windshield caved in doing 110

[dfink]

SCCA Time trial my lexan windshield caved in on me. Gets your attention.

[DRACO A5OG]

Whoa

[OsoMoore]

At 24 seconds in the video - did you have it sealed properly? I'm glad it didn't lead to disaster.

[Flat Six]

Holy cr@p!! Bet that got your attention!

[Grady Clay]

Perhaps this may tell you why Porsche uses a standard glass windshield (or even a thin glass version).
I have been 220+ mph twice a lap for 12 and 24 hours (935K3) and never a failure.

Let’s see:
Weight savings from a Lexan windshield – a few milliseconds per lap.
Time spent replacing Lexan windshield – down several laps.
Time gained from seeing where you are going (at only 110 mph) – priceless.
Enough said.

Best,
Grady

[winders]

Grady,

All that needs to be done is to use the appropriate thickness (read 1/4") polycarbonate windshield. That thing looked way too thin.

Scott

[Grady Clay]

Scott,

I guess above I was being a bit scurrilous.

My point should have been that the best vision possible makes for the fastest lap times.
I’m probably a ‘poster boy’ for vision vs. lap times.
With my former myopia, I worked hard for the best vision possible while racing (in the ‘60s, ‘70s & ‘80s).
Only recently with cornea implants have I realized how much better vision I could have had and how much faster (and safer) I could have driven.
Sorta the difference between a 935 brute and a 997Cup.

So … my recommendation is to have the best vision possible – a few grams of weight be damned.

Best,
Grady

[Dantilla]

One of the fast guys around here couldn't stand the distortion caused by the Lexan windshield flexing at speed.

Went back to glass.

[dfink]

I am pretty sure the issue on this was of my own doing. I used a new window seal and forgot to put a cord in to serve as a lock. Normally there is a metal lock piece "trim" that helps lock the window in. A piece of rubber cord normally used to hold window screen in will work as well. I forgot that step. The winshield didn't cave in as much as the rubber turned in because it wasn't expanded and locked. That then allowed the lexan to flex in.

[redstrosekNic]

Whoa!

[MrBonus]

Finally, a pragmatic solution to our temperamental and poorly-functioning air conditioning systems.

[redturbo911]

Wow thats crazy. Good thing you kept cool. Glad it worked out for you and nothing major happened.

[dgmark]

After replacing 2 glass windshields in two years I switched to lexan, no problums if its installed correctly and cleaned properly

[GeorgeK]

Lucky it did not back into your face, or throat area...
at 110 mph.

[wayner]

Search youTube for "miata crash"

Mid way through the video a guy loses his steering wheel.

Aside from this and that incident, you guys amaze me with your composure when things go wrong. I might have jumped out ;-)

[mpetry]

I've got a video of a tire failure on the banking at Daytona - doing about 160 in a GT3 Cup. The car spins around and the windshield blows out - it is like a bomb going off. Not sure if my website will stream it but here is.

http://petry.org/markp/DaytonaGT3RS.wmv

Not something I'd like to have happen to me. Might need a new driver's seat as well.

[Deadeye]

Did you have any clips installed? I have 6 aluminum clips that prevent this kind of blow out.

[bavaria911]

Did you ever think of a safety issue there?

[Jerome74911S]

Originally Posted by Grady Clay

So … my recommendation is to have the best vision possible – a few grams of weight be damned.

Best,
Grady

Amen to that.