Bedford trackdays noise restrictions & Boxsters

Matt · Nov 8, 2005

If any of you are considering trackdays at Bedford - I got chucked off the Easytrack day at the weekend for the RS being too loud [

]. Having done a couple of days there before and short shifted by the microphones I've never had any problems - but it would appear that the noise nazis are out in force - speaking to a few people it would seem that where in the past the marshalls have turned a blind eye to slight violations they are now clamping down..[:'(]

Luckily the wife had come along in her 987 boxster S and allowed a me few gentle laps in it.....its great [

] I was massively suprised that as a standard road car it was so good. Makes a superb noise, good brakes, lovely steering feel. Leaving the PSM on meant you could throw it into any corner and it would sort itself out. Turning the PSM off meant it slid around a bit more but felt very controllable. Obviously it being her pride & joy and not that old meant I was very circumspect in it so did not push it that much - however it was still quick [

]
my respect for the hairdressermobile has increased massively - shame you dont see more of them being excercised on track...

Mark_Bennett · Nov 8, 2005

Matt,

Glad you enjoyed it. [8D]

Why not come along to Castle Combe next April 29 with the Boxster?
- See --> HERE <-- for details [

]

(You know Mel's never going to speak to you again though - don't you...[

])

Jamie Summers · Nov 8, 2005

Hi Matt,
We spoke briefly at Bedford on Saturday (mine was the grey 964 C2). I've always failed the static test (105-106 db) but have never managed to trip the drive by meters even when giving it full beans past the mics. I drove a mate's 964 C2 (the light blue one there on Saturday) with identical exhaust (decat and cup pipe) and got black flagged first lap out !
From what I can gather there was one mic pinging everyone - the one at the beginning of the short straight behind the pits. The only explanation can be that that particular mic is incorrectly calibrated (that was Marcus from Easytrack's diagnosis anyway !). They had 55 noise trips in the morning and only about 10 in the afternoon when people had realised where the problem was.
My mate got done for a second time pottering around in 5th waiting for a gap in traffic and got binned like you. Fortunately he had his girlfriend there with her 968 Clubsport (not a bad stand-in !), so all was not lost, though he even managed to get black flagged for noise in that ! I've never seen a 968 black flagged for noise anywhere ! I think there is something seriously amiss with their sound monitoring given the number of people chucked off over the last couple of months. If it continues I guess people will start to vote with their feet.
Given the amount of money Palmer is putting into his other circuits it's no surprise to hear that the prices for Bedford for next year are going up hugely. To the extent that it is becoming impossible for the likes of Easytrack to operate days there profitably and safely. I think you will see far fewer days being offered there. It's a shame as it's a great facility, but I suspect they may well find they have priced and policed themselves out of the market.

Jamie

carreraboy · Nov 8, 2005

Matt I think the RS has stirred your brains a bit.....so would you swap?

Matt · Nov 9, 2005

Hi Jamie

Good to meet you (briefly) - I was trying to catch up with you later on Saturday to have a chat and look at your car but got sidelined
Interesting regarding the microphone and the 968 getting flagged - I'll not be going back in the RS so its a customer lost I suppose.

Mark - I doubt the wife will let me take the boxster out again either - she's less convinced as to the benefit of frequent excercising of cars - so unfortunately no Castle Combe for me

Finally - Des - course I would not swap. The boxster is great fun day to day, especially when the weathers good, the roofs down, and the roads are clear. Its also now proved to be a top drawer track weapon as well - BUT it could never replace the RS on track as its not noisy/bumpy & scary enough..and its got cupholders [8D]

SimonExtreme · Nov 9, 2005

ORIGINAL: Matt
The boxster is great fun day to day, especially when the weathers good, the roofs down, and the roads are clear. Its also now proved to be a top drawer track weapon as well

This section of the forum is getting rather like "Hairdressers R US". Get a grip, unless, of course, you are a hairdresser in which case http://www.the-nhf.org/index.htm might be of interest[

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