Front Wings

[jdp526]

Has anyone experimented with different types of front wings that might be effective at low to medium speeds found on an autox course? Some of the FSAE teams are running multiple element wings that would be interesting to adapt to a FF or FC.

I would also like to find some effective airfoils that would work at these speeds.

[Modo]

Just copy, what is it, "A-Modified" or "D-Mod", the bigger one, Goodale's old class ( didn't he make one of his monsters out of my old Tui chassis???? via Al Profitt) and scale the wing down to what your HP may be, they know what they are doing.......just a guess....might add, if you can stay in ur desired class after copying that wing, rtfm (read the manual)

[kea]

Make sure your front wing design can work with your rear wing design.

[B17overhead]

A FF or FC can run in SCCA BM and ALL open wheel cars in BM are allowed wings built to FA rules.


An affordable alternative to Wingshop stuff from th UK like some of the AM, BM, and XP cars have is to find used Champ car, CART, or FA wings. Some of the Vintage CART stuff is VERY good and just needs needs to be modified (usually just narrowed) to be legal, but generally all 3 category types will be sized within the FA rule limits.

The max FA rear width including sideplates is 43.307" and the extreme rear of the rear wing and endplates cannot be more than 39.37" behind the rear axle centerline.

The FA front wings are GCR limited to 59.055" wide.

If you get any professionally built FA, Champ, or CART used wings meant for short tracks or street courses they will actually probably be about as good as anything purpose built for solo.

AM has a 65 inch height limit above ground, so they get to use perhaps one more flap and about 20" more width (span), but most importantly, they install the rear wing up where the "return" air from an agressive front wing can still be capured by the underside of the rear wing.

Keith brought up an important point and I'll explain further with an example: One could actually legally install a typical AM front wing on a BM open wheel car, but you would never get the legal BM FA rear wing working in harmony with it at the 35.4 " FA max aero height in BM for open wheel cars.

The FA 43.307" max width of the rear wing also limits the downforce of the FA rear wing since the aspect ratio makes it less effective than the same plan view area using a lot wider span.

Finally:
In SCCA Solo BM, you can also build the motor as hot as you want-probably 160 HP out of a 1600 pushrod Ford (1110 lbs) and about 190 HP out of a 2L Pinto, probably a lot more HP from the later FC motors, but at 2L , they need to meet 1285 lbs. with driver.

BUT, If you leave the FC motor road race GCR legal (usually about 145 HP), you can run to a lighter 1090# min weight with driver)

[FONT=ArialMT][FONT=ArialMT]From the Solo 2 rulebook:[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=ArialMT][FONT=ArialMT]All Formula Cars or Sports Racers compliant under the current year [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]GCR, unless specifically classed elsewhere, with the following exceptions [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT](weights shown are with driver):[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT][FONT=ArialMT]A. Spec tires are not required.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT][FONT=ArialMT]B. Minimum wheelbase of 80 inches.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT][FONT=ArialMT]C. Sports Racers and All Open-Wheel Cars Including Formula Atlantics:[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]
[FONT=ArialMT]1. May use any automotive based 2v engine up to 1300cc, any 2-[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]stroke motor up to 900cc, any 4v or more engine up to 1005cc.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]Minimum weight with driver: 1020 lbs.[/FONT]

[FONT=ArialMT]2. May use any 2v automobile-based production engines up to[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]1615cc. Minimum Weight with driver: 1110 lbs.[/FONT]

[FONT=ArialMT]3. May use any 4v or more engine up to 1615cc. May use any 2- [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]stroke up to 1300cc, Mazda 12A rotary with any porting and any [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]carburetion. May use fuel injection without weight penalty as required [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]by the GCR. Minimum weight with driver: 1180 lbs.[/FONT]

[FONT=ArialMT]4. May use any naturally-aspirated engine up to 3000cc. Minimum [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]weight with driver: 1285 lbs.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]5. Minimum rim width: none.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]6. Maximum allowed rim width: 15 inches.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]D. Formula 2000, classed in Formula Continental per GCR/FCS:[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]1. Minimum weight with driver: 1090 lbs.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]2. Rim width: unrestricted.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]3. Airfoil maximum size per Formula Atlantic rules.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]E. Aerodynamic restrictions for Sports Racers:[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT]The total area when viewed from the top of all wings shall not exceed [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]8 square feet. The current GCR CSR/DSR 45% flat bottom rule and [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]all other aero specifications shall also apply to ASR. Production cars [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]as recognized in DM/EM running in BM as sports racers must have [/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=ArialMT][FONT=ArialMT]the tires as viewed from above at least half covered. Cycle fenders [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]may be used to comply with a sports racer classification.[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=ArialMT][FONT=ArialMT]F. Aerodynamic restrictions for Formula Atlantic (all open-wheel in BM) [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]shall follow the current GCR, no additional Solo wing limitations.[/FONT]

[FONT=ArialMT]G. Formula S - Must weigh appropriate Solo DSR weight if engine size [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]is within DSR class limitations. FS shall run to the appropriate Formula [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]Atlantic rules if engine is larger than allowed in DSR. All cars [/FONT][FONT=ArialMT]must prepare to Formula Atlantic aerodynamic rules.[/FONT][/FONT]

-Chuck

[DHale_510]

I do not run the front wings on my Crossle FC in autocross. I get into the cones too much and don't want to eat a wing. I don't think they work at 40mph anyway, especially all bent up....

[kea]

If you don't think they work at 40 mph, than while driving down a road someday, roll the window down and stick one of your front wings out in the air. Be sure no one is behind you and that you wear a glove.
I am not responsible for any damages for suggesting this.