Noise testing at Cadwell Park

[RP]

This weekend we experienced something that we had not encountered previously. Strict noise testing was carried out at the Beezumph meeting and many of the machines including ours failed. After a bit of bodging with bits of foam rubber etc. my machine passed (only because the rev counter was reading 2K slow) and GP got away with a baked bean tin stuffed with fibreglass, which we did not anticipate having to add as his machine was already equipped with a silencer, as was Derek Plummer's BMW which had five attempts at passing the 105db test. Countless other riders, both solos and sidecars were frantically trying to modify their exhaust systems to pass the testing which was also being continued out on track. Needless to say after the first sidecar run all the burnt foam rubber and fibreglass etc. was strewn all round the circuit which the marshalls were busy trying to remove as the session progressed. A tip off that the noise meter was being used at the top of the mountain resulted in our having to select a higher gear than usual to tackle the hill to avoid possible black flagging so we were relieved when my passenger from last year's Beezumph, Brian Stevens, produced a set of silencers that he had made and were surplus to requirements and these were fitted for the remainder of the meeting, as can be clearly seen here:



I don't know if anyone else has experienced this situation with classic machines at Cadwell, we certainly had not previously, so be warned.

[Triplebrew]

RP, Did you not get the Beezumph booklet? It clearly stated that noise testing would be done and that it was a Cadwell requirement. Yes sadly the tree huggers are winning and at all CRMC meetings we now have to be seen to carry out random noise testing throughout the meeting.
Good couple days wasn't it

[RP]

I think it said that last year and we had no problems. Seems that it has moved up a gear this year. Problem for us is that until we actually get to the venue we have no idea what 105db sounds like. Whilst we were assisting Derek to get his Bee Emm through the noise test he was telling us that when he goes to Spa they actually make him take the silencers off in order to maintain the authenticity of the classic machines. Seems that the classics are better appreciated on the continent so we will probably go to Spa next year albeit a bit more expensive. Yep, apart from the noise test problems it was a good weekend.

[Triplebrew]

RP you are not wrong. Indeed that was the first time we had been noise tested too. And yes they does seem to be quite a bit less of an issue in Europe. However talking with our various marshalling friends it seems that they are beggining to monitor things a bit now. Lets hope that is all they do.

[kev moose]

Its not just classics that have problems with noise tests, we failed the noise limit at Oulton last friday but have passed all previous tests with the same silencer fitted at other circuits.
Speaking to a scrutineer later he said they had lots of problems, possibly due to the location of the noise tests (close to walls or other objects) echoing etc, it would be handy if the tests were consitant, its easy to stay within the limits as long as limits stay the same

[graham p]

There did seem to be some variations in the way the tests were undertaken, on some bikes they seemed to hold the probe parallel to the exhaust but as my exhaust exits from under the sidecar floor, just in front of the sidecar wheel, they placed the probe virtually in the end of the exaust. 109 db failed

[Bob B]

Once again all about rules being made for idiots and the guidance of wise men

I'll get me beret ...

[realroadracer]

On the other hand.........I think we have to accept as a sport that not everybody likes noise. Locally, we have a nuisance from gyrocopters that drone over our village for hours on end at weekends. We also have a drag strip nearby and the noise of these activities is intrusive.
There has to be an element of accepting that others want to do noisy activities but how much should you be able to inconvenience others? I lived here long before the drag racing and gyrocopters started. I am happy for others to enjoy their sport (as I have enjoyed mine) but that doesn't give people the right to unreasonably inconvenience others.
Personally, and this is just my opinion, I don't think it is an imposition to have quieter machines. Also, I wish I had been better educated about the damage that excessive noise can do to your hearing.
The debatable point is: what is reasonable?

[RP]

Geoff, I hear what you say but the subject of this thread is Cadwell Park which is situated in the remote wolds of Lincolnshire and, as far as I am aware, not in earshot of the nearest farm, let alone populated areas.

[Triplebrew]

But RP you are missing the point. The noise limit is 105db for ALL events other than those with exeptional dispensation. It is an issue the CRMC are working hard with the ACU at and now sees the introduction of logged noise testing with the aim of testing all bikes within the year and then starting the process again. Not ideal but if they are seen to be doing something we can hope that the 105db limit will remain and not get lowered further.

[steve-e]

Could you imagine having different noise levels for different circuits? That would be a mare to co-ordinate.. and you'd need a lot of different silencers if you wanted to be as loud as possible
I'm with Geoff, although having been racing at a couple of car meetings years back when we were running to ACU rules and the cars were louder than a very loud thing I think that the noise level needs to be set the same for all disciplines. Can hear the locals now "oh the bikes must be out, it's gone quiet".

[RP]

The noise limit is 105db for ALL events other than those with exeptional dispensation.

And that's my point, I think events which include machines of particular historic interest (not just 'cos we have one) should be exempt because of their originality and authenticity etc. I didn't want to go down this road but I didn't see many of the Trans-Atlantic machines tested which the Americans were riding ( not that I consider they should have been, by the way). You wouldn't expect to go to an air show where they were silencing Spitfires and Hurricanes would you? Or the Goodwood Festival where you couldn't hear the Grand Prix cars? Most of the spectators who we speak to at these events say they come to listen to the sound of the vintage machines. Or am I just an old twat living in the past and should accept all the prohibitive legislation which is changing the British way of life?

[steve-e]

erm.. no no yes and no and a yes just in case, in no particular order.
Get headphones and borrow a CD off Bob of Murray Walker commentating at the TT years back with the bikes going past - They're fantastic
Complicated question RP I agree old bikes sound good but they can sound just as good slightly quieter with the right silencing not 'muffling'. We're not allowed to carry knives or swords any more, should we if they are old? (OK, in South London the rules have changed slightly).
Yours, trying to stay on topic..

[graham p]

It is not just the noise,I agree that they still sound good slightly quieter,but it is the look and classic styling that is altered,Manx Nortons and the like look wrong with alloy mufflers stuck on the end of megaphones .

[RP]

I suppose it all comes down to money in the end. I know we have embraced this subject before, where people have bought houses next to speedway tracks at advantageous prices because of this, then tried to get the speedway closed down so the houses appreciate in value. There was a case a couple of years ago where a landowner received a million pounds in compensation because Harrier jets from nearby Wittering were overflying his property (as they had done for yonks) but because the estate had been owned by his family for several generations they awarded him the compensation which the MOD had to pay. (Don't tell the people who live at Windsor Castle under the Heathrow flight path!) Actually, thinking about it, my brother lives near Wittering. Sometimes the planes are so loud we cannot hear the BSA's revving up! Maybe we have a case.....