Bedford Autodrome Saturday 18 October

[SFV]

washy said:

Hi guys - sadly I got chucked off after only a handful of laps for being to loud!!

Sorry to hear that. I (think?) saw you getting black flagged and coming into the pits for a word with the marshalls - I figured it must be noise. Cerbera's aren't exactly quiet after all! Real shame though - lovely car. Purple with gold wheels?

I went out with my mate as a passenger in his red Ferrari 355 Spider on the very first laps of the day - did two warm up laps until oil temperature had reached safe level, then he floored it a bit on third lap - we had black flags within 1 minute. As we were going round on the in lap, knowing it was probably for noise, we noticed they have noise meters all over the track. It's not in only one place as in some other tracks. So difficult to get away with. He also did no more laps that day

Bedford seem to be a very sensitive track for noise levels, I've certainly heard many other strong complaints about the apparent difference between static and drive by noise tests (where a fair few people seem to fail). Goodwood is another track that is very sensitive, although I've heard that 105db is now okay there if there is maximum of 5 cars on track at any one time. There's nothing like open pit lane though!

Euan

[zumbruk]

SFV said:

Bedford seem to be a very sensitive track for noise levels,

I have no idea why - it's in the middle of nowhere. I live within sight of the control tower of the former Thurleigh Airfield and I've never heard a thing, ever. At one time TNT Skypak were talking about buying the airfield as an operation centre, and they were licensed for some enormous number of aircraft movements a year (30,000? I forget). It was certainly a great deal noisier when it was the DERA Research airfield, especially given that they seemed to think that CAA Rule 5 (the one that forbids low flying) didn't apply. Finally, when the wind's in the right direction, I can hear the drag racing at Santa Pod ...