Alright Folks,
there is again a lot of question to the same "thing"....aerodynamic.
3. Paul, I hope I understood your question properly.
Aerodynamically is the shape correct, when the widest cross section is
there where the front wheels are. From there on to the end you taper
them (smaller) by around 6 degrees. In front of the front wheels,
means the nose, the shape can be different - best is a round (like the
Turbinator - Don Vesco's car), this "round" goes tangetial into the 6
degrees taper over. The Turbinator is here parallel, which is also
okay. - a other solution is that you make the nose "sharper", the
open angle back to the Front wheels are not so important - only that
he is smaller than 40 degrees - a bigger angle get you a bad start for
a proper airflow along the side. If the angle is combined with a big
curve it's also okay. So, the taper starts (latest) by the front
wheels - and the car goes smaller to the rear end. If necessary, the
wide of the cross section between the front and rear wheels can be
parallel, this solution is not the best, but if you got a long car it
will work, behind the rear wheels the taper will start then with the 6
degrees rule.
A lot of readers will cry loud, now - and will say - what's up with
Jack Costella's racer.
Alright, this cars are a exception. The shape is opposite to this what
I explained. But this shape works only, due to some "special"
feature. The base cross section is extremelly small. Jack is using the
shape to produce aerodynamically downforce - he has to do this,
because his weight is all in the back. To keep the front "straight" he
has to move his "weight" forward, he is doing this over his
aerodynamic downforce shape - arrow shape we call it. By the NT 3 is
the overall length rate to the wide of the car helping, too. But this
concept works only than if you got a absolut flat bottom, very close
to the ground, so that no air can go under the racer - which means you
have to run the car without suspension. Jack is using the frame as
"suspension". The whole package is a very clever design. But this
design works only if you got a very narrow engine, or small engine. B
big banger like a V8 will not work.
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