Bedford + 996 GT3 RS = noise?

[PetrolTed]

Anyone seen a 996 GT3RS at Bedford recently?

I've done it in the past but think I may have been fortunate on the noise test. Is it worth me gambling a trip there?

[TuxMan]

Hi Ted , yep I'm wondering about the Noble too , would love to go to Bedford but I'm worried too about paying up for a track day then getting chucked off on the first lap !!!

[fat80b]

I believe they will give you a noise test beforehand if you want if you give them a ring and arrange it for a day when they are open.

Then you can turn up and see how close to the limit you are before buying a day.


I understand that they are pretty strict on the drive by though and if you trip it you are off even if you pass the static one.

Bob

[PetrolTed]

Trouble is I live in Gloucestershire.

As I said, I've been there before with other 996RSs a few years back and the level was 101 then so I'm curious as to how I got away with it really, as usually it tests at about 102ish.

Just wondered if anyone had seen any similar cars there in recent times.

[Output Flange]

Have you got anywhere near you that you can get a test done? Most tracks will do it if you pre-arrange.

Over 101dB static and they won't let you on. Trigger the drive-by mics and they have a one-strike-and-you're-out policy.

Have you looked at the silencers that bolts on? Bedford is, IIRC, one of the more generous circuits for noise limits, so if you struggle there...

[PetrolTed]

I'm really after anecdotal evidence of similar cars being allowed on in recent times.

My car is borderline 101/2 depending where the stick is poked, which way the wind is blowing and how much slack they cut you on static vs drive-by.

If someone's seen one on track recently then I'll take a punt on going again.

[Output Flange]

I was there on the 1st Dec, and they were telling all the Porsche drivers to leave their PSE switched off, so from that alone I don't think you'd get on.

[Lorientfo]

I can tell you that we've had 4 Porsche 996's on our days at Bedford in the past couple of years with only one being noted as a GT3 but they did take part in the track day as there are photos of them on track. Now I can't say if the drivers had to fit silencers or if the individual got flagged for noise at any point but I can say for certain that it is possible to take part on the day but you might have to tone all the car settings down and not drive it to it's full potential.

If you're worried about being slightly over on the static test but fine for the driveby then it might be worth giving Bedford a call but it is a one strike only deal if you trip the meters.

[keep it lit]

I've Done Bedford in my 6gt3 (standard exhaust) this summer with no problems, there were also two 6rs's on track.

I'm there tomorrow again in a couple of 6gt3's.. will let you know if we get any or here of any noise issues..

ade

[PetrolTed]

Fab - just what I wanted to hear.

Thanks!

[Ej74]

GT3 and GT3 RS on a Bedford trackday in the summer they were running all day with no black flags

[PetrolTed]

[Far Cough]

I can add some experience of Bedford. Been there twice with a couple of mates , one had a 997 RS and the other a normal GT3. Both passed the static test but had to lift off when driving past the beacon thus disrupting the flow of a lap.

I wanted to take my car there and popped into Snetterton and managed 102db static. He then tried it with the clutch held in to prevent any extra noise and it lost 1db.

I gave up thinking about Bedford as it was too far for me to drive knowing my exhaust was sooo close on the limit and then having to keep an eye out for the beacons and lift off. Coupled with the fact that they kept saying that if you are too noisy and get black flagged , tough st basically !

Best thing is get to a circuit and get your car noise tested and then make an informed decision.

[jackwood]

I was there earlier this year in my 996 GT3.
In fact there were 2 of us ther in 996 GT3's.
We both failed the static noise test at 109db!,
But both were given the option to try the track and see if we passed the drive by.
We were both there all day with no issues at all. GT3's just seem to be inherently noisy on the static, but not too bad at allow drive by.
We were also fine at Ronny last month which now has a VERY strict drive by limit.

Back at Bedford tomorrow though with keep it lit. Will let you know how we go.

Jack

[A D C]

I had a 996.1GT3 with Manthey exhaust and now have a 997.2GT3RS and have been to Bedford several times without being chucked off.

The 996 got progressively louder over time and they warned me I probably wouldn't get on again so we cut the back boxes open and found practically all the packing had disappeared. I repeat this now only as an example that its worth keeping an eye on whether levels increase as time goes by.

More importantly, my experience is that 911s tend to get much closer to the static limit than the drive-by tests and although they've told me I was borderline a couple of times on static in both cars I've never triggered a drive-by sensor.

I do know that its harder to pass on cold crisp mornings and windy days.

So, if it were me I'd give it a go but make sure the weather forecast was warmish or dampish to give yourself the best chance . . . . But that's obviously just my view.

Hope that helps.

[jackwood]

Update from Saturday 15th Dec:

So, on the staph. With the clutch dipped in and 5000rpm I was fractionally over at 101.2db but they let me on and told me to try and keep out of a gaggle of cars.

I ran all afternoon right up until 5 minutes before the end of the day, when I got black flagged.

Now they said I was black flagged for drive by noise, but I think they were just being polite and asking me to leave for drifting, which I had already had a warning about. Oops.

Here's the clip of the last session where I was black flagged:
http://youtu.be/24h-yoBeDIg

[shaunsmith]

TuxMan said:

Hi Ted , yep I'm wondering about the Noble too , would love to go to Bedford but I'm worried too about paying up for a track day then getting chucked off on the first lap !!!

I'd deffo get chucked off first lap as exhaust getting louder than Concorde on reverse thrust...
Gonna get exhaust sorted same as Sumo's in new year, then hopefully have a go at the 'How fast' challenge later in the year.

Selwyn

[mrdemon]

It's all about cats imo

My gt3 is very quite, most tracked ones have blown the cats.

No way a working car with working cats would post 109 DB
In fact I have never seen any car post 109

[jackwood]

Well yesterday it posted 101db static at the same venue. Just shows what a farce static testing is. In my opinion drive by is all that should count.

Your car is amazing mrdemon. It must be the most unde-used GT3 in the country. What a pity.

My cats are definitely on the way out. It had a logged fault code the other day from the O2 sensors. A sure fire sign they are breaking down.

[Olivera]

jackwood said:

Update from Saturday 15th Dec:

So, on the staph. With the clutch dipped in and 5000rpm I was fractionally over at 101.2db but they let me on and told me to try and keep out of a gaggle of cars.

I ran all afternoon right up until 5 minutes before the end of the day, when I got black flagged.

Now they said I was black flagged for drive by noise, but I think they were just being polite and asking me to leave for drifting, which I had already had a warning about. Oops.

Here's the clip of the last session where I was black flagged:
http://youtu.be/24h-yoBeDIg

Can't see how you would have been black flagged for 'drifting', as you only went sideways a few times. Having said that it does amaze me how petty some tracks can be when it comes to things like oversteer, tyre screetching etc.