Flaring Wheels

[iBorg 317]

The design I'm working on for a parents race would allow me to place fairings in front of the rear wheels. I have a narrow center body and could extend a fairing in front of the rear wheels. Is there any gain to trying to get the wheels out of the wind or are they so small/car not so fast that it really doesn't matter?

Thanks,

Mike

[ProQuest]

Welcome Mike:

What the heck is a fairing? Is that like a fender well?

ProQuest

[iBorg 317]

A fairing is like the side pods on formula one cars that extend away from the body and block the wind flow around the tires. Top fuel dragsters also use something similar to keep wind turbulence down from the rear slicks. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is there any gain in trying to block air flow away from the wheels.

Mike

[Da Pine Racing]

Hi iBorg, I think aero always matters to some extent, but if you look at the cars racing in the various venues the fast ones, for the most part have no major side additions to the bodies.

With everything else equal, nothing beats good alignment, a set of smooth turning wheels and rear weighting.

Although after saying this I have already sent in a new pro stocker to WIRL for the March race that has sides on it to push the air over the wheels and I like the way it turned out as far as looks goes. The main reason that I like this car now is because when I packed it in the mail, the sides I added will protect the alignment of the needle axles (I hope) during shipping. Much easier to pack but I don't believe the areo will be an advantage.

In a past experience I entered an adult race that used a channel type track and my car took 1st. The added sides to the car and not the wheels would touch the side rails of the track. It was much faster than anything else there. On a straddle track it probably would have turned out a little different.

Hope this helps some.