I was watching the Speed TV / Advance Auto discussion on saftey this am and they briefly showed a very trick quick release window system that utilized a red pull cord on the passenger side window. Pulling this would allow the back section of the window to detach aiding in egress.

I am wondering if anyone has more information on these or could pass me to a link?
I am interested in incorporating a similar feature on my road race car.

Thanks

It's basically just two plastic (well it might be some kind of metal) latches that keep the window in place and when you press the button (on the outside) or pull the rope (on the inside) it opens.

I've seen some good pics somewhere, I just have to find them again.

Ok I found two things.
1. An Ebay auction that ends in 2 days selling 6 of the latches.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/6-NASCAR-RIGHT-SIDE-WINDOW-QUICK-RELEASE-LATCHES-CLIPS_W0QQitemZ200335407604QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090425?IMSfp=TL0904251110005r12889#ebayphotohosting

2. Not the picture I wanted to find, but it's good enough to show kinda how they are mounted.
http://danspitstopracing.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/2008_Homestead_NSCS_Carl_Edwards_with_checkered_flag.32362932.jpg

Basically the way I think it's installed is the second picture on the ebay auction is when it is in the latched position, the latch just catches the edge of the sheet-metal to keep the window secure. The 3rd picture on the ebay auction is what it looks like when the Latch is open.

The way it works (this is a guess here, but I'm pretty sure it's correct) is when you push/pull in the big circle it opens the latch, to close the latch you push in the small circle.

They are aircraft panel latches. Get a pal that works on fighter jets, he could pinch you one, did that for almost 30 yrs.

Yes they are aircraft latches. They are mounted from behind the lexan with 4 countersunk pop rivets drawn in from the outside, when the large circle is pressed, a spring snaps the latch open, when you press the small circle it snaps closed. The latch opens 90 degrees allowing the track safety worker to pull the window straight out. When the driver needs to remove the window he pulls on a tether connecting to both latches. You must drill 1/16th inch holes in the metal behind the large circle in order to attach the tether. The large hole measures 1 1/2 inches, and the small hole measures 3/4 inch. and both have thin rubber seals. When using a thicker lexan, your going to have to shave down the lexan at a 45 degree angle so the small circle can fully move forward when the latch is opened. Here is a link to the main supplier of Nascar teams http://www.bsrproducts.com/shopexd.asp?id=6644&bc=no

hope i was of help

Any more pics?

Do these only release at the rear and are they hinged (or at least fixed) on the front?

I suspect that the lexan has a bit of a frame to it to keep the shape at speed?

Thanks

Anthony

There is sort of a lip that it slides into on the front of the window opening.

Yup, there is a window bed and a window track. The window bed goes around the entire window opening, and the window track goes from the base of the a-post to the vertical top and 18" towards the rear along the doortop. Both the track and the bed are generally made from a thinner steel, with a 1/4in saftey edge rolled over for integrity. The window slides forward into the track and then pressed in and latched to the bed (the bed and the track are usually attached by a series of tack welds, 1 1/2 to 2" of spacing between tacks). Nascar mandates the window itself have at least three 90 degree angle aluminum braces accross the center of the window to maintain its integrity on the track.