BagelW

A rock from a semi was throw up and cracked my windshield a few months ago. The crack eventually grew across the bottom of my windshield but I left it alone since it is not in my line of site.

Anyhu, the season now approaches and I am wondering if I need to have the windshield fixed for autocross. I have asked my local region but it seems to be taking them to long to find out and the first autocross is March 2.

The local track I will do open-track day at doesn't care. It's kind of a redneck "run what you've brung" type track so I'm not worried about that.

I just need to know if anyone here knows SCCA rules well enough to know if I'll be able to autocross without having to fix the windshield. Since the crack is no where near my line of site I would rather wait and fix the crack after I have to drive to Colorado in April.

.RJ

as long as the windshield is not going to shatter or fall out while you're driving it, you should be ok.

BagelW

I hope it doesn't. That would suck.

It doesn't flex or anything so does that mean it's safe?

Crack Monkey

If yes to either, then replace...
1. Does it block driver's vision?
2. Can you feel the crack by running finger over/along it?

I've had a cracked windsheild for over a year now with no problems. It's a few inches long, but is low on the glass, so it doesn't block vision. And it isn't spider-webbing. If it gets any longer or begins to spider-web, I will replace it.

jc836

Is the car street legal still? If so, most states require that you replace the windshield. The damage you describe cannot be repaired. Insurance usually pays the bill if submitted promptly. If the car is a race only-no plates type and your local track/autocross group allows this-then it is purely your choice. Personally-fix it because most windshield today ar part of the structure of the car. If you happen to corner really hard and the windshield frame twists-goodbye weakened windshield.

SCCA expects you to present a car that is safe and for street classes-street legal. You can get an instant ruling (granted not always final) from the national office at 1-800-770-2055.

EPrepCivic

I was puting the hood back on my Civic when it slipped and caught the edge of the windshield. A crack soon appeared that went from one side almost to the other. I really didn't want to replace it with a new one since, 1) The windshield was only 2 weeks old, and 2) I was planning on making a Lexan replacement at the end of the season.

Anyway, I ran the entire season with the crack and passed througfh SCCA tech each time with no problems.

Vracer111

When I autocrossed my 90 GS it had a big O'l crack from the drivers side all the way over to the passenger side I had no problems.

I hate getting behind semi's - my Tacoma has a hit that occured in Mississsippi from a semi with useless mudflaps covering the rear tires....

Vracer111, who wishes there was a glass that had the resilience of plastic...

BagelW

Hopefully I'll be okay. I am going to replace it in April. I have to drive 1000 miles and back to Colorado in late March. I just didn't want to replace it and then get another crack on that trip.

The crack does go completely across the lower part of the windshield but it has finished spreading so hopefully I'll be okay for the first few events.

Thanks everyone!

ITACivic

There are ways to structurally repair windsheild cracks. I have had my windows fixed 3 times. The techs can repair cracks up to 10 inches in length and cracks that are smaller than a quarter. When completed I can see a small blemish, but the crack will not spread anymore. This should be good to hold you until you replace the whole windsheild. Prices in SF Bay Area go for $50 for the forst crack and $15 for each additional. Try lookiing up a Windsheilds America, in your local yellow pages. The business may have changed names but the service may help you out.

tominos

just tape it up with clear packaging tape until you can get it fixed.

BagelW

Unfortunately, the crack spreads across the entire windshield. It did start as a small crack but it got soooo cold within the next few days that it immediately spread.