Old school original VW Beetle aeromods: "Herrod Helper" rear spoiler
 

Every once in a while, Phil (aerohead) spits out some interesting aero factoid in passing in a thread that sends me out into the internets, searching for more info. This is another example of that.

We've all seen Ernie Roger's New Beetle bug wing:

http://max-mpg.com/images/image007.jpg

Ernie calculated it improved his drag coefficient from .38 to .28 and fuel economy by 5-8%, depending on speed.

I forget which thread it was that Phil said something like, "yeah, old news. VW's had aftermarket drag reducing spoilers back in the day" (paraphrasing). (Not diminishing Ernie's efforts, just pointing out that others were trying to "correct" the Beetle shape in the past.)

"Herrod Helper"

From: TheSamba.com :: VW Dictionary and TheSamba.com :: View topic - Herrod Helper

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1236821838

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/...rodhelper2.jpg


Apparently, it was originally sold through JC Whitney, and mail order, and for $12.95, promised:

• better mpg
• greater top speed
• reduced noise
• better handling
• "releases that 300 foot column of vacuum you are now towing around"
• a "racy look" :)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1236821900

The only thing I couldn't figure out was why they called it "Herrod Helper".

Oh, found the thread where Phil referred to this spoiler: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...lips-2685.html

Herrod
 

Darin,I can only guess, that a fella by that name came up with it.That's really fun that you could track down the ad.The internet's amazing!

The ad says: "...guaranteed to outlast your Beetle."

wheres the ecomodder thread for that new beetle wing?

This month's Hot VWs' "Project Mileage Motor Part 17" series "tests" the Herrod Helper.

I take it (from the quotes) you're not confident in their "test" methodology?

They run a test loop out on the road, usually once but in this case twice, then report to two decimal places. Way too small of a sample for making claims. No A-B-A either.

Still, they are brushing 40 mpg without special driving techniques it seems.

I wonder if that would help my Subaru 360, which is nothing more than a fancy small VW bug except I have a grille accross the back side of the car

My Subaru pushes 40mpg in town at 15 degrees with a fuel leak and exhaust leak. Perhaps I can do better with this thing

Subaru 360
 

rmay,is that the tiny car I could lift the front end off the ground in the 1960s?

Yes, they were mainly imported in the late 60's & 1970 along with the real mystery vans AKA Subaru Sambar 360s

They weigh 920lbs front end is maybe 300lbs

where do i find more info on this?

http://max-mpg.com/images/image007.jpg

The Herrod Helper has been around for a long time... I think they might have started out in the 60's as a sort of joke, like this windup keys. But some of my VW drag racer buddies claim better handling at over 80mph with one. I've never tried one, the VW racecars I've driven all had nothing, or something more elaborate.

It makes sense however, any small improvement like a Herrod Helper might make driving in a cross wind at freway speeds less, umm, what's the word I'm looking for :white knuckle". A beetle is airplane-wing-ish shaped, the rounded roof in combination with a semi-flat belly pan does in fact lift at high speeds. Anything to spoil the lift effect does in fact make the car more stabil at higher speeds (I'm qualified to say, I've gone over 130mph at the dragstyrip in more than on air-cooled VW). Better mileage might be a stretch, Dean and RK Smith at hotVW's will have to do a real test to convince this long-time air-cooled VW driver.

you can find more info on www.max-mpg.com, interestingly enough when i hit the button to quote you the picture is directly linked from the site :D

You have a Subaru 360!?!

*worships*

The closest I've come to one of those is in Gran Turismo! haha

New Beetle aero
 

I just wanted to mention,that if the endplates of the rear wing were extended up to the top of the rear window,and an intermediate horizontal wing( like Ford's Sierra concept car and Merkur XR4Ti) positioned equidistantly between,with it's trailing edge following MetroMpg's aerodynamic template line,the Beetle would probably demonstrate even lower drag.Just a hunch.

Agreed. It might look better too. Just ask Bucky.

beautiful
 

Yeah,I'd defer to Mr.Geodesic Dome/Dymaxion Car any day.What a guy!

i saw the site but i was wondering if there was a thread discussion

at least i hope there was!

is there a place to buy?

or more pictures that show whats it made it or maybe installation?

I don't think there's a dedicated thread, and I'm not sure if Ernie sells these. Perhaps he'll start a thread.

herrod helper article
 

Does anyone have that magazine article on the herrod helper? I would really like to see the mpg results.

It's nice to see people notice.

Actually, a few years ago I measured my Cd with my Beetle wing and got about Cd = 0.31, which is more believable.

Ernie Rogers

Who, me?
 

I am greatly impressed by the level of conversation here. No, I have not tried to sell plans or anything for my wing. In 2004, I visited the VW design center in California. The lead guy was very knowledgeable (can't remember his name) but he said the top management just weren't interested in low drag designs. And, he probably thought it looked funny. But that was ages ago.

It's easy to make a wing that works well. Just shape it to raise the pressure in the back without getting in the way--let the flow descend slightly. I added a trick-- I left a crack of about one inch between the wing and the body to keep the flow attached as it transitioned to the wing. The entire design was by "feel"-- no calculations or tests were done.

The problem with duplicating my wing is in making the attachment. It is a steel piece that fits over the edge on each side and is secured with screws into the underside of the hatch where they don't show. There is no easy way to make these pieces without a lot of drawing, and then fabricating.

Anyway, many people have asked about it but nobody has built one. I think it has very low commercial value now that the "old" Beetle is due to be discontinued after 2009.

Ernie Rogers

could you post more pictures?

maybe a little bit about how you made it/installed it

that would all be super helpful =)

Help with pictures?
 

aloha,

I just tried to post some pictures. I can't figure out how to copy them from my hard disk to this screen. Any advice?

Ernie Rogers

Not to dredge up an old thread, but I noticed on here that someone said they didn't know why it was called the Herrod Helper. My spouse's (Gary Herrod) grandfather invented them and they took his last name. They do work...I can't regurgitate the exact details, but Gary could. We used it on our racecar for a time in 2009 and 2010, though I couldn't attach a photo because I haven't enough posts on here. You can always contact us if you want photos and information.

Anyway, I hope that clears things up. Small fun fact for the day.

Megan
Two Larrys Racing & The Green Booger
twolarrysracing.com