GT3 noise at Donington
Discussion
gtdc said:
In my experience - no. Unless you are very novice.
Exactly this. As of last year a 997 GT3 can no longer survive the circuit noise requirements (under the East Midlands airport runway corridor 
) without using the vacuum cap trick.[If you don't know what that is then do a search and it should show up. It involves putting a 6mm vacuum cap on the valve for the exhaust bypass. The effect is that at high RPM you continue to use all 3 silencers rather than the side boxes being switched out. It chokes the top end of the power band noticeably, but it will get you out there at almost all venues - so long as you aren't dreaming of Thruxton it ought to do the job for you].
eta : just a thought for Melindi - it might be worth you carrying a small supply of these for any customers that trip the meters. Less than a quid each and might well be the difference between a happy customer and having to send someone home? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150975713708?ssPageName=...
I always carry spares in the car now and have helped out a few people with this problem now. Note that it also satisfies the 'physical modification not alterable from within the car' criteria that some TDOs have to meet to let you back out after a noise fail and the before and after effect on the noise is readily demonstrable too.
Edited by DiscoColin on Monday 18th February 19:01
Olivera said:
Book on an unsilenced track-day or test-day?
The dates are comparatively rare for those, there is often a price premium and you will typically be sharing the circuit with more mentally fast racing machinery than usual if you opt for it - but if it works for you it is another easy solution. DiscoColin said:
Olivera said:
Book on an unsilenced track-day or test-day?
The dates are comparatively rare for those, there is often a price premium and you will typically be sharing the circuit with more mentally fast racing machinery than usual if you opt for it - but if it works for you it is another easy solution. Olivera said:
DiscoColin said:
Olivera said:
Book on an unsilenced track-day or test-day?
The dates are comparatively rare for those, there is often a price premium and you will typically be sharing the circuit with more mentally fast racing machinery than usual if you opt for it - but if it works for you it is another easy solution. Gonzo0 said:
BusaMK said:
g40steve said:
That only works for the first sound meter the 2 nd one is what catches people out 
Where is the second one? Further along the pitwall?Too many have no real idea of how loud their cars are.
I have had to have a new back box designed, as at present nothing available for my model.
The cumulative noise from several cars in one area can also pose an issue.
Think this was covered last year.
Can only see this getting stricter & more being sent home.
I have had to have a new back box designed, as at present nothing available for my model.
The cumulative noise from several cars in one area can also pose an issue.
Think this was covered last year.
Can only see this getting stricter & more being sent home.
Noise is a subjective thing and Donnington seem to interpret the readings they get on their equipment as they want and possibly to be able to show in some form that they are being proactive in policing the levels to the local residents.
Not only will wind direction and pitch make a massive difference but also two or more cars passing the meter at the same time will also affect readings. In this instance who gets the black flag if two identical cars pass the meter at the same time. Is the total noise generated divided by two due to the number of cars - answer no.
I attended Donny early last year in a bog stock GT3 with few miles on it. Black flagged within the first couple of sessions. Made sure sport button was off and carried on. Black flagged again and was told that I had been too close to another GT3 which also had its sport button off. I then had to drive round paying more attention to what cars were near me than driving the lap and enjoying myself.
I was not alone in being black flagged and wondered due to it being the start of the season they were being more proactive then ever. This was further backed up by the fact that later in the year a porsche day was organised with the same noise restriction in place as my day. Strangely noone got black flagged . Now I cannot believe that several cars didnt pass the meter at the same time on that day where 99% of the cars were GT3`s etc. Perhaps Donnington had already got its quota of Black flags by then who knows ?
There was a nice chap in the paddock who was stuffing wire wool up the black flagged brigades exhaust and using wire to hold it in place. I enquired about the price to which he said " a fiver mate " . Great I though but when I rocked up in the GT3 strangely the price went up to £25. I told him to poke where the sun dont shine and went home vowing never to return unless things change.
Not only will wind direction and pitch make a massive difference but also two or more cars passing the meter at the same time will also affect readings. In this instance who gets the black flag if two identical cars pass the meter at the same time. Is the total noise generated divided by two due to the number of cars - answer no.
I attended Donny early last year in a bog stock GT3 with few miles on it. Black flagged within the first couple of sessions. Made sure sport button was off and carried on. Black flagged again and was told that I had been too close to another GT3 which also had its sport button off. I then had to drive round paying more attention to what cars were near me than driving the lap and enjoying myself.
I was not alone in being black flagged and wondered due to it being the start of the season they were being more proactive then ever. This was further backed up by the fact that later in the year a porsche day was organised with the same noise restriction in place as my day. Strangely noone got black flagged . Now I cannot believe that several cars didnt pass the meter at the same time on that day where 99% of the cars were GT3`s etc. Perhaps Donnington had already got its quota of Black flags by then who knows ?
There was a nice chap in the paddock who was stuffing wire wool up the black flagged brigades exhaust and using wire to hold it in place. I enquired about the price to which he said " a fiver mate " . Great I though but when I rocked up in the GT3 strangely the price went up to £25. I told him to poke where the sun dont shine and went home vowing never to return unless things change.
We have a 'noisy day' at Donington on the 7th of March, we will be monitoring the noise levels of all the cars, building a database of noise levels, static and drive by and letting all drivers know their levels. A 997 is a funny one there, we've had some pass, and some fail, for no apparent reason...
Far Cough said:
...later in the year a porsche day was organised with the same noise restriction in place as my day. Strangely noone got black flagged . Now I cannot believe that several cars didnt pass the meter at the same time on that day where 99% of the cars were GT3`s etc. Perhaps Donnington had already got its quota of Black flags by then who knows ?
I was at the BaT event organised as a Porsche day by the Boxster forum guys last year. There were 5 997 GT3s in attendance and all were using the vacuum cap trick on the exhaust that I mentioned earlier in order to comply with the noise requirements (2 were black flagged early on before fitting them and the others just ran with the valve capped from the onset). If you are referring to a different day, perhaps it was registered as a noisy one?DiscoColin said:
I was at the BaT event organised as a Porsche day by the Boxster forum guys last year. There were 5 997 GT3s in attendance and all were using the vacuum cap trick on the exhaust that I mentioned earlier in order to comply with the noise requirements (2 were black flagged early on before fitting them and the others just ran with the valve capped from the onset). If you are referring to a different day, perhaps it was registered as a noisy one?
There was a different one day very late in the year but interesting re the vacuum cap.Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff