High speed question...
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Colorado Springs CO
High speed question...
I tried posting this in performance results and only got one reply, so I'll try it here.
I've searched for an answer to this and can't find anything, so...
I'm talking C5s here. Suppose you're doing a high speed run and you have a blowout or hit an animal or somehow get turned around. Does anyone know at what speed the car would fly going backwards? They have nice downforce going forwards, but I'm thinking that if you got turned around at some speed, the rear end would lift off...
Just curious... thinking about trying open road racing and am wondering what "could" happen...
EDIT TO ORIGINAL POST: I'm talking LEGAL high speeds at 150+... like you may see here:
http://www.silverstateclassic.com/
I've searched for an answer to this and can't find anything, so...
I'm talking C5s here. Suppose you're doing a high speed run and you have a blowout or hit an animal or somehow get turned around. Does anyone know at what speed the car would fly going backwards? They have nice downforce going forwards, but I'm thinking that if you got turned around at some speed, the rear end would lift off...
Just curious... thinking about trying open road racing and am wondering what "could" happen...
EDIT TO ORIGINAL POST: I'm talking LEGAL high speeds at 150+... like you may see here:
http://www.silverstateclassic.com/
Last edited by RickHDN; Dec 28, 2007 at 02:07 PM. Reason: To be more specific.
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Im thinking this will happen--->
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
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I've never heard of anyone doing a study involving high-speed reverse direction airflow vs effects, but as everyone else would surmise as well....loosing it at high-speed such as on the Bonneville Salt Flats, you are going to be messed up if not terminal. The car wasn't designed for that direction at those speeds.
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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I've had a valve stem give way at high speed on my runflat (just about 80) and it was totally undramatic. I'd damaged it topping it off with air and hadn't realized. In fact the first I really knew of it was when the HUD/DIC warning went off giving a pressure low warning
By contrast, I had a tire blow out at 70 on an old Buick Le Sabre I inherited in TX. Now that was a different story but even then I didn't spin. Just a heavy pull; luckily into the edge of the freeway.
I guess if you run runflats you'd be more prone but a spin would be something else.
Assuming you're talking a closed course, (road racing would be dumb), I'd say the biggest risk would be a roll after a slide. To end up going bacwards would be a feat of driving.
To answer the point about airflow specifically, the design at the front is quite compex to get a smooth flow. There's no equivalent design points in the opposite direction so the rear of the car would act as a flat plate in aeroD terms. Goind backwards the flow would be all to pot so I guess it'd slow down pretty darn fast.
By contrast, I had a tire blow out at 70 on an old Buick Le Sabre I inherited in TX. Now that was a different story but even then I didn't spin. Just a heavy pull; luckily into the edge of the freeway.
I guess if you run runflats you'd be more prone but a spin would be something else.
Assuming you're talking a closed course, (road racing would be dumb), I'd say the biggest risk would be a roll after a slide. To end up going bacwards would be a feat of driving.
To answer the point about airflow specifically, the design at the front is quite compex to get a smooth flow. There's no equivalent design points in the opposite direction so the rear of the car would act as a flat plate in aeroD terms. Goind backwards the flow would be all to pot so I guess it'd slow down pretty darn fast.
Last edited by DeeGee; Dec 28, 2007 at 11:29 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Colorado Springs CO
I'm talking more about speeds at or in excess of 150 MPH... like you would hit if you did this:
http://www.silverstateclassic.com/
I plan to get lots more experience and go to a racing school before trying it (if I do) - for now I'll stick to low and high speed autocross.
http://www.silverstateclassic.com/
I plan to get lots more experience and go to a racing school before trying it (if I do) - for now I'll stick to low and high speed autocross.
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If you are worried about what could happen, I wouldn't go into open road racing. Lot's of variables come into play with any type of racing be it Drag Racing, Nascar, Indy, Etc... I am sure you have watched some of the crashes in racing before and have an idea of what is going to happen. It is very likely if you lose control of any car at a high rate of speed (150 MPH+) it is going to take flight. Just look at some of the dramatic Nascar crashes where the car lifts off the ground and flips many times. This is where Roll Bars and safety equipment come into play to help reduce the chances of serious bodily harm.
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Having raced a few times at 150+ I would say that once you get out of line, you have just become a passenger.
Just like guys who ride motocycles say.
"I had to lay it down."
That's
They lost it plain and simple.
Lose a Vette at speed and your hemrroids will be "sucking seat."
Having raced a few times at 150+ I would say that once you get out of line, you have just become a passenger.
Just like guys who ride motocycles say.
"I had to lay it down."
That's
They lost it plain and simple.Lose a Vette at speed and your hemrroids will be "sucking seat."
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'm talking more about speeds at or in excess of 150 MPH... like you would hit if you did this:
http://www.silverstateclassic.com/
I plan to get lots more experience and go to a racing school before trying it (if I do) - for now I'll stick to low and high speed autocross.
http://www.silverstateclassic.com/
I plan to get lots more experience and go to a racing school before trying it (if I do) - for now I'll stick to low and high speed autocross.
BTW, I guess I'm up there with the fastest. Made Mach 2 just once - and not in a Concorde....... or a Vette
Last edited by DeeGee; Dec 28, 2007 at 11:43 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Colorado Springs CO
If you are worried about what could happen, I wouldn't go into open road racing. Lot's of variables come into play with any type of racing be it Drag Racing, Nascar, Indy, Etc... I am sure you have watched some of the crashes in racing before and have an idea of what is going to happen. It is very likely if you lose control of any car at a high rate of speed (150 MPH+) it is going to take flight. Just look at some of the dramatic Nascar crashes where the car lifts off the ground and flips many times. This is where Roll Bars and safety equipment come into play to help reduce the chances of serious bodily harm.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 29
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From: Colorado Springs CO
Having raced a few times at 150+ I would say that once you get out of line, you have just become a passenger.
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I would venture to say that if you have a blowout or hit just about anything at 150 mph you are going to have big problems.
I don't think any amount of driver training is going to help you too much there.
The primary reason a car lifts is because the air pressure under the car is greater than over the car. Think airplane wings.
Probably would have got better responses if you had been more clear to begin with.
I don't think any amount of driver training is going to help you too much there.
The primary reason a car lifts is because the air pressure under the car is greater than over the car. Think airplane wings.
Probably would have got better responses if you had been more clear to begin with.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
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From: Colorado Springs CO
Keep the discussion to legal racing.........all is well.......da rules
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
You're obviously thinking closed courses unlike some other posts recently
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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From: Colorado Springs CO
The mods keep a close eye on street racing threads and rightly so IMHO.
You're obviously thinking closed courses unlike some other posts recently
You're obviously thinking closed courses unlike some other posts recently
