Racecars

Racecars

Racecars - Automotive ground effects are an attempt to influence and control air to stabilize a car body when it is at speed. This process were only available in 1960s racecars and evolved into passenger cars since that time. Other racing designers used rear wings on racecars, but Jim Hall experimented and further developed the concept. On a long straight, the front of his Chaparral sports cars tipped up and top wheels didn’t contact the floor because in the power shifting weight for the back. He put spoilers on the front to keep the front wheels in contact with the floor. His next innovation ended up being pivot the back wing parallel to the ground on the straight to reduce the drag it created. It would pivot vertical to brake and stabilize the car going into the corners.

Chaparral Cars

He put a corner spoiler on poles above the automobile so it would contact climate. This wasn't strictly automotive ground effects, but a measure in that direction. The first true ground effects car was the Chaparral sucker car. Lexan skirts sealed it around the bottom. A small two-stroke motor powered two fans that sucked air like a vacuum cleaner from under the vehicle and pulled the vehicle to the floor. Because it used two motors the auto was ruled illegal. In 1974 Formula I Brabhams tried the fan concept. Racing organizations banned moveable aerodynamic parts and additional fans.

Lotus Fomula 1 1974

Jim Hall’s Indianapolis Chaparral as well as the Lotus formula I car were among the first to apply essentially the most successful usage of Bernoulli concepts to automotive ground effects. If fluids, or air, flow via a constriction, speed rises and pressure falls. By using a smooth bottom with a bow at the center, perpendicular towards the length of the auto, and skirts down the side will create a low-pressure area behind the bow. The Bernoulli vortex is enough to suck the auto to the floor and increase stability and cornering speeds.

 Mario Andretti 

This took over as the best ground effects application at that time. Lotus, and Mario Andretti won the Formula I world championship in 1978 applying this concept. Hall’s Chaparral used this idea to win the 1980 Indianapolis 500 and championship with Johnny Rutherford driving. Racing organizations began to ban side skirts inside 1980s as a consequence of serious accidents. This was because if a side skirt becomes damaged, the stress decreases rapidly, as well as the vehicle goes out of control. Automotive ground effects use underbody designs with two tunnels that can start the midpoint of the automobile for probably the most downforce and slope upward to the rear of the automobile. This still uses the Bernolli principle and generates a vortex to produce downforce and diffuse air to a slower speed as the underbody area increases.Front spoilers put pretty much pressure on the front tires. They are balanced in conjunction with the trunk wings to attain balance in the vehicle. 

Streetcar automotive ground effects control the air around, under well as over the automobile. Adding components gives aerodynamic qualities, which will stabilize the automobile, and give it a sportier look. Front and rear air dams, and side skirts direct the air to the side of the automobile and prevent it from getting around the underside and causing lift. A panel about the underside of the vehicle will reduce drag.The factory will install these components when purchasing the automobile. After market automotive ground effectskits can be purchased. Several different suppliers manufacture automotive ground effect kits that can be put on automobiles. They can be removed or attached with existing bumpers and bodywork.Automotive ground effects kits vary in price. Fiberglass components will wither and die quicker than the tougher fiberglass resin parts, and priced accordingly.