1600 X-Low Exhaust Noise Levels

[Eric McLoughlin]

On Monday, my Seven failed the dreaded Goodwood noise level test (and I missed out on a Track Day as a result). At 6,000 rpm the reading was 106 decibels. The Goodwood scrutineers were surprised it was that high. Is 106 too high? If so, what should it be and what might be the problem? They suggested the exhaust might need re-packing. The Seven is a 1600 Classic SE with a rear exitibg exhaust.

 

On a secondary point, what other tracks or sprint venues have noise limits?

[Aidan Parte]

My Caterham just scraped through the Goodwood noise test in 1998 - if I remember rightly, the noise (music) from mine was about 105 dB at only 4000 rpm. I have a 1600 X-flow with single downdraft Weber and rear-exit exhaust. Your value of 106 dB doesn't seem too bad in comparison, although the decibel scale is logarithmic.

 

What I'd like to know is why do people live near Goodwood if they don't like the sound of engines? It is a bit like moving from a town to the country and complaining about the smell! Makes me seethe.

[I.Mupferit]

Try calling James Whiting in Ashford. He has done a lot of work on suitable silencers (for Goodwood in particular). He may, by now, have a solution to this problem.