Did that have to be that tall?
There is some debate about this, but most experts will tell you “no,” at least not from an aerodynamic standpoint. In 1969 NASCAR really did race “stock cars” and auto manufacturers had to build and sell at least 500 of them to be eligible to compete. Unlike many spoilers, the Daytona’s rear wing was not attached to the trunk of the car, but the rear quarters instead. This presents a problem when you consider that the trunk of the car actually needs to open if it’s going to be sold to the public. In order to allow the trunk to open all the way, the spoiler had to be raised to height even taller than the roof of the car."
Yeah, but it was bad to the bone.
ReplyDeleteThey could have easily attached it to the trunk lid anytime they wanted to if shorter was better. During design/testing on a track, they did try many different (including shorter) spoilers along with different nose cones and rear window covers. The evolution of the wing was in response to the rear of the car wandering dangerously. That height was needed to get it up into cleaner air for enough down force and the sides of the wing were widened and placed outboard to provide stability. Perhaps the debaters and "most experts" should have consulted the guys who created the cars.
ReplyDeleteThe design must've worked....Petty went to Ford when Chrysler refused to give him one....thus the creation of the Super Bird to lure him back...
DeleteAll things wings:
Deletehttp://wwnboa.org/toc.htm
The aerodynamicist for MOPAR's winged warriors: https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a30753037/gary-romberg-the-rocket-scientist-behind-nascars-1970-plymouth-superbird-dies-at-85/