[LM24 Race] Hearing Protection / Ear Muffs

[brico]

So we're getting ready to attend this year's race (for the first time) and are currently making our list and checking it twice so to speak.

I'd like to thank everyone for their input and the information we've located on the site has been extremely helpful. But I do have one remaining question - what is the preferred hearing protection/ear muffs of the ten-tenths community? I've located a few comments on various threads accross the forum and have narrowed it down to the following:
1. 3M Work Tunes (formerly Peltor)
2. Elvex Quiet Tunes 660

I've read that the FM reception of both is touch and go. If anyone has used these at Le Mans and can speak to the reception I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Brian

[GT6]

I have never used these things, i have a normal sony walkman radio and ear phones, the noise from the cars is part of the event and i do feel that if you put on ear protection muffs you one miss the atmosphere of the circuit and two put your self at risk when walking around not being able to hear everything around you. Yes these things are good for listening to RLM but are they essential/safe perhaps not

[CTD]

I usually use an iPod Nano with in-ears with foam tips.
It takes the edge of the cars sound, so you can hear the radio more clearly.

[Simmi]

I figured I'd come away from a 24-hour race with a massive headache but the last three years it simply hasn't been the case.

As the guys say wearing in-ear earphones for RLM will dull the sensation slightly. Biggest thing for me is just finding something comfortable enough to have stuffed in your ear for 24 hours. We just use small portable radios.

For sure some people will have sensitive or damaged ears but it's not like the sound of a Le Mans field is particularly brutal these days.

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by brico

So we're getting ready to attend this year's race (for the first time) and are currently making our list and checking it twice so to speak.

I'd like to thank everyone for their input and the information we've located on the site has been extremely helpful. But I do have one remaining question - what is the preferred hearing protection/ear muffs of the ten-tenths community? I've located a few comments on various threads accross the forum and have narrowed it down to the following:
1. 3M Work Tunes (formerly Peltor)
2. Elvex Quiet Tunes 660

I've read that the FM reception of both is touch and go. If anyone has used these at Le Mans and can speak to the reception I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Brian

Personally I've always found my trusty old Mk1 Big Lugs do the job. I've had them for sixty-six years now and they still seem to be working fine.

[bella]

i don't use hearing protection at le mans, but got quite offended when the corvettes woke me up during warm up

however, i can recommend the noise isolation qualities of a decent pair of earbuds as CTD says - something like the sennheiser cx300 is very good value. they form a seal (not the mammal) in your ear canal, so much less sound gets through. but take a cheap pair of earplugs if you're keen to get some sleep whilst the race is running

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by bella

they form a seal (not the mammal) in your ear canal

Love it! Glad you cleared that up bella

[nobster]

I just use my MP4 player so I can listen to radio Le Mans as well.

[Mike E]

A pair of seals would certainly smother the noise of the cars though!
Agree with others above, I use in-ear phones with a rubber earpiece. Takes the harshness off the noise.

[NelisB]

I think I'm one of the only one's here using earmuffs then? I like these beter because you don't get pain in your ear, that may be different for everyone though. I also like the ease of use of the earmuffs. Just pop in a pair of double AA's and I'm good for the whole 24 hours, I'm also free of any wires hanging around my neck and such.

[isynge]

I tend to do both - running the cables for in-ear headphones under a pair of fairly industrial ear defenders.

A lot of the time the headphones will suffice, especially if you're a bit back from the track, but spaces where the noise can echo about a bit (covered grandstands along the start-finish straight for example) ear defenders can be appreciated.

It's horses for courses, and will depend on how sensitive everyone's ears are, but for me I'd rather not run the risk of noise induced hearing loss.

[Aysedasi]

I don't wear any for ear protection.

But I do wear the Quietunes as the sound-deadening for the radio is brilliant.

[NelisB]

Originally Posted by isynge

I tend to do both - running the cables for in-ear headphones under a pair of fairly industrial ear defenders.

A lot of the time the headphones will suffice, especially if you're a bit back from the track, but spaces where the noise can echo about a bit (covered grandstands along the start-finish straight for example) ear defenders can be appreciated.

It's horses for courses, and will depend on how sensitive everyone's ears are, but for me I'd rather not run the risk of noise induced hearing loss.

Well, Le mans is not the only race I'm going to (WSBK, MotoGP (F1, hides in corner). I'm regularly at tracks and rather be safe than sorry with my 1 pair of ears Though I only wear the earmuffs with FM radio at Le Mans because of Radio Le Mans, the other tracks I use my normal inear-protector thingies.

[Aysedasi]

Can't say I've ever worn them, or been tempted to - and these days, racing engines are a lot less noisy than they used to be. The only time I've ever thought about my ears was standing at Graham Hill Bend for the European Grand Prix at Brands in 1985 (or was it '86?). Man those turbos were loud.........

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Can't say I've ever worn them, or been tempted to - and these days, racing engines are a lot less noisy than they used to be. The only time I've ever thought about my ears was standing at Graham Hill Bend for the European Grand Prix at Brands in 1985 (or was it '86?). Man those turbos were loud.........

Remembering my first encounter with F1 turbos in Austria 1986 I distinctly recall the wall of noise being almost a solid (and thrillingly so...).

Moving on a year or two, for all that there was something magnificent about the Aston Martin LMPs in 2009 I can still feel the ringing in ears caused by sitting in one of the covered Silverstone grandstands and seeing the full pack hurtle past. Magnificent, but much like looking straight at the sun, not something to be done every day.

[BudLightJaguar]

I'm too young to have seen 80's F1 turbos in a full pack. But I do remember seeing Renaul RS01 warming up at Goodwood in a really close distance. And that was loud!
I always have a pack of earplugs with me whether I use them or not.

[MoMedic9019]

While expensive, custom molded earphones are still the way to go. last set you'll ever buy.

[whitemr2]

You only need ear protection when you are on a grandstand on the pitstraight however if you want to follow the race listening to the brilliant report of RLM is a must. So buy yourself a simple noisereduction headphone with radio and enjoy. As said it's not as loud as it used to be. Boy I love those Corvettes.

[Steve Tarrant]

I wear a pair of the Worktunes ear defenders while marshalling, with built in FM/AM radio. That way I keep my hearing for longer, AND I know from Hindy and the guys what is going on.

[GT6]

Hey Steve I thought you were supposed to be listening to the chief marshal not RLM

[Aysedasi]

You hear him on RLM at times too.......

[Steve Tarrant]

Originally Posted by GT6

Hey Steve I thought you were supposed to be listening to the chief marshal not RLM

That would depend on whether he's speaking French or English!!!!!!

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Steve Tarrant

I wear a pair of the Worktunes...

Snap!

[The Badger]

Ear defenders are for poofs , imo of course

[Aysedasi]

I had my Quietunes on too - same as Tony. Who said the art of conversation was dead - Pascal just looks bemused!