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MG TD TF 1500 - Driving with windscreen down

The fair weather drivers thread got me wondering how many of us drive with the windscreen down and how often? I probably do it several times a year when I feel the urge to get bugs in the teeth.

While attending the university of Washington in the 1960's with my first TF I'd park in a lot with an attendant. There was one of those swing up wooden arms that would be activated once you paid. After several months of getting to know the attendant I asked what he'd do if I just went through the gate without paying. He said "go ahead if you can". Of course I popped the windscreen down and pulled in and parked. He just smiled after the initial surprise.

Dave
D Clark

Dave,

I always drive with the windscreen down (unless it's raining hard enough to require the hood). After some time ingesting bugs, and also for appearances, I put on Brooklands. They do an absolutely great job of stopping the wind and bugs, plus I get alot of compliments in them.

Larry Thompson
Larry Thompson

Have just bought a pair of Panoptix sunglasses....designed for motorcycle riders, they are a combination of sunglasses & goggles to keep air out. Best of all, they are prescription! I intend to try them out with the screen down this summer!
Robert Dougherty

Interesting thread. May not be correct, but I was under the impression that in many states you have to at lease have Brookland Screens to drive with the windshield down to comply with the law.

I have driven in parades with it down, gives the car another whole different look. Lets see, There is the top up, all sidescreens in look, the top up only back sidescreens in look, the top up no sidescreens in look, the top down, windshield up look and then the top down, windshield down look.

How many other cars have that many different looks.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce, don't forget -- the top down back side curtains up and -- the top down all side curtains up looks.
Regards,
Dennis
D F Sexton

Anybody ever try hood-up windscreen down?
Not recomended on freeway!
(reminds me of something I saw once on the freeway.....the "hey, let's take the sunroof out while going 80mph".....much like the "sky-diving with-out a parachute"..generaly only works once!)
I love driving the TF with screen down...on real hot days I fire-up the "air cond" that way....bag of ice bungie corded to the screen makes for a cool breeze. No problem finding one of those here today as it got up to 1 degree by noon.
Larry ...wishing I out there in TX today!
Holidaze Cheers to all,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Bruce,

You missed the "best" look of all. That is: top up, windscreen down! Now, how is that going to work you ask? You did mention it was a parade, didn't you?

I drive as much as possible in fair weather with the windscreen down, as do several of my friends here in Rockburn. The quaint roads here with old, overhanging trees, tend to encourage this.

I once drove from Montral to North Bay Ontario in blazing sun on my way to Road America, with the w/s down and only a pair of small ski goggles. You can imagine my surprise when I checked into a motel and looked at myself in the mirror.

On a more serious vein however, I have developed a case of tinitus which is a result of wind rushing past unprotected ears. Small price to pay for 50 years of happy motoring! What did you say? Speak up!

But not tonight sports fans. As I write, its -30C here in southern Qubec (I looked that up on an old thermometer - its twenty below zero in the old system) and will be even colder only a few kms away in up-state NY.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qu.
Gordon A. Clark

I am sure I have more miles with the windscreen down than up. Have had Brooklands screens on the MKII for over 30 years. It is true about their benefits, as I have found that in even moderate rain, you absolutely stay drier and warmer with the Brooklands, as opposed to the full windscreen. With the raceing screens, the air just rises and flows over and past you. With the full screen, it sharply rises and then is sucked into the back of your neck by the vortex. As to the ears Gord, I tear off a bit of the kleenex and stuff it in each side, with the remainder held at close quarters for the first stop light and the attention to the nose that often accompanies a brisk stint in the elements. Happy Holidays and many T miles to all.
Safety Fast
Paul
Paul

Noticed on the way to the parade with windscreen down, that my ears hurt and my eyeballs almost froze... grabbed the leather flying helmet i made out of left over leather, and goggles and put them on... fixed everything and was warm as well.... Should get a lot of use out of them this summer....(oh, how far away it seems).

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/td187.jpg
gordon.b.lawson '53TD

The feeling of driving a TD with the screen down is fantastic,,,, I also have restored my 75 CJ-5 Jeep, and have driven that with the Screen down,, Driving the beaches in R. I. that way was a great treat !! Then one day at 45 MPH, I was behind a truck,,, (and luckily the screen was up) ,,, 'cause up came this large stone from the truck's wheels, heading directly for my face ,,, and I only had time to utter one quick four letter word before it hit the screen,, !! I don't drive with the screen down any more,,,,

SPW
Steve Wincze

Dave,

Oh to be in Texas instead of Ohio. 73 degrees yesterday, with mid 60's today. Kind of rough. They are predicting "bad" weather in the next few days - lows in the upper teens, highs in the upper 30's, with even a chance for, gulp, snow (which should last exactly as long as it takes to hit the ground). But, you needn't worry about me, back to the 60's for Sunday.

I do miss the twisty-turny country roads of Ohio, and the change of seasons, especially autumn. You win some, you lose some.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and all that to you and yours and may good driving season arrive sooner than later.

Cheers.

Larry Thompson
'51TD
Larry Thompson

Just be sure to tighten the side nuts after letting the windscreen down. For years I would keep mine loose, so the screen would go easy up and down when driving in town. NO problems. Then one day a gust of wind caught the screen, blew it up, breaking my glass. Lesson learned. Larry
Larry Brown

I also forgot the three configurations of Tonneau. 1/2 car, 3/4 car and full car. (of course the last is not a driving configuration.

