Air Turbulence Troubles

[Paul Sheridan]

This would have been funny if it wasn't so feckin dangerous!!

Out playing in the S2 yesterday, I was going round a rather large roundabout and came across a MR2 in the outside lane. We both happened to take the same exit onto a bit of clear dual carriage way that lasts for about 2 miles (little red devil appears on both our shoulders). Change down and off we go ........ engines screaming, wind in the hair, having fun.

Got to a certain speed and all changed for me,  the passenger seat belt that was tucked under the seat squab  seemed to take on a life of its own, rearing up like a snake and thrashing around, a split second later and the seat squab decided that it was going join in the fun and to do a good impression of a flying carpet and at the same time my sunglasses decided to try and climb up onto the top of my eyebrows.

All seems quite funny now, but at the time with one hand holding down the seat squab, and the other trying to re position the glasses and steer the car all whilst the old eyes were watering profusely, it was a lot less than funny.  

So to a serious question .....

Has anyone played around with a mesh panel in the roll bar?, I have heard that this could help the wind turbulence situation!  Im not keen on side screens.

[Steve Kerswell]

As for the mesh panel, no. But, I have now made small quarter lights that fit in the same place as the side screens and they do help, set at 30 degrees. Talking to Tom of the German club, he also had some top deflectors made, like sunvisors, and they were great, in his book.  I have had similar problems, passenger seat belt buckle cracked me on the chin.

[Steve Kerswell]

I seem to recall Dave Adams had a mesh screen, give him a prod :-))

[Steve Kerswell]

And our treasurer, Roger has a perspex type screen, just remembered that too.

[James Doulton]

So who was in front when the aerodynamics intervened? I won't ask at what speed the turbulence became a problem. The solution is to get a Legerra, of course.

[Adrian Southgate]

Speaking from past experience, Legerra's are not immune to turbulence in the passenger cabin.. 3/4's of the reason I had my pony tail cut off was the wind whipping it round and force feeding it to me whilst I was trying to breathe....

[Paul Sheridan]

@ Daryl,   yes I'm afraid I wimped out at that point, before any damage could be done to me or Mr MR2.

@ James,   just before the seat belt came to life, the speedo was reading 130, but don't panic, it still thinks it is residing in a Lotus elan with little 13" wheels :-)) so is wildly inaccurate. Will be sending it off for calibration over the winter. I know where 30 and 50 are on the clock, and guess the rest.

As to who was winning ............ I never kiss and tell   

[Paul Sheridan]

Thanks Graham, but i'm not keen on those things.

I have just watched a video of a company retro fitting a mesh deflector just behind the two head rests on a convertible. with before and after shots. and it definitely made a big difference to the drivers hair blowing about and the wind noise in the mic.

It will be easy to fabricate a frame to sit inside my roll bar to support a mesh, so I will give that a go first. 

[Steve Kerswell]

Mosquito net from a camping shop ??

[Paul Sheridan]

I wonder what size the largest pair of women's tights are on the market, i could stretch them over the whole roll bar and tie the legs together to see if the theory works ;-)))))))))

[Steve Kerswell]

Paul....  to much information, bad dreams!! I reckon the feet part would cause havoc :-)))

[Big Vern]

Duttons do this,  Tim Dutton was no aerodynamisist LOL