Like all Lotus owners I regularly consider tweaks to my car or even a more powerful number. Problem is, I do not want trouble with the noise police. For example, is a standard 260s (RGB) too noisey for Bedford? I know it all changes with the weather, humidy and the like but are there combinations that fail or are very marginal?
When I have had enough of my current 190 s2 a 260 is on the cards, so the question about a 260 at Bedford is real. I know it depends on the induction and exhaust as well, so if you have a failure, how has it been “customised”?
Perhaps we can get a list of dodgy combinations and tracks.
My S2 was 260 spec and i never had a problem at Bedford or anywhere else. I had a standard exhaust and TRD Airbox. Yes OK the standard exhaust isn’t the greatest sounding thing in the world. But there is a lot to be said for having a “zero noise police stress” day on track.
Yes. I was blackflagged at Bedford a couple of years ago running the standard 2bular 8x24 + TRD airbox on a standard 240PP exige. Jim then made me a special 8x24 with a noise cancelling chamber in it and I’ve been ok round Bedford since (now running the H111 265 map) - although I know where all the noise meters are so take appropriate measures as I go past them. People were telling me at Hethel that my car is pretty loud…
So far as I am aware, Bedford is the tightest place for noise in the UK (aside from Croft possibly). The marshalls there have told me that a standard Lotus exhaust doesn’t pose any problems even on a 260 car. It’s the aftermarket ones which present issues.
Yeah I’ve said before the my SC Honda can do OK at Bedford if you know where the noise meters are. I’m not sure how it will be anymore as the induction noise is ‘a bit’ louder these days I might just find a cheapo day over the winter and pitch up and see how we go…with expectations low.
Lap 2 of Donington saw the black flags out …
2bular trackday chambered silencer didn’t do as it said on the tin , and it’s a very low mileage one …
308 bhp on the day.
i’ve been flagged at bedford with 285bhp and a 2bular gt3, Jim made me a one-off second silencer and it’s basically fine at bedford now unless the wind picks up and power all the noise right at the meters. now i just shift 500-1000rpm before the red line at two of the meters.
At donny i’m fine, tho i built speed past the one meter before being sure.
before worrying too much about it and spending money on parts just do a bedford trackday and lift at the 4 meters, build up over the day and talk to the marshals to see what readings they;re getting on you
My current 190 NA with std airbox and lotus stg 1 exhaust is very quiet so I never have an issue at Bedford. Last time I was there an Exige cup 260 was flagged. It was going pretty hard with Don Palmer at the wheel. I have no idea if it had any mods. That is why I asked about 260 and Bedford. Looks like I will be ok with a standard car.
tbf when mine was a factory 240 it would have smashed the bedford limit because of the lotus stage 3 exhaust, so being factory doesn’t necessarilly mean quiet
I might just find a cheapo day over the winter and pitch up and see how we go…with expectations low.
