Vent window elimination in CGC?

[OldStude]

I don't have the new rules book yet but understand all glass must be replaced with lexan for classes over 200 mph.  I'm having lexan windshield, rear glass and side glass made for my '53 Studebaker because no one seems to sell it.  Do I need to keep the vent windows in CGC or can I eliminate them making one side glass window?  The car is a post car, not a hard top and I'm talking about the door glass only of course.

[Bob Drury]

  You need none of the above.  Studebakers have laminated glass all around so relax until you get a rule book.
  If you want advice, here is mine.
  Don't buy any parts or do any work other than disasemby until you have come to Speedweek and looked at and talked to others racing like cars.
  I did it for three years and havn't regreted it for the fifteen since.
                                                    Bob Drury
                                                      Old Stud Racing # 394
                                                        A/CFALT 53 Studebaker
                                                          238.75 mph injected on Alky

[Milwaukee Midget]

And to add to Bob's comment -  At Bonneville, you can't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting a Stude.  It's like a South Bend infestation - but not in a bad way.

Welcome to the forum - get a rule book - be safe - have fun - go fast - see you on the salt. 

[will6er]

You might want to re-check that rear glass. On my Stude it says "Herculite". I believe that is tempered. On the other hand I saw a vendor at a car show who had laminated available. (Of course, I lost his name.)

Will6er

[Cajun Kid]

My 53 back glass appears stock,,, but I can not tell if it is laminated or tempered,, the writing is so faded...

Charles

[Bob Drury]

  Charles, if it sits in a rubber channel, it is most likely laminated.
  Laminated glass will crack but not shatter into a million pieces.         
  I hope to see you at Speedweek............... Bob

[Cajun Kid]

Bob my back glass is in a big rubber gasket with snap in Stainless Trim.

With the move to Ohio for ECTA and the new race schedules for ECTA and LTA
it looks like my best chance for Bonneville this year is WOS/USFRA in early September, not SW.

Charles

[jacksoni]

Bob my back glass is in a big rubber gasket with snap in Stainless Trim.

With the move to Ohio for ECTA and the new race schedules for ECTA and LTA
it looks like my best chance for Bonneville this year is WOS/USFRA in early September, not SW.

Charles

Charles, you take the car to July, Wilmington, park it there, and go to SW. Already 20% there!

Udo says he is going to do that with the Bugeye if he gets it done.

[stratman59]

Charles,

The glass on the stude i had was laminated.
I know because we broke the windsheild but could see the two pieces of glass with
the laminate between on the rear.

Later
Robbie

[jimmy six]

Old! since no one seemed to answer your question on the vent windows I'll tell you what I did.

Back in the 70's when I started racing my 40 Chevrolet it was in the altered class and it had a single side door window, probably plexiglass, screwed to the inside of the door. With some rule changes in the late 70's and early 80's I was able to move the car into the vintage gas coupe class.

The rules stated "original windows" so I needed to add wind wings and the doors were gutted and had no regulators. I replaced the screwed in plexy with poly and placed them in some original channel attached only at the bottom. I determined the width of the frame around the windwing and attached an aluminum strap of the same demension to the outside of the single side window in the exact position of the original windwing seal spot. This so I would meet the rule of original windows and not be accused of "cheating" the wind on the side of the car and be illegal....No one ever questioned it and the car set many records and was looked at very closely. I believe "original windows" means in appearance and demension only since the "glass" is gone for the most part in all the classes.

If I was building a coupe today my side rear windows and rear window would be 1/8" aluminum an painted to look like glass. They would be attached as stock..........Good luck

[Stan Back]

I'm with Jimmy there.  I'd do the clever replica vent window trim piece as he did and avoid any protests. Not having it leaves you to prove it offers no advantage by deleting it -- and how would you do that?

[Tman]

I'm with Jimmy there.  I'd do the clever replica vent window trim piece as he did and avoid any protests. Not having it leaves you to prove it offers no advantage by deleting it -- and how would you do that?

easy, drive real slow!

[thundersalt]

You don't have to keep the vent wing in gas coupe. The rule says "...shall be retained in stock location...." meaning window channel area of door. It can be one piece of poly (no vent wing) . This has been brought up several times on the fairlane but has been approved (but don't take my word. You should contact tech committee for clarification)

[Milwaukee Midget]

To me, this begs the question - why?

Of all the glass pieces that need to be changed out, the easiest is the vent window.  You can probably accomplish it with a piece of Lexan from Home Depot.

Is there a chop involved?

[OldStude]

The doors are gutted and it just seemed easier to install one piece of lexan.  I could find and buy all the vent pieces and install them, sure.  I don't think there's any advantage either way it just seemed easier.  Stock body, no chop.