Question for Nascar fans

[patmahe]

What are the flaps for, forward of the rear windscreen that you often see lift up when the cars spin. Like the one in the image below.

[ivanj]

Air brakes and to stop you from flipping. [In theory]

[patmahe]

ivanj said:

Air brakes and to stop you from flipping. In theory

Thought that might be it, a bit crap aren't they, you'd think with all the flipping and rolling that goes on in Nascar they would have tried a redesign at some stage. Just something I'd been wondering, Thanks.

Edited by patmahe on Friday 19th March 17:00

[zac510]

Not flipping was quite a big part of the CoT design.

[FourWheelDrift]

Unfortunately at a certain angle the bigger wing seems to be taking enough air flow off the flaps to make them flip over.

[anonymous-user]

The flaps are used mainly as an air brake, the reason these new cars flip when going backwards is because the air gets under the rear of the wing lifting it up.

[belleair302]

Great shot....the number 9 car will need to do more than see his now defunct Dodge dealer after that accident!!

[ADEuk]

tux said:

The flaps are used mainly as an air brake, the reason these new cars flip when going backwards is because the air Carl Edwards gets under the rear of the wing lifting it up.

EFA

[kazste]

and he used to be such a nice man!

[Allyc85]

ADEuk said:

tux said:

The flaps are used mainly as an air brake, the reason these new cars flip when going backwards is because the air Carl Edwards gets under the rear of the wing lifting it up.

EFA

Been meaning to ask, whats this EFA?

[Hartge210]

I didn't think they were air brakes but just flaps to let out the air trapped inside/underneath the car, helping to stop them get airborne

Edited by Hartge210 on Friday 19th March 23:00

[MonkeyHanger]

Allyc85 said:

Been meaning to ask, whats this EFA?

"Edited For Accuracy"

As for the flaps...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/n...

[Slyjoe]

Nascars become very "wing like" when going backwards, the flap pops up to break the lift effect. IIRC they pop up when they are at about 165 degrees backwards if that makes sense - ie; not at 180 on the track..

[Allyc85]

MonkeyHanger said:

Allyc85 said:

Been meaning to ask, whats this EFA?

"Edited For Accuracy"

Ah I see, cheers

Really looking forward to this weekends race at bristol, ive alwys like the tightnesss of the track and the pack running so close together!