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deggis
9th March 2006, 23:56
Sorry for the stupid topic but I couldn't make a better one for this. :D

Why the head lights in the historic race cars are usually taped? I understand that they are historic cars and drivers definately don't want to crash them but why would they protect only the lights? In the movies and pictures which are from the actual 60/70's races the I can see this too. So it's not only protecting the historic value?

http://www.fia-historic-racing.com/fileadmin/_fia/photos//2005/01%20Hockenheim/auto-press.com/051-100/051.jpg
http://www.bhmotorsports.com/sims/F1C/movies/cortina-1024.jpg

http://www.automag.be/IMG/jpg/FIA_GTC_Ford_capri_Mass_stuck.jpg
tristancliffe
9th March 2006, 23:59
To prevent glass from going on the track in the event of a smallish nudge (i.e. the glass cracks, but can't fall out).
filur
10th March 2006, 00:00
How about "taped headlights on racing cars?" :)

taped headlights have been found on road racing cars since the 50's and earlier. Basically, the idea is to protect the lenses of the headlights from shattering during daylight racing, thus putting out a light and scattering glass/plastic shards onto the track in front of your tires.

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22taped+headlights%22
deggis
10th March 2006, 00:28
To prevent glass from going on the track in the event of a smallish nudge (i.e. the glass cracks, but can't fall out).
Thanks, somehow this just didn't came to my mind because I haven't seen this in modern race cars.

And I usually use the Force (Google) before asking stupid questions on any forum. :)
tristancliffe
10th March 2006, 00:30
'Modern' cars probably use either 'safety glass' (less harmful to tyres) or polycarbonate (plastic). But it'd never occured to me that more modern cars don't use tape. Caterham race series do, but I guess they're 'older' cars.
Madman_CZ
10th March 2006, 09:07
Tristan!!! the man of knowledge :D
tinvek
11th March 2006, 14:20
must admit id never noticed tape not being there on modern cars

tape on glass same idea as tape on windows in any ww2 film showing raf bases etc

wonder which came first

mind you headlamps dont usually get broken by large explosions :)