Aerodynamics of a bug

[jimby]

I have picked trhe brain of gavin, he's a mate that is an aerodynamic engineer on the currnt F1 Renault team, yes the ones that are winning
he reckons the first thing is the flat pan, second is slice the rear of the front wings so you can see the rear of the front tyres. get the car as low and flat as you can. kill the lift on the front with louvers on the wing tops and even ducts on the bonnet, a bit like the elise.

[DORIGTT]

Hey Jimby,

Ask your mate to look at a Ghia and make a couple recommendations as to improving it's aerodynamics.

Thanks

[judgie]

Originally Posted by jimby

I have picked trhe brain of gavin, he's a mate that is an aerodynamic engineer on the currnt F1 Renault team, yes the ones that are winning
he reckons the first thing is the flat pan, second is slice the rear of the front wings so you can see the rear of the front tyres. get the car as low and flat as you can. kill the lift on the front with louvers on the wing tops and even ducts on the bonnet, a bit like the elise.

what about front splitter and spoiler?
took my new rear wing to work today to get it painted,came off a f3 lola and is a duel element.
will start work on the flat floor and front spoiler/splitter at the weekend.have all next week of work to get ready for new season/volksworld show
cheers rob

[jimby]

Originally Posted by judgie

what about front splitter and spoiler?
took my new rear wing to work today to get it painted,came off a f3 lola and is a duel element.
will start work on the flat floor and front spoiler/splitter at the weekend.have all next week of work to get ready for new season/volksworld show
cheers rob

i only asked him about what we could do for the aircooled cup cars as we cant run a wing. i didnt ask him about a front splitter device. from what ive overheard its not all bad to have a bit of a bigger gap at the front of the car that tapers down as it goes under as the effect is that the air is squeezed and forced under the car as a faster rate than the air moving over the top of the car, and as faster air has alower pressure it sucks the car down. trying to keep all the air from geting under the front of a car will not create a vacuum but will create turbulent air at a higher pressure than the top of the car and would cause lift (hence the flat pan so you dont get turbulent air gathering under the fuel tank, above the geabox, around the engine and under the wings/running boards. i can find out if he's going to the volksworld show and if your car is there ill get him to cast an eye over it.

[judgie]

cheers

[beetle1303]

Judge, are you going to the volksworld show? I am going for sure. It would be nice to gather up and meet each other. I will post this at the "off topic" as well...

Chris

[judgie]

Originally Posted by beetle1303

Judge, are you going to the volksworld show? I am going for sure. It would be nice to gather up and meet each other. I will post this at the "off topic" as well...

Chris

yes i will be at the show all weekend and so will the race car,inside on display got all next week of to get it ready.
shall we say 1 o'clock saturday at my car? any body else up for it?
cheers rob

[Racelook]

Originally Posted by jimby

trying to keep all the air from geting under the front of a car will not create a vacuum but will create turbulent air at a higher pressure than the top of the car and would cause lift

This is, I think, not correct because an earlier formule 1 team had mounted flaps under there cars for (out my head) 1 year and they were much quicker only because of that. And because of the air that speeds up over the top of the car and got down at the back.. sucked the underside of the car vacuum.
At the end of that year it was immideately forbitten.

Wiebrand (p.s. flattening and flaps are also things I want to do in the future to the underside of my car)

[volkdent]

I think this thing is over the top, but I like the front dam idea quite a bit. I'm going to be doing something similar with mine, but more subtle.

[beetle1303]

You bet im going to be there...

That just made my day.

[beetle1303]

You bet im going to be there...

That just made my day.

[judgie]

Originally Posted by volkdent

I think this thing is over the top, but I like the front dam idea quite a bit. I'm going to be doing something similar with mine, but more subtle.

very close to what is going on my car next week.
what you have to remember is for a race car "looks" come second place to function.
cheers rob

[Wally]

Originally Posted by judgie

what you have to remember is for a race car "looks" come second place to function.
cheers rob

For a true street German-style car as well, mind you

[volkdent]

Originally Posted by jimby

I have picked trhe brain of gavin, he's a mate that is an aerodynamic engineer on the currnt F1 Renault team, yes the ones that are winning
he reckons the first thing is the flat pan, second is slice the rear of the front wings so you can see the rear of the front tyres. get the car as low and flat as you can. kill the lift on the front with louvers on the wing tops and even ducts on the bonnet, a bit like the elise.

Thanks Gavin! I'm really glad to hear that his recommendations are what I've been thinking about doing. Gives me a little bit more confidence that I'll actually get some results for my efforts.

Jason