Wink mirror

[RaceProEngineer]

Well, I certainly can not argue with that !

Ed

[Tom W]

Getting late at night and hitting the wrong keys Ed?

[David 23]

Looks like some technical problems erased my question. I wondered if others are using the 5 panel wink mirror in a 911 race car, and how it is mounted, or a smaller version. The 5 panel seems very wide and close to my head if mounted on the roll cage. Also interested in what other mirror solutions people are using.

[RaceProEngineer]

Hi Tom,

Actually it was getting late on this coast, but, if you look more closely, Dave posted the topic, and I was simply responding.

Ed

[jluetjen]

I used to have a 5 element Wink mirror in my ITB race car -- and to be honest it worked too well. I spent too much time worrying about what was behind me, and I believe that it slowed me down when I was being chased. In the future I'm going to just use a standard rear view mirror, and turn it up so it doesn't distract me.

[924RACR]

I run the 5-element wink in my ITB car too!

Of course it's a 924, can't help too much on 911 placement, other than a few basic install notes.

First I had it up high, eventually realized the angle of the dangle was no good, and so I couldn't see very far behind me - not so useful on long straights! So I lowered it with some extensions. Much better angle, can see much farther behind. It sits, go figure, at about the same height as the stock RV mirror.

But that still didn't work on the long straights - 'cause then I get up to higher speeds, and once I pass about 60mph, it shakes too much!

So then I added some additional struts to cross-brace it. Now it's stable up over 110mph (only just over - my little 2.0L runs out of track before it runs out of legs!), and very useable.

I think my next step will be tossing those big flag side mirrors - as good as they are - in the quest for better aero. That's one of the few things we can do in IT to improve aero, and the wink, now that it's fully functional, gives enough visibility I think to let me get away with it. I think I'll be using one or two small formula-style or the like mirrors. CF too, cheap and light!

[jester911]

David, my car is not a dedicated race car but I do track it frequently. My solution is a a wide angle curved mirror that attaches to the stock mirror. It works very well on the track and it comes off easily when back on the street. Another nice thing about it is that it drops down a tad lower from the stock one which helps see below the roll bar behind me that is just about eye level in the mirror.

I actually bought it on Evilbay if you can believe it.

[jluetjen]

Franco: And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving.
[Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car]
Franco: What's-a behind me is not important.

[RaceProEngineer]

John,

That arrangement also serves to keep anyone who wants to pass you REAL HONEST - they had better be FULLY "alongside"!

Ed

[jluetjen]

I'm not sure if this is disagreeing with you or not...

At least in the SCCA GCR, it's the responsibility of the passer to make a clean pass, while the passee is expected to maintain their line. Having passed people on occasion, nothing upsets me more then setting someone up for a clean pass -- only to have them pull off-line at the last second (and into my path) as they try to let me past, thus forcing me to get off the gas and take avoiding actions.

I figure that if I'm not paying close* attention to someone behind me and just focus on my line, they'll get past me easy enough if they're fast enough. It's not like I'm going to be expending any energy to block them!

* Even when karting with no mirrors, I'm generally aware of it if someone's behind me. My point is that I'm not checking it every couple of seconds worrying about where they are and what their doing. That's their problem, not mine! I've got enough things to worry about with what's in front of me.

[RaceProEngineer]

Originally Posted by jluetjen

At least in the SCCA GCR, it's the responsibility of the passer to make a clean pass, while the passee is expected to maintain their line. Having passed people on occasion, nothing upsets me more then setting someone up for a clean pass -- only to have them pull off-line at the last second (and into my path) as they try to let me past, thus forcing me to get off the gas and take avoiding actions.

Actually, this exact scenario took place at The Glen a couple of seasons ago in a Formula Ford race, with catastrophic results. It was between The Loop and T6, where we cross the track from L to R, and a National-level driver was preparing to pass a rookie doing his second Regional. (HUGE speed differential!) The national car timed it so that he would stay on the L coming out of The Loop, putting him on the inside of T6 for out-breaking if necessary. The Fords are up over 100 MPH at this point on the track. Unfortunately, the rookie, seeing in HIS MIRRORS the other Ford closing at an unbelievable rate, decided to go back to the L also! No place to go but in the grass for the faster driver.

A close friend of ours had been following the National car, and was next on the scene, playing dodge 'em with half-shafts, wheels, suspension parts, and fiber glas. Both drivers were VERY LUCKY!

Moral to the story? Heed Franco's advice - Never look in your mirrors!

Ed