Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Two questions, firstly how does the exhaust stay blue, is it ceramic coating? Secondly, more of a general question why the lack of screen? I understand the motorbike thing but as I get older I value my eyes and like some wind protection, even on a motorbike.

Yep, the exhaust is covered in a ceramic coating. Part of an effort to keep the temperatures down in the engine bay, I think

As for the windscreen, like Hefty said it's partially aero so that the car is faster, particularly on very light cars with not that much power, but it's also a matter of personal preference. I prefer having an aeroscreen rather than a windscreen. And Cycliste and I certainly don't always wear a helmet. When we're touring, we generally just wear a cap (tied onto a piece of string tied to the roll cage) and sunglasses. Like this:

Never had any problems with insects or stones - OK, they sting a bit sometimes but nothing serious - and rain is fine, but hail is bloody painful. And it can get a bit mucky sometimes:

The car I'd been following for most of the day was running stinky rich, hence the grime. All good fun though.