I am NOT looking for ways to spend more money on my race kaa.

But - among the things remaining on my short list are lexan windows.

No big deal on the rear, the Flex-a-lite FAL is a no brainer and not much worry in terms of optics.

But to make the jump at the front isn't so easy. It's not like you just install and clean with windex as necessary. They're going to get scratched up and degrade your picture.

I don't watch much NASCAR, and I know I've probably seen them before, but this time I paid attention: "Windshield Tearoff's".

I used to use tearoffs on my goggles. And I remember at one SWC race some of the teams had an anti-fog film on the inside.

So here's what comes up on the first line of a google search:

http://www.protint.com/ProShie....ivnu

Protint has external protective film sheets and internal anti-fog film sheets.

This stuff isn't cheap. And I have no idea how much the tearoffs would enjoy wiper blades - or if you'd even need them. But at least I know of this solution and it's cost (approx $65 per for the tearoffs, and approx $25 for an anti-fog).

All of which is very persuasive for the case for leaving the stock windshield alone!

Scott, who is just in a sharing mood...I especially like to share expensive ideas that I myself probably won't use...Is that wrong?

 

At the SCCA national race this weekend I noticed quite a few of the prod cars reatained glass in the front. The minor weight savings apparently just isn't worth the trouble.
I would tend to agree,

Change out the sides and the back and leave the front glass.

 

Yeah, it all depends on your budget, just how important is that last 0.1 seconds. If you have $millions in sponsorship riding on it, it's a great idea, otherwise...

 

The tear-off's are a great idea if you swap the windscreen out.
Apply 2 or 3 layers to a new Lexan windscreen and remove and re-apply as needed.

Make sure you use a glass cleaner that is Lexan compatible (for cleaning non-filmed surfaces).

 

For cleaning Lexan windows Five Star Bodies makes a great window cleaner made just for that task.

http://www.fivestarbodies.com/...d=203

Its a aersol foam instead of a liquid

 

I do not think the weight savings are that great after you get done installing the required inner supports for the lexan windshield. It would be interesting to do a comparision though.

Bob

 

Having run a lexan windsheild the last two years I can tell you it absolutely is not worth the weight savings. Cleaning is a pain in the ***, you have to be careful with any interior work you're doing on the car and you're really screwing yourself hardcore if you ever get in a situation where you need a windsheild wiper. I have one for emergency use and had to use it at a race at BeaveRun. Not suprisingly, scraping mud off a lexan windsheild with a wiper so you can see the track leaves permanent damage.

 

Has any used Speedglass from Percy's? There is another company as well, I can't recall the name, that also makes a mar/scratch resistant Lexan for the ALMS Corvettes and Porsches.

Ben

 

Try to get into a car with a lexan windshield before you do yours. Then try to drive it at speed. I couldn't do it. The distortion prevented me to drive good.

 

if the windshield is mounted properly (not just with minimum supports/mounts, it wont distort or have optics issues.

I'd run a lexan windshield for safety reasons over weight savings. For the s2000, to get a custom molded lexan windshield would actually weigh a bit more than the stock replacement, it wont crack like the glass one does and it'll be more resistant to pitting. In an accident, lexan wont shatter. You shouldn't be using wipers when running lexan. Rain-x before each rainy event works wonders.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the windshield is mounted properly (not just with minimum supports/mounts, it wont distort or have optics issues.

I'd run a lexan windshield for safety reasons over weight savings. For the s2000, to get a custom molded lexan windshield would actually weigh a bit more than the stock replacement, it wont crack like the glass one does and it'll be more resistant to pitting. In an accident, lexan wont shatter. You shouldn't be using wipers when running lexan. Rain-x before each rainy event works wonders. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah fork out the 2200 for professional grade molded acrylic and let us know sucka

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stormy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yeah fork out the 2200 for professional grade molded acrylic and let us know sucka

</TD></TR></TABLE>

$2200? Is that contra pricing? Quote from a reputable custom mold lexan windshield supplier that does racing and hot rod applications routinely....$440

LT From the movie "waterboy"- "Don't smoke crack"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

$2200? Is that contra pricing? Quote from a reputable custom mold lexan windshield supplier that does racing and hot rod applications routinely....$440

LT From the movie "waterboy"- "Don't smoke crack" </TD></TR></TABLE>

I want to see a high quality windsheild for the s2000 made of super scratch resitant and molded to that quality for 440 bux oh yeah and did I say for the s2000 of that quality

I hear lots of people say they can do something but then I see some people that actually produce the parts for a car that sees heavy street use btw

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stormy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...I hear lots of people say they can do something...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just plucking this out - "Ain't it the truth? Ain't it the Truth?!"

Scott, who is Sure that the pounds saved by a Lexan windshield won't make the difference in my becoming an International Superstar...So I'll have to look elsewhere. No! Titanium Lug Nutz aren't it either.

 

A very good spray-on plastic cleaner is called "Plexus". Light aircraft owners swear by it. It is available at most motorcycle shops. Works great, cheap & readily available.

I agree that it just ain't worth the trouble to replace the windshield w/ lexan. Sides and rear = .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Try to get into a car with a lexan windshield before you do yours. Then try to drive it at speed. I couldn't do it. The distortion prevented me to drive good.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. I drove an enduro last summer in a car with a lexan windshield and it felt like the whole world was melting at the end of the main straight. Try looking at that for a couple of hours.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by travis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. I drove an enduro last summer in a car with a lexan windshield and it felt like the whole world was melting at the end of the main straight. Try looking at that for a couple of hours.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you ever get the chance to look through the window of a car built with some budget you'll see the quality and strength of a professionally moulded version of the proper type and thickness

Really a good molded windsheild won't be too much lighter than glass it's just safer. Which is of course why it's part of the safety glass family

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by travis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. I drove an enduro last summer in a car with a lexan windshield and it felt like the whole world was melting at the end of the main straight. Try looking at that for a couple of hours.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The car Travis is speaking about is my car. I don't even notice the distortion anymore or maybe Travis just drives faster than I do...

I put a lexan windshield in my car for one reason, to save money by not having to replace the glass windshield after every race weekend. I have no idea if it saved any weight but it has saved me money. See, out here in AZ there is no grass along side the race tracks, only dirt and rocks. When a car goes off the track it will usually kick prior mentioned dirt and rocks on to the track which will eventually come in contact with a windshield. Just so happened I shattered three windshields over three consecutive race weekends. Luckly for me I still had insurance with glass coverage so I was able to get two free windshields but same installer came out each time and was really starting to ask questions... The third windshield was not covered by insurance (I took the car off the street and dropped the insurance) so I installed lexan. Haven't had any problems since.

If you have any questions about the install just ask, I'll do what I can to help.

Erik

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stormy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I want to see a high quality windsheild for the s2000 made of super scratch resitant and molded to that quality for 440 bux oh yeah and did I say for the s2000 of that quality

I hear lots of people say they can do something but then I see some people that actually produce the parts for a car that sees heavy street use btw</TD></TR></TABLE>

There is no such thing as scratch resitance. It'll scratch, acrylic, MR10, all. While tear-offs can protect it, I wouldn't go through the trouble of getting tear-offs. That's like getting stoneguard/film to protect the front bumper from rock chips on a race car. That quote I got is for MR10 custom molded (requires stock windshield for mold). If you want to email since you don't believe me, go ahead and ask em.

http://www.proglasswindows.com/

Another site that specializes in this:

http://www.racingshields.com/W...s.htm


I can relate to 97ssb-gsr, rocks dominate the west coast tracks and a lexan windshield can save a lot of money in the long run.