ACT SPEEDWAY
A detailed gear list can be found at the bottom of this case study.
A popular Speedway in the ACT keeps things loud and clear – and quiet – all at the same time.
Photos: Anthony Barnes Photography
When the ACT Speedway at Fairbairn Park outside of Canberra was first established back in the 1990s it had no running water and no electricity. Over the next 20 years, a determined bunch of volunteers laboured to build facilities and safety requirements, as well as shifting a lot of dirt to create embankments that doubled as sound barriers. The ACT Speedway, managed by The National Capital Motor Sport Club, now presents as one of the premium racing circuits of the speedway event calendar and is a drawcard for motoring enthusiasts from across the region.
Following a successful government grant funding application, track lighting was installed and night racing began in 2020, making the Speedway even more popular.
The ACT Speedway is part of the Fairbairn Park Cluster, an initiative by the ACT EPA to manage noise from motorsports activities in one place. This precinct includes a motorcycle club for motocross, motorcycle trials, a kart racing course and a hillclimb track. The government support is a two-edged sword for all the clubs, but particularly the Speedway which is one of the higher noise-generating activities and therefore constantly managing vehicle noise emission to satisfy the environmental noise requirements.
Experienced acoustic consultant, Tim Kuschel of GUZ BOX design + audio, has been working with ACT Speedway over several years to provide environmental noise monitoring and reporting of racing events, ensuring compliance with the environmental noise requirements placed on the venue. Tim’s consulting works also include arenas, performance venues, large city transit spaces and motorsport facilities.
THE CHALLENGE
The popularity of night-time racing during the summer season saw an increasing number of spectators attending each event. Organisers soon realised that the old PA system consisting of several paging horns was no longer capable of providing announcements throughout all the spectator areas.
The Speedway engaged Tim Kuschel to provide sound system design advice including acoustic modelling and product recommendations for a new public address system to enhance the spectator experience and improve the quality of audio announcements and music playback. A key consideration of the upgrade works was to ensure compliance with the environmental noise requirements while maintaining a high level of speech intelligibility. That might sound a bit odd considering the noise that is generated by race cars during a race.
The races themselves have minimal live commentary. The action speaks for itself. However, in the relative silence between the racing heats, the PA is used non-stop, even if only for some BGM. Consistent coverage over such a vast, open-air venue without excessive spill beyond the fences wasn’t going to be easy.
The oval-shaped speedway provides a 500m racing circuit. Raked spectator areas are located along approximately 300 metres of the circuit from where the spectators can also watch non-racing events such as trophy presentations and driver interviews taking place on the inside of the track.
Of course, it’s outdoors in a very harsh environment with flying dirt and exhaust fumes, plus the demanding environmental conditions of Canberra’s dry and hot summer to freezing temperatures during winter months. The race season consists of five race meetings over the summertime daylight-savings period from November to April, accounting for approximately forty hours of operation total a year.
Last and certainly not least, the speedway is still essentially a not-for-profit organisation relying heavily on volunteers and the goodwill of contestants and spectators alike. The budget to replace the aging PA system wasn’t huge.
THE FIX
Tim used AFMG’s EASE 5 software to get an accurate picture of the venue. With the embankments and large spectator areas surrounding the race circuit, it has an amphitheatre quality rather than a flat, open-air space. After modelling several loudspeaker solutions, the team at NAS suggested he try out an inDESIGN MH158 middle-to-long distance loudspeaker with a demonstration unit sent for evaluation. Immediately, Tim was impressed at the quality of the sound reproduction. “They’re even great for music with a full frequency response including good bass. I wasn’t expecting that,” Tim admits.
Next, he turned the garden hose on them.
Maybe a little extreme, but as mentioned this is a demanding outdoor environment and Tim had to be confident. The inDESIGN units passed on the inside lane with flying colours.
The inDESIGN MH158 is a high SPL two-way structured plastic cabinet system with weather and UV resistant housing, designed for medium to long distance sound reinforcement applications. The IP56 rated loudspeaker provides both 8Ω and 100V input with power rating to 150W and frequency response suitable for speech and music playback applications.
Installation was carried out by volunteers with the help and expertise of club members, digging trenches for the cabling and erecting the custom designed speaker-mount poles saving significantly on labour costs.
