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The three "R's"...Reading, Writing and Racing!
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Sports Car Trivia...Getting "Spoiled"
posted in: mr. wizard garage, news on March 10, 2010 at 09:41 PM
Porsche 911SC "Whale Tail" spoiler
Do “spoilers” on a car really “spoil” the air? What is happening when the air passing over a car hits the spoiler on the decklid? What is the difference between a spoiler and a wing? Lets hear it fellow Hubist. This is “aero 101” stuff.
Comments
canted Garage
March 10, 2010 at 10:28 PM
I have read about it but don’t recall it well enough to tell it. I know it is “not” a spoiler.
The Pontiac Ranch Garage
March 10, 2010 at 10:34 PM
The spoiler on my 79 Firebird adds around 500 lbs o downforce on da rear,my friend did 190 mph donuts in his at Bonneville last Aug when he removed his lookin fer speed,didnt work out so well,no crash so it was all good…
Robt. Miller Garage
March 11, 2010 at 03:34 AM
I believe the wing in this photo does two things. First it does in fact push down on the back of the car creating more traction. Second it forces the air to travel out the back and away from the body of the car, otherwise the air would wrap around the back of the car and create drag which in essence pulls the car backwards, and in some cases creates lift at the rear. Probably what happened to Pontiac Ranches buddy at Bonneville.
Henry J Garage
March 13, 2010 at 03:40 PM
A spoiler, when functional, is meant to disturb a flow of air as RM describes. The simplest example being that flap that deploys on many sunroof cars to keep the wind from buffeting your eardrums.
The wing also manages airflow, but with the express purpose of creating downforce.
