The "popping" noise of an F1 changing gears
Michael Capsalis
Does anyone know exactly what creates that "popping" noise when the car
changes gears? Is it something to do with excess fuel being pumped into the
cylinders for a brief moment while the gears are being changed, or is it
caused by the gearbox itself? I have heard rumors (most likely incorrect)
that the engine momentarily "dies" while the gears are being changed. Is
this true also? Whatever the hell it is it sounds awesome when one of those
beasts change gears about 10 feet away from you!!
Cheers
MC
PS - After ingesting large amounts of nutmeg and smoked banana skins, i
have also seen a vision of the future:
1.MS (Ferrari are looking mighty fine this year)
2.OP (what the hell! - go Panis go!)
3.HHF or EI
4.DC or GB
5.MH (A cautious driver since his accident, but is still driving
consistently - albeit too slow)
6 GF (probably my favourite driver of the moment - what a legend!!)
Dont ask me why i included McLaren....the Merc looks to be better suited to
faster tracks, but stranger things have happened at Monaco.
John Cuthbertson
I believe that the 'popping' noise is created by the engine management
system as the driver flicks the paddle on the back of the steering
wheel. The engine momentarily cuts out to allow the engine and gearbox
to synchronize and permit the meshing of the gears. Since the driver
need not lift his foot to shift, it is necessary for the engine to
compensate through the electronics.
Steve Glenister
>I believe that the 'popping' noise is created by the engine management
>system as the driver flicks the paddle on the back of the steering
>wheel. The engine momentarily cuts out to allow the engine and gearbox
>to synchronize and permit the meshing of the gears. Since the driver
>need not lift his foot to shift, it is necessary for the engine to
>compensate through the electronics.
I guess the engine's spark is cut and you get petrol vapour ignighting in the
exhuast?
Bob Dubery
"Michael Capsalis" <mich...@nm.com.au> wrote:
>Does anyone know exactly what creates that "popping" noise when the car
>changes gears?
Since the semi-automated gear shifts in use these days allow the
driver to keep his foot flat whilst changing gears I'd hazard a guess
that it's the rev limiter cutting in.
The main reason that FIA didn't ban the assisted gear change when they
banned the other "driver aids" was that the system guards against over
revving, thus affording the engines extra protection, thus saving the
smaller teams money.
Bob Dubery
==============================================================
The headers in the address fields are deliberately bogus.
I'm sick of getting junk e-mail.
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Lotz, James D
I noticed a big difference in this "popping" noise from the cars in '91
to the cars of today. In '91 - there was a noise that sounded like the
car was exploding -- albeit brief - when the car went up through the
gears. The gear changes today don't have that same noise in between
shifts. It's smoother with no pause in between upshifts. I assume it's
because of the automatic shifting. Back in '91, the drivers had to still
"shift" through the gears (butterfly lever on steering wheel or actual
shifter - if those were still around) I loved that noise --- It told me
how well some drivers shifted compared to others. The little delay in
between gears was when that popping noise came in. The longer the delay
- the louder the noise. The Williams cars sounded different (I could
tell by the noise whether it was Mansell or Patrese) so did the Ferraris
and McLarens.
It's just one of the many things that are gone now ..... like funny
fuels, 18 inch tires, sparks, V-12's, decent onboard audio feeds. F1
USED to be great to watch live!! (alright, it's still pretty
awesome!) ;-D
L8r J.L.
Jamal A. Hameedi
> I believe that the 'popping' noise is created by the engine management
> system as the driver flicks the paddle on the back of the steering
> wheel. The engine momentarily cuts out to allow the engine and gearbox
> to synchronize and permit the meshing of the gears. Since the driver
> need not lift his foot to shift, it is necessary for the engine to
> compensate through the electronics.
Yup, I too think the noise is a combination of things - the thottle
being reduced during the torque transfer phase of the shift and probably
some form of additional torque reduction (usually through spark and/or
fuel) during the intertia phase of the ratio change. This is quite
common on powertrain controllers out in production today. It allows for
reduced slip times, added clutch (or any friction element) durability,
and even improved shift feel (it may even help tires from losing
traction as a result of torque spikes in the driveline...). Interesting
stuff, huh?
--
Regards,
----------------------------------------------------
Jamal A. Hameedi jham...@tc2000.ped.pto.ford.com
Powertrain Control Systems Engineering
Advanced Vehicle Technology
Ford Motor Co.
Dearborn, MI
USA
DISCLAIMER: These opinions are mine, and not my
employer's!
Paul S Winalski
Steve Glenister wrote:
>
> I guess the engine's spark is cut and you get petrol vapour ignighting in the
> exhuast?
Exactly right. Indy cars and CART cars make the same noise when the
driver shifts gears.
--PSW
Kim Andrews
On 8 May 1997 01:40:15 GMT, "Michael Capsalis" <mich...@nm.com.au>
wrote:
-chop-
>Cheers
>MC
>
>PS - After ingesting large amounts of nutmeg and smoked banana skins, i
>have also seen a vision of the future:
>
>1.MS (Ferrari are looking mighty fine this year)
>2.OP (what the hell! - go Panis go!)
