QUIET DOWN YOU LOUD 4-STROKE!

The ATVA has released a new restriction for Pro ATV racers.   In a recent release the ATVA reiterated its point that “excessive sound” threatens the ATVs community's nationwide acceptance.   ATVA director Doug Moris released a statement testifying the ATVA wanted to help encourage the idea that it's “cool” to have a quiet quad.   For years ATV racers have cherished the noises produced by gnarly sounding ATVs.   But now the community must recognize that sound is limiting the sport's progression.   Attending a Stadium Supercross event provides resounding evidence that, regardless of how much that growl is loved, sometimes the noise is too loud.

For years hare scramble racers have struggled to get the most power available while remaining within the exhaust sound restrictions.   But often, only riders who are competing in local AMA events are held accountable to the 96db sound limit.   Most local riders are operating on small budget, race-for-fun race programs.   These small race programs do not have the budgets that teams like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki sponsor.   Unfortunately promoters for events the Pro teams enter have not enforced sound limits.   Without enforced sounds limits the big budget teams have sloughed off on their sound testing and development.   Now it is something that might be tackled by high budget race teams.

Many cross country racers spend hours prepping a bike for the race.   Recently in Minnesota, quad riders showed up to the race with little assurance their quad will pass the sound inspection.   Making the tech process more frustrating, many events require the rider to register before their quad is sound tested, then refuse refunds if the bike fails the sound test.   I have personally experienced the frustration of failing a sound test and watching the hours of preparation gone to waste while my quad sat sidelined.   To reject the need for sound restrictions is ridiculous.   But I remember watching the race from the side lines, wondering why we as a community couldn't come up with a better way to help concur our very loud daemons.

The ATVA has officially got the ball rolling.   No longer will garage mechanics be leading the charge in noise research.   Mechanics like Randy Lawson will be working hard to make sure Doug Gust and Jeremiah Jones pass tech by meeting the 102 decibel limit.   It is too early to discuss exactly how the 9 GNC promoters will handle this rule.   But racers and fans have something the cheer about.   And with the sound restrictions enforced, those cheers can be heard.