Allowable db Sound Levels for Vic Race Tracks

[GV260]

With my rebuild 99% complete I'm getting ready to take it to the track but I'm hesitant with the possible breach of the noise levels. Can someone please clarify what the maximum allowed reading is and confirm that now you don't even get a warning, rather you're stopped from doing anymore laps and the fine in sent in the mail? What is the cost of the fine?

 

Can anyone tell me of the specifics as to how the EPA measurement is done? I'm thinking of buying a db sound level meter which retail for between A$40 - $A110. If I know the measurement parameters then I can buy the correct meter to measure the sound accurately. Might be handy for others on track day by doing a drive-by measure off the track before doing race laps.

[Zedman240®]

From what I've been told, its 75db at 30 meters? Usually the sound guy is at the edge of the track measuring so it sounds about right.

[PZG302]

To make sure, contact the tracks themselves as they probably vary due to events and times.

 

Up here in Qld we have a CAMS licenced track, Morgan Park - sound level 95dB at 30m driveby

 

And the 2 tracks run by John Tetly, Queensland raceway, been told not worry about noise, and Lakeside, 95dB at track edge.

 

This means i have to run a 90degree bend on the exhaust outlet to point the noise up and to the rear of the car and I haven't been done yet

[620Z]

I got pinned for noise. I think from memory my car had to be 92db at idle and 98db at 4,500rpm. They had the measuring stick around 2 feet away from my exhaust. Sadly mine we 98db at idle and actually went down when the rev's went up. Ha

Now I have a set of bolt on quiet rear exhausts for just such an occasion. 

[NZeder]

My mate here in NZ got pinged recently - leaded race gas + exhaust = rusty = holes louder than it should have been. Anyway a guy came up to us at the track and said an old Motorcycle trick was to drill a number of small holes on the bottom of the exit/tail pipe in a straight line. The results was a quieter exhaust without effecting flow/backpressure etc.

[Zeddophile]

With my rebuild 99% complete I'm getting ready to take it to the track but I'm hesitant with the possible breach of the noise levels. Can someone please clarify what the maximum allowed reading is and confirm that now you don't even get a warning, rather you're stopped from doing anymore laps and the fine in sent in the mail? What is the cost of the fine?

 

Can anyone tell me of the specifics as to how the EPA measurement is done? I'm thinking of buying a db sound level meter which retail for between A$40 - $A110. If I know the measurement parameters then I can buy the correct meter to measure the sound accurately. Might be handy for others on track day by doing a drive-by measure off the track before doing race laps.

 

What sort of racing are you doing?  For club sprint type events, Sandown and Phillip Island are normally 75 dB, while Winton is 95dB.  If you are doing historic racing (or other larger open meetings) however, such as group S, the noise limit at those 3 tracks is usually 95dB (they get a permit for a 'noisy' meeting).  Generally measured at 30 metres drive by.  At Sandown, the sound man is often sitting in the grandstand, but does use other spots on occasion.  Don't remember where he hides at Phillip Island, but I seem to recall its on the opposite side of the track (some people have left and right sidepipes they swap over depending on which track they're going too  )  The Supplementary regulations for whichever event you are looking at will have the information you seek.

 

Never heard of there being a fine for being too noisy at the track, usually you'll be told the car is too loud and to fix it.  If you go back out and it's still over the limit, they just won't let you run anymore.

 

As far as the EPA measurement goes, I'm told by noisy mates that they have a book listing models of cars, and a specified test rpm for each one.  Not sure if there are different noise limits depending on car, but the test rpm is certainly different from car to car.  Amusingly, a mate had an exhaust that was very loud and drony up to about 2,800 rpm, but he passed because the specified test rpm was somewhere in the mid to high 3s!  Not sure if they also test emissions though, if you get dragged in for a noise check...