Track days...windows up or down?

[Groboz]

Last track day I did I noticed that some drivers had their windows up and some down. What do you do and why??????

On my 1st and only track day I had the windows up and air con off. Thought it would be better when approaching close to 200 kmh down the straight. But I did wonder if lowering the heavy windows would help with cornering by slightly lowering the vehicles centre of gravity. I suspect it doesn't matter either way but it would be good to hear other peoples theories.:)

[LSX-438]

passenger window UP

driver window DOWN, so you can point your finger out the window, in the direction you want the r35 to over take you (j/k)

now, if you are doing a time attack event etc., all windows up, white knuckles and suck in your gut

[HSV Listy]

Warm up lap all windows up with the a/c on, then the three flying laps a/c goes off and the drivers window goes down, then the cool down lap window up and a/c back on. In the three laps there is plenty of time to breath down the straight.

That is the way I like to do it. It is pretty warm and getting nice and cool before doing a few flying laps is good as far as I am concerned
Naturally the people down south may see it different and possibly even slack.

I did try it with the window up a couple of time but you get drenched, the sweat pours out and can even make the steering wheel hard to hang onto let alone sliding all around the seat. Sweat was part the reason I got gloves as it feels so much better. Have to weigh up the odds of time, sweat, grip on the wheel and drivers confort. Give it a go. As far as aero dynamics go not sure but try it and see what happens

[Smitty]

Last track day I did I noticed that some drivers had their windows up and some down. What do you do and why??????
..........


depends on the organisers........
but
the guys here in Vic I do track days with (HSVOC, PIARC etc) insist its windows UP...all of them
unless you have a curtain on the drivers door (and the drivers window then can be down)

safety reasons I am told coz if you get it wrong the last thing you want is your arm coming
between the car and the armco (and its has happened...unfortunately)

generally the guys acting as marshalls on the dummy grid will do a walk along...check yr wrist band
make sure you are in the right group and check your windows...and they will tell you to put them up


hth

[choppo]

38deg day - window open :)

Actually, i leave it open even if its raining and 5deg LOL

[ova400]

After the tenth person had told me how good the car sounded I went out with the window down :jester:. Every other time I went out with them up, mainly for the safety reasons with your arms but also for better wind resistence :jerk:

Its really up to you and what they allow

[SharkBiscuit]

did a drift day today at Sandown and some punters had there windows down, me included for most of the day but we weren't going that quick.

Some poor guys got mud,dust and grass clippings in the cabin though after a bit of off roading.

On a normal trackday, window's up, ac ON if required as I'd rather be comfortable and it's my understanding that when the engine's under real load that the AC has power cut to it anyway.

I buzz the window down a little if required to point where I want someone to overtake or if I want to hear a nice sounding car, mine included but the buffeting at 200 kph is not my cup of tea.

[god084]

Window down so you can signal to other drivers.

[JET-33]

doesnt the window down cause mega drag? like how the fuel economy on a ute goes through the roof if you dont have the cover on the tray?

[JET-33]

driver window DOWN, so you can point your finger out the window, in the direction you want the r35 to over take you


i like it :lol:

[god084]

were talking milli seconds here not really worth worrying about imo

[NickS]

passenger window UP

driver window DOWN, so you can point your finger out the window, in the direction you want the r35 to over take you (j/k)

See ... you THINK that's why we have the window down, it's actually to give you the finger when you pass us for the 25th time that day.

:flip2:

Only issue with the window down is the amount of dirt that comes through the window when you spin off at > 100 kmh.

:lol:

[HSV Listy]

You can have the window down for the non race cars. You still can not rest your arm or have any part of your arm out the window so be mindful of that. I was asked on a number of occasions to keep my arm in the window but that is how I drive. I dont have the room in the car and to take a turn agressivly I need to have my elbows out a bit which often means part out the window. I have adjusted my arm position and elbow to counter this now and they seem happy. The usual above average size issues.
With the race seat in I sit lower and it is not an issue.

[Bezerkr32]

ive seen rear windows blow out by having side windows down, also a huge safety issue, should have window net fitted.
i have no side windows but run a driver net, also have 40mm drillings across bottom of rear screen to allow air to exit cabin.

[clubbie]

You can have the window down for the non race cars. You still can not rest your arm or have any part of your arm out the window so be mindful of that. I was asked on a number of occasions to keep my arm in the window but that is how I drive. I dont have the room in the car and to take a turn agressivly I need to have my elbows out a bit which often means part out the window.


Yeah but you are a bloody big gorilla Listy:rofl:

My rule is video camera in the car = windows closed otherwise all you hear is wind noise.

No camera = windows open as it gets hot real quick even on a mild day with a helmet and top on.

[Smitty]

............

My rule is video camera in the car = windows closed otherwise all you hear is wind noise.
No camera = windows open as it gets hot real quick even on a mild day with a helmet and top on.

you would have got real hot last Sunday at Sandown
34° and windows up if no net

[ssberlina]

you would have got real hot last Sunday at Sandown
34° and windows up if no net

Have you fitted a net to the Vk?

[Smitty]

Have you fitted a net to the Vk?
yes mate

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/smitty1955/Car%20Pics/WIMG_0025.jpg

[ssberlina]

Nice could you post up some pics of how you mounted it. I am building a VC at the moment

[Smitty]

Nice could you post up some pics of how you mounted it. I am building a VC at the moment

havent any pics at present but to help-
I bought the net PLUS a mounting kit (the nets dont come with a mounting kit!)
and I mounted 2 of the brackets and the bottom rail onto the top
part of the door bottom (where you rest you arm) using long self tappers
and
the top net rail (the bit with the spring) and its brackets I mounted on the inner roof rail
(some use the top door frame but I found that too fiddly and hard to get to when the door is shut)

hope that helps til I can get some pics up....

[ssberlina]

Thanks Smitty.

I am working through building a car for the first time and there are not too many pics on the net that are relevant to the old commodores. :)

[Bezerkr32]

depending on whether you have a cage or not depends on how you mount the net. if you have no cage you have little option but to mount it to the door, but if you do have a cage it is prefered that it is mounted to the cage incase the door gets ripped off in a roll-over.