Interesting Aerodynamic Cars (Mike Vetter's ETV, also Avion)

[freebeard]

There's talk about tractors in the Unaerodynamic thread, but I thought I'd link this here:


http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/09/jack-donohue-tractor-racing-aficionado.html

He's after a record that is unbroken since 1935.

[elhigh]

That could pass for an orchard model but it needs fenders on the front wheels too.

Seriously, a speed record for tractors? I gotta get the Farmall started. 18 rompin' stompin' horsepower, betcher ass she's fast!

Looks like he has a Funk Bros. flathead V8 conversion in there, the next step would probably be a couple of Sherman step-up transmissions on top of each other. I guess you could hit over 38mph with an unmodified tractor running dual Shermans. The flatty will give you way more revs than the original 8N mill ever would, and there's a lot of room inside that pumpkin out back. He could fit in pretty much whatever ratio he wanted.

And I've already seen relatively normal-looking tractors crack 60. Just how fast is this guy planning on going?

[freebeard]

That's why there's a link under the picture, there's lots more there.



Ab Jenkins did 67mph on an Allis Chalmers in 1935, so anything higher than that.

The row crop front axle will aid high speed handling but it's still a short wheelbase.

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by freebeard

That's why there's a link under the picture, there's lots more there.



Ab Jenkins did 67mph on an Allis Chalmers in 1935, so anything higher than that.

The row crop front axle will aid high speed handling but it's still a short wheelbase.

Some of those early speed records were set by Allis as company policy, touting the advantages of rubber tires to encourage farmer uptake.

[freebeard]

They certainly weren't selling safety equipment.

[kach22i]

Tesla "X" SUV (crossover), Cd = 0.24

Model X | Tesla Motors


Says it's 20 percent more aero than the next closest SUV, would that be the Porsche Macan?

[elhigh]

I don't know if it's been posted here already, if so my apologies.

This was a design concept for what eventually developed into the Citroen GS. Obviously the GS, a relatively conventional-looking vehicle wandered far, far from this ideal by the time they got around to actually stamping panels.

[NeilBlanchard]

That car has been posted, I think - but it is a very interesting low drag car. I don't remember seeing that picture.

This thread is approaching 400,000 views, by the way! Woo hoo!

[arcosine]

[kach22i]

The Knolle Magnetrans System
https://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/knolle.htm

The Knolle Magnetrans system is an endless continuous passenger transit system having small cars moving along a fixed guideway. Embedded in the guideway is a tubular prime mover performing the same function as a cable in a cable-car system. The prime mover is driven by widely spaced stationary linear induction motors. The passenger cars are attached to the prime mover at fixed intervals and are pulled along by it. The wheelless cars are suspended magnetically over the track with permanent magnets in repulsion. The prime mover physically manipulates the cars to come to a crawl in stations. Passengers board dynamically from juxtaposed moving platforms. The basic mechanism is covered by U.S. Patent No. 3,320,903, Re 26,676; held by Ernst G. Knolle, inventor. A full-scale prototype vehicle and short test track has been built.

BASIC DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.
http://www.tonyfoale.com/Articles/Aerodynamics/AERO.htm

One of the primary requirements for this is that the sideways Centre of Pressure should be behind the Centre of Gravity. The C of P. is a point through which we can consider the total wind force on the side area of the bike to act.