Honda Insight Tail Extension Project

[3-Wheeler]

Hi Metro,

When I first saw your web-on-a-stick, I thought the idea was ingenious!

Jim.

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by charlierickman

hi there.. i came across your post and i realized that i also needed help and more tips actually on motorcycle fairing like how would i be able to gain aerodynamic speed but still maintain steady performance when running.. thanks a lot.

Then you may want to check out the post by theycallmebryan....

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...50-a-8686.html

There is quite a bit of discussion on motorcycle aerodynamics, which from a safety standpoint can get quite complicated.

Anytime you have a rather tall aero object and only two wheels, side-winds and your safety against tip-over become an issue.

Jim.

[3-Wheeler]

Anyone who is watching the weather over the last day or so, knows that we are having extraordinarily high winds in the midwest.

This morning on the way the work, the car was blasted with 40 to 50 mph side winds along with blinding rain.

It was incredibly difficult to see to keep from driving off the road. I could hear debris picked up by the wind, bouncing of the side of the car, including stuff being deflected by the fiberglass at the rear.

As for the extension, I did notice that the center-of-pressure still seems to be toward the front wheels, as each time a burst of wind came, the nose of the car would point away from the direction of wind.

On the way home tonight, it was not raining, but still blowing very hard with quite a bit of debris to avoid on the road. Again the nose of the car seemed to be the most affected by the high side-winds.

Jim.

[redyaris]

Originally Posted by charlierickman

hi there.. i came across your post and i realized that i also needed help and more tips actually on motorcycle fairing. like how would i be able to gain aerodynamic speed but still maintain steady performance when running.. thanks a lot.

You mit want to look at the craigvetter.com for some Ideas then you can look at what I have done under redyaris the bike is gray and you can look at what I have done so far. There are two other people on this website Janvos and the dutch guy on the ecomodder home page.

[redyaris]

Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler

Anyone who is watching the weather over the last day or so, knows that we are having extraordinarily high winds in the midwest.

This morning on the way the work, the car was blasted with 40 to 50 mph side winds along with blinding rain.

It was incredibly difficult to see to keep from driving off the road. I could hear debris picked up by the wind, bouncing of the side of the car, including stuff being deflected by the fiberglass at the rear.

As for the extension, I did notice that the center-of-pressure still seems to be toward the front wheels, as each time a burst of wind came, the nose of the car would point away from the direction of wind.

On the way home tonight, it was not raining, but still blowing very hard with quite a bit of debris to avoid on the road. Again the nose of the car seemed to be the most affected by the high side-winds.

Jim.

How different is this form the responce before the boattail? Or is this the highest side winds you have encountered?

[Varn]

Maybe what is happening is that the back of your car is a lot more aero (less drag at the back) and you are losing the parachute effect of the original kamm tail. Perhaps a vertical tail fin is needed to give the back of your car some sail area to help keep the nose going straight in a side wind.

You may also have improved the lift of your vehicle in that the weight is being removed from the road decreasing your traction and control.

It is interesting to read your comments.

Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler

Anyone who is watching the weather over the last day or so, knows that we are having extraordinarily high winds in the midwest.

This morning on the way the work, the car was blasted with 40 to 50 mph side winds along with blinding rain.

It was incredibly difficult to see to keep from driving off the road. I could hear debris picked up by the wind, bouncing of the side of the car, including stuff being deflected by the fiberglass at the rear.

As for the extension, I did notice that the center-of-pressure still seems to be toward the front wheels, as each time a burst of wind came, the nose of the car would point away from the direction of wind.

On the way home tonight, it was not raining, but still blowing very hard with quite a bit of debris to avoid on the road. Again the nose of the car seemed to be the most affected by the high side-winds.

Jim.

[endurance]

Sounds like a matter of leverage. You put a longer lever behind the rear wheels, which act like a pivot. All cars are essentially like a wind vane already; they're aerodynamically designed to point into the wind, not take it broadside. By adding the extension, you just gave it more leverage.

Probably a rare problem unless you live in Wyoming, but good information to have going forward. It makes one ponder the benefits of having a removable system for days like this.

[SoobieOut]

I remember driving across Wyoming in a U-Haul with wicked side winds for 100 miles. Had to keep the steering wheel half a turn into the wind. Makes for stressful, white knuckled driving. Signs warned that no empty loaded trucks were allowed on the interstate.

From a different angle regarding side winds. Back in my competative cycling days. We used to ride in a paceline. In sidewinds it was called " – The art of the echelon". Where one rider would be diagonal to the other.

Shame our cars will not reconfigure the body panels based on wind direction.

[botsapper]

Shame our cars will not reconfigure the body panels based on wind direction.[/QUOTE]

Existing (Bugatti Veyron, Audis, Porsches,McLaren) and future designs feature 'active' aero aids to make driving safer in hi-speed/dynamic driving. Road height and active suspensions also help in high speed control & active rear spoilers become flaps to aid in rapid deceleration/braking conditions. There are OEM active grill blocks and soon 'fly-by-wire' active front canards, active rear spoilers and vertical tails work in conjunction for downforce & yaw control!

There's one you could add now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mzk-PnC1DI

[RobertSmalls]

I'd like a car where the entire body yaws to point directly into the relative wind. The driver's seat and controls would not yaw with the body. This would allow you to retain the benefit of streamlining despite a crosswind.