I'm curious how much a wing like this might help the Evo-



I would assume you would pick up some mph in the top end for the faster cars. Or is it more for downforce only and doesn't do much for the aerodynamics?


Also, since we're on the subject of wings, has anyone tested the factory wing on the strip to see if there was a MPH loss? Talking about back to back runs with it on/off. Just curious.

 

At a cD of 0.38, just about anything will help our aerodynamic bricks.

 

I know that the stock wing is usually good for about .5 MPH in the quarter, I have no idea if a prostock wing would help, but Eric from Strictly modified has one on his car. I'd imagine it's for a reason.

 

I can only talk about my drag car as it pertains to wings. Now being that it is fwd, the car used to be all over the track on the big end.

I came up with this "small wing" that has adjustability built into it. basically Rule book calls for 2.5 inch spill plates ( the vertical panes) and a minimum wicker bill of 3/4 of an inch.

This small upgrade made my car very stable at the end of the track ( basically it went straight) of course I do not have an empirical data to substaniate my claim, but the results were drastically different before and after ( this is pertaining to ending trap speeds between 140 and 148 mph)



in the up position


in the down position


in the future I hope to actuate the wing with a hydraulic ram piece and control the pitch with my standalone ( but that is a long ways off )

 

I wonder about the pro stock wing on the evo also.

 

We were the first ones to do that style wing on the Evo, it was on our old black drag car a few years ago. Many followed right after, now it seems like almost every Evo drag car has one.

Here are a few shots for you to see what it looks like on an Evo.

 

I always assumed it was for downforce at the end of the track when you brake and/or pull the parachute.

 

Wonder if someone could clear it up. I had always thought it was to decrease drag. Maybe it does both?

 

Apparently the long flat wing is designed to enhance straight line stability and rear aerodynamics more than maximize rear downforce. The idea is to keep air coming off the rear of the vehicle as straight as possible. Here is a link to where I found that info, it is at the end of the article in a caption on one of the pictures: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/b...s/viewall.html

 

We had ours back in 2006 and got it from a customer that had it on his Evo before us so I'm pretty sure he was the first to have one. It made a huge difference in keeping the back end of the car from floating around at the top of the track.

 

Good info on that site. But at what MPH is it nessasry to have a drag wing? From what it looks like 8-9 sec 1/4 mile Evo's are using them. They are going 140+ MPH. Would a 10 sec Evo benefit from this kind of wing? Even though the Evo is going 125's - 130+.

 

I would say no as we didn't notice a difference till 150mph.

 

The rear of any car creates huge amounts of drag at any speed really. If you could add a rear fairing onto the car (basically a wing like that on the top, bottom, and sides...) the effects would be huge because you're effectively making it more streamlined.

When the air comes over the trunkline, instead of simply going about its business, it will create wake turbulence. This is a byproduct of lift. The airflow will sort of roll (think about how leaves and such fly around in the bed of a pickup at speed). As it rolls around, the pressures change (I won't get all piloty on you here) and it effectively slows the car.

While this "wing" (probably more of a spoiler actually) won't really create downforce (though it certainly creates some) it will certainly allow the airflow to separate further away from the rear vertical panes of the car and create less drag. I would wager that adding a vortex generator along the rear trunkline might help as well, since this will (shocking!) generate vortexes (give the air something to do) as it flows away from the car.

If you wanted to further improve this design for drag racing (though I know nothing about the rules) you should probably consider changing your spoilers vertical end plates into something more like a winglet. Winglets will generate a forward component of lift while preventing spillover (which causes the same wake turbulence (drag) but on a different axis). This has been PROVEN to improve fuel efficiency by an average of 3% on a Boeing 737.

I can provide diagrams or more info as necessary, though I suspect I got a touch off topic.

 

Nice write up and good info. Is this a given for any speed though?

 

Thanks... is what a given for any speed? The fact that a fairing improves airflow? Yes... technically, though the gains are obviously directly proportional to speed.

I guess clarify what you're asking...