Im not sure if the current V8's are any louder in terms of out right decibel's, but they certainly produce tone's and pitch's that for me have caused more discomfort while in certain locations around various tracks then the V10's ever did. The worst for discomfort and inner ear resonance where the "pre-rev limited" V8's in 2006, when the engines where hitting more the 20'000 rev's. I remember one particular instance off having to move to a different section in the grandstand across from the pits at Magngy Cours during Free Practice it was that bad. I agree with what other have said about the sound of the V8's being not as "nice" as the V10's. The V10's use to have a complex howl, and many of the cars had there own distinct and recognizable textures. The V8s shreek, and for the most part all sound the same.. Nice bit of V10 "howl"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBxw4whvBiA
Nooooo way! V10's were way louder. (realistically its prob the same ) Changing gears was also more intense. I'd agree the V10's sounded way better I miss the sound actually
I haven't heard the 8s live, but they have to sound better than the 10s, which were pure crap compared to the 12s.
I've been to a dozen F1s and the only time I've needed ear plugs was above the pits at Indy. Grandstand roof reflections created some painful harmonics. ...The adrenaline load on the pit wall masks any potential discomfort. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I agree, other then being at a close proximity, its the bouncing reflections in certain circumstances that cause the most painful resonance. For example, in Singapore, up high in the Padang Grandstand, a good distance from the cars was painfully bad, i guess due to the reflections of the surrounding buildings. But around a meter from the barrier at one of the chicanes, less then 5 meters from the cars accelerating hard was fine, very lout but no discomfort at all.
Given how loud the engines are it's amazing how BBC can do a clear broadcast a few feet from the car without the engine drown out the talking.
if i may... I just returned home from montreal and my first F1 experience. from what i felt, it is very loud, but ear plugs are not required from a distance. We sat facing the hairpin (turn 10), and it was ok without, although after 70 laps you notice your ears ringing. I found some of the vintage cars from the Historic Grandprix race to be louder, but a different type of loud (lower pitch). The loudest section we found as we walked around the track was 1) straight after the hairpin where they floor it for the straight (you can walk right up to the fence and your no more than 15 feet away) and 2) on the bridges over the track. I think more importantly than the actual sound is the way the sound hits you. It shakes your bones the same way as a subwoofer does. The sound is fantastic but its the way it hits your chest that takes it to another level for me.
I got back from Montreal last night. I sat in grandstand 12, about half way up and did not need earplugs. During a practice session, I was standing at the exit of turn 2, about 8 feet from the cars where they were accelerating hard, trying to get some pictures. I couldn't. I didn't have any earplugs on me and I had to keep my fingers in my ear when the cars were going by. It felt like my head was starting to rattle. Simply Awesome. The classics were very loud too, but in a deeper, different kind of way. It was cool though because you could tell the difference between the V8's, V10's, and V12's. Very cool. I wish I would have went to a race back when they were V10's. Would be nice to hear the difference in person. Alex
Here is my take from Montreal. Grandstand 1, 2nd row from the top, so I guess you could say I was far enough away to not need anything. I lasted about 10 mins without ear plugs when the F1 cars (the moderns, not historics) took the track. I was at the end of the straight so maybe that was top gear, top rpm range? Whatever the case, I found the whine/drone of the sound got to me.... eventually, but not initially. I'd say about 50% of the others in my area had ear protection. Call us wimps I guess.
I've sat on the main straight a few times, and it definitely matters where you are regarding their shift points. If you're right where they're upshifting, you catch max revs, which can hurt.
Sat in the grandstands near the hairpin, infield, facing the screen, just past 150 meter mark. You folks that go without hearing protection are NUTS. Could I do it? Yes. Is it a good idea? Uh, no. It is crazy loud. The shifts sound like gunfire. It the last upshift happened right beside the stands, which happened with the slower cars, you could feel the percussion like a bomb had gone off. If at any time you are looking at the back of the car under throttle, it is painful. I had earplugs or muffs the entire time and my ears were still ringing when I got up Monday morning.
Dad made us use earplugs when we were kids for the inaugural race on St. Helen's Island in '78, they seem second nature now. I wouldn't go to any race without them and I was loaning spares to people around me (I had twenty+ pairs). To be honest, I used them to combat snoring too..... lol . Fwiw, the turbos were nothing. The Tyrrells with Cossies (the only cars on the grid na) were much noisier. It was difficult to believe they were qualifying p23/24 after listening to them howl.
Ha Mr. Hyde, wasn't my nostrils I was worried about. Seat No.15 was loud at night, even with the advantage of a well cushioned stadium chair and soccer highights on all night......
+1 They eventually got to be "OK'ish" IMO, but when Renault first appeared..... Oh how we laughed at the stupid Frenchmen! Remember the Matra's? With all due respect to the Ferrari 12's, the Matra was just, I dunno, awesome... unique. We "tuned" ourselves in the empty startline stand at Indy with Michael & the V10's a few years back - Resonance is an interesting thing.... Cheers, Ian
The first fifteen or so rows at the hairpin (exit) are earplug zones. Once above that - especially with the stands full - no earplugs needed above fifteen (row OO)
Was more than halfway up Section 33 and even while in our seats we had over-the-ear protection...it's not like you can have a conversation with your neighbor during a session, so I am not sure what the advantage is in NOT wearing protection?
These were my seats at Montreal, and it was loud. At one point on Saturday during qualifying, I decided it was too loud and reached up to put my ear plugs back in. My ear plugs were already in. The head to the right in the 2nd picture is my son, and you can see his plugs. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
LOL. "You know you're in trouble when....." After the race I forgot mine were still in and got a muted version of the podium celebration, which I had a great view of from my seat. Initially I was wondering "why don't they turn up the PA as they announce the winners?". Duh!
Sad to say, but the end of an era is approaching. When the turbos are reintroduced (2013 I think); the normally aspirated f1 engine will be gone forever,and the beautiful, violent. Sound they make. With green technology being the dominant theme now, I can't see the current engines ever returning. Indy has also announced that turbos are returning, in 2012 I believe. Get to an open wheeled race in the next 18 months!!!! Kevin
Indeed the 10's and yeah the 12's of old were crazy loud. These 8's are still loud but can't even touch the 10's of a few years ago. In any case they still sound vicious!!! MB
I've been at post 11, the one on your right, and those frakin speakers were worse than the cars! Had to spend all day with ear protection on. The speaker arrangement the year doesn't look too bad. This year I was at post 10 on Friday so what with a slow corner they aren't bad on the ears. Image Unavailable, Please Login