30 inDESIGN MH158 loudspeakers were installed in two zones to cover the spectator areas and are powered by a Crest CLH3000C amplifier.
“The sound and coverage are exceptional,” says Tim. “After decades of the old 100V system, the committee can’t believe how good it all sounds. But even I’m surprised at how well it sounds even though the EASE modelling indicated that’s exactly what would happen.”
The Speedway also needed a new wireless microphone system with a paddle antennae system to manage the long distance between the control booth and those mid-circuit presentations. An audio mixer was installed to complete the system upgrade.
All control and amplification equipment has been installed in a road-case for secure storage when not in use. The speakers remain to endure the freezing Canberra winter – another reason that durability was important.
THE RESULT
Speedway officials have commented that the new PA is so much better than expected and has significantly improved the visitor experience, with spectators also providing positive feedback through direct comments and social media channels. Speech clarity has been optimised through all spectator areas.
Tim Kuschel has had a long relationship with NAS. “Over the years, they’ve never let me down, and that’s more important to me than anything. Having said that, NAS also always has excellent solutions even when you’re restricted by budgets or a challenging project. When an install requires something not in the NAS inventory, you get their full support in making everything come together.”
The Speedway continues to host successful summertime events with race-goers kept fully informed thanks to the power and clarity of the inDESIGN loudspeakers, Tim Kuschel’s expertise, and the loudspeaker and amplification solution supplied by NAS.
inDESIGN | Crest Audio
GEAR LIST
inDESIGN MH158 loudspeakers
- Freq. Response: 80Hz-18kHz
- Drivers: 1x8”/2” voice coil LF, 1x1”/1.4” voice coil HF
- Power: 100V Line Input 37.5W/75W/150W
- Sensitivity: 96dB 1W/1m
- Max. SPL: 117dB continuous, 123dB peak
Crest CLH3000C amplifier
- Ultra-high efficiency, class-D, two-channel power amplifiers
- 1250W per channel continuous at 100V
- Crest Audio’s exclusive ACL (Active Clip Limiting)
- Channel Active and temperature warning
- Light-weight switch-mode power supply
MORE CASE STUDIES
ACT SPEEDWAY
GEAR LIST
inDESIGN MH158 loudspeakers
- Freq. Response: 80Hz-18kHz
- Drivers: 1x8”/2” voice coil LF, 1x1”/1.4” voice coil HF
- Power: 100V Line Input 37.5W/75W/150W
- Sensitivity: 96dB 1W/1m
- Max. SPL: 117dB continuous, 123dB peak
Crest CLH3000C amplifier
- Ultra-high efficiency, class-D, two-channel power amplifiers
- 1250W per channel continuous at 100V
- Crest Audio’s exclusive ACL (Active Clip Limiting)
- Channel Active and temperature warning
- Light-weight switch-mode power supply
A popular Speedway in the ACT keeps things loud and clear – and quiet – all at the same time.
Photos: Anthony Barnes Photography
When the ACT Speedway at Fairbairn Park outside of Canberra was first established back in the 1990s it had no running water and no electricity. Over the next 20 years, a determined bunch of volunteers laboured to build facilities and safety requirements, as well as shifting a lot of dirt to create embankments that doubled as sound barriers. The ACT Speedway, managed by The National Capital Motor Sport Club, now presents as one of the premium racing circuits of the speedway event calendar and is a drawcard for motoring enthusiasts from across the region.
Following a successful government grant funding application, track lighting was installed and night racing began in 2020, making the Speedway even more popular.
The ACT Speedway is part of the Fairbairn Park Cluster, an initiative by the ACT EPA to manage noise from motorsports activities in one place. This precinct includes a motorcycle club for motocross, motorcycle trials, a kart racing course and a hillclimb track. The government support is a two-edged sword for all the clubs, but particularly the Speedway which is one of the higher noise-generating activities and therefore constantly managing vehicle noise emission to satisfy the environmental noise requirements.
Experienced acoustic consultant, Tim Kuschel of GUZ BOX design + audio, has been working with ACT Speedway over several years to provide environmental noise monitoring and reporting of racing events, ensuring compliance with the environmental noise requirements placed on the venue. Tim’s consulting works also include arenas, performance venues, large city transit spaces and motorsport facilities.
