De-misting my windscreen

[SJR Superlight]

Since taking part in my first race back in March (the track day trophy) I have realised that I have quite a big problem with my car (in the wet at least anyway).

I prepared the car from a standard road car and in my search for lightness removed the heater/interior fan. The car in question is a Ford Puma so my thinking behind this was that the heated windscreen would do the de-misting job for me; however it has now been proven that it is no where near man enough for the job! I was pretty much racing blind!

So the question is this: does anyone know of a product that i can buy that will de-mist my windows? There must be something out there but I don't seem to be able to find anything... What do BTCC or GT race cars use?

Thanks for your help!
Simon

[Glyn84]

I use Rainx Anti Fog in my race car and it works pretty well. I think this is what they use in the BTCC too, or a similar anti fog product. If you can I've also found keeping the side windows open a fraction (no more than a centimetre) can help too.

[swtmerce]

I use Fairy liquid. Works perfectly.

[GC8]

Re-fit the blower. Even in a car with a sealed bulkhead (= no heater pipes), you should still leave the blower in...

[SJR Superlight]

Cheers guys,
I don't think re-fitting the OE blower is going to be an option as we have fire extinguisher cables and pipes now in the way and I don't really wish to move them. Plus it has been thrown away...

Has anyone had experience with auxillary fans ?
I have managed to find this one on Merlin Motorsport but i'm wondering how effective it will be without a heat source?

I have also heard good things aout Rain-X: this maybe the best way to start. Cheaper at least anyway!

[GC8]

Do you have, or have to retain, glass windows? If not then replace the NSR glass with polycarbonate and fix a clear brake duct to it. Run hose from the duct forward and use that to clear the screen or cool the driver. Of course, this only works when youre moving, but itll work very well then. If yu add the fan in the link above then itll work when youre stationarey too.

[SJR Superlight]

Excellent. Sounds like a plan!

[sniff diesel]

I use one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12v-car-ceramic-dash-heater-...

in my track car, although on wet days I still wish I'd kept my standard blower.

[benny.c]

GC8 said:

Do you have, or have to retain, glass windows? If not then replace the NSR glass with polycarbonate and fix a clear brake duct to it. Run hose from the duct forward and use that to clear the screen or cool the driver. Of course, this only works when youre moving, but itll work very well then.

That's what we did and it works a treat. Demon Tweeks sell a double NACA duct so you can run a pipe to each side of the screen. Never had a problem with misting, no matter how wet it is. When waiting to go out we just leave the door open a touch.

Edited by benny.c on Friday 9th April 20:32