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Also keep in mind that Formula E debuts this year; it will be the sport we all eventually follow (not sure how I feel about the passing cars sounding more like

Also keep in mind that Formula E debuts this year; it will be the sport we all eventually follow (not sure how I feel about the passing cars sounding more like aircraft than cars): http://www.fiaformulae.com/ http://www.fiaformulae.com/

sbierwagen 13y ago
Who cares about the sound? I'm tired of seeing blog comments on Jalopnik complaining about it. Of the many dumb excuses car nuts use to whine about electric cars, "they sound different!" is by far the worst.
- gsnedders 13y ago
  At the end of the day sound is an inherent inefficiency. The aim is to maximise the kinetic energy output of the motor — any sound or heat energy produced is waste that could've better been produced as kinetic energy.
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    Not always. Did you know that in top fuel cars, the "waste" energy of the exhaust works like jet thrusters, providing up to 1000lbs of traction-boosting downforce?
    - ars 13y ago
      The exhaust might do that, but the sound certainly doesn't. Any sound is wasted energy. And in any case there are better ways to harness energy if you want create downforce.
- _s 13y ago
  Lots of people do - some were drawn to F1 just because they stopped walking past a TV or near a track and wanted to know what was making that unworldly racket. That, to me, is equivalent of saying who cares what the cars look like? It's all part and parcel of the appeal of the sport - if somethings amiss, you've lost a little bit of that appeal.
- enko 13y ago
  I have to admit I love the sound of a good engine - and aeroplanes, and boats, trains, everything. It's the sound of power. Watching cars race without that sound is a far less emotive experience. One of the commentators on tonight's Bahrain race said that the safety car sounded much better than the race cars, and I wistfully agreed. That said, I do think some people overdo it a bit and I actually like that FIA is willing to force innovation, even if it's (initially?) unpopular.
  - gregpilling 13y ago
    They have a long history of suppressing innovation though. Chapter 13 of this book is about all the tech that was banned. http://www.amazon.com/Formula-Technology-Peter-G-Wright/dp/0768002346 http://www.amazon.com/Formula-Technology-Peter-G-Wright/dp/0... It is the most interesting chapter in the book.
    - ISL 13y ago
      Search 'look inside' for the word 'banned' to see what greg's talking about. He's right. That's cool. What would F1 be like if they relaxed all the rules? Edit: Just got through the chapter, the author speculates on what would be possible without bans.
      - gaadd33 13y ago
        I haven't read the book but I think CanAm in the 70s was pretty much racing with no engineering restrictions. Hence you had the Porsche 917 putting out 1500hp+ and only weighing 1800 lbs.
- WalterBright 13y ago
  I have an old muscle car with a built V8. The crackling sound of the engine start, and the sound it makes when it 'digs in' under acceleration, is viscerally thrilling. The smell of a hot engine, and the shaking of the car also add a lot of fun. One of the best movie montages ever is the opening sequence of the movie "Grand Prix" where they start the engines and warm em up. In "Rush" they ruined the movie by having a rock soundtrack laid over the sounds of the cars. "Bullitt"s car chase has never been equaled because the director had the guts to let the V8s and various car noises be the whole soundtrack. The music overlay stops when the chase starts, the complete opposite of every other movie.
  - kalms 13y ago
    Sorry, but Bullitt's car chase is terribly boring. I don't get why it's so fascinating?
    - WalterBright 13y ago
      Maybe you're used to the modern cinematographic technique of quick cuts where one barely has time to focus on a scene. Older movies tend to use longer shots in action sequences. Besides what I already mentioned, Bullitt is cool because: 1. the setup where the guy puts on his seatbelt 2. the total lack of dialog - the driver and the gunman understand each other just by looks 3. the deadpan expression on the driver 4. when Bullitt slides off the road, the slightest, most barely perceptible smile on the driver's face 5. McQueen's expression of complete focus and concentration 6. the 68 Mustang and Charger just totally rock. I never understand having a chase sequence with boring cars 7. the lack of CGI, models, and special effects 8. the skid marks from earlier takes 9. the amazing teleporting Green Beetle :-) 10. I love the shot of the rearview mirror when the hunter becomes the hunted - it's just classic
      - sbarre 13y ago
        Don't forget the car with 6 hubcaps!
      - kalms 13y ago
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  When you go to a race, you can feel the thrum of the engines in your chest. It can be a part of the experience. The same way that 100mph on a motorcycle is more thrilling than 100mph in a BMW, because of the roar of the wind, the heat of the bike, and the scream of the motor.
- megablast 13y ago
  As someone who had to study and do exams while the F1 was one, thank you and screw those people.
ojii 13y ago
Was completely unaware of the upcoming Formula E. Thanks for sharing. I'm a bit surprised by the "single provider" system used there. Read the Wikipedia article and it sounds like McLaren will supply all teams? Doesn't sound ideal to promote research. Also would love to see a Tesla Formula E team.
ericcumbee 13y ago
Formula E is only going to be around along enough to prove the concept is viable. Once it is, its going to either be relegated to a feeder series, or the ideas merged into formula one.
ajtaylor 13y ago
Thanks for the link. I didn't know about Formula E! I watched a video linked off the front page and while I missed the roar of a petrol engine, but it had it's own neat sound.

