No. Not usually necessary, except I have considered it during Spec Miata races where there are 50-60 cars, all with no significant muffler (101dB is normal).

 

Just getting a pipe out behind the car makes a big difference in the in-car noise levels. I considered using earplugs when the EWG was dumped under the front subframe, but after recirculating I haven't really seen the need.

 

im actually in the middle of planning my exhaust system right now. I plan on doing 3" all the way back with a burns muffler

http://www.burnsstainless.com/ultra-lightmufflers.aspx

if any of you get grassroots motorsports magazine, there was a great exhaust comparison in the December 2010 issue

 

Cool, but I could never bring myself to spend $250+ on a muffler.

 

yeah im in the same boat but i just want to do it once and be done with it... im even still completing if i want to put in a test pipe so i can replace it with a CAT when emissions time comes around

 

Really??? Wow, they must not be as strict as the listings might say cause there's no way the saab was under 91db last summer

 

How effective would a turndown be that came out under the car for muffling? Say just past the rear axle....

 

*

 

The best way is to turn the exhaust away from the sound meter. Usually worth about 1dB at Laguna Seca IIRC. For example, at Laguna the sound station is on the right hand side of the exit of turn 5 so you have your exhaust pointed toward the drivers side (and some people do drivers side but angled upward so it doesn't bounce off the wall and go back to the sound station).

Crazy Porsche example I just found via google:

 

I'd say it will be too loud if you want to run lakeside.

 

I'm curious about this too. If not, I guess you all go deaf?

I'll stop trolling Joe Perez now.

Has anyone here used a Vibrant before?

I would like to go mufflerless like Savington but I am worried it will be fuckedupedly loud.

 

I wear ear plugs and still feel deaf after a whole day at the track. Kinda wish I could get my EWG plumbed back in.

 

I do now. Wish I did in the past. I have lost hearing and have tinnitus in my right ear because of all the track loudness. I am happy to extoll the virtues of hearing/ear protection because tinnitus sucks. A lot.

Edit: If you're wearing plugs now and sound is getting through, you need better ones. I use the plastic-y swimming ones, the look sort of like this:


The expanding foam ones supposedly are almost as good for the amount of noise reduction they provide, but they have never worked as well for me and are harder for me to get in my ears. This all is also why I want the car as quiet as possible going forward, even at the expense of some power.

 

Yep I have tinnitus as well, all the time. You do not want it. Definitely wear ear plugs.

 

the turbo quiets down the exhaust to the point that its not necessary on most cars. i run a 3" i.d. dynomax race muffler. straight thru design barely bigger o.d. than i.d. not sure how much it actually does, but it's not absurd when i drive on the street or to the track. i have sensitive ears and wind noise bothers me more on a long highway drive than anything. on track with my helmet on i'm good to go. if you guys need protection with a helmet on your cars must be crazy loud. one thing though, do you guys run sa rated helmets? do they allow more noise than a motorcycle helmet? maybe that's part of it.



only track around here with a db limit is H2R.(afaik) i think it's around 100db @ 30ft. and i haven't had a problem.

 

here in AZ AMP requires a 90db limit even though its right next to an airfoce base.... not sure how that isnt *** backwards. When i corner work i REALLY need to bring ear protection with me.

 

yeah AMP is gay. 90db is stupid quiet.

Speaking of AZ, I daily with this and its tolerable. At WOT it sounds beastly but not obnoxious.

3" 16ga stainless to 21ga 3-5"

 

Pat, where in PHX did you get that fabbed up

 

I made it at my friends house. He did the welding

 

cool, have i seen you at any local nasa events?