dB Drag Racing 97 Rules

1997 Rules & Regulations

dB Drag Racing was created to put some fun and excitement back into the auto sound competition arena. To insure consistency in judging, we have tried to keep the rules intentionally simple. However, in the best interest of the sport, rule additions and clarifications will occur from time to time as necessary.

Basic Rules

The contestant can use any program material they like.
Adjustments to the sound system are allowed during competition.
The program material must be reproduced using loudspeakers. Compressed air, explosive devices, etc. are expressly forbidden.
The contestant's vehicle may be running as long as the parking brake is set and the wheels are chocked.
The contestant must be outside of the vehicle during judging and all doors, windows, and other openings to the vehicle must be closed.
When the contestants are ready, the lights on the light tree will start cycling down in a fashion similar to the lights used in drag racing. When the bottom light illuminates, the judging begins. The contestants then have 30 seconds to achieve their highest Sound Pressure Level (SPL).
Contestants may not open their vehicle during this time. If a contestant opens his or her vehicle during judging, their score will be disqualified at the sole discretion of the head judge.
All rules will be enforced based on their intent, and the ruling of the head judge is final.

The passenger compartment and listening/measurement compartment shall be one and the same. (Intent: Measurements should be taken inside the passenger compartment.)
The passenger compartment must accommodate 2 adult passengers, sitting side by side, in a traditional seating arrangement. (Intent: The passenger compartment of the vehicle should approximate that of a typical vehicle.)
The windshield and front doors to the vehicle must function as an unobstructed boundary to the passenger compartment. (Intent: The listening environment should approximate that found in a typical vehicle, where the doors and the windshield act as "walls" to the listening environment.)
The windshield and/or windows to the vehicle may be replaced with another material, as long as that material approximates the size and function of the original equipment. (i.e. Plexiglas, bullet-proof glass, or another fully transparent material.)
No partitions or other barriers may divide or compartmentalize the passenger compartment. (Intent: The listening environment should approximate that found in a typical vehicle.)
Nothing must interfere with placement of the mic jig.
All reflective surfaces, with the exception of the windshield and dashboard, must be located a minimum of 1 mic jig length (13 inches) from the microphone capsule. (Intent: Reflective surfaces shall not interfere with the measurement equipment.)
Sound producing devices must not interfere with the measurement equipment. This includes, but is not limited to; horns, waveguides, vents, or other devices that are deliberately placed in close proximity to the microphone capsule. (Intent: Nothing shall interfere with the measurement equipment.)
All loudspeaker enclosures, and/or baffle boards, with the exception of those mounted in the kick-panels or doors, shall be located behind an imaginary plane that stretches from the trailing edge of the driver's door to the trailing edge of the passenger door. (Intent: The listening environment should approximate that found in a typical vehicle.)

1997 Rule Additions

For the 1997 season, the following rule additions and clarifications will be implemented.

The passenger compartment and listening/measurement compartment shall be one and the same. (Intent: Measurements should be taken inside the passenger compartment.)
The passenger compartment must accommodate 2 adult passengers, sitting side by side, in a traditional seating arrangement. (Intent: The passenger compartment of the vehicle should approximate that of a typical vehicle.)
The windshield and front doors to the vehicle must function as an unobstructed boundary to the passenger compartment. (Intent: The listening environment should approximate that found in a typical vehicle, where the doors and the windshield act as "walls" to the listening environment.)
The windshield and/or windows to the vehicle may be replaced with another material, as long as that material approximates the size and function of the original equipment. (i.e. Plexiglas, bullet-proof glass, or another fully transparent material.)
No partitions or other barriers may divide or compartmentalize the passenger compartment. (Intent: The listening environment should approximate that found in a typical vehicle.)
Nothing must interfere with placement of the mic jig.
All reflective surfaces, with the exception of the windshield and dashboard, must be located a minimum of 1 mic jig length (13 inches) from the microphone capsule. (Intent: Reflective surfaces shall not interfere with the measurement equipment.)
Sound producing devices must not interfere with the measurement equipment. This includes, but is not limited to; horns, waveguides, vents, or other devices that are deliberately placed in close proximity to the microphone capsule. (Intent: Nothing shall interfere with the measurement equipment.)
All loudspeaker enclosures, and/or baffle boards, with the exception of those mounted in the kick-panels or doors, shall be located behind an imaginary plane that stretches from the trailing edge of the driver's door to the trailing edge of the passenger door. (Intent: The listening environment should approximate that found in a typical vehicle.)