Sound violations at Weathertech (formerly Mazda) Raceway Laguna Seca

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by drroc

What about non-ZCP, in Sport+ plus with open valves at WOT?

The only people who had sound problems were me and another M4 with an MPE, an M4 GTS, and 2 911 GT4s. There were other M3/M4 CPs there that didn't have any problem.

For all those who said that LS had always had 90 db limit, as I said before, I've run here before with the same setup, and I've run here many other times, under a wide variety of weather conditions, (hot/cold, sunny/overcast/rainy, windy/not windy), and I've never run there and seen this number of noise violations. Something wasn't right that Saturday.

[nicknaz]

^ a sound check worker with a bone to pick? Maybe a local resident "volunteered" that day?

[Continental02]

Originally Posted by 5thgear

Thanks for info.

Just to clarify, how do you run valve closed and be in sport+ WOT?

I cant imagine M performance exhaust is louder than downpipes with akro so if this works, how comes OP got flagged with M performance exhaust. I am sure I missing something.

You can either buy a valve controller or you can unplug the valves while they are closed to permanently close them until you plug them back in.

[adc]

Only having tracked on the East coast, I have to say this is such bullshit.

You haven’t lived until you get passed in an open session by a NASCAR cup car, it’s so loud even with the helmet on that you can’t think and forget the gear you are in.


Why don’t they just install some acoustic fencing around the track and be done with it?

[trackm4]

Originally Posted by adc

Why don’t they just install some acoustic fencing around the track and be done with it?

this is such a brilliant idea!! Why can't this be done??? Oh how I wish someone would do this... I get pissed every single time I go by the sound station at Turn 5 and I have to lift..

[Redacre]

Reviving this thread instead of making a new one

I upgraded to a catless DP on an otherwise stock non-ZCP. Do you think I'll fail sound check on Sport+? Doesn't feel as loud as an MPE to me, but I know it's going to be close.

Anyone with recent experience chime in?

[Continental02]

Originally Posted by Redacre

Reviving this thread instead of making a new one

I upgraded to a catless DP on an otherwise stock non-ZCP. Do you think I'll fail sound check on Sport+? Doesn't feel as loud as an MPE to me, but I know it's going to be close.

Anyone with recent experience chime in?

I haven't been since the new ownership, but catless DP + stock exhaust passed for me before with closed valves. Catless DP + Akra Evo with valves closed is 92dB.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by Redacre

Reviving this thread instead of making a new one

I upgraded to a catless DP on an otherwise stock non-ZCP. Do you think I'll fail sound check on Sport+? Doesn't feel as loud as an MPE to me, but I know it's going to be close.

Anyone with recent experience chime in?

Ah, upcoming BMW CCA Golden Gate Chapter HPDE! Unfortunately, my wife and I aren't going this time but we have an HPDE at Buttonwillow the following weekend.

If you read my posts above, you will see what I did to avoid the dreaded meatball flag. You can go out and run in Sport+, but if you get a meatball, you'll have to program one of your M buttons to put the engine in Efficient mode, making it quieter. You have to get in Comfort mode by the time you exit Turn 5 and can't go back to Sport+ until you've downshifted for Turn 6. You may also have to upshift to 5th or 6th gear going up the hill between Turn 5 and Turn 6, past the soundbooth on the right. You only get 3 strikes for the entire weekend.

When I was last there in April 2018, only the other M4 with an MPE got the meatball, and at least two Porsche GT3s. The stock M3/M4s, both ZCP and non-ZCP, didn't get the meatball, AFAIK.

P.S. Thanks for searching!

[F3IGHTY]

Originally Posted by Redacre

Reviving this thread instead of making a new one

I upgraded to a catless DP on an otherwise stock non-ZCP. Do you think I'll fail sound check on Sport+? Doesn't feel as loud as an MPE to me, but I know it's going to be close.

Anyone with recent experience chime in?

My catless Non-ZCP hits 92db going by the booth pretty consistently

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by Redacre

Reviving this thread instead of making a new one

I upgraded to a catless DP on an otherwise stock non-ZCP. Do you think I'll fail sound check on Sport+? Doesn't feel as loud as an MPE to me, but I know it's going to be close.

Anyone with recent experience chime in?

MPE with exhaust valve controller in October with no problems, ran the valves closed the entire time. However, was there a few months prior and even with valves closed, blew sound twice. Air density, wind direction, I don’t know what other factors, but big difference from day to day.

