Effective wind deflector/buffeting reduction?

[Cueball1]

I recently saw a car for sale but cannot find it again. 😑

 

Owner had developed a sort of v shaped acrylic wind deflector.  In the discussion of it he mentioned he tried several different variations.   He finally landed on a long v from the top of the windscreen following it down then swooping at an angle backwards after reaching the body.  Said this long version was much more effective. He even had a name for it which I've forgotten.  In selling the car he mentioned they would not be included for liability reasons. 

 

Anyone have experience with something this?  Any other effective methods found for decreasing wind and pressure in cabin and increasing comfort?  

 

Edit:  found it!  He called the Vaccaro wings.  

 

anyone have any experience with something like this?  Ugly but if effective...

Edited August 14, 2023 by Cueball1

[JohnCh]

I experimented with this quite a bit on my Westfield prior to the USA2005 tour.  The key was angle and length.  These two photos show both:

 

 

 

Ugly?  Yes.  Even worse aerodynamics? Yes.  Effective?  Absolutely.  With the wind wings in place, turbulence is significantly reduced.  Much closer to running with side curtains than to running without.  A caveat is that each type of se7en is different.  In my experience, the Westfield without wind wings is equivalent to a Caterham S3 with standard floors.  However, a Caterham SV with lowered floors is a bit better.  

 

If you want to go down this route, my suggestion is to make mockups from wood (I used 1/8" hardboard and sections of 2x4) and find the angle and length that work best for your particular car.  Once I had the final combo, I supplied that wood template to a shop that does Plexiglas work and had them cut and bend them from polycarbonate to match.

 

-John

[Cueball1]

@JohnCh  thank you!  With all the complaints I'm seeing in 7 forums I'm surprised I don't see more things like this.  Will definitely experiment with something like this.

 

In talking with Brunton they said that's a big part of designing their tapered rear fenders on the m-spec design.  He claims that 90 angle of the rear fender plays a big part in the buffeting. May experiment there too. 

 

Of course all this is just planning ahead.  Likely won't see my new to me Birkin for another couple weeks.  May not be as bothersome as I'm anticipating it to be. 

[Croc]

The simpler variation I did a long time back was take the standard Caterham plexi wind wings and bend them further in boiling water.  This has the effect of making them stand out from the car further and shift the buffeting point rearwards past my ear.   Not as effective as John's but a lot simpler to do.  

 

A variation of that theme done by someone else was to glue a plexi post (with a rubber end cap for the body) onto the Caterham wind wings and push them outwards.  

[Kitcat]

Per the seller, your Birkin comes with the standard Birkin wind deflectors, as a starting point. Like the stock Caterham deflectors, they do help quite a bit (change it from intolerable to tolerable).

[Kitcat]

Just now, Kitcat said:

 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Kitcat
Double post.

[JohnCh]

9 hours ago, Cueball1 said:

May not be as bothersome as I'm anticipating it to be. 

 

That's the key.  It's also about the speeds you drive for any length of time as the buffeting ramps up the faster you go.  You may find it's incredibly annoying at freeway speeds, but entirely acceptable at the sustained speeds you normally drive the car.

 

-John

[kayentaskier]

If it's the wind buffeting you're concerned with, the best solution is to sell the windshield, install the aero screen and wear a helmet.

[MV8]

A clear panel across the roll bar behind the head rest would probably help reduce the buffeting. Easy to try out as a temporary fix with four cushioned strap clamps around the bar and strip of aluminum extrusion across the bottom for rigidity. 1/4 inch acrylic or polycarb from the glass shop cut to match your hardboard pattern. #12x3/4" pan head machine screws and nyloc nuts.

[Cueball1]

MV8, i did that exact thing in my Miata.  Helped a great deal.  Will definitely try it.

 

Kayentaskier, I'm not interested at all in throwing on a helmet every time i jump in the car! 

[Frankie]

Contact Tony.  Thats his car in the picture, member name, tvacc.  I bought my 7 from him and it came with some small side deflectors that were attached by the door pins.   They really worked well for me and they look good.

[Cueball1]

@Frankie  possible to post a pic or two of your deflectors?  🙏

[Cueball1]

Just now saw Kitkat's post that the owner of my car has a set of traditional windwings.  They weren't pictured or mentioned before by the owner.  He does indeed have them and is packing them in the car for when the shipping company picks it up!  At least it's a starting point. 

[Frankie]

21 hours ago, Cueball1 said:

@Frankie  possible to post a pic or two of your deflectors?  🙏

Here you go there small but they work for me.

[Cueball1]

Good to know you find those helpful!  Turns out my car is coming with a set of the birkin made windwings.  Hopefully I find them an improvement too!  

 

Thank you for the pics.  Once the car arrives and I find out exactly what I'm working with, I may ask for more pics at different angles. if they seem much different from what is with the car currently that is. Much appreciated! 

[IamScotticus]

On 8/14/2023 at 2:26 PM, Cueball1 said:

I'm not interested at all in throwing on a helmet every time i jump in the car! 

You're jumping into a Seven. Nothing unusual going in here..

No, don't wear a helmet. People might think you're crazy 🤪 

[Cueball1]

I'm not a fan of even wearing hats! Having worn a helmet for well over 100 hours of track time and many hundreds of hours on a motorcycle, wearing one to run errands in city traffic just seems like no fun at all. Propeller beanie I might be able to get behind though!  🤡🤣🫣 

[IamScotticus]

[Cueball1]

[Jesse D]

I put on Brookland screens. Can't put the top up but completely ended the buffeting and I can wear a ball cap up to 60 mph.