Laguna Seca Sound

[frostie321]

So I am planning on doing Laguna near the end of Nov with NCRC. I haven't been back there in like 8 years. And the last time I went I believe the limit was 92db. The NCRC event is 90db.

Tried searching but did not find anything concrete. My car currently has test pipes with megan exhaust. I am assuming that will definitely not pass. But i have both the stock mid and rear. Will a combination or stock exhaust with TP or megan with stock mids pass 90db? Or will I need to have full stock in order to pass.

Thanks!

[roastbeef]

When I was deciding whether or not to go with my titanium axle back (oem mid pipe), I looked for something definitive and came up with nothing. A good suggestion was to have someone stand approximately 50 feet away and do some wide ole throttle passes at the top of 2nd. You'll be at the top of 3rd going uphill while you're passing the booth, so maybe try to replicate that as well.
I'm 375 miles from Laguna, so in order to be sure I don't ruin an infrequent trip up there, I swap on my stock exhaust.

It's also said that most cars with an intake and exhaust won't pass sound.

[redpriest]

It depends. My Akrapovic Evolution exhaust (full) passes, but at WOT passing the garages at Laguna, roastbeef says it's one of the quieter exhausts out there.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by redpriest

It depends. My Akrapovic Evolution exhaust (full) passes, but at WOT passing the garages at Laguna, roastbeef says it's one of the quieter exhausts out there.

It's true. He is one of the quieter cars of the day accelerating out of turn 11.
I have been told my oem system is louder. All I run at Laguna is my afe carbon intake.

[okusa]

You won't pass, but who cares? I'm about 98db and just lift for a moment up the hill with no issue.

[roastbeef]

Lifting would ruin it for me. Even though I'm a novice, i enjoy trying to set my personal best time.

[frostie321]

Thank you for all the response. Ultimately it comes down to I'm getting fat and lazy . So I would rather do the swap twice, off for the track and back on again. Hence why I asked to see if anyone has experience with either combo. I leaning towards putting back my exhaust and leaving the TPs on. But I haven't heard how loud that will be at WOT and I don't want to go back under to change it out.

I thought about the bent pipes to redirect the noise, but I don't run Laguna often enough to warranty that in my mind.

I could lift off, but I swear I remember reading somewhere on this forum that they look for that too. Correct me if I am wrong.

Cheers!

[roastbeef]

I have read that too, but I think it's a scare tactic. I've observed very loud cars running all day long.

[okusa]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Lifting would ruin it for me. Even though I'm a novice, i enjoy trying to set my personal best time.

I won't take that personally.

You may be misconstruing what it actually means to lift. I ran a 1:41 flat on crap tires lifting. It's really just a momentary thing and if you do it right it shouldn't much affect your lap time (MAYBE a tenth?).

[roastbeef]

really? maybe i am misinterpreting what people are actually doing. do you have a vid if you lifting? i always thought people shifted early and did like a half throttle thing up the hill...

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

really? maybe i am misinterpreting what people are actually doing. i always thought people shifted early and did like a half throttle thing up the hill...

Currently, at Laguna, I run an Akra Evo x-pipe and stock exhaust and I'm not having problems on 90db days. It's worth noting that the "freshness" of the exhaust does seem to matter. The stock exhaust I have now is not my original exhaust. My original exhaust was getting hammered or burned out or something form all the tracking and the blower. That original exhaust would get me in trouble at Laguna. But then I bought another stock exhaust from just a street driven M3. Ever since I got that "fresher" exhaust, I have have zero problems with sound there.

The video below is from a 90db day. You can see my foot is 100% on the gas pedal as I exit Turn 5. I did shift to 4th just a bit before redline, and what you can see me do there is edge to the middle of the track as I go by the sound booth. Normally, I would stay on the far right after the turn. Even with all that fiddling around, the lap is still good for a 1:36.1.

[ban25]

The weather will affect sound as well. I'm also eyeballing a Nov/Dec Laguna track day. Here's hoping for clear skies...

[frostie321]

Thank you! Sounds like TPs and OEM exhaust should be okay then. And worse case just do a little lifting.

Originally Posted by dogbone

Currently, at Laguna, I run an Akra Evo x-pipe and stock exhaust and I'm not having problems on 90db days. It's worth noting that the "freshness" of the exhaust does seem to matter. The stock exhaust I have now is not my original exhaust. My original exhaust was getting hammered or burned out or something form all the tracking and the blower. That original exhaust would get me in trouble at Laguna. But then I bought another stock exhaust from just a street driven M3. Ever since I got that "fresher" exhaust, I have have zero problems with sound there.

The video below is from a 90db day. You can see my foot is 100% on the gas pedal as I exit Turn 5. I did shift to 4th just a bit before redline, and what you can see me do there is edge to the middle of the track as I go by the sound booth. Normally, I would stay on the far right after the turn. Even with all that fiddling around, the lap is still good for a 1:36.1.

[ban25]

If you're close, you can ask for a sound check, but it may be better not to draw attention to yourself...

[dj_dub]

I'm doing Laguna at the end of this month and plan to lift/shift early between turns 5 and 6 passing the sound booth. I have straight pipes to an Akra rear section. I doubt it'll pass 90db going WOT up that hill. I'll let you know if it works!

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by dj_dub

I'm doing Laguna at the end of this month and plan to lift/shift early between turns 5 and 6 passing the sound booth. I have straight pipes to an Akra rear section. I doubt it'll pass 90db going WOT up that hill. I'll let you know if it works!

I've never heard a loud akra. Got any sound clips?

[dj_dub]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I've never heard a loud akra. Got any sound clips?

Correct...Akra's on our cars are generally pretty quiet, that's why I decided to straight pipe before the rear section to open the sound up.

Do you have IG? If you do, you'll see a vid of my car from ACS recently...I just uploaded it for you. First post on my feed.

IG: dj_dub

[roastbeef]

Thanks, I'll have to check it out. No IG, but I'll find it.

[dj_dub]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Thanks, I'll have to check it out. No IG, but I'll find it.

No worries...here's a direct link:

https://instagram.com/p/BMpS4e7BgCW/

[dj_dub]

Here's a pic of me passing the sound booth today between turns 5 & 6...never got meatballed today going WOT in 4th going up the hill with my exhaust setup (Akra w/RPi X-Pipe). I'm pretty sure if I was in 3rd, it would be a different story.

GBMA3980 by dj_dub, on Flickr

[frostie321]

To add to that, I was WOT in 3rd with TP and Stock Exhaust, no flags either.

[JBird..]

Originally Posted by frostie321

To add to that, I was WOT in 3rd with TP and Stock Exhaust, no flags either.

Think I would be clear with stock primary cats but secondary cats & resonators remove with OEM muffler? Eyeing multiple 90db days next year and would love to not have to throw additional cats back on.