What went well? What didn't? What can we improve?

[markt]

I doubt any competitor is hitting the 110db level. Last year's SE Div at Gwinett Fairground had a 96db limit and only a few cars tweaked the meter and some of those seemed every bit as loud as our loudest folks. It also can be affected by atmospheric conditions. At both Knights and Kannapolis we're so close to the interstate I don't think we're disturbing the neighbors. Have you heard a semi Jake-Brake? The Carolina Hurricanes fans made 117db the other night cheering the team but I doubt anyone there complained...well, maybe the Sabre fans did.

I wonder what the db level will be at Lowe's Sunday evening? As I recall sitting in the GM stand you could feel the start reverberate in your chest...kinda cool.

Mark CSP111

some more sound facts:
ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/0190.html

WOOHOO! ;D MY FIRST T.O.P.

[jbyrd]

markt said:

I doubt any competitor is hitting the 110db level.

Don't tell me that! I've stood downwind of you before!!!

[volksman]

I'm very glad we're by the highway, people will leave us alone there, and I really doubt there are any neighbors close by, you're right on that one. Sometimes sound is a matter or perception. Deep bass sounds like a Jake Brake FEEL loud as well as being loud. It's the perception of the sounds that often leads people to have hearing damage, they don't think anything is happening becuase it doesn't feel loud. At Lowes, check the number of people in the stands wearing earplugs of some kind. I was working the van when the vette was running. I couldn't hear the anouncer when it was on the straightaway until it took the right turn at the end. This was on Sunday.He was three feet away.(anouncer) But it's only briefly. I would be curious to see what it does make for Db levels People may be surprised.Honestly it's only a personal feeling. If it was constant, all day, it would be different.

I'm feeling like we're hijacking the thread here. It's only one or two cars, no problem. If we do run a place that specifies a Db number in some contract with the club, possibly because of neighbor concerns, we do owe it to them as the hosts to comply and check, and if needed restrict. But I honestly do hope it never comes to that. Not in the motorsports loving south!

[damnyankee]

There is nothing like the Wide Open Growl of a V8!!!

[Mark]

JB wrote
Don't tell me that! I've stood downwind of you before!!!

Jes doin' my part to help global warming...nothing like a little methanol exhaust, eh?...it's not so much the smell but the burning of your eyes...

markt

[jbyrd]

Darnit!!!!!!

Don't start talkin' about global warming!! You're gonna' get Pdawg riled up again, and it'll take us 3 days to git him calmed down.

[lagunamiata]

I'd be more worried about the down-wind after effects on the nasal cavaties!!!
Keep Marky away from the refied beans!!!

[lagunamiata]

Ok, so we've established:
Everyone likes the waiver table.
Newbies don't know what to do after they sign in.
Things ran well with our core group of people doing everything.
We need more safety stewards, so we need a class.
Many want to know their standings after each run. What happens at national events??
We need signage for registration, tech and "particpants only" areas.

[damnyankee]

This might be a sore issue.....but what about a spectator area? For the general public that happens to wander by to watch?

[volksman]

damnyankee38 said:

This might be a sore issue.....but what about a spectator area? For the general public that happens to wander by to watch?

A good point. They aren't there when the drivers meeting is given and spectator areas are defined. But the yellow tape gets torn by the wind and we're stuck using it with existing trees or posts, which might not be in the places that we want. If the grid is off limits, there's a natural bottleneck at knights to post a couple of "Please, no spectators beyond this point" signs. At the non-points NTI meet last year People kept walking across the run off area after the finishline. Right where we were turning to go around the island to get into the grid again. SO we need something. Thoughts?

[nitroc5]

This thread really went in a unique direction and I've gotta say its a little amusing to me to say the least.

First of all if you guys are going to call someone out at least be a man about it don't talk like I don't even read this forum My name is Rick and apparently I have a car which has been deemed by some to be both loud and obnoxious ....I'm assuming it has something to do with the fact that my car is 1) American 2) Has more than 100hp and 3) The fact that I took a top (3) finish on Sunday when we actually were able to get speeds up above 30mph in the parking lot!

