Helmet Buffeting - what are you doing?

[Hobby Racer]

I have noticed in my R that above about 120 mph I get some good wind buffeting on my helmet. I was wondering what you have experienced and what you may have done to combat it.

Possible solutions I have thought of are:


Deal with it, it builds character ;)
Make a taller R windscreen
Put a gurney flap on the edge of the windscreen
Buy an expensive open wheel helmet with aero designed to combat it



What have you done and how well has it worked?

[DSR-3]

I've had good results from a 0.75 to 1" gurney on the cockpit front edge (no windscreen) on 2 cars. 'Aluminum emergency fix at the track, followed by a fancy curved polycarb. part for the next event.

[RetroRacing]

helmet aero glue ons. Ours hits at around 140mph and it wants to lift my helmet off my head.

[Hobby Racer]

I think for the rest of this season I'll try the glue on aero bits for my helmet. As a better permanent solution I think I'll lower my seat to get down in the cockpit more. After looking at my current setup I think I can get the seat down almost 2" by cutting the X brace under the seat and making different seat sliders.

[Rob T]

I have been 130+ in mine. My head still buffets a little, but my helmet now has chin aero and a spoiler. Seems to help. The track in NM is not that fast, so it is not an issue.

[Mitch Wright]

I don't notice what I would consider bad buffeting at speed. I do sit quite low in my car. I have also used a small wicker (in my past of 1/8-1/4 inch on the back of the wind screen) on some sports racers and open wheel cars I have driven that were really bad, that did the trick.

[Hindsight]

Have you tried removing the R windscreen completely?

[Mitch Wright]

I have driven mine with out the windscreen when I first got the body installed, the buffeting was very noticeable.

[Wayne Presley]

I thought the buffeting was less without the windshield.

[Mitch Wright]

Interesting I wonder how much effect the angle of the windscreen comes into play? Your experience is the opposite of what I remember running with out the screen. I do think having the large radiator ducts and there placement comes into play. Without the screen the hotter air from the radiator ducting was very noticeable with the screen I don't notice it.

[mikeinatlanta]

I built a coanda effect windscreen for my roadster. It's designed to cut drag and buffeting. Basically you duct air up the back side of the windscreen at the same speed as the front. This reduces turbulence when the two boundary layers meet.

Noticed a new thing in F1. They are putting chevrons on the windscreen tops. Looking at them it looks like it's there to act as vortex generators and reduce buffeting. Like shark teeth.

Coanda effect windscreen.
9254492545

[Wayne Presley]

92569 Here is the Merc windshield