F1 Fanatic

The 2004-2005 V10s were spectacular, yeah.

I remember watching this video with the speakers at max power like 5 times in a row one night. Neighbours NOT HAPPY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZh7pejgae0

2 sounds stands out for me:

1- Fernando Alonso’s whining

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEbFZrn32vk

3- More seriously, the amaaaaaazing BMW P83 engine in Williams’ FW25!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZwGa50eqM&feature=grec_index
This isn’t a nomination in particular for the best sound, but it’s a rather good one and the video is worth a watch, even if engine sounds don’t feature enough (1:24 to 2:04 is the only part where there are sections of just engine)! It’s Hermann Lang driving the 1937 Mercedes W125 around the Nürburgring with commentary from Graham Hill.

for me, the most memorable sound comes from rallying…..
sitting in a forest, just as dawn arrives, course car has been through, now waiting for the first ‘real’ car. then you hear it. it’s still 3 miles away, but that unmistakable 5 cylinder brutish bark of the audi quattro s1 group b beast on full chat first hits you. the doppler shift builds the anticipation. as it rockets towards you, the 500hp monster looms out of the trees, the sound building into a crescendo. you step back as the car showers you in gravel, spitting flame as it passes. and then it’s gone. your first experience of a group b s1 is firmly etched and THAT sound will remain with you forever.

As Zadak once said…

The sound of burning fossilfuels can be pleasing, but I’m going to be different. Nothing beats the sound of silence to my ears.

Those Solar powered Racers would be at the top of my list for silence. The wheel surface area is tiny so there is next to no tire roar; they are designed with aero slip in mind so they make no sound from the air; and the electric systems make no sound at all.

Not many here will agree with me but watching those little racing cars waft past with no noise at all is just magic.

The most recent Evo magazine was devoted to sound, and from motorsport it tried a group B Quattro, original Impreza and a Focus WRC, a 787B and the new Nissan Leaf electric racecar. They said the Leaf was awful to drive. Because of its silence it was soulless and actually very difficult, as you couldn’t use the sound to judge the speed. I can’t play PS3 games on mute for the same reason.

2004 Williams BMW V10. I watched the 2004 Australian Grand Prix the other month and noticed they were revving much higher than the other cars. And that Williams video from above gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Fabulous.

Just listen to it as it approaches the camera in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_E14KmY9ag&feature=related It’s easily the best sound I’ve ever heard in my life.