In reagards to comments about learning to control power I would like you to direct this question to CASSINO who had the opportunity to ride with me for (2) runs on Sunday. I wanted him to ride with me because of some of the rumors that were started that I was actually trying to get the car to drift??? Ahhhh I don't have to try to get the car to spin and drift it wants to do this all on its own! At no time was I squeezing even close to full throttle nor did I even exceed 5,000 rpm. But the car while in a straight line mind you will break the tires lose so easily that I'm actually counter steering while going across the meadian while only rolling into the throttle to about 50% power and this is on full race slick 315mm wide! Same thing in corners all I'm doing is making countersteer adjustments and actually try never to get the RPM above 2,500 in this is in second gear....you could not drive any other car at the event like this and pull off a good time. Don't believe me....come take a ride!

I reagards to how the car sounds all I can say is this...it does NOT exceed 100db as per the measuring device used this past March at a high speed even held by the NCCC. Secondly this is a 850HP T-1 Corvette Road Racing Car with a custom ATI F1R Blower on top of a 6.3 liter forged race block motor....it is NOT supossed to be quiet! Unlike some people who put a big 4" Exhaust on a Stock 1.6 liter motor to MAKE their car sound loud....mine soulnds loud because it IS ACTUALLY making a crap load of power....which you are actually only see a very little of at the track. The comment in regarding "why the exhaust has to sound that way....and not really that benificial" was most comical. I'm running 1 7/8" header pipes per cylinder dropping into 4" collectors reducing down to 3 1/4" full exhaust per side with a (1) X pipe and (2) H-pipe crossovers into Corsa Indy Mufflers. Trust me the car would sound aggressive regardless of what muffllers were on it...why....well because it is pumping ALOT of air in and out of the motor!

For the most part I get a very positive reaction from every TRUE car enthusiast I speak with....and if you have spoken to me for more than 30 seconds anyone would know that I truely love all vehicles. My car was built specifically for very big long and wide open tracks I know this....however have always enjoyed AutoX because it forces the driver to become much more sensitive to driver inputs. I was such a fan of this series I founded the CCRT (Carolina Corvette Race Team) and we have feilded as many as 24 cars at a race. It would be a shame if there was a underground seniment that we were not really wanted in this series due to the fact that many of our cars are different than the norm

[ROADBOY]

As I have been reading this thread i was worried you would feel that way, please don't Rick.

I cant speak for everyone, but you're all welcome (CCRT guys) at the CCR. I like seeing all kinds of cars out at the autox events, especially the Corvettes. Normally they're just being wasted in a garage or at a drag-strip. What you are doing with your car is what it was meant for, to be driven and raced.

[ROADBOY]

I may get in trouble for this one but o well.

























These other guys are just piddle farting about little s**t, there I said it.

-ducking for cover-

[jbyrd]

Nobody's on your case, Rick.

[prancingdawg]

prancingdawg said:

I'm glad to see you folks using this thread in this forum the way it was intended. These comments and ideas improve the breed... thank you for your interest. Anyone care to help implement them?

Bump

[prancingdawg]

prancingdawg said:

I think the whole tire warming issue is stoopid. We can't have the vette club doing John Force style burnouts at the start line and writing it off to " my tires aren't warm enuff" You have like a GOZILLION horsepowers...learn to control them!

My bad, Rick. The point is not to pick on the vette club but to respond to the tire warming issue in my exagerated style.

It was the race prepped Corolla that was caught "warming his tires" over in the lot next door on Satiddy that was the most flagrant example of what I was really referring to...and when I finally got to talk with the offender, LO AND BEHOLD it was our own club chair person Steven Rankins behind the wheel! That's just a poor example for the rest of the club after all the preaching we do about yada yada yada.

I know all you vette drivers are very aware of the "do and thou shalt not do" list, and you're really not to blame for any offenses as far as I'm aware. BElieve me, if I know, I'll let you know.



OTOH, if your performance truly suffers from your tires not having enuff grip out there, I also know you are limited to the same methods the rest of us are. Power without grip=compensating in other less desirable ways.

ANd unfortunately, I don't think you'd fit in a miata, Rick

[prancingdawg]

damnyankee38 said:

There is nothing like the Wide Open Growl of a V8!!!

AMEN to that! MUsic to any TRUE enthusiasts ears. Unfortunately, in autocross, you only get to play it for a few bars...

[prancingdawg]

jbyrd said:

Darnit!!!!!!

Don't start talkin' about global warming!! You're gonna' get Pdawg riled up again, and it'll take us 3 days to git him calmed down.

I could, but I'll refrain...

[prancingdawg]

"First of all if you guys are going to call someone out at least be a man about it don't talk like I don't even read this forum"

Proof we have one more member who actually reads and responds to our babble once in a while!


OC, me and JB seemta have more time on our hands for posting than most...

[markt]

Memo
Re: Sound & AutoX

This is an automotive competition...if you want quiet go to the lieberry, you can get new-age mood cd's there...hhhhmmmmm...whale songs....birds chirping...grass growing...sssshhhh, you might wake the dead...

This is a sport where we make our own entertainment, we're not sitting on our butts watching others throw & catch(not that there's anything wrong with that). If there's one thing I've learned in life it's that if you don't DO something with either your mind or body it will atrophy, use it or lose it. My goal is to achieve what some of our members have, be in my 70s and looking for another race car.

Sound without purpose is noise, we make sounds.

Mark
CSP111

[jbyrd]

roadboy said:

These other guys are just piddle farting about little s**t, there I said it.

-ducking for cover-

No need to duck. You are correct.

[jbyrd]

markt said:

Memo
Re: Sound & AutoX

This is an automotive competition...if you want quiet go to the lieberry, you can get new-age mood cd's there...hhhhmmmmm...whale songs....birds chirping...grass growing...sssshhhh, you might wake the dead...

This is a sport where we make our own entertainment, we're not sitting on our butts watching others throw & catch(not that there's anything wrong with that). If there's one thing I've learned in life it's that if you don't DO something with either you mind or body it will atrophy, use it or lose it. My goal is to achieve what some of our members have, be in my 70s and looking for another race car.

Sound without purpose is noise, we make sounds.

Mark
CSP111

Amen.

[volksman]

Just to clear the air here, I did not ask for anyone's head on a stick or suggest that we kick anyone out for being loud. I said that at the beginning. I didn't name names because I didn't know who he was. I know now that he's Nitro. All I did was make an observation (It's stoopid loud) and an opinion ( I think it's over 100Db) I'm a car guy who likes the sound of cars. Just because I don't like the sound of his doesn't change that. The yellow cobra sounds awesome, and it's quick to boot.
There was never any intention of starting a witch hunt or hurting anyones feelings.
I never thought that he spent all the money that he did on a autocross car. I kinda guessed that he used it for something else as well. Good for him That is what cars are meant for. That's what I meant when I said that the exhaust in question didn't really add anything.I meant on the autocross. It's realy a top end thing and when he said he's going only part throttle all the time that confirms it. I'm not biased against big cars, or American cars. Ask the guys in the van when he was running. I was cheering and clapping when he sent FTD at the time. I like to see fast cars and good driving. One of the things I like most about autox is the diversity of the cars.
I was not trying to pick a fight and I wouldn't say anything here that I wouldn't say in person. One of the basic problems with the written format is the lack of emotion conveyed in it. Smilies don't always cut it. Also, it's not a real conversation where people interact and read faces.
If people have the opinion that I'm just screaming and crying about this guy, you're way wrong. I'm looking at it from a logical stand point. I don't want someone to get kicked out and said that in one of the first posts. Did it pass a sound test for road racing? YES. Is that the same test for Solo? I don't know because I don't know what the parameters are for the test he passed. I still think it's loud when he was on the straight away. But I said at the very start that if the powers that be don't care I didn't care either, I can cover my ears.
Years of going to concerts with the "if it's too loud you're too old" mentality have left me with a constant ringing in my ears and partial deafness. I saw Man O War in 1988 when they claimed in the guiness book that they had a DB level of 160. It hurt for three days.
This car going by isn't going to hurt anyone and I know it. What I was more afraid of was complaints from neighbors. Since there aren't any neighbors I don't care.

One more time:
I don't want a test done, I'm just curious.
I don't want anyone banned
I'm happy the vette club comes, I like beating the old ones.
The loud honda can be loud when it's that fast, I said that many times when he was there and I feel the same for all cars.

If I offended Nitro, I'll be the first to say I'm sorry and shake his hand. It was not the intention. Please read what i wrote and don't read INTO it There was no ulterior motive at all.

BTW: I would kill for 100 hp.

[jbyrd]

Greg,
Sound is one of the issues covered in the guidlines for event management. When sound is a problem, it is addressed.

For some venues, like Knights, it doesn't matter as much as it does for others. In fact, I believe most of the CCR venues are away from home communities right now, so it's not that big of an issue.