Make sure you have a plan, it sucks to cut your day short for sound

[dim635csi]

And there is no soundcheck in Laguna Seca anymore. All violations are counted.

[Keebin]

Just make sure your valves are closed. I got meat balled a few times with a AA mid and mpe. Some one was kind enough to tell me to just unplug my valves closed. Problem was solved, i do think anything at this point can get flagged. They have to be aggressive with the sound because people thought it was great building their homes around a race track later to complain. They also closed the marina drift/hpde days because of all the complainers so it’s only a matter of time before they get Laguna

[4151zero]

I was there yesterday, a Hellcat was with my group and blew a 98db in race mode, his car was stock.

I kept my foot outta the gas and carried decent speed up the hill into T6, just in case my zcp f80 managed to exceed 90dB.

I think it taught me a new line FWIW.

[dth656]

Originally Posted by 4151zero

I was there yesterday, a Hellcat was with my group and blew a 98db in race mode, his car was stock.

I kept my foot outta the gas and carried decent speed up the hill into T6, just in case my zcp f80 managed to exceed 90dB.

I think it taught me a new line FWIW.

a stock ZCP with the exhaust in Sport+ should not blow sound, even on a 90dB overcast day. i think the MPE exhaust is the one that will blow sound, fwiw.

[dim635csi]

Originally Posted by dth656

a stock ZCP with the exhaust in Sport+ should not blow sound, even on a 90dB overcast day. i think the MPE exhaust is the one that will blow sound, fwiw.

In Sport it wouldn't, unless somebody else next to you goes WOT right after T5.

[3MOS]

Originally Posted by 4151zero

I was there yesterday, a Hellcat was with my group and blew a 98db in race mode, his car was stock.

I kept my foot outta the gas and carried decent speed up the hill into T6, just in case my zcp f80 managed to exceed 90dB.

I think it taught me a new line FWIW.

It was fun listening to the Hellcat's supercharger whine

Repeating an earlier post since this thread got bumped - MPE WOT in 3rd gear with valves closed was 92db for me last time. Upshifting to 4th before turn 5 and holding 4th WOT until the bridge/turn 6 works fine without having to go off the line.

[4151zero]

Poor guy had all seasons and all that power, never had a chance.

So, back to turn 5 strategy, you’re wot from 4 in 4th gear and what about your braking marker for 5th?

[3MOS]

Originally Posted by 4151zero

Poor guy had all seasons and all that power, never had a chance.

So, back to turn 5 strategy, you’re wot from 4 in 4th gear and what about your braking marker for 5th?

I kept over braking for turn 5. Combo of still learning and my front tires being totally shot. From looking back at some of my laps, I think the sequence should be hitting turn 5 around 110+ in 4th, braking hard closer to marker 2 (or 2.5ish?) and apexing the turn at 70+. Instead, I either eased up on the gas around 100 or started braking near marker 3 (or both) and often apexed turn 5 at 60ish, which makes the turn 5->turn 6 straight awkward in 4th gear. Basically, turn 5 is a faster turn than I gave it credit for.

*The above is probably all wrong (i.e., too slow) because I haven't figured out turn 4 yet either =)

Really looking forward to going back with fresh front tires. How were you taking that sequence of turns?

[melanthius]

Just to chime in and confirm for anyone seeking this info- I was just there with 90db limit, fully stock engine F80 going flat out in Sport+ and no issue with sound all day.
(2/16/20)

Cold ish day in the 60s with not much cloud cover.

[Spun Crankhub]

My car has Catless DP's, Straight pipe mid, and stock non MPE exhaust, and by lifting and moving a little left just before and slightly after sound booth I got through a whole day miraculously with no black flaggage!
Oh and I started the day in comfort and steadily worked to sport +

[swarthannes]

Originally Posted by Continental02

Downpipes, stock ZCP, valves closed - passes 90dB no problem. Running WOT in Sport+ hugging the right hand side closest to sound station.

Downpipes, full Akra Evo, valves closed - 92-93dB. Running WOT in Sport+ hugging the right hand side closest to sound station.

How about with the valves open? I have the same setup now. Previous time there I didn't have downpipes so I'm curious. Witgoud downpipes and full Akrapovic in sports + I think I did 95db. Know it's much louder with the downpipes and planning a 103db day later this year, wondering how close it will be.

[jim1013yyf]

I run stock muffler with single midpipe, and never got flagged on 90 or 92db days, while wot between T5 and 6.