Perhaps the Honda Insight needs more aero-stability...

[botsapper]

...but the great (Hasport Hondata w/ 2L supercharged Rotrex K20 w/ 500hp) construction quality of whole-body cage and safety equipment worked. The driver escaped with relatively minor injuries (collapsed lung) considering the violence of the crash. Slow motion of 13 1/2 200-mph barrel rolls and endos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_-SWoGxWTs

Example why downforce is good; your friend and angel.

[wmjinman]

Yeah, I notice the insight is not low & flat, but rather high & narrow. That didn't help once the roll started.

Also, the aerodynamics for optimizing minimum drag at "regular" speeds probably aren't the best for high speed stability. Getting both at the same time is quite a trick, and I'm sure the design of the Insight was at least 90% for low drag at regular speed, and less than 10% for "high speed stability".

Using that body design for a landspeed attempt makes sense from the standpoint of low drag, but in this case, at least, the high speed stability thing bit him in the ass.....

There's another video out there of a 2nd generation Mazda RX-7 at Bonneville doing much the same thing, but at 210 mph. Same deal - pretty low drag car, but too much lift/instability at high speeds........

[Cd]

That'll buff out .

[NachtRitter]

The little trip rails on the roof maybe should've been taller?

Must've been a wild ride... wonder if there's any in-car footage.

[wmjinman]

It doesn't look to me like it's an issue of aerodynamic lift, but simply the wheels digging into the ground enough to "trip" it & start it rolling.

If my understanding's right, instead of rolling when sideways, it would have lifted up off the ground first, once sideways. I don't see any lifting in that video - just rolling. If you can find the video of that RX-7 at Bonneville, I think that one lifed off, THEN did the somersaults, etc.

EDIT: Just remembered, I think the rules actually specify 3/4" high. That's another thing I thought was odd - not 1/2", not 7/8", but 3/4".

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by wmjinman

It doesn't look to me like it's an issue of aerodynamic lift, but simply the wheels digging into the ground enough to "trip" it & start it rolling.

When the arse lifts up, the nose digs in, it's a lever.

People mock rear wings on FWD cars all the time, but if balanced up with the front down-force they can play a role in high speed handling/safety.

Maybe this old Lambo below holds a clue.

Lamborghini Countach - Front Spoiler - Red - Front Angle

[AntiochOG]

This time attach Scion has seen some success too with it's front wing.

[spacemanspif]

Is that Insight front drive or converted to rear wheel drive? It almost looks like the front tires had too much bite and the back end drove around the front.

That Scion pic above is front wheel drive and needed that front wing to keep as much pressure on the tires through turns. If I remember correctly it was having a lot of trouble starting into the turns (under steer?)

[botsapper]

A new speed record, 238.22 mph from a Hondata CRX. H/Blown Fuel Comp Coupe class. An allowed altered nose but no change on the width or 'contour' (as in the rule book).

http://www.hondata.com/images/bonnev..._full_size.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEvOcIDH1yo

[wmjinman]

One thing I didn't really take into consideration in my previous remarks is that there might have been some lift or aerodynamic instability that CAUSED the skid to start. So even though I don't think the roll was a result of the roof rails failing to spoil lift while the car was sideways, the whole thing may have started from some aero problem - - - - or something else. That stuff isn't always the easiest thing to figure out...