Bloody wind!!!
Discussion
I have a full screen and full cage, no doors and no hood. The hammering from wind is no joke. So far the options seem to be ..........half hood, half doors and Caterhams own wind deflectors. Anyone have any experienc of the best combination? Don`t want to wear a helmet or goggles so full screen stays (don`t fancy a brick in the face!!). Given the sunny days are upon us I`d rather no hood. Can`t find a pic` of the wind deflectors on a car.
I take it you can't fit normal doors because of the cage? Thumbs up for the half hood, but you might want to go for the Easy Open option on the driver's side; it would make life a lot easier with half-doors fitted and cuts down a lot of the bufeting that normally comes over the top of the screen. Had a look when collecting mine and it does seem very well made and designed; as theres a velcro flap that seals itself down over the zip. And FAR easier to fit in a hurry than the standard hood.
Either take your screen off and fit a RIF aeroscreen (has a higher deflector than Caterham's own), or a driver's side VX race screen, or remove your cage and fit full doors (the best solution to reduce buffeting). Received wisdom is that the wind deflectors are pretty useless above low speeds. One other idea is Brooklands screens which can be angled to suit your dimensions, but to my eye they are a bit "1930s".
canam said:
I take it you can't fit normal doors because of the cage? Thumbs up for the half hood, but you might want to go for the Easy Open option on the driver's side; it would make life a lot easier with half-doors fitted and cuts down a lot of the bufeting that normally comes over the top of the screen. Had a look when collecting mine and it does seem very well made and designed; as theres a velcro flap that seals itself down over the zip. And FAR easier to fit in a hurry than the standard hood.
Yep, the Easy Open option looks good. Are you saying that a lot of the bufeting goes with just the half doors and no hood??......ie, sunny day, full screen, half doors.......JOB DONE?? Edited by gra001 on Wednesday 18th April 12:23
Lots of people run full cage and full doors in the race series. I have half doors fitted and ran with wind deflectors for a while but I don't think they make much difference. I'd agree doors offer the best protection. I've also used the short roof sold by softbits for sevens (www.softbitsforsevens.co.uk ) which is excellent and takes about 30 seconds to fit. Half doors are a good compromise for protection from spray but if you have a roof fitted you need to remove the half door to get in. It doesn't hinge like the full door. On my racing car I have drilled a couple of holes in the front end of the half door and zip-tied it to the cage. I can just flip it up (Lambo scissor style!)and drop it back between the side chasis and the rear wheel protection bar, where it will sit fairly securely. One popper at each end makes it more secure. Half doors and the roof will keep out 90% of the elements, reduce buffeting and keep the open air feeling.
Edited by tortoise on Wednesday 18th April 12:41
tortoise said:
Half doors are a good compromise for protection from spray but if you have a roof fitted you need to remove the half door to get in. It doesn't hinge like the full door.
That's why I suggested the 'Easy In’ mod to the half-hood; it zips right back and makes getting in almost as easy as with no hood.
Although with a full cage it means you have to drop in through the top of the cage. With half doors fitted getting up on to the top of the cage without the door sill to stand on can be a bit of a stretch. Agree it offers more flexibility though.
Edited by tortoise on Wednesday 18th April 12:51
All good stuff and very helpful. To be honest don`t intend being out in the wet too often. The half doors sound a neat and easy fix for the sunny blat with the addition of the half hood ("easy in" option) just in case the rains come. Anybody running this combination?? The full doors may be viable with a full cage but are they SIGNIFICANTLY better re the buffetting?
Edited by gra001 on Wednesday 18th April 16:50
Not tried no doors myself, as I only have door-mounted mirrors, but the usual comment is that the buffeting is much reduced with full doors. Mine is quite comfortable at high cruising speeds, whereas those who've driven with full screen/no doors mention a battering to the side of the head at anything over 60.
I can't see how half doors with the screen would be any different to no doors (apart from less spray from the wheels). I find the buffetting is caused by the air flow round the side of the screen and half doors won't stop this. I've not driven with them though.
Screen and full doors but no roof, for me, is the most comfortable combination - no problems at speeds well over the UK national limit (on autobahns of course
). Obviously as you get up to the top speed of the car (110-120 for me I think) the buffetting increases but it's still not difficult to drive.
Edit to add a missing "not"
Screen and full doors but no roof, for me, is the most comfortable combination - no problems at speeds well over the UK national limit (on autobahns of course
). Obviously as you get up to the top speed of the car (110-120 for me I think) the buffetting increases but it's still not difficult to drive. Edit to add a missing "not"
Edited by ewenm on Thursday 19th April 10:24
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