Wet Westying

[VX2L16V]

Finally got our SEIW built & on the road at the end of July & it's currently my only car.

The weather's been pretty kind to me so far [fingers x'd] & although I'm not bothered about getting wet, I am aware that the car's light & the tyres are fat (15/50/205s for now)

so when I set off to work yesterday morning for a 30 mile drive in a thunder storm c/w torrential rain, it was a bit of an adventure into the unknown! Journey is a mixed bag really, twisty 'B' road, muddy 'A' road, twisty 'B' road, Motorway then traffic.

It was all fine apart from the aquaplaning on the 'A' road which was more of a river (didn't dare drive over 45), visor misting up & poor mirror visibility cause they were all misty & wet too.

Is there anything I can do about the mist in my visor apart  from opening it a crack? 'cos a crack wasn't really enough! Think I saw something called RainX at Merlin but I presume that's for the outside of the visor?

The aquaplaning I assume is inevitable until I change to 13" wheels & 185 tyres & I don't expect too much difference is there?

Mirrors, maybe use that RainX stuff?

& I've got Westfield padded race seats which appear to soak up enough water for a fortnight's soggy  

Anything I can do to 'seal' them? NikWax or somat?    

Cheers,

Paul.

[Mark Stanton]

RainX can be used on outside of visors and all windows and mirrors tis very good    

FogX is the stuff for inside visors and can windows   alternatively try a light smear of washing up liquid and then buff up with rag   .......................... I think I read somewhere to cut a potato in half smear of glass and polish and this also prevents fogging

Some bike riders use a thing called a "Foggy" which cuts down on fogging

Halfords and most parts suppliers sell RainX and FogX ........ Mer do a similar product

If you're after some half doors check out and search for Scottish Bloke ........... he had some for sale in Black

[peterg]

some helmets come with an add-on insert that covers your nose and mouth to prevent your breath fogging the visor, if your helmet hasn't got one, try in a motorbike shop and see if you can get one to fit yours...

The Foggy insert is like double glazing, it's a thin film which sticks to the inside of the visor and is supposed to prevent fogging - it was developed by BSB teams  

[VX2L16V]

Cheers Mark!

Potato?!        

re half doors, not sure they'll help will they?

@pete, I'll check the local bike shop thanks  

[Mark Stanton]

Half doors can minimise water ingress into cockpit from that thrown up by front wheels    

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Front mud flaps would probably make quite a difference too.

[peterg]

Paul

This is what I've got on a spare visor for when it's p*ssing down at an event clicky  

[Phil. S]

Half doors make a HUGE difference in the rain. I drove for about 40 minutes in pretty heavy rain heading up to Silverstone a few weeks ago without any waterproofs, and arrived with damp shoulders and a few drips off the aeroscreen onto my legs. Apart from that, completely dry!

However, even these did not help when I got caught out in torrential rain on Friday, probably because I had to drive much slower due to the standing water and semi-slick tyres.

[peterg]

Getting confused....must be my age      the Fog City thing is the 'double glazing' type thing, the Foggy device is the mouth mask here    

[VX2L16V]

hmmm, maybe handy to have both half doors & mudflaps in lighter drizzle then, I reckon cockpit ingress was going to happen no matter what yesterday!

I've got goretex trousers & jacket, mountain bike gloves & wet feet on when it rains so not to bothered about getting wet, more bothered about being safe  

It would be nice if I could waterproof the seats though!!

Cheers,

Paul.

Pete thanks for the links  

Any advise on waterproofing? Can't afford carbon shell seats...

...yet  

[Gromit]

I drilled some 8mm holes in the seat bases to let the water out. If you pull up the edge of the padding (at the lowermost part of the seat) and drill the holes there, it`ll let the water out yet still be covered by the padding so you dont see the holes. Its not a total answer but it does stop you sitting in a puddle.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

I guess thats where the plain GRP & Carbon type seats score. I know my WF sports type seats are still saturated after getting caught in torrential rain on Wednesday. Without some more bakingly hot sunny weather, it's going to be wet bum driving for a fair few blats yet.      

(I can live with the discomfort while driving, it's the look of disgusted horror at the wet patches on your clothes when you get out         )

[VX2L16V]

(I can live with the discomfort while driving, it's the look of disgusted horror at the wet patches on your clothes when you get out         )

   

'specially when where you're going is 'office work'

   

[VX2L16V]

drill holes

Cracking plan Gromit    

still going to check on waterproofing but I'll be drilling holes too! then my   can squash the water back out  

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Yep   fortunately this weeks drenching was on the way home.

Forgot to add, for when you're driving on your own, fitting a tonneau cover has made a huge difference, not only does it help stop some of the rain whipping in from the passenger side, it also means only one side of the car to dry out.