<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Heh... A look in the daylight revealed exactly what you described. It's just a plastic cover that's coming loose. I guess all I need to do is clean it up and glue it then. I should have looked closer before. I was a bit frustrated with it because I had to pick the lock to get the racks off - the previous owner lost the key, but luckily only one of the four locks was locked. Much less wind noise now, and I'll just put the racks on when I need them.

Thanks Berkeley!

1986 Isuzu Trooper, 2.3l, 119k miles when acquired 3/1996, 231k at time of death 9/21/03.
1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport 2-door 4x4, 4.0l, 5-speed, 85k miles when acquired 11/2003, 138k now.