Donington Email
 

It is with deep regret that we have unfortunately had to cancel this event at Donington Park.

The reason for this is as follows.

The situation with drive by noise at Donington Park in 2012 is this. A quiet Trackday has a drive by limit of 98 db measured from a sound meter on the pit wall and possibly further measuring devices around the circuit. All circuits have noise restrictions imposed on them by their Local Authority and unfortunately for Donington, particularly oddly as they are next to an airport, their noise limits are quite low on these “quiet” days.

This year, imposing these limits are clear in that if a car exceeds 98db it will be black flagged. The driver has the opportunity to quieten the car. If this does not work successfully they will not be allowed on track for the rest of the event. This is non negotiable. Our days at Donington are advertised as 98db days on our website and on various listing websites and Trackday broker sites. Our confirmation email that is sent to all attendees prior to the event states this noise policy clearly. This policy is repeated in the safety briefing.

At a recent event we experienced a number of black flag incidents within the first hour. We assisted these drivers with noise reducing exhaust inserts that can reduce drive by noise by up to 3db in some cases. In some cases this worked and in some it did not. A few of the cars were asked to finish due to this, a Peugeot 306, a Chevron recreation race car which had quiet and new exhausts fitted especially for the event, 2 Porsche 911 turbos, both standard and less than 2 years old and a Noble M400. A couple of the black flagged cars were adequately silenced and were allowed to continue, these included a Mazda MX5, a Ford Focus RS and a BMW 325i racecar. We were warned that if we got any more noise violations the event would finish, all cars removed from the track regardless of how loud they were. After this there were the odd noise incident and a technical stoppage was enforced meaning all cars left the track until we were able to ask the offending driver to leave. In every other Trackday I have done at Donington, this includes a number of events we organised there in 2011 and 15 years of trackdays I have attended at the circuit as a customer this has never happened. In all cases, the offending car was black flagged and the other cars were left to use the circuit as before.

Because of this we were imposed a zero tolerance policy on noise at all our future trackdays at Donington. We have been asked to pay a £3000 bond and if 1 car exceeded the 98db noise reading the bond would be held by the circuit. Furthermore the circuit owners could shut the circuit for the rest of the day with nil refund. On analysis of the noise data, some specific cars were mentioned as having exceeded the limit and in a number of cases the cause of the breach was classed as “group” This means a number of cars pass the meter and the cumulative noise exceeded 98db. We were not prepared to accept the additional terms and did not want to risk the day being cut short if there was an infringement which in reality, we have no real control of. In effect we had to cancel the event together with all our other trackdays at Donington Park. We have not taken this decision lightly.

We set up in business last year and from doing 15 events last year we planned to increase this to over 20 this year. We have never before cancelled a Trackday. In a number of cases in our first year numbers for certain events have been very low and we have lost significant amounts on a day. We would not cancel the event though as customers have set aside time and money for these events and we are 100% committed to ensure our customers have an enjoyable, safe and good value experience on our days.

We will be looking to replace the days now cancelled however we will offer a full refund or credit note if preferred for the amount you have paid for this event, including, where applicable garages or additional driver costs for the full value. In the event of a full refund being requested, this can be by way of a cheque by return or a direct payment into your account.

We have tried frantically to book another track for Wednesday as a replacement but have been un-successful. We have also checked other events on the 30th and have noticed a day at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire advertised through www.trackdays.co.uk ; which may be of interest. This is not being run by ourselves.

We are extremely sorry to have cancelled this at such short notice but this only happened today. Please be assured that you will receive our best attention at all times, and for the customers who have not used us before, we sincerely hope to see you again during the year.

which TDo is that?

Sounds like their noise meters are set up all wrong to me. Probably too close to the pit buildings and getting reverb from the structures

Which Donington Event (Date) :whistle:

Its APEX Shimmy, it all started last thursday night....:(

red hot night, loads of planes coming in ( ambient overall noise level up???) and loads of black flags for noise....

the meters are under bridge on S/F straight and after the old hairpin.


My mate in his focus was black flagged, fitted a silencer and was fine, but then on friday he didnt fail a noise test all day WITHOUT the silencer - it seems that donny are willing to black flag one person even when it is 2 cars going under that trips the meter- how feckin stupid is that??????

see hear for Melindi and Jonny's unbiased opinion:whistle:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...+30th+May+Apex

I am not sure, it was posted on another forum.

When I went the other month 2 GT3's got black flagged for noise and banned from the track. They were standard cars.

Why would they need a limit when the racing that takes part there can make you ears bleed....Was there two weeks ago for the Italian Spuerstars series and these things sounded like the God of Thunder.........So if a race can be so loud why not a track day.......

I organise two track days a year at Llandow in Cardiff and althought its only a tiny track its loads of fun and no limit....If they do have a limit they never use it...

Does this means ours/Daves Opentrack day in August will be safe?

THsi is Apex and have cancelled all their trackdays at Donny. Others say so far they have no change.

I got black flagged at Donny for noise on my not so noisy Gtr, they seem to be far more strict now. 100%.

Donny is off my track list now. Hate the place. And to the people saying its not changed, they are deluded.

Seems to be run by fucking bellends too.

Spa for the win.

Terryb flagged twice in the same day Shane...

Fookin ridiculous. Particularly with the planes overhead!

Good track but not mega IMO - at this rate it'll drive everyone away and become a building site again (well, the road to the paddock still is !!).

Silly, Snett better.

Donnington can go fuck itself :-D

Best take your Prius, Bill :hahaha:

Its a shame that Donington has such a bunch of wankers that complained about it which has resulted in this state of events, I suppose being next to an airport doesn't help either...

yes in so far as it will be a 98dB drive by day as all trackdays are at donny now ( although some untaken noisy test days get used up by other tdo's )



who ever cared what happened in wales???:whistle::hahaha:

seriously tho taken from doningtons website....

Donington Park operates under a strict noise management regime.
We are concerned to be good neighbours and committed participants in all aspects of local community life. We take our relationship with the community very seriously so if you have any issue that you would like to discuss then please email us at info@donington-park.co.uk.
If you have any issue regarding the noise levels here at the Park, you may now register these with the local authority by downloading and completing this form from the North West Leicestershire District Council website.
SUMMARY OF OUR PLANNING ARRANGEMENTS
Times of Operation and Noise Control
Motor Racing, Motorcycle Racing and associated Motorsport activities are permitted at Donington Park under a Planning Permission which was granted in November 2011. Conditions set out in the Permission specify the periods, timing and noise controls under which activities are permitted.

RACE DAYS
Racing is permitted on a total of 60 race days per annum between the hours of 9am and 8pm. These 60 race days may be divided as follows:
20 days may run unsilenced
Another 20 days may run up to a noise level of 118dBA
Another 20 days may run up to a noise level of 108dBA
The noise levels are measured in accordance with well established procedures set out by the appropriate motorsports Governing Body. Racing normally takes place at weekends.

TEST DAYS
Testing of motorsports vehicles is permitted on up to 2 days per week throughout the year between the hours of 9am and 5pm or dusk, whichever is earlier.
Such Motorsport Testing is not subject to noise limits.
Test Days cannot be consecutive, cannot take place on weekends or Bank Holidays and cannot take place on the day immediately before or after a Race Day. For information, testing normally takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

QUIET DAYS
Use of the circuit is permitted on 365 days per annum with a noise limit not exceeding 98 dBA measured at an on-circuit drive-by test.
Quiet days are used for driver/rider training, or to gain circuit experience. The noise limit is at a level whereby some road licenced vehicles will fail.
We also run “Quiet Evenings” subject to the same 98dBA Drive By Test and these are normally run for 3 hours until dusk on Summer evenings.

RALLY DAYS
Use of the circuit and the Donington Estate is permitted on 2 days per annum held in the months of November or December to hold a stage of the World Rally Championship.
Not exceeding 100dBA as measured by the governing body

Procedures for managing noise are detailed in Donington Park’s Noise Management Plan, which is available below. The Plan is subject to regular review. The circuit operator, the track hirers, race promoters and the motorsports governing bodies carry out noise measurement tests to ensure all vehicles comply with the appropriate noise restrictions. Vehicles exceeding permitted noise levels are prevented from using the circuit.
The annual racing calendar and daily activities on the circuit, including the daily maximum permitted noise level, are posted HERE.


so it seems like track days are not called that anymore, but 'quiet' days.....

Thats Donny out then :wanker:

Thinking thruxton AM session hopefully there OK

my mate in his gt3 didnt get blackflagged when we were there last week - just a standard exhaust tho:smokin:

http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/3932756.htm

Not surprised mate....

:moan: thats my style not my mates:beer: ( hmmm wonder if they will take a ford in part ex?) He's one of those poor scottish oil sheikhs....

You laugh, my berlingo vans got better turn in than the Csl.

Better not, might get black flagged

Mmmmm .... Just booked a day in my Stradale, will have to check ts an unlimited noise day.

Not a chance you will pass. :mad: