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Old 10-28-2010, 10:52 PM   #226 (permalink)
3-Wheeler
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Varn View Post
....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.
I understand the reason for noting the use of a rear fin, but I would not want to be the one to try it!

Why?

It would add a tremendous increase in the side load to the foam/fiberglass composite and could overload the structure in high sidewinds. No sir, I can live with the handling of the car just fine as it is!

As for lift, take a close look at the sharp seams, both on the top edge and bottom. These ridges are designed to stop the creation of lift in sideways winds because the hope is, this sharp transition is abrupt enough to cause massive flow separation and no lift!! This is by design.

The idea came from BicycleBob during several email exchanges (several years ago) before the tail extension was even designed.

Jim.

Last edited by 3-Wheeler; 10-28-2010 at 11:47 PM.. Reason: several years ago
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