When it is an issue (like the SCR event at Summerville last week) there is usually a pretty heavy warning given before the event that sound level policies will be strictly enforced.

When you see this warning, you can be sure that levels will be checked by meter.

However, after you've heard enough cars and seen enough meters over time, you usually don't need a meter to know whose too loud.

It just ain't that big a problem with CCR right now.

[truk41]

Rick, keep coming, even I will stop whatever I am doing when I hear you so I can watch. It is fun to watch a car that really isnt set up strictly for autox and doing well. It is loud, but truthfully until this post I never really noticed, and really dont care. I have a 1.6L miata, it has old stock exhaust and havent put anything on it because I hate the 4cylinder wrasp(rice) sound, but thats my opinion. Yours would be like Mike Brights car(under 93-96dB), loud but nobody seems to notice since it sounds so good. Rick, I bring my Father-in-law to each event and since late last year we have always just called you Captain Horsepower, you are pretty entertaining. So keep coming...

[volksman]

I agree Jbyrd, sound at knights isn't an issue, and if it is at some other place I'm sure the big guys will handle it. SOmeone said it was loud, I agreed and questioned the actual level. I really never meant to offend anyone. I know what I said, and I know what I was thinking at the time. There are other things that are far more important to deal with in the club and that's the thread was started for in the first place.

Again, if I offended anyone please tell me and I will apologise the next time I see you, eye to eye, man to man. It was not the intent and the furthest thing from my mind.

[C4Shane]

Oh, I guess i will toss in my $0.02 worth - first Rick's Vette is a blast to watch and he is a great guy to chat with about Vettes and anything else for that matter. When Colin and I had a starter wire come loose - he jumped behind the Fiesta and helped push it across the paddock and helped us look into the problem. I will admit I was quite embarrassed to show him a nearly empty engine bay - with a tiny 4 banger - We figgered it would take about 10 of them to fill up his Vette - point is, he is a car guy like the rest of us and enjoys our "little" toys as much as his own (well, maybe not quite).

I have spent a whole lot of time around NASCAR stock cars in the garage areas and shops for many years - and if you want to hear what LOUD is - that would give you a good baseline. Ricks car is "throaty" and I personally like the sound of it quite a bit. If it were wine tasting, I would say it is mellow, with a crisp finish, and a slight - but subtle - aftertaste.

Keep it coming Rick - proud to have ya there - we all love the sound of cars - some may prefer the sound of a ford vs. chevy vs. Subaru, but that is why we play with different cars.

And, let's remember - we run what we brung - some of us like "vintage", some like shiny new exotics, some have just started in the sport and bring out the family sedan, etc. Some of us drive across state lines in their only car to compete - that is what makes CCR special and fun.

If we want folks to use and enjoy this forum, we should avoid comments and discussion of a personal nature that are aimed at any single competitor - if you have a problem with them, speak to them directly or talk to the event organizer to find out who to talk to. Again, just my thoughts - I don't plan to assign another worker to monitor noise levels - cuz the exhaust would probably fall/rot off the fiesta and it would fail!

Let's all have fun out there!!!!! You are all a blast to spend a weekend with - and thanks again to all of you who helped push the fiesta off the finish line!!!

[nitroc5]

First and foremost thank-you to everyone who took time to post whether it be to comment and/or to clarify.

I'm not an overly sensitive person at all, but having heard some whispers around (that other participants have brought to my attention) has made me abit defensive I guess. Point of fact that the begining of last year someone (and I still do not know who) told Steve Rankins that I was doing burnouts in the praking area!!!!! Still to this day I know that some fellow drivers think it was me because it was apparently a red Corvette. It was not me PERIOD and once again if you got to know me you would know that I would put my foot up someones AZZ if I saw them do it!! Trust me if I did a burn out it would be very hard for everyone not to know which car was doing it...no matter some people will still think what they want.

OK, now lets move past this issue and get onto what this post was really all about and that is making everything better for everyone.

IDEA: Shane you might be able to comment on this in regards to workers. One thing that we spoke about at the meeting before the season started was having official greeters as workers assignment. Have special vest nothing fancy as long as they really stick out (kind of like highway roadworkers vest in orange), anyway these individuals work assignment would be to simply go around and meet everyone and ask if they have any questions, need any help and overall really to just WELCOME everyone rookies and veterans alike. What do ya think?

[MrsVlad]

That would be SoloRacer

[MrsVlad]

Oh , but he does that at the waiver table.