Quiet Formula One!

[Green Nomad]

Am I the only one that feels that the F1 racing so far this year has no atmosphere?....

I have been a fan of Grand Prix racing since I was a young lad watching Murray Walker presenting the Sunday night BBC2 Grand Prix program in the 70's. And I had been to several races in the 80's when turbos were the thing.
I know F1 has had to advance over the years for safety etc, but it doesn't seem the same now with the lack of loud engine noise.

Maybe the TV companies can increase the sound levels by the placing of mikes at the track. If the teams or indeed the FIA are not prepared to revert back to the original engines from last year.

Anybody have an input...........Cheers GN.

[Dannie Boy]

Am I the only one that feels that the F1 racing so far this year has no atmosphere?....

I have been a fan of Grand Prix racing since I was a young lad watching Murray Walker presenting the Sunday night BBC2 Grand Prix program in the 70's. And I had been to several races in the 80's when turbos were the thing.
I know F1 has had to advance over the years for safety etc, but it doesn't seem the same now with the lack of loud engine noise.

Maybe the TV companies can increase the sound levels by the placing of mikes at the track. If the teams or indeed the FIA are not prepared to revert back to the original engines from last year.

Anybody have an input...........Cheers GN.

I've only been to one GP (Bahrain) in 2006 I think, so not exactly overqualified, but I thought it was too loud and they were giving out free ear plugs, so maybe something in between would suit all/most parties?

[Pleng]

Well personally I don't mind the new sounds too much. Certainly in Free Practice in Monaco they seemed to sound a bit louder perhaps because of the built-up areas.

In my opinion F1 has much worse problems with their Tyres, DRS systems and Double Point finishes than the engine sound, though I understand this is very subjective. So I'm basically against artificially jazzing up the show - which is exactly what the FIA are talking about when they are saying they're investigating ways to increase the volume.

It probably doesn't help that one team is dominating (even if the race between team mates is usually pretty close), as many people find that dull and gives the lack of noise even more impact.

As for turning up the levels on TV... I think they're already doing it - I struggle to hear commentators during the races at points, so it looks like they're deliberately mixing the engine noises up. But I think the problem is more than just the overall volume. The sound doesn't linger. Previously the camera could be focused on an empty stretch of track and you could hear the car coming from the distance before it rushed in and out of view - no you don't hear the car until it's arrived.

[JW]

Been to quite a few GPs, when you get to within a km of the track there is usually something practising .. often Porsche Cup cars... they arent so noisy but it starts the adrenalin going.
When you hear the F1 cars, even if just in the pits, you always walk faster.. or run..to get there.
The spinetingling wail is just something you cant describe... your senses are set on fire, huge noise, smell of petrol..burning rubber..and you can feel the ground shaking .... its just awesome.

Fair enough the noise was mega loud and lots wear ear defenders (they are for poofs or people with bad ears!) but it is all about experiencing the ultimate in racing cars.

V6s do rumble naturally and are super smooth not like the screaming V8s and 10s but F1 is about getting a rush and right now it aint doing that.. they have been exeprimenting with a exhaust to give more noise.. lets hope it does, for me F1 needs to be loud and nasty

[Big Boy]

I must be a closet poof then

I've only been to 1 grand prix (Silverstone), and I didn't know how loud it would be. I would have taken ear protection if I had realised.

I hated it so much, I vowed never to go again.

[Pleng]

V6s do rumble naturally and are super smooth not like the screaming V8s and 10s but F1 is about getting a rush and right now it aint doing that.. they have been exeprimenting with a exhaust to give more noise.. lets hope it does, for me F1 needs to be loud and nasty

The exhaust failed... it was basically an ear-trumpet stuck to the back so that was never going to work.

While I understand that people are upset about the lack noise, it makes me sick to think of F1 resorting to chavving up their vehicles with bad-boy accessories that have no purpose other than to artificially increase the noise. Where will it stop? Neon lights under the floor to make night racing even more spectacular?

[Nereus]

............V6s do rumble naturally and are super smooth not like the screaming V8s and 10s

.
It is completly wrong to assume this. A V8 engine is much smoother running than a V6, simply because of the power stroke overlap, as is a V10. A V8 engine fires every 45 degrees of rotation, compared to a V6 at 60 degrees. A 4 cyclinder is way behind at a 90 degrees.
"Boxer" type engines run smoother because of the mechanical balance achieved with the piston to crankshaft layout, but still fire in the same pattern. The exhaust note is also affected by, amongst other things, the firing pulses.

[JW]

I am talking about the noise they make... not how they are put together

[Green Nomad]

Hey, thanks guys, that's a great response to my post. Some very good comments there.

Certainly agree with JW, when attending a race in the past the build up of excitement when you can hear the cars in the pits starting up, especially on race day. I went to several races when Nigel Mansell ,Senna and Prost used to battle it out. It was a costly ticket even back in the 80's, don't know how much it is for a ticket these days, but I wonder if die hard fans feel they are getting their moneys worth.

But I do agree better to leave the cars as they are and accept the noise, rather than have stupid little noise enhancers or the like.

Cheers GN

[JW]

Never saw a race in Senna/Mansell era always watched at home, but used to go to stock car racing from being a wee kid when grandad used to race ministocks and just loved the noise and smells. First GP was at Silvestone 2000 when the car park was a complete nightmare.. never forget getting outof the car and hearing the noise.. and then the views around the paddock of stunning poster girls.. omg what a place!

Maybe when the racing gets tighter and Ferrari and Red Bull get the cars sorted and we get some better racing we will all forget.. still got all the old races to watch online i guess!

Always fancied going to Nascar.. if i ever get to America! More of a party with racing but i bet its a great weekend .

[Pleng]

JW Where do you find the old races online? I watched seasons 1996-2003 which I found on torrents, but I can't find a 2004 torrent that actually works.

I have to say, while I don't have a problem with the new sounds, it does seem a bit odd when GP2 cars look and sound better than F1...

[JW]

Some here - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... +full+race
I did find a site a few months ago with loads on.. hunting for it now.

[Green Nomad]

Guys, there is a great site called speedhunters.com, mainly concentrates on photos, but some great nostalgia on there. But yes if you go to youtube you can get clips of the old races from when the sport was fantastic. But speedhunters.com shows the changes in the cars over the years dramatically. Iv'e started a new hobby recently, something a bit more sedentary. I draw old grand prix cars in action with water colour pencils. I think the results aren't that bad. Maybe open a shop one day.

Anyway, as JW says if the other teams this year start to pick up the pace then the racing should become more exciting, I can see the difference with the improved torque on the cars....GN.