Will a cracked windscreen preclude me from track day?

[iMungo]

Hi - I have a 10cm crack at the bottom of the windscreen (windscreen wiper hit the windscreen whilst I was changing the blade..). The chip soon turned into a 10 cm crack but it hasn't got any worse over the last 50 miles or so. I have a track day coming up and am wondering a/ is it wise to track the car with the windscreen as it and b/ will i be precluded from taking the car on track. Does anyone have any similar experience? Not sure I have enough time to arrange a replacement windscreen as the track day is this Friday.

[Gizmo!]

If you're comprehensive insured, Autoglass/etc will come out to your place of work and do it in the car park... give them a ring.

I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem though: you sign a disclaimer saying your car is roadworthy and it's your problem.

[Herman Toothrot]

I did about 3 trackdays in an MR2 i had with a 2 foot crack from the pillar straight across the screen, no one ever mentioned it being a problem. I did get autoglass to change it but wanted to wait as i'd bought the car with the crack

[iMungo]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm wondering if the cornering forces will cause further cracking. I will be getting replaced next week but can't get it done beforehand (the car is garged at home during the week so autoglass wont have access to it).

[sniff diesel]

iMungo said:

I'm wondering if the cornering forces will cause further cracking.

I know Benny.C on here had his E36 screen crack just from track use but then his car is set-up very stiff.

[shim]

mines been cracked about 400mm last three tracks days Donny and Snett, no problems and still fixed to the car.......

[varsas]

I saw someone at Donnigton smash their (previously un-damaged) E30 rear screen by going over the kerbs. Might have been serious if it had been the front screen, I wouldn't risk it.

[GreigM]

depends on the marshalls and circuit - if they notice it they very well could black flag you - I certainly wouldn't risk it as track days put lots of strain on the car structure (which the windscreen is part of)

[shim]

GreigM said:

depends on the marshalls and circuit - if they notice it they very well could black flag you - I certainly wouldn't risk it as track days put lots of strain on the car structure (which the windscreen is part of)

not sure what car you drive but my windscreen sure aint part of my car structure

[mercedes tech]

shim said:

GreigM said:

depends on the marshalls and circuit - if they notice it they very well could black flag you - I certainly wouldn't risk it as track days put lots of strain on the car structure (which the windscreen is part of)

not sure what car you drive but my windscreen sure aint part of my car structure

some cars a pillars flex when cornering hard on grippy tyres and can cause twisting in screen, which can cause/make cracks worse

[GreigM]

shim said:

GreigM said:

depends on the marshalls and circuit - if they notice it they very well could black flag you - I certainly wouldn't risk it as track days put lots of strain on the car structure (which the windscreen is part of)

not sure what car you drive but my windscreen sure aint part of my car structure

ever driven a car without a screen - you'll soon feel it missing - contributes significantly to rigidity and is stress bearing and can contribute up to 30% of a cars structural strength....do a quick google, you'll find I'm correct..

[The Riddler]

GreigM said:

shim said:

GreigM said:

depends on the marshalls and circuit - if they notice it they very well could black flag you - I certainly wouldn't risk it as track days put lots of strain on the car structure (which the windscreen is part of)

not sure what car you drive but my windscreen sure aint part of my car structure

ever driven a car without a screen - you'll soon feel it missing - contributes significantly to rigidity and is stress bearing and can contribute up to 30% of a cars structural strength....do a quick google, you'll find I'm correct..

Yep, you feel the flies, the wind and all the st flicked up from the road..

[scottbm]

i have been on 7 track days now with a cracked screen just under the wipers. never been a problem for me even over the kerbs.
i like to really rag it too so should be ok.

[The Riddler]

A little side note..

I personally wouldnt take a car on a track that wouldnt get through an MOT, no matter how trivial i thought the problem may be.

[hugo a gogo]

The Riddler said:

A little side note..

I personally wouldnt take a car on a track that wouldnt get through an MOT, no matter how trivial i thought the problem may be.

I was just going to offer you the use of my garage full of F1 cars and slick tyred british touring cars, I won't bother now

[The Riddler]

hugo a gogo said:

The Riddler said:

A little side note..

I personally wouldnt take a car on a track that wouldnt get through an MOT, no matter how trivial i thought the problem may be.

I was just going to offer you the use of my garage full of F1 cars and slick tyred british touring cars, I won't bother now

Probably for the best, i wouldnt be able to afford the repair bill..

[s.m.h.]

Structural integrity? Pah. Ever seen how easy it is to break a laminated screen? A slight flex and it disintegrates. If your car is so structurally weak I'd use something else on a track day!
After all they're held in with sealant that has a amount of flexibility. If it were structural it would be held in with structural glue.....

I was talking to a guy that works in the window industry and he's of the same opinion. 4 or 5 mm of bonded laminated glass would have little or no change to a chassis strength.
Admittedly a crack may well increase on the day but that's not down to the chassis being weakened by it.

Scrutineers have repeated passed cars with cracks from top to bottom on race cars. The only time I change them is when the drivers vision is impaired. @£600 a pop you don't just stick another one in for a small crack!

[mmm-five]

When I started doing track days about 12 years ago, they would always do a quick once-over of the car to see if the battery was clamped down well; a visual 'road worthiness' check (leaks, smoke, bits hanging off, etc.), and see if you had anything loose in the car.

I don't think that's happened to me in the last 6 years though - all that gets checked now is my driving licence...sometimes.