Quote:
Originally Posted by Phase
So long story short, extending the spoiler works?
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1) It's 'conditional.'
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2) At Bonneville, many cars are 'traction-challenged.'
3) Even at the end of the race course, cars are easily capable of spinning their rear tires.
4) The Chevrolet Corvette LT1, which was ahead of me at the wind tunnel raced the next day. I was at the finish line when he came by, got sideways, lifted twelve-feet into the air, performed a half-gainer, landing on his roof at 210-mph. The car was toast. The driver okay, but visibly shaken.
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5) The Bonneville spoiler is a two-fold 'safety' device.
A) The capping plates add some 'skeg' / 'rudder' aerodynamic 'mass', and in the onset of yaw, help 'weathervane' the car back, straight down the course.
B) The 'deck' of the spoiler can / may, reduce turbulence by re-attaching separated flow, allowing the arresting parachutes to be submerged in 'clean' air ( also an 'anti-yaw' provision should the car begin to go sideways).
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6) The 2008 Ford Fusion 999 Hydrogen Fuel Cell land speed record car began @ Cd 0.34, and by the time the team got though with it, it was down to Cd 0.21.
A 'Bonneville spoiler' was part of the kit, but it extended out no further than the 2013 AST-III contour. Just like Hyundai's Prophecy concept car, Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, Ital Design Medusa, 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, 1985 Renault ALPINE V-6, 1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo, 1990 Opel Calibra, Ferrari 360 Modena, Volvo ECC, Dodge Viper Defender, Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, Porsche 911 GT1 ( LeMans , sans wing ), Dodge Viper GTS, Nissan 200SX, Toyota MR2, Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Nissan 370-Z, Honda Accord Crosstour, Subaru/ SCION BRZ/ F..., 2014 Audi RS5, 2014 Chevy Camaro SS 1LE, 2015 ACURA NSX, Alfa Romeo 4C, 2015, LEXUS RCF, 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS ( w/o wing ), 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S, KIA Stinger GT, Toyota GR Supra, to mention some.