Interior Exterior
Q:
I'm not an aerodynamicist, but I do remember some of my fluid dynamics classes from school, and I was thinking the purpose of the 'fins' on the EVO is actually to break up and separate the laminar flow from the roof of the car.
Basically, if the air continues to flow down the rear window, it will generate some lift, due to creating a low pressure area. If it is split from the car at the roof line, it creates less of this low pressure, reducing lift.
In simplistic terms, it doesn't clean up the airflow, it's actually designed to dirty it.
I could be mistaken here...
Cade
A:
Just a data point, but the stock Elise without a wing should be able to take turn 9 at 100+. Like Stan said, you may have felt more confident. I used to take turn 9 at 100mph in my mostly stock 1991 MR2.
This is true... I've been at approx. 105 in Turn 9, and also have spun the car at 110 in Turn 9. (don't touch the inside curbing on that one, btw. It upsets the car enough to motorcycle it.)
An instructor was hitting 110 in turn 9 that day with regularity in Lillie's car...shocks modded only.
Cade
A:
Confident and secure.....If you have ever seen a car go off turn 9 at speed it gives you food for thought............I'll learn from others mistakes...
Try it and let us know how you feel.......I'll take the canyons..
A:
Confident and secure.....If you have ever seen a car go off turn 9 at speed it gives you food for thought............I'll learn from others mistakes...
Try it and let us know how you feel.......I'll take the canyons..
Food for thought is putting it mildly. I do plan to go with a wing, though... Actually, my car was the prototype that got you your ECU developed ... and you continue to beat me to the punch with almost exactly the mods that I want to do... my budget sucks.
I'll let you know when I get it set up properly and get back out there, though. Part of what I enjoy about this is finding the limits... mine as well as the cars, and then trying to expand both.
Cade
A:
Confident and secure.....If you have ever seen a car go off turn 9 at speed it gives you food for thought............I'll learn from others mistakes...
Try it and let us know how you feel.......I'll take the canyons..
I have gone off at turn 8 at near 120mph, because turn 9 scares the hell out of me. But then canyons don't make me feel secure, mainly because of other people. I do them alone.
A:
Nick Adams had some interesting things to say at Lotus of South Bay on Saturday. He said that the original design for the S1 elise generated a ton of downdorce at the front and lift at the rear. Mainly because the car was designed by a stylist and then given to the aerodynamicist. The reason the S1 has the entirely 2D spoiler sticking out of the rear clam is because of the aerodynamicists attempts to fix the problem late in the design.
Nick said he was an unpopular man at lotus when for the S2 he let the aerodymanicist design the car before the stylist. the S2 was always designed to be a neutral car (very slight downforce front and rear.)
the S2 exige was also given to the aero guy first with the goal of getting equal downforce front and rear. What I haddn't realised is very subtle changes to the front and rear clams are responsible for some of that result, not just the splitter and spoiler.
A:
What I haddn't realised is very subtle changes to the front and rear clams are responsible for some of that result, not just the splitter and spoiler.
Don't you just love these Lotus guys? They are always striving to make things better. That's a nice little tidbit.
A:
You should watch the DVD of the development of the Elise. It shows the situation with the wind tunnel testing and issues with style vs downforce.
A:
You should watch the DVD of the development of the Elise. It shows the situation with the wind tunnel testing and issues with style vs downforce.
Will do... just tell me where to find it.
A:
So...I just caught the 'tail' end of fast and furious...sure did see a few wings in there that look like the one I posted. Heh. Now I need to see the whole thing, and part 2.
I still do like the wing though. I don't think ricer when I see it, reminds me of an older lamborghini.
A:
I'm not an aerodynamicist, but I do remember some of my fluid dynamics classes from school, and I was thinking the purpose of the 'fins' on the EVO is actually to break up and separate the laminar flow from the roof of the car. Basically, if the air continues to flow down the rear window, it will generate some lift, due to creating a low pressure area. If it is split from the car at the roof line, it creates less of this low pressure, reducing lift. In simplistic terms, it doesn't clean up the airflow, it's actually designed to dirty it. I could be mistaken here...
Cade
The part helps the rear wing effectiveness. The swirling air stays attached to the dropping rear glass of the body shape a bit better than without the vortex generators. More and cleaner air winds up "down there" near the wing due to the shark's teeth => more effect from the wing. I wonder if something simple like that could help a winged Elise. Some changes upstream of a wing designed to get more and cleaner air to it. Nick Adams says the air tumbles past the roll bar cover. A fastback shape would work too, and Lotus uses that on the Exige.
Just think - more wing-bling may be possible!
A:
Where did I put my canards?