Reply to "Ground Effects"

It doesn't surprise me anymore why that part of the world always produces talented and successful Formula One drivers. If they are like Goram Malmberg, then they are into it big time. A consuming passion.... Application of science, engineering, R&D, creative thought, crative experimentation, and tireless effort. That really inspires me!

Is this method of experimentation and explanation of theory making any sense to you?

I was in a glider years ago, and they had yarn taped to the bubble canopy. It really only showed cross winds during take-off. Once airborne, the yarn was always straight back. Gliders have been perfected for many decades now, like sixty years or more.

However, your recollections suggest a 21st century experiment: fix a video camera, or one of those cheap survellance cameras under the body, in various locations, and tape-record it to a portable VCR, or hand held camera with an auxiliary video input. I'll bet there's turbulance that can be reduced, and demonstrated too, by video. Less tuirbulance, less lift. More sleek windage, more downforce.

I wonder if you are thinking of providing some data points with the manometers. I had to rethink the manometers and now think it's better to leave both ends unplugged. This will allow for more accurate readings of positive (+) air pressure and negative (vacuum) (-) air pressure. I think the tubes need to be about 12"" to 18" tall, vertical length, to allow for the water to climb either side.

Then the idea is to drill holes in the experimental devices at the same data sample points as the baseline sample points and demonstrate the downforce generated with the manometer measurements. It would be a throw away experimental device, just to prove the effectiveness of the applied theory underbody panel. I see improvements in downforce generation with short lips running the length of the undebody panel, on the outsides, like maybe 0.5".

My theory why race cars' rear diffusers work is it creates dual or triple spinning vortexes of air, that are lower to the ground, and create less negative (vacuum) air pressure, which is invisible drag. We are aware of this effect by exhaust deposits on the back of our white bodied Pantera's aren't we, Jim? I am not envisioning any rear diffusers at this point in time, just effective underbody panels to decrease the air pressure in the engine area and to create downforce on the underside of the underbody panel.

I suspect that even with maximmum lowering of the vehicle and 150 mph, the order of magnitude of downforce generated will be under 500 pounds. This would be ideal. It would allow for less fatigue of the underbody panel aluminum.

I also envision using the seat bolts as the front anchor points, and I'll use hardened bolts with a hole drilled for a cotter pin, and those slotted nuts. Then a couple of points on each side of the frame, inside the engine bay, with similar locking nuts and drilled bolts. I think there will still be sufficient air passage into the engine bay, but at lower pressure. I think there will still be sufficient cooling of the headers too. I also see the desired color for the underbody panel as black, to avoid too many questions from admiring viewers of the vehicle in parking lots and gas stations. I think the final version will have 'wings' probably. They will extend outboard from the rear frame section by about 3 to 4" on each side, and back from the gas tank about 1 to 2" and the same on the other side of the vehicle, at the leading edge of the rear wheel.

Off topic happy note:
Taxes done, just need to copy onto the nice clean forms to get rid of all the black pen scratch out marks. Nice clean final draft. I'm happy to get it done, for sure.