Aero grip is a drug
There is no way you can comprehend how significant grip is at high speed unless you put your butt in a winged car. I've raced a few regionals in an FE and it still takes me a few laps each session to trust the tires in flat-out corners... then I hate to get off the track when the checkered flag is waved.
If interested, here is a lap at Roebling Road from last weekend's race.
http://youtu.be/mOcEP4Wgnp4
Say goodbye to your wallet and hello to your crack, I mean tire dealer. The aero is really fun on the brakes as well.
Nice video production, Joe, and great meeting you last weekend!
Roebling really does stretch out the neck, doesn't it?
Hope to see you out there again soon,
-Chris
Enjoyed the video, thanks!
Sean O'Connell
1996 RF96 FC
1996 RF96 FB
2004 Mygale SJ04 Zetec
In that case you should try a car with some downforce...Originally Posted by Joe Reppert
Stan Clayton
Stohr Cars
Driving a FF in a run group that included FA showed what downforce does. I was surprised to discover that in first gear corners and twisty segments, I could run right with the Atlantics. I was shocked by how fast an Atlantic could pass me on the outside while I was teetering on the edge of disaster in a 4th gear corner. It was amazing.
Does anyone here know approximately how much downforce is produced by an FE at, say, 130 mph or so?
Steve Lathrop told me that a FC Citation got about 500 lbs. (Of course use of wickers and wing angle will make a difference.)
Not knowing the real value, I'd guess 250-300lbs, based on comparing cornering G vs speed.
Dang!
Missed that video - but sounds real interesting, and I'd really like to see it. Anybody have a copy - or link they could send/repost.
TIA and Cheers - Jim
Downforce is an aquired drug!!!!
Dee
rt 5
rt41
shouldent it be more like 1200lbs? If the car shows 2.5g, and sticky slicks will get you to 1.3/1.4-ish, you'd need another 1200lbs???
Down force numbers are expressed in pounds of down force and some speed. 150mph is typically used for FA and higher formulas. It is quite possible for an FC to make 1200 lbs. down force at 150mph. But you don't have the HP to do that.
FC performance is getting close to the limit of what we can get the tires to do.
One reason winged cars gain over non-winged cars is because down force is applied to the tires close to evenly side to side. With the down force one gains a lot of performance from the inside tires that is not possible in a non-winged car.
The Lola T97 Indy Lights will make close to 2400 lbs. at 190 mph. I think the numbers for the Swift 016 is close to 2200 at 150. The Dallara Indy lights tops out at something like 1800 at 190 mph.
Just some numbers to compare against.
Our data showed that our FE made about 900 lbs Df at around 130+ mph. Do not remember the details but this is a good ball park.
Thanks ... Jay Novak
313-445-4047
On my 54th year as an SCCA member
with a special thanks to every SCCA worker (NONE OF US WOULD RACE WITHOUT THE WORKERS)
Well understood! I come from sprint cars, winged and non winged, dirt and pavement, and yes those huge wings can help you do wonderful things!!!
Steve, any figures for the 83 rt5?
Scott Woodruff
83 RT5 Ralt/Scooteria Suzuki Formula S
(former) F440/F5/FF/FC/FA
65 FFR Cobra Roadster 4.6 DOHC
Given that that car was a tunnel car, my bet is that it made well over 1500 lbs. maybe 2000 lbs.. But the tunnels were not all that wide. The flat bottom ground effect cars made a surprising amount because they had a very large surface area to work with.
The 2 seater Wolf is about 1900. Single seater Wolf is > 2200.
Yes this is usually spec'ed at 250 kph or 155 mph
So if you have a 300 lb passenger, that equals things out then, right?
Ty Handke
HMST Inc.
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