( POSSIBLE ) Invite to the folks at A2 wind tunnel for a one time Q&A session here.

[Cd]

I plan to call this evening, since I missed the early hours that I was given to call ( I was at work )
And just FYI folks, some of these questions posted here are in the FAQ section of their website. A2wt.com

[j-c-c]

So by all means edit my listed questions, as many are addressed in FAQ.
Thanks

[Cd]

Originally Posted by j-c-c

So by all means edit my listed questions, as many are addressed in FAQ.
Thanks

No, I didn't mean it that way. I just added that to inform everyone and not just you.

[j-c-c]

Regardless, the shoe fit, don't want to waste your efforts/time, and yes the site's FAQ is useful and informative.
Enjoy your chat.

I visited the facility years ago, can't wait till I haul my junk up there, and btw I would welcome any free day of test help doing my set-ups, etc, but mainly with somebody with a similar car and goals, as it should be a learning experience at little expense, and I am not a racer so no need to hide anything learned.

[Cd]

I had a conversation with Gary Eaker late yesterday.
I recorded the conversation so that I could go back and condense it.
I'll post back when I have gone through it.

I think Phil ( Aerohead ) would be the ideal person to do a better job of talking with the guys at A2.
In fact, most of what Gary spoke about has been posted here by Phil.
A lot of the cars Phil has mentioned in the past are ones that Gary did the aero on too, so I know these two guys would have a lot to talk about.




I

[Piwoslaw]

Can't sleep with anticipation.
Any update?

[Cd]

Sorry for the delay.
A lot of what Gary mentioned as aero information Aerohead has mentioned in the past here on the forum.

There are a few interesting bits that he mentioned about the EV-1 and such, but again it may be something Aerohead has posted in the past.

I have taken a few notes from the conversation, and will post them here later, but I still have to go through the remainder of the conversation.

I have also been distracted with my car project.

Again, sorry for the delay.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by freebeard

It's hard to think of something that's not too specific. How about: What are the popular misconceptions?

His reply was that people think that factory aero kits work, when in reality, they are designed to just look good and sell the car.
He didn't go into much detail about less obvious misconcetions, such as aero ideas that have been updated with new data.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Since fuel economy for ICE vehicles and 'range' for BEVs is of much interest, and since low drag factors so strongly into that calculus; in light of Wolf Hucho's comment in 1986 that, Cd 0.09 was 'technologically feasible', I'd be very interested in knowing how they might navigate that magnitude of drag reduction.

Phil, I think you might have to ask this question yourself, since you can understand what his reply was. He spoke about how that drag is being reduced each decade, but I didn't understand his answer on how to get to .09 cD.
I'd love to hear a conversation with you two in the future.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by j-c-c

Question 1: When cars are being tested in the tunnel, is suspension height locked or left free to react and measured or tested both ways?
Question 2: how much impact does an operating engine at speed have on results, air intake, fan, exhaust, etc?

1)In the A2 the car is supported by the springs and shocks.
Their Aerodyne facility has electromechanical rams.
He said when you test a car, you wantbcc the car "stiff"; since even minor variations in ride height can have a huge difference.
I got the impression that the car suspension is not test locked and free at the A2.
2) "Not as much as you would think " was Gary's response on the engine aero effect.
He stated that the engine effect is minimal compared to the effect caused by cooling flow.
And the exhaust is "lazy, and doesn't shoot out like a rocket out the back "