just curious.. why is it that when people road race they have their windows down? wouldnt that cause some drag? just curious

 

It aids in rescues. If it's an HPDE, so they can give hand signals to others to pass.
-Adam

 

and so you dont get glass in your face or all over the track when you hit something.

 

most of the time they have no windows..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ZUL8R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">most of the time they have no windows..</TD></TR></TABLE>

um no. youre only allowed to remove em on the driver door if the legal doorbar is inside the door. but not everyone has this type of rollcage design. passenger side must stay in. these rules apply to IT, which most of the road racers here compete in. so the above statement is not really correct.

 

point of interest: rally cars do have windows (or lexan or whatever) on the doors. That's why they have roof scoops (ventilation).

I think GT type endurance cars may have side windows too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kid1320 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just curious.. why is it that when people road race they have their windows down? wouldnt that cause some drag? just curious</TD></TR></TABLE>

it looks cooler

 

I always wondered if those wind deflectors that SUVs etc. have (they attach to the A pillar) were a legal "mod" in most classes? They would add significant frontal area (drag) but they'd keep air from becoming trapped inside the car, which may not be bad as I would guess. Something I never cared enough about to ask.

 

what would make them legal, and how they do they not let air trapped inside the car?

 

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

um no. youre only allowed to remove em on the driver door if the legal doorbar is inside the door. but not everyone has this type of rollcage design. passenger side must stay in. these rules apply to IT, which most of the road racers here compete in. so the above statement is not really correct.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's assuming you're only talking about SCCA, right? I've seen plenty of cars with no windows that don't have the cage design you mentioned.

 

It's a regional thing also. Around here, auto-x or for solo1, hpde, lapping, whatever... you MUST run with the windows UP on the driver side unless you have a window-net. The passenger windows can be down unless there's a passenger riding along in which case the window must be up as well...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what would make them legal</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's my question.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and how they do they not let air trapped inside the car?</TD></TR></TABLE>

They deflect air coming at high velocity away from the window, installed on cars for driver comfort. Air flying into the car creates a high pressure section since it has nowhere to go. I would guess that the overall flow around the sides of the car would be less turbulent, which would be a good thing. It adds frontal area, which is a bad thing. Maybe there's a tradeoff. And they are really really cool, which is a good thing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's a regional thing also. Around here, auto-x or for solo1, hpde, lapping, whatever... you MUST run with the windows UP on the driver side unless you have a window-net. The passenger windows can be down unless there's a passenger riding along in which case the window must be up as well...
</TD></TR></TABLE>
And around here you're usually supposed to run with the windows down, even in autocross (unless it's really cold!).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turbohappy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And around here you're usually supposed to run with the windows down, even in autocross (unless it's really cold!).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've never seen any SCCA racing, autocross or HDPE that let you run with a driver's window up even in rain or cold, window net or not. Mostly it would be a worker access thing or for point-byes.

I'd think most rulebooks would have problems with window air deflectors as being aerodynamic devices. I like the Trans Am cars, etc. that have an outward curved B-pillar and most now have the wall and "taxi window" behind the driver to keep wind out of the car and causing drag.

 

down here it doesn't seem they care. Most people run with them down, unless it's cold or windy, but I've never heard anyone say anything when I run with them up (but slightly cracked.) as far as solo2 goes...

 

so you can hang out your arm like gangsta style!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never seen any SCCA racing, autocross or HDPE that let you run with a driver's window up even in rain or cold, window net or not. Mostly it would be a worker access thing or for point-byes. </TD></TR></TABLE>
They made an exception since it was about 25 degrees out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EVIL_4g_civic_si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so you can hang out your arm like gangsta style! </TD></TR></TABLE>

like i said its cooler

 

I was at an HPDE last weekend and was within 10mm of losing an eye from flying asphalt because I was
A) wearing my open-face helmet so that I could actually speak to my students without screaming

B) running with the windows open. I think it's a pretty good idea to keep them closed unless you're wearing a full-face and have a window net if you're on a dirty surface.

 

here (vegas), windows during HPDE/hot lap days have to be down.


autocross, doesn't matter.


I actually got black flagged for having my passenger side window rolled half way up.

next corner, i see a worker doing the international sign of the donut... then it hit me... pass window was up. Do'h!


I always thought it was for:
1. if you crash, they can get you out easier.
2. broken glass in your face is bad.
3. broken glass all over your body when you're being pulled out is bad for the corner works (cut their hands, etc).

 

I figure having the windows down is free, whereas hitting your helmet on a window and breaking it costs money