GM Aerodynamic Tweaking - read this!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,411
Likes: 40
From: Smallingerland Friesland, Netherlands
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 25
From: Apache Junction AZ
Very interesting read. Surprisingly, it covered several areas that I had wondered about. Firstly, why does my LG ZR1 splitter have such small lip in the center portion. And secondly, why aren't the side skirts wider. Looks like I had the right idea.
BJK
BJK
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 19
From: Cumming, GA
What a great article. This went right into my favorites folder for good keeping. Some of my remaarks for the story.
Whatever works at its finest.
Had the same experience myself at the mile....
"The outside mirrors were then folded in from their normal position seen here. This proved aerodynamically effective. Interestingly, LMR had tried this on their previous attempt at the Mile, but the mirrors had both popped back out to normal position, mid-run. Next time they’ll secure them in the folded position. Another interesting factoid from GM’s Tom Froling is that these same mirrors are used on the road-race C6.R Corvettes because they help create downforce"
Hmmmm.... I've assumed right all this time. Go me!
"So on went a little Z06 spoiler, which proved surprisingly effective in reducing both lift and drag. Okay, so the GM aero guys weren’t quite so surprised since they’d helped shape it in the first place for the production Z06. But overall lift was still present."
Insane.
What a cool experience!
Looks like a genius to me; what a job!
Whatever works at its finest.
Had the same experience myself at the mile....
"The outside mirrors were then folded in from their normal position seen here. This proved aerodynamically effective. Interestingly, LMR had tried this on their previous attempt at the Mile, but the mirrors had both popped back out to normal position, mid-run. Next time they’ll secure them in the folded position. Another interesting factoid from GM’s Tom Froling is that these same mirrors are used on the road-race C6.R Corvettes because they help create downforce"
Hmmmm.... I've assumed right all this time. Go me!
"So on went a little Z06 spoiler, which proved surprisingly effective in reducing both lift and drag. Okay, so the GM aero guys weren’t quite so surprised since they’d helped shape it in the first place for the production Z06. But overall lift was still present."
Insane.
What a cool experience!
Looks like a genius to me; what a job!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 230
From: Livingston County, Michigan
Having been GMI co-op student working at ESAL (the name back then - Engineering Staff Aerodynamics Laboratory) in the summer of '81, I can tell you that it was a cool assignment.