>3.HHF or EI
>4.DC or GB
>5.MH (A cautious driver since his accident, but is still driving
>consistently - albeit too slow)
>6 GF (probably my favourite driver of the moment - what a legend!!)
>
>Dont ask me why i included McLaren....the Merc looks to be better suited to
>faster tracks, but stranger things have happened at Monaco.
>
An allowance of 8 drivers in the first 6? You were *definitely* sold
duff banana skins. Do you smoke them yourself? ... so to speak. :-)
Kimbo.
k...@foca.co.uk
Formula One Cartoon Archive
http://www.dcs.co.uk/foca
Nick
In article <337217b7...@ct-news.iafrica.com>,
el...@theking.org (Bob Dubery) wrote:
>"Michael Capsalis" <mich...@nm.com.au> wrote:
>
>>Does anyone know exactly what creates that "popping" noise when the
car
>>changes gears?
it's unburnt fuel, igniting in the exhaust, you will see flames coming
out at the same time, you can do it in any car, even in road cars,
where it is known as backfiring (i am quite mad so some of this may not
be true)
Nick
Matt Reprogle
I'd call it more of a *BANG* than a pop. Anyway, that noise is the one
that is most missing on TV compared to live.
--
Matthew C. Reprogle
Delco Electronics - IC Integrated Manufacturing phone: (765)451-9651
Internet: mcre...@ictest.delcoelect.com FAX: (765)451-8230
* remove the ".no.spam from my mail address to if you wish to email *
John Woodruff
>>>>> "Matt" == Matt Reprogle <mcre...@no.spam.ictest.delcoelect.com> writes:
In article <338096...@no.spam.ictest.delcoelect.com> Matt Reprogle <mcre...@no.spam.ictest.delcoelect.com> writes:
> I'd call it more of a *BANG* than a pop. Anyway, that noise is
> the one that is most missing on TV compared to live.
Please explain why the bang is NOT audible on TV (and it clearly isn't,
this discussion is the first I have been aware ofthe sound).
Paul S Winalski
John Woodruff wrote:
>
> Please explain why the bang is NOT audible on TV (and it clearly isn't,
> this discussion is the first I have been aware ofthe sound).
Probably because it's directed out the tailpipe whereas the microphone
is located forward of the car.
--PSW
Thomas P. Beaty aka: GONZO
Not really...but the mmicrophone placement MAY have something to do
with it but the real reason is that that decelerating back-fires are
quite loud and the size of the diaphram (sp?) in a microphone of the
small size that they use for in-car cams (and all track side mics)
cannot reproduce that kind of air movement without a large amount of
audio compression. This is compounded by the fact that the broadcast
station also adds more compression to it to reduce the dianamic range
and thus "even out the signal levels". This prevents some sounds from
being alot louder than others and drowning everything else out..
Matt Reprogle
John Woodruff wrote:
>
> >>>>> "Matt" == Matt Reprogle <mcre...@no.spam.ictest.delcoelect.com> writes:
> In article <338096...@no.spam.ictest.delcoelect.com> Matt Reprogle <mcre...@no.spam.ictest.delcoelect.com> writes:
>
> > I'd call it more of a *BANG* than a pop. Anyway, that noise is
> > the one that is most missing on TV compared to live.
>
> this discussion is the first I have been aware ofthe sound).
My guess is that the audio is dynamically compressed and limited to
reduce dynamic range (the difference between the softest and loudest
sounds.) This makes it easier to broadcast.
--
Matt Reprogle
Delco Electronics - IC Integrated Manufacturing phone:(317)451-9651
mcre...@ictest.delcoelect.com FAX: (317)451-8230
MFMetzger
In article
<Pine.SUN.3.96.970521...@gsbphd5.uchicago.edu>, "Tuomo O.
Vuolteenaho" <ptu...@gsbphd5.uchicago.edu> writes:
>This only proves that you need help. If you're worried about the 'noise,'
>i.e., random events, in races then look at the qualifying performances.
Qualifying as means of comparison can be misapplied. Only on some
circuits does qualifying in the top spot mean a lot. Most of the time, if
you're in the top 2-3 rows, you've got a shot a winning. It simply isn't
worth the risk of going off, on most circuits, to attempt to go 1 or 2
tenths faster just to get the pole. As far as being testing "racing"
abilities, qualifying doesn't test a driver's ability to pass, to handle
traffic (other than to space his hot laps), to make a quick pit stop, to
conserve his tires, when to go for the win or when to drive for points --
all the things that a championship winning driver must master. Qualifying
does indicate how quick a driver can be, but a tenth or two difference on
average between teammates really isn't significant.
Michael Metzger
San Diego, California
Michael Capsalis
What was interesting to hear in the Spanish GP was that the "bang" was
audible from the microphone and camera mounted above the pits....in fact it
is the first time i noticed it on a broadcast since seeing my first GP
live....
Matt Reprogle <mcre...@mail.delcoelect.com> wrote in article
<338ECC...@mail.delcoelect.com>...