Now top up and windscreen down, that is one I had not thought about. Must be a bit tought to hold it down while driving.

Someone should do a photo layout of all the above. I only have a 1/2 tonneau. so cant get the last two.
Bruce Cunha

Who's driving with a totally absent windscreen?
e

Who is "e" and why would he care about this 12 year old post? Sounds like a hacker to me.
efh Haskell

I do.
Last summer, I drove a few miles with the sidescreen down. When I got out of the car, I had the surprise to see that the glass was broken at the drivers side without the smallest shock. It seems that the vibrations were responsible for the damage.
I had to take the windscreen off and replace the glass, so that I drove the whole summer with the Brooklands only. It looked great and I loved the experience.
Has anyone had the sans problem?
C.M. groucho

The windscreen on my TC is only up when hood is erected (not often). Otherwise aeroscreens only.
Peter (TC9356)
Peter Malkin

After what happened to LaVerne hitting a deer and me getting a stone right where I look through the windshield, I'll keep it up. Sounds nice to do, but I'd only do it in town, if ever. PJ
Paul161

Doesn't answer my question.
efh Haskell

My TC always had the hood down and mostly the screen, but I did have he Brooklands as I will with the TF.

Of course we have good weather although with only 11 days to winter it is already down to 24c (75f)(snigger)

Don TF 4887 "Figaro"
Don Walker

I'm good with the screen down up to about 40 MPH on two lane roads, not freeways, then it get a bit too much even with glasses on. The DMV rules say the car must be equipped with an "adequate" windshield. If stopped I'll try to argue that the car IS equipped with an adequate windscreen.
John Quilter

I have heard of screens cracking if driven while flat, but I've never seen one. They do make a great picnic table, though.

David
DavePro

I would love a pair of aeroscreens. However, I'm in agreement with Paul. Recent experiences with a bird (feathered variety) and a stone taking a chip out of the windscreen convinces me to stick with the safer option. Even a bug at reasonable speed could cause a serious injury.
Rob Woodfull

efh Haskell Colorado USA on 21 May 2016 at 22:36:57 (UK time) wrote;

Who is "e" and why would he care about this 12 year old post? Sounds like a hacker to me.


I guess "e" is the result of a software error of this side. I'll try to fix it.

Bela
e

Fixed - I have customized the informations again.
Bela

Have to say, been driving a TD with the WS down for 51 years and so far have not been hit by anything [well once by bird poop] If the weather isn't cold and the rain holds off - Hood folds & the screen goes down.
You can smell everything - summer flowers, Pine trees Grass meadows, Cows? and car exhaust to name a few
Puts a different tilt on any trip. Love it.
My aero screens are laminate and should stop what ever comes at them, baring something that will take my head off and with luck I will see that and duck.
So far never happened.
I do wear a leather helmet - mainly to retain the hair. [that is debatable though as most of it has gone now] but it gives you something to hang your goggles on.


R D Jones - Ex Pat

My old co-pilot insisted W S Down is the only way to go.




David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Hi

I have tries my windscreen down, it seems to hit the body when down. Is this right or do you have to tighten it just before it hits the scutle/ bonnet?

thanks

Barry
B Bridgens

Hi
Sorry about the spelling in the above, brain faster than fingers.

Tries = tried
Scutle = scuttle

Barry
B Bridgens

Barry,
Somewhere back in the distant past I remember something about Windscreen hitting the bonnet.

Can you check the Geometry of your set up.
Make sure the windscreen bits are on the correct side.

This is what mine look like and it stands proud of the bonnet when fully down.

Not sure if this will help or not.

Rod


R D Jones - Ex Pat

The Brooklands screens on my TF work very well for bug and stone protection, given the high arched cowl on these cars. And passers-by love to see the screen folded.


Jack Long

Hi Rod

Thanks for the reply. My bump is at the front (ooh-err missus). On closer inspection I find that it is the wipers that are fouling the bonnet, specifically the drivers side where the cross bar attaches to the arm. If I remove the cross bar and swing the arm to the left top of the screen it is OK because the bonnet falls away. The gap between the arm cross bar fixing and the bonnet is very small but when you put the pin in to hold the cross bar it is that which hits the bonnet. I'll try and adjust the wiper mechanism or maybe get some new arms as the ones I have might be from a dubious/unknown source.

Barry
B Bridgens

A friend of mine drives a lot during winter time and recommend driving with the windscreen down, as snow an frost otherwise reduce the visibility. Worth mentioning is that he has sold the soft top as he had no use for it.
YS Strom

Your friend is a descendant of the vikings? ;-)

Bela

Tried that once. A cop on a motorcycle pulled next to me and said "put it up". California.
CJ Lusch

Hello Jack Long in Maryland. Guessing you have been asked this question before, but I have not seen IT nor your answer! What is the paint color for your TF? I realize often times the photographic results do not correctly reflect what the naked eye sees. I love the look I am seeing when I looked at your LBC on your recent response to this windscreen post. Thanks, Jerry
Jerry Chandler 1951 TD

This thread was discussed between 20/12/2004 and 31/05/2016

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