Why do so many race cars that actually have functional headlights (Le Mans Porsches, etc) have yellow film on them? Is this the spec for racing? Any functional purpose?

Just wondering....

 

Regulation to prevent dazzling drivers during close day/night racing - and the film can assist in protecting glass lenses from fracture from impact.

http://www.lamin-x.com/



The prototype cars often have no lights at all for day racing, just decals that look like headlamps!

 

Cool! So I was not imagining it after all...

 

I thought the yellow lights also identified a certain class of racing when grouped with several types of race cars.

 

This is correct. So the driver's can know what type of car is behind them during night driving.

C.

 

Yep and its not film. The lights for the night races are more powerful and, for the appropriate classes, have yellow lenses. You need to know if you're racing the car behind you.

 

Isn't that a disadvantage for the poor guy driving with the yellow headlights?

 

Nope. Similar in color to amber range shooting goggles/glasses.

C.

 

<nods>

 

Learned something today.

 

back in the day, most of the cars in France were yellow....always kind of liked it myself

 

plus if you are in a gt2 class and you see white light gaining on you.... they are going to close in an instant. You can get run over.

 

The most important quality of amber light is that it penetrates the fog better than white light.

 

"The intent of selective yellow is to improve vision by removing short, blue to violet
wavelengths from the projected light. These wavelengths are difficult for the human visual system to process properly, and they cause perceived dazzle and glare effects in rain, fogand snow

wikipedia

 

holy NECRO, Batman!!!!!