Why do people put huge wings on cars

I wasn't thinking... The good people at Honda put a wing on my S2000CR... Doesn't seem to slow it down and makes a great table for light snacks while parked at a view....

 

Because Racecar

 

On Sunday I saw a early 00s Pontiac Grand Prix with a huge wing with brake lights on it (like higher than the roof of the car) that was also very crooked and super wide rear tires (on a FWD car). I would have taken a picture but we were driving on I45 through Houston and I was busy giving the car a wide berth because I figure if you make those sorts of decisions I want to be far away.

 

Because they are juvenile and idiotic.

 

You guys don't get it.... downforce!

 

Yep... on the rear of a front wheel drive car!

 

On the rear of a front wheel drive car?

'Traction' for idiots.

 

That's right and at 75 mph it takes a lot of wing to make any usable downforce.

 

It is their car and they have the right to do what ever they like to it.

 

Either I saw this car or one of my friends saw it and text a picture to me. But I've seen it.

 

On a front wheel drive car, you mount the wing upside down so it provides lift at the rear of the car. This puts a higher percentage of weight on the front wheels and increases traction. Since the wing is creating lift, it also means the car weighs less and less weight = better performance. My cousin put a lift wing on his car and it went from 3200 pounds static weight to 3000 pounds lifted weight. Dropped 3/10ths in the quarter.

 

Question answered!

 

Should add a wing in front too then. It would further reduce the weight of the car and everyone knows lighter is faster. Plus if it gets light enough it could then fly at aircraft speed...

 

THAT, I'd like to see!

Either he had a bigassed wing or a phenomenally high rate of speed at the end of only a quarter mile.

Lift Formula
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However, this sounds plausible as well.

 

But it's OK to have a ridiculous basket handle wing on a F40. I am not a wing fan personally, but to each their own.

 

^^^ When form follows function, then equals Art.

 

For our "Amusement", and self-identifying those drivers/cars to avoid the most.

 

And we have the right to ask, "Why the hell do they do that?".

 

I don't believe it. Whether it's lift or downforce, the cