Wing vs Spoiler, in XP Options

[J P Stein]

Leaving drag out of the mix, Using the XP rules, is a wing more effective for getting down force than a spoiler. I've always assumed the wing is better, but have exactly 0 proof of this. The expense of a wing can go right through the roof (over 10K has been quoted).....this makes the cheep-assed spoiler look pretty good. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
If a guy had a cross section pattern of an effective wing ( bling wings need not apply) DIY would make sense.....but is it worth the effort?

Note: XP limits the total ( that would include a dual element) wing area to 8 sq. feet.

[jmill]

It is a purpose built car with no expense or technology spared.

I'm sure it's purpose built for AX. Most F440-F600 are also purpose built to fit into the class. Looks like it wouldn't take much to have it fit into one of those classes.

[grantsfo]

The advantage good A mod cars have is that they are actually designed around the aerodynamics. Poor 914 was never designed for aero. I'm sure a car like Brits has pretty ugly airflow as it comes over low hood and hits firewall, targa bar and Mickey mouse cage. Perhaps targa bar removal, redesign of rear hoop to single bar would help with airflow. Don't forget about flow up front and under the car as well. I think 914 needs just as much if not more downforce up front.

Where is that thread where engineering student modeled airflow over 914 shape? That might help in figuring out what to do. Also I know PSU recently installed a wind tunnel up in your area. Why not ask professor of engineering if student could make a project out of Brits aerodynamic challenge?

On Joes AMod car, an old school VW powered Amod car with a big low tech wing was within a second of him when he came down and tested at Marina last year. emod guys weren't much slower within 2 to 3 seconds. He is coming down in July for AAS to tune again. Smart guy. Brit should come on down as he doesn't get much time on cement up there.


My company sponsors an FSAE team and we decided to focus on driver development rather than put limited budget into redesigned car with aero. I gave input that all drivers should sign up for karting school and we helped them get a shifter kart for training drivers as well. They also now drive tha FSAE car at many local AX events.

I would love to have access to something like this! This has to be the wildest hill climb car I have ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGW-TkkVl08...be_gdata_player

[stownsen914]

Wings certainly offer a lot more downforce at high speed than low speed, but I'd be shocked if a spoiler could beat out a wing of comparable size, even at low speeds. I think a properly designed and placed wing would always win.

If you're considering DIY, I recently learned about these guys, who cut foam wing cores for a very reasonable price => http://www.flyingfoam.com/. A couple years ago I built a DIY aluminum wing, but with ready made foam cores, I'd definitely try that option next time.

Scott

[J P Stein]

Wings certainly offer a lot more downforce at high speed than low speed, but I'd be shocked if a spoiler could beat out a wing of comparable size, even at low speeds. I think a properly designed and placed wing would always win.

If you're considering DIY, I recently learned about these guys, who cut foam wing cores for a very reasonable price => http://www.flyingfoam.com/. A couple years ago I built a DIY aluminum wing, but with ready made foam cores, I'd definitely try that option next time.

Scott

Thanks for the link. It doesn't have any airfoil profiles but who knows where the path will lead. The cores they cut are fairly inexpensive......cheeper than making/buying a hot wire cutter.

[stownsen914]

Thanks for the link. It doesn't have any airfoil profiles but who knows where the path will lead. The cores they cut are fairly inexpensive......cheeper than making/buying a hot wire cutter.

They do have some standard profiles on this page => http://www.flyingfoam.com/How-to-order-foam-cores.html

The ones they show on the site look like pretty conservative profiles, but you can also order custom profiles, using data from one of several wing coordinate databases (links provided on the flyingfoam.com site).

Scott