Dreamer99

Are you guys wearing ear plugs at the track or are there some helmets with better ear protection than others? After a day at the track, especially if I have had a ride in a friends GT4RS, my brain is rattled from the sound.

Toddster

I think the gt4rs is a bigger offender then most street cars, i find the helmet blocks plenty of sound for my liking

krell

I use whatever I happen to have in my track tote, typically the EAR brand.

BryanCO

Not quite the same but I always wear hearing protection when riding my motorcycles with a full face helmet. Hearing loss (which I have some - just completed a full hearing check up) is typically a gradual thing that is isn’t even noticed until, over time, the damage has occurred.

74goldtarga

I always wear plugs. Lost some hearing and developed tinnitus from a track car with an exhaust leak over a single weekend - didn't realize it until after the weekend. I now have ringing in my ears 100% of the time. If I forget my plugs I pull back into the paddock. Admittedly the GT3 has better sound deadening than my old track car, but it isn't a quiet car. Some helmets have ear cups - I haven't had the chance to try one but would like to.

home7271

Highly recommend these.

pro1200

I highly recommend getting custom plugs. I lost most of my hearing as a child and know how damaging a loss is. I have two pairs-one for use at the track and one for riding my jet-ski in the ocean. Marilyn at "Plugup.com" will send you a kit to make an impression of your ear and then molds the plug for a perfect fit.

DiscoWagon

On the track, I'm wearing my Airpod Pros which are hooked up to my Garmin Catalyst. With noise cancelling turned off they muffle the exhaust sound a bit, while still allowing me to hear what's going on with the car and my surroundings.

bubba928

Yes, re ear plugs. For years I used generic off the rack ones and they helped. Last year, however, I visited an audiologist and had custom plugs made where foam is inserted into the ear canal, becomes solid and then used to make final mold for the in ear plug. The reduction in sound between the off the rack plugs and the custom ones is unbelievable with a huge decrease in db. I wear them at other times including mowing, driving my GT3 on the street and sporting events. They cost @ $160 but are well worth it.

fsts2k

Are you using the solid plugs or the filtered plugs? I have a set for shooting, much nicer than the generic foam ear plugs. I would like a pair for the track, my radical makes my head ring. That said, wondering if the filtered will do enough as I still want to be able to hear changes in engine sound and track workers while the car is at idle or off.

Kevin

erik_plus8

I have tinnitus since many years. I wear simple foam plugs under my helmet, if I don't the tinnitus gets worse for a week or so after a trackday. Only downside is the plugs dampen out a lot of the information I can pick up from the tires, from the way the sound on their way to, and over, the limit of grip. So I am probably a fraction slower with plugs. By hey, as long as I don't get paid to set quick laptimes, who cares...

pro1200

I use the solid plugs. My loss is such that I'm basically deaf at high frequencies so I don't hear voices, tire squeal, engine, etc. even without the plugs. The plugs block the large decibel noises that cause the ringing and damage after exposure. I don't wear the plugs under my helmet because I find that it blocks enough sound but when spectating the plugs are a must.

168glhs1986

I hope to never get to the point where I need ear plugs while DRIVING on the track. The noises from cars mechanical bits and the tires etc are a joy to experience for 15-20 min stints. I can handle my 4RS intake noise, the frequency doesn't bother me.

f I was a race car driver / professional I would certainly wear them. Hours upon hours in the cockpit at tracks where there is no DB restrictions you absolutely need them.

The 911R is the loudest car I've ever heard on the track. I needed ear plugs and I was a good 50 yards from it.

fsts2k

Thanks, in my GT3 I don't need plugs with a helmet but the Radical is amazingly buzzy with its 4 cyl motorcycle engine and open top.. I will give the solid plugs a shot for the Radical under the helmet and if they are too much I will try the filtered.

NHmacan

I just wear a helmet but I do keep the sport exhaust closed. The GT4 RS is a much louder car because the air intake is close to the window and the airbox is basically in the car with you.