Practice @ Castle Combe...
 

Hi guys,

Am I wrong or there is no way to ride on the track before the next DD round ?
I had a look on uktrackdays.co.uk and there isn't anything about this track.
Also I contacted the circuit, and here is their answer:


It means I will discover the track on Saturday the 4th for the timed practice (or untimed practice if we are lucky...). I guess the top ten is far far away for me :(:(:(

Tonio, I don't think you'll be the only person effected by this. Combe is more known for car racing than bikes. I don't know anyone whose done a trackday there. I used to live fairly close by as well.

ok Flanks. So I won't be the only racer lost there ;)

There's a few who have done the track before. Fil2, Ali, Rattler, Pheonix and Max and myself are doing the track day there on the 18th of this month to see which way it goes and to figure out how to get around the chicanes. I've just checked their website and the 18th is fully booked. They do have other dates before the race weekend though.

We are all a bit concerned about the noise limits and requirement for the bike to comply with MOT standards - I don't think any of us have come up with a cunning plan for this yet. We definitely need to though.

Any thoughts people?

[Edited on 3-5-2005 by TP]

I think I won't be allowed to ride there with my rat's race bike, even if I do paint my fairings... :(

[Edité le 3-5-2005 par Tonio600]

I have not done the track before.!!!!...plan take standard exhaust incase dd bike fails noise test...as for MOT standard i cannot see how they will enforce that....have given thought to taking two bikes.? but ideally want to run DD bike for gearing etc...........

Phil

[Edited on 3-5-2005 by fil2]

Dodgy "e" mark sticker and a bolt-on db-noise killer both from ebay?

eg:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/bsau_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40
http://search.ebay.co.uk/db-killer_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40

Sorry mate, I didn't mean to suggest that you had - I guess I worded it poorly. I meant to say that a few people have done it before, a few of the guys have raced there previously. But the names I listed haven't and we are going for the track day so we know which way it goes etc ...

:(

There was some noise testing done on the bikes at Cadwell on Sunday, does anyone know exactly how they did that test (distance from cans, revs, angle etc) and what the readings came out as?

well noe of them could have been over 105 otherwise they would have been excluded from racing

do they advise " road legal " cans only at castle coombe or is it noise test restricted, not wether the can is legal or not.?

Phil

ps..dont want to ring them again..cos she is sooooooooooo helpfull NOT

[Edited on 3-5-2005 by fil2]

From my track experience at Castle Combe, albeit in a Subaru Impreza, they do a drive-by noise test and if you exceed the limit you'll not be allowed on the track. They never checked the cars over other than that, but I guess as most arrived by road they probably weren't that bothered.
Yes, one guy did fail and he wasn't allowed out.

I'd go with the noise killer and fake sticker to back it up. I'm sure they're only concerned over the noise given the current happenings with the circuit, and if they're seen to be doing their job with noise testing then that's good enough to keep the local council happy.

Track fairings might raise some eyebrows, so it might be worth peeling the number stickers off to make it less obvious? Remember that this is a trackday run by a bike company, so they really don't want a load of loony racers ****ing their customers off!

For trackdays...

It's noise restricted and incredibly tight on the testing, every bike is tested and the circuits monitored at a few points (Quarry being one IIRC). They can be closed down on the day if the noise level is exceeded, so although they want you to get out and ride, they're very keen on the test.

e-markings are irrelevant, but a dB killer would probably help a lot.

As for MoT standard, I've seen many race bikes at trackdays there, and if they're at ACU spec, I can't see them being turned away.

Another thing from my previous TD's their is they don't run groups of the novice / fast / inters type, but put a mix out on the circuit.

This may have changed recently though.

thanks for the feedback.

Phil

all DD bikes should be under 105 so i dont see it being a problem

I'm not doing the track day at Castle Combe so race day will be my first time even seeing the track let alone riding it.
I'm taking some decibel killers for my Sil's just to be on the safe side.

why? you wont need them.

The Sil's i've got are supposed to be 105db and as they are not new I just want to make sure I don't fall foul of the rules and end up not racing (as if) for the sake of £20. :)

Racing will not be as bad as the trackday - I think it's even classified as a "noisy day" so you should be fine.

105dB is pretty damn loud, and you will fall foul of the DD rules if it's over that anyway.

[/quote]


There was some noise testing done on the bikes at Cadwell on Sunday, does anyone know exactly how they did that test (distance from cans, revs, angle etc) and what the readings came out as? [/quote]

I was tested, but only as much as holding the bike at 6K whilst they measured the noise output from the cans. I reckon I must have passed though, but couldn't really see what they were doing, as I was sitting on the bugga.

Others might of had a better view?

I'm also a bit concerned about getting a "qualifying" bike out onto CC on the 18th. I'm gonna try and fit the standard cans to the monnie, but if I can, I'll take the ZX in standard trim too, so at least I'll have been out on the track.

Would rather take the Monnie though (as Fil says) for setup etc....

I think we need a definitive answer on this, I'm gonna try to call them this pm to get a response - I'll probably get the standard response though.....

Has anyone been on any of these days? Are there race bikes out there? People have raced there before and must have faced the same issues? Might try New Era too??

Tim


Tim

it seems as though race bikes are ok as long as they dont exceed noise levels which as mentioned are the same as desmo due anyway.

I may give thought to removing race numbers for the day , other than that im taking dd bike.

phil

[Edited on 4-5-2005 by phoenix n max]

Nice one mate - do you know for a fact that "race bikes are OK"?

As for not making it look like a race bike, I could take the fairing and seat unit off, but I can't be ****d really. If its as you say and that I could go out with the bike as I raced it, then we're sorted.

Tim

As for MoT standard, I've seen many race bikes at trackdays there, and if they're at ACU spec, I can't see them being turned away.

as quoted above..........

i really cant see them turning away track or race bike if they are within the noise regs, its just not pheasible. I dont think we will ever get a definitive answer..im taking mine as it is.........

Phil

I don't think so...

my bike at cadwell was noise tested at 87db i might have misheard but i thought the tester said he was suprised how quiet all the bikes were

Sorry Tonio, I guess tomorrow is their only date not full before raceday.

:(

So the ACU don't hold a practice day there?

What cans etc have you got?

I don't think we met (maybe we did and my head is up my **** again ...) but which bike/number were you?

:( too.


I don't think so. Nevermind, I will test my quick learning abilities on Saturday morning :D

[Edité le 3-5-2005 par Tonio600]

orange monster tp its got mhp 2 into 1 but its fairly new so the packing should still be good.

Are you Paul Mugridge then? Did you race in the SoT on Sat?

yes thats right tp saturday in the sot certainly helped for sunday

Don't forget guys - decibels are a logarithmic scale, so a 1dB increase is a 50% increase in noise, so a 2dB increase is a double of the noise.

It takes quite a lot to go from 98dB to 105db!!

Ahhhh ... the penny drops.

You got some good starts on Saturday - I need to work on those!

3dB is a doubling of the sound pressure level ;)

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/dB.html

Oh picky me...

btw, for those that can't get there before the race I may have some scanned track notes, but without the last chicane before Camp

Pedant ;)

Yes, but here's a little gift to appease the mind

http://www.chathamclose.com/pics/castle%20combe.doc

I've booked the last place on the 18th this morning :D

Emma (?) said that the info pack would be out in a day or so, so hopefully we'll know what the score is.

Oh, and I'm borrowing a friends road-legal CBR400, just in case eyebrows are raised at the DD bike

I've got my details somewhere, but they're still unclear from taking a race-bike perspective.

If I remember (and I'll check) they state that the bike must be MOT'able - a race bike wouldn't - so is this just to ensure that the noise levels are as per the standard can(s)? Or are they being very strict with this? I'm lucky enough to have a road bike that I can take, but would much rather take the Monnie as practice time is what I'm lacking at the mo' .

Tim

Mine also tested at 87db - Leo Vinchi cans like TP. Test was done at 6K rpm with the tester approx 3 feet and 45 degree to the end can.

I sneeked a peek at the guys clip board and all the ones I saw were in the 87 - 91 db range so I would be very surprised if any DD racer had problems with a 105db limit.