Want to increase your bhp/ton
Discussion
zcacogp said:
Yup ... an golf balls are covered in dimples to create little pockets of turbulence that help move the big patch of turbulence further round the back of the ball ... almost like covering the ball in little ball bearings ... result is to reduce parasitic drag
Clean, shiny things have lower drag than dirty things. Apparently in WW2, Douglas Bader would always insist that hisspitfire was polished before each mission he went out on, as he reckoned it gave him a 20knot advantage over the hun.
Oli.
what is there needs to be clean, but it isn't necessarily true that the cleanest shape is the fastest (or most efficient at getting through the air) several aircraft have turbulance strips on the wings to disrupt the airflow as it reduces latent drag. Can also be seen on skate wings, and whales fins, which have lumps to disrupt the flow to decrease drag.
I've just seen he posted this on another thread...
Words fail me, since when was it not going to cause massive understeer flooring a FWD car around a bend?
police driver said:
I have also driven both the ST and the VXR. I have driven the 3 door ST twice, and the 5 door once. I have driven the Astra VXR twice.
The 3 door ST made me smile, it felt quick, I loved it. That was before I drove the VXR. Having driven it the first time, I felt it was difficult to control. Luckily I am used to front wheel drive and so the handling was not alien to my driving style. However all you have to do with the VXR is place your foot on the pedal and already it is jumping and jolting forwards like a banchee. You do not get this in the ST. I believe the ST is a safe, average hot hatch. I also believe the VXR is an unruly beast that only proper drivers, those who understand the technicalities of driving, can reap serious rewards from.
I found the Astra only needed a mm of acceleration around gradual corners to put it on the limits of adhesion. This is despite approaching every corner wide and straight lining the road to obtain maximum wheel grip. This is an odd sensation, one I have never felt before. Most will say, well, it is over powered and blah blah blah. I don't, I just think that it means you can achieve maximum cornering from the car without flooring the pedal round the corners.
The ST's front end looks like a fish anyway. Have you noticed, its beady eyes and wide crustacean eating mouth. The lower paint strip is far too thin on the ST, and this means it is lacking in the style department.'
Words fail me, since when was it not going to cause massive understeer flooring a FWD car around a bend?
Having my 100 kilo rugby playing friend in my car certainly slows it down! Removing a crisp packet? Can't say I have noticed a difference. 
I would however like to know what school he went to in order to avoid it. If he is genuine I feel a bit sorry for him as he does believe what he is saying. perhaps he is only 10?
>> Edited by chippy17 on Wednesday 24th May 17:08
>> Edited by chippy17 on Wednesday 24th May 17:09
I would however like to know what school he went to in order to avoid it. If he is genuine I feel a bit sorry for him as he does believe what he is saying. perhaps he is only 10? >> Edited by chippy17 on Wednesday 24th May 17:08
>> Edited by chippy17 on Wednesday 24th May 17:09
silly man said:
The 3 door ST made me smile, it felt quick, I loved it. That was before I drove the VXR. Having driven it the first time, I felt it was difficult to control. Luckily I am used to front wheel drive and so the handling was not alien to my driving style. However all you have to do with the VXR is place your foot on the pedal and already it is jumping and jolting forwards like a banchee. You do not get this in the ST. I believe the ST is a safe, average hot hatch. I also believe the VXR is an unruly beast that only proper drivers, those who understand the technicalities of driving, can reap serious rewards from.
I found the Astra only needed a mm of acceleration around gradual corners to put it on the limits of adhesion. This is despite approaching every corner wide and straight lining the road to obtain maximum wheel grip. This is an odd sensation, one I have never felt before. Most will say, well, it is over powered and blah blah blah. I don't, I just think that it means you can achieve maximum cornering from the car without flooring the pedal round the corners.
See, he's not a Police Officer at all! He's a serious motoring journalist.
or a serial test pilot...
GTWayne said:
In actual fact this fella has the right idea,it's just the implimentation he has wrong?I have been stripping out my BMW V8 e36 coupe and have found it very surprising just how noticeable the weight saving is.The only trouble is, where to stop? (I hasten to add this is a track car and only road legal for ease of transportation at the moment).
'They' say that every kilo you can lose from the weight is like an extra horsepower under the bonnet.
But you have to take the weight off the car, not fold it flat
police daydreamer said:BWAAAAHAAAHAAAAAAAHAAHAAAA.
However all you have to do with the VXR is place your foot on the pedal and already it is jumping and jolting forwards like a banchee.
Oh man, this is getting painful. I need new underwear
It HAS to be a wind up. Has to be.
>> Edited by King Herald on Wednesday 24th May 18:58
A friend of mine has kindly donated some top tips for this guy:
1. Put your jacket on the floor to lower the centre of gravity and hunch down a bit in the driver's seat.
2. Lower the windows to lower the centre of gravity although this mod is for handling and would have to be reversed for high speed aerodynamic work
3. Move the roof-aerial to the wing to further lower it.
You can see now that we're getting close to the equivalent of having a carbon fibre roof whilst not touching the suspension.
1. Put your jacket on the floor to lower the centre of gravity and hunch down a bit in the driver's seat.
2. Lower the windows to lower the centre of gravity although this mod is for handling and would have to be reversed for high speed aerodynamic work
3. Move the roof-aerial to the wing to further lower it.
You can see now that we're getting close to the equivalent of having a carbon fibre roof whilst not touching the suspension.
I must confess,I didn't actually read all of this thread before posting my comments, but my point was that any thoughts of weight saving or even weight re-distribution are ideas in the right direction.Also,I was so impressed by the modest mods. made to the BMW making such an instantly noticeable difference.
Another thread about the Corsa seat thing here:
www.vxronline.co.uk/messageboard/viewtopic.php?p=3592&highlight=#3592
www.vxronline.co.uk/messageboard/viewtopic.php?p=3592&highlight=#3592
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