THE CHALLENGE
The popularity of night-time racing during the summer season saw an increasing number of spectators attending each event. Organisers soon realised that the old PA system consisting of several paging horns was no longer capable of providing announcements throughout all the spectator areas.
The Speedway engaged Tim Kuschel to provide sound system design advice including acoustic modelling and product recommendations for a new public address system to enhance the spectator experience and improve the quality of audio announcements and music playback. A key consideration of the upgrade works was to ensure compliance with the environmental noise requirements while maintaining a high level of speech intelligibility. That might sound a bit odd considering the noise that is generated by race cars during a race.
The races themselves have minimal live commentary. The action speaks for itself. However, in the relative silence between the racing heats, the PA is used non-stop, even if only for some BGM. Consistent coverage over such a vast, open-air venue without excessive spill beyond the fences wasn’t going to be easy.
The oval-shaped speedway provides a 500m racing circuit. Raked spectator areas are located along approximately 300 metres of the circuit from where the spectators can also watch non-racing events such as trophy presentations and driver interviews taking place on the inside of the track.
Of course, it’s outdoors in a very harsh environment with flying dirt and exhaust fumes, plus the demanding environmental conditions of Canberra’s dry and hot summer to freezing temperatures during winter months. The race season consists of five race meetings over the summertime daylight-savings period from November to April, accounting for approximately forty hours of operation total a year.
Last and certainly not least, the speedway is still essentially a not-for-profit organisation relying heavily on volunteers and the goodwill of contestants and spectators alike. The budget to replace the aging PA system wasn’t huge.
THE FIX
Tim used AFMG’s EASE 5 software to get an accurate picture of the venue. With the embankments and large spectator areas surrounding the race circuit, it has an amphitheatre quality rather than a flat, open-air space. After modelling several loudspeaker solutions, the team at NAS suggested he try out an inDESIGN MH158 middle-to-long distance loudspeaker with a demonstration unit sent for evaluation. Immediately, Tim was impressed at the quality of the sound reproduction. “They’re even great for music with a full frequency response including good bass. I wasn’t expecting that,” Tim admits.
Next, he turned the garden hose on them.
Maybe a little extreme, but as mentioned this is a demanding outdoor environment and Tim had to be confident. The inDESIGN units passed on the inside lane with flying colours.
The inDESIGN MH158 is a high SPL two-way structured plastic cabinet system with weather and UV resistant housing, designed for medium to long distance sound reinforcement applications. The IP56 rated loudspeaker provides both 8Ω and 100V input with power rating to 150W and frequency response suitable for speech and music playback applications.
Installation was carried out by volunteers with the help and expertise of club members, digging trenches for the cabling and erecting the custom designed speaker-mount poles saving significantly on labour costs.
30 inDESIGN MH158 loudspeakers were installed in two zones to cover the spectator areas and are powered by a Crest CLH3000C amplifier.
“The sound and coverage are exceptional,” says Tim. “After decades of the old 100V system, the committee can’t believe how good it all sounds. But even I’m surprised at how well it sounds even though the EASE modelling indicated that’s exactly what would happen.”
The Speedway also needed a new wireless microphone system with a paddle antennae system to manage the long distance between the control booth and those mid-circuit presentations. An audio mixer was installed to complete the system upgrade.
All control and amplification equipment has been installed in a road-case for secure storage when not in use. The speakers remain to endure the freezing Canberra winter – another reason that durability was important.
THE RESULT
Speedway officials have commented that the new PA is so much better than expected and has significantly improved the visitor experience, with spectators also providing positive feedback through direct comments and social media channels. Speech clarity has been optimised through all spectator areas.
Tim Kuschel has had a long relationship with NAS. “Over the years, they’ve never let me down, and that’s more important to me than anything. Having said that, NAS also always has excellent solutions even when you’re restricted by budgets or a challenging project. When an install requires something not in the NAS inventory, you get their full support in making everything come together.”
The Speedway continues to host successful summertime events with race-goers kept fully informed thanks to the power and clarity of the inDESIGN loudspeakers, Tim Kuschel’s expertise, and the loudspeaker and amplification solution supplied by NAS.
inDESIGN | Crest Audio