get on at all circuits I've tried since fitting it, including Goodwood and Castle Combe. It is also repackable, so if it does start to get a bit louder I simply stuff more packing in it.

I have the 7.25" diameter jobbie - the largest they make I think.

granville

18,764 posts

262 months

Tuesday 29th March 2005
quotequote all
Outrageous piffle; this is one of the reasons why I use sheep for chicanery.

Then again, remember Tomalin's wise words: "it fairly tears the air apart:" the decatalysed option seems increasingly redundant.

I don't remember your SLR's noise, Jeremy, being too preoccupied with basic Newtonian physics at the time!

bertie

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

285 months

Tuesday 29th March 2005
quotequote all
I have the cat bypass pipe also, that's how I started the day and was measured at 103.9dB.

Re-fitting the cat toned it down to 101.9dB but it's the induction that does for it I'm sure.

rubystone

11,254 posts

260 months

Tuesday 29th March 2005
quotequote all
98 dbs at Donington...just time your laps to coincide with a 747 landing at the East Midlands Airport. Seriously though, I'm told the Raceco on my VX HPC knocks it down below 98 db - not sure about the induction noise from the carbs though....

1st_petrolhead

1,430 posts

239 months

Wednesday 30th March 2005
quotequote all
Has anyone thought of getting a intermediate exhaust made same shape as the cat?

bertie

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

285 months

Wednesday 30th March 2005
quotequote all
Yes, a couple of race teams had them but the cat does include the 4 into 1 collector so it's not so simple, and they do look a bugger!

But it's an option for track days I agree.

On my R400 though at full chat the induction is louder than the exhaust so that need dealing with.

dannylt

1,906 posts

285 months

Wednesday 6th April 2005
quotequote all
Now that I have the massive RaceCo, the induction is deafening! When you drive past a wall for the first time with the throttle opening it's quite a shock. Anything with open panel filters will need an airbox.

UFO 2 NOB

4,481 posts

250 months

Saturday 14th May 2005
quotequote all
This country is so full of bollox and needs sorting.We are run by Europe and do all they say at a wimper.So why on earth can you go to places like Spa and run at 120dbs.Whats the bloody difference between 98 and 108 other than 10dbs.For god sake,after all it is a race track and your not exactly flying 10 feet above someones bloody roof.Also whats the difference between weekend decibels and weekday.It seems that higher db limits are available in the week,that would indicate to me that days of the week now have ears,piffal!Well got that off me chest.

murph7355

37,760 posts

257 months

Sunday 15th May 2005
quotequote all
What ruy didn't tell you is that his silencer actually came OFF a 747.

Induction's probably your enemy if you're at full chat.

Have a word with Oilyhands - I believe he either makes, or knows someone who makes, fibreglass airboxes.

The Caterham airbox is both expensive (very) and not free of problems in itself.

It makes my blood boil to see noise limits on tracks like this. People moving near to race circuits know that the circuits are there. If they don't like cars, move somewhere else.

jeremyc

23,512 posts

285 months

Monday 16th May 2005
quotequote all
Just a quick update: my SLR with Raceco was measured as 91.7dB @ 4,500rpm by the nice men at Castle Combe last week.

Obviously this doesn't help you gauge the driveby levels (with induction contributing significantly), but my car was a lot quieter than many there.

dannylt

1,906 posts

285 months

Monday 16th May 2005
quotequote all
I think Oily uses the Bernard Scouse airbox. Bernard is too busy fitting VAG 1.8T engines into everything to make any more these days!

mechsympathy

52,830 posts

256 months

Monday 16th May 2005
quotequote all
jeremyc said:
Just a quick update: my SLR with Raceco was measured as 91.7dB @ 4,500rpm by the nice men at Castle Combe last week.


That's bloody quiet. It must be like driving an electric kart

MSSILLE

40 posts

283 months

Tuesday 17th May 2005
quotequote all
On a related subject how often or after how many trackdays should you repack a Raceco silencer?

jeremyc

23,512 posts

285 months

Tuesday 17th May 2005
quotequote all
mechsympathy said:
jeremyc said:
Just a quick update: my SLR with Raceco was measured as 91.7dB @ 4,500rpm by the nice men at Castle Combe last week.
That's bloody quiet. It must be like driving an electric kart
Thank goodness the noise test doesn't measure the overrun from 7,500rpm.

jeremyc

23,512 posts

285 months

Tuesday 17th May 2005
quotequote all
MSSILLE said:
On a related subject how often or after how many trackdays should you repack a Raceco silencer?
The advice I was given was to repack (or redistibute the existing packing) when you start to see discolouration of the outer cylinder. This generally shows when there isn't much packing to stop the hot exhaust gases.

Or do it when you think it sounds louder: it doesn't take very long to pop one of the ends off and check it.