Discussion
Eric Mc said:
The principle of applying downforce using an inverted aerofoil goes back a long way -
1928
1956
1966
1968
Not sure what you mean by "inverted aerofoil"? If you mean non-symmetrical aircraft wings turned upside down, then your first example - the OPEL clearly doesn't feature those. They look like normally configured aircraft wing sections, but with a negative angle of attack.1928
1956
1966
1968
I believe the Chapparal 2E's aerofoil was actually symmetrical (despite many references stating otherwise), but relied on it's driver adjustable angle of attack to give downforce in corners and minimum drag on the straights.
Similarly, I think the earliest versions of winged Lotus 49's (1968) had symmetrical helicopter blade sections, again with their angle of attack adjusted.
dr_gn said:
Not sure what you mean by "inverted aerofoil"? If you mean non-symmetrical aircraft wings turned upside down, then your first example - the OPEL clearly doesn't feature those. They look like normally configured aircraft wing sections, but with a negative angle of attack.
I believe the Chapparal 2E's aerofoil was actually symmetrical (despite many references stating otherwise), but relied on it's driver adjustable angle of attack to give downforce in corners and minimum drag on the straights.
Similarly, I think the earliest versions of winged Lotus 49's (1968) had symmetrical helicopter blade sections, again with their angle of attack adjusted.
I was being a bit simplistic in my description of the devices but whatever they are called - they were designed to generate negative air pressure on the vehicles to improve their grip. The only reason they took so long to become mainstream was fear that the scrutineers and rule makes would ban them outright. Indeed, that is exactly what happened when the May brothers tried their wing out at Le Mans in 1956. I believe the Chapparal 2E's aerofoil was actually symmetrical (despite many references stating otherwise), but relied on it's driver adjustable angle of attack to give downforce in corners and minimum drag on the straights.
Similarly, I think the earliest versions of winged Lotus 49's (1968) had symmetrical helicopter blade sections, again with their angle of attack adjusted.
F1 came very close to banning wings in early 1969 after a series of serious accidents caused by wing failures early in that season. Sadly, they chickened out after objections by the teams and they allowed wings to be used as long as they were mounted to the cars rather than directly to their suspensions, they did not exceed specified height limits and could not be adjusted by the driver.
Deesee said:
I always thought his near namesake, Stirling Moss , was the more talented ... coppice said:
Deesee said:
I always thought his near namesake, Stirling Moss , was the more talented ... Nice use of punctuation
Eric Mc said:
If it was beefed up it could replace the halo;)
Was watching the F1 1986 Brands Hatch race when there was the first lap accident which basically ended Jacques Laffite career with two broken legs.Many others from his era faired a lot worse but when you see such an accident now it looks completely inconceivable that someone could get hurt. But you can see why he got the injuries. Ouch.
Full race with the crash at the start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfrgmd60lME&t=...
The best 3 days I have ever spent at a race circuit . Amazing cars , serious noise and great , great track . Different times but my reaction was hurry up and get Lafitte sorted as we want the cars out again .- he'll be fine , just broken bones . And now we'd virtually be wearing black armbands for broken legs ...
Not F1, but in a car I know well, Sainz Snr, circa 83..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CuaBHNKycvI
Sound up!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CuaBHNKycvI
Sound up!
coppice said:
The best 3 days I have ever spent at a race circuit . Amazing cars , serious noise and great , great track . Different times but my reaction was hurry up and get Lafitte sorted as we want the cars out again .- he'll be fine , just broken bones . And now we'd virtually be wearing black armbands for broken legs ...
It's true what you say. Was it Schumacher at Silverstone in 1999 when an F1 driver last broke a leg in a car?ELUSIVEJIM said:
Have you ever heard three cars that are actually begging for more...
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