sbierwagen 13y ago

Who cares about the sound? I'm tired of seeing blog comments on Jalopnik complaining about it. Of the many dumb excuses car nuts use to whine about electric cars, "they sound different!" is by far the worst.

gsnedders 13y ago
At the end of the day sound is an inherent inefficiency. The aim is to maximise the kinetic energy output of the motor — any sound or heat energy produced is waste that could've better been produced as kinetic energy.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  Not always. Did you know that in top fuel cars, the "waste" energy of the exhaust works like jet thrusters, providing up to 1000lbs of traction-boosting downforce?
  - ars 13y ago
    The exhaust might do that, but the sound certainly doesn't. Any sound is wasted energy. And in any case there are better ways to harness energy if you want create downforce.
_s 13y ago
Lots of people do - some were drawn to F1 just because they stopped walking past a TV or near a track and wanted to know what was making that unworldly racket. That, to me, is equivalent of saying who cares what the cars look like? It's all part and parcel of the appeal of the sport - if somethings amiss, you've lost a little bit of that appeal.
enko 13y ago
I have to admit I love the sound of a good engine - and aeroplanes, and boats, trains, everything. It's the sound of power. Watching cars race without that sound is a far less emotive experience. One of the commentators on tonight's Bahrain race said that the safety car sounded much better than the race cars, and I wistfully agreed. That said, I do think some people overdo it a bit and I actually like that FIA is willing to force innovation, even if it's (initially?) unpopular.
- gregpilling 13y ago
  They have a long history of suppressing innovation though. Chapter 13 of this book is about all the tech that was banned. http://www.amazon.com/Formula-Technology-Peter-G-Wright/dp/0768002346 http://www.amazon.com/Formula-Technology-Peter-G-Wright/dp/0... It is the most interesting chapter in the book.
  - ISL 13y ago
    Search 'look inside' for the word 'banned' to see what greg's talking about. He's right. That's cool. What would F1 be like if they relaxed all the rules? Edit: Just got through the chapter, the author speculates on what would be possible without bans.
    - gaadd33 13y ago
      I haven't read the book but I think CanAm in the 70s was pretty much racing with no engineering restrictions. Hence you had the Porsche 917 putting out 1500hp+ and only weighing 1800 lbs.
WalterBright 13y ago
I have an old muscle car with a built V8. The crackling sound of the engine start, and the sound it makes when it 'digs in' under acceleration, is viscerally thrilling. The smell of a hot engine, and the shaking of the car also add a lot of fun. One of the best movie montages ever is the opening sequence of the movie "Grand Prix" where they start the engines and warm em up. In "Rush" they ruined the movie by having a rock soundtrack laid over the sounds of the cars. "Bullitt"s car chase has never been equaled because the director had the guts to let the V8s and various car noises be the whole soundtrack. The music overlay stops when the chase starts, the complete opposite of every other movie.
- kalms 13y ago
  Sorry, but Bullitt's car chase is terribly boring. I don't get why it's so fascinating?
  - WalterBright 13y ago
    Maybe you're used to the modern cinematographic technique of quick cuts where one barely has time to focus on a scene. Older movies tend to use longer shots in action sequences. Besides what I already mentioned, Bullitt is cool because: 1. the setup where the guy puts on his seatbelt 2. the total lack of dialog - the driver and the gunman understand each other just by looks 3. the deadpan expression on the driver 4. when Bullitt slides off the road, the slightest, most barely perceptible smile on the driver's face 5. McQueen's expression of complete focus and concentration 6. the 68 Mustang and Charger just totally rock. I never understand having a chase sequence with boring cars 7. the lack of CGI, models, and special effects 8. the skid marks from earlier takes 9. the amazing teleporting Green Beetle :-) 10. I love the shot of the rearview mirror when the hunter becomes the hunted - it's just classic
    - sbarre 13y ago
      Don't forget the car with 6 hubcaps!
    - kalms 13y ago
sliverstorm 13y ago
When you go to a race, you can feel the thrum of the engines in your chest. It can be a part of the experience. The same way that 100mph on a motorcycle is more thrilling than 100mph in a BMW, because of the roar of the wind, the heat of the bike, and the scream of the motor.
megablast 13y ago
As someone who had to study and do exams while the F1 was one, thank you and screw those people.

ojii 13y ago

Was completely unaware of the upcoming Formula E. Thanks for sharing. I'm a bit surprised by the "single provider" system used there. Read the Wikipedia article and it sounds like McLaren will supply all teams? Doesn't sound ideal to promote research. Also would love to see a Tesla Formula E team.

ericcumbee 13y ago

Formula E is only going to be around along enough to prove the concept is viable. Once it is, its going to either be relegated to a feeder series, or the ideas merged into formula one.

ajtaylor 13y ago

Thanks for the link. I didn't know about Formula E! I watched a video linked off the front page and while I missed the roar of a petrol engine, but it had it's own neat sound.