Clive's 400 BHP Super GT RX-8 Race Car

[clive]

Widows are regulation thick so I should not need a net

[Grant Monkhouse]

I meant instead if the windows, bad explaining on my part:(

[clive]

I meant instead if the windows, bad explaining on my part:(

You could run a net instead of a window on the drivers side then open on the passenger side with no wiindow or net

[marcusd666]

This coming on really well Clive you have done a great job up to now can\'t wait to see it running next year.

Keep up the good work

[boosted]

This is looking great...i cant wait to see it on track next year.

[Buhl]

Wont you get high drag with out the windows? (I might have misunderstood what you are debating )

Oh and the project looks great! Love the RX8 as a race car!

[seanp]

Coming on nicely Clive.

A Naca duct will probably be fitted but if need be I can remove the passenger window if its a hot day.

You\'ve just answered a very long-standing question I\'ve never discovered an answer to, despite asking several engineers etc.

"Is there a name and a special formula behind the design of those spade-shaped inltakes as seen on many racing cars & aircraft etc.?"

Yes - it is an "NACA inlet" (or "submerged-duct entrance") - Wikipedia even leads to the original research and design paper giving the ranges of parameters used for such inlets

[Brett]

I have a good source book that contains those formulas

[clive]

Really want to keep the windows in for drag reasons, but a hot Rotary and a hot day may require the window out

Naca duct would be picked because as far as I know the duct offers no drag because the air flow is undisturbed but will still "spill" an airflow into the cabin or engine bay where flush fitted .

BTW,  The internet may give a different interpretation but the above is my understanding

[seanp]

Naca duct would be picked because as far as I know the duct offers no drag because the air flow is undisturbed but will still "spill" an airflow into the cabin or engine bay where flush fitted .

BTW,  The internet may give a different interpretation but the above is my understanding

Correct; the shape specifically allows air to enter the opening, and can encourage by creating vortexes and wing-like low pressures on the outside; whilst reducing any drag on the outside...

T\'internet links to the ORIGINAL research papers including wind-tunnel testing of lots of varying profiles and gives tables / formulas for various applications...  

This was designed for air-intakes for jet aircraft though... I suspect that these days, when used on the majority of racing/rally cars; that close approximations are used, and not necessarily calculated to the optimum?

But anyhow - now I know the NAME of them, I am more than happy.

[Buhl]

Really want to keep the windows in for drag reasons, but a hot Rotary and a hot day may require the window out

I think thats something race drivers learn to live with? (Im not a race driver, so i dont know )

You can also do a roof scoope? Naca ducts are nice tho

[shaunwil]

I\'m sure I\'ve seen some FD\'s with vents in the rear plastic screens to help drag the heat out of the back of the car.

Shaun

[Buhl]

I\'m sure I\'ve seen some FD\'s with vents in the rear plastic screens to help drag the heat out of the back of the car.

Shaun

The FD im helping out on got that, and then some small pipes bended out the side windows to catch air, it is then beeing routed straight on the driver.

He gets hot on a sunny day! But not anything a soda after the race can\'t fix!
The races are 20mins each time. + sitting in the car before and after.

[C J R]

I watched some guys racing Gen 1\'s in Phoenix in an endurance race. In the passenger side was fitted a well insulated ice box (full of ice) with a 2" plastic pipe and air pump which drew the cold air from the top of the ice box and blew it on the driver.
Okay, so the track temps were around 90 degrees at 9am, but you get the idea.
Would\'t suggest you would need that in the UK though.
 
Ducting cold air in at the front and reverse ducts allowing hot air out of the rear side windows seems like a good way of circulating air. (Just ask Steve how hot his RX8 gets without its interior, I think you may loose weight per race !!).
 
 
Chris

[Grant Monkhouse]

The extra heat maybe what Clive needs to lose those extra pounds giving him the edge over the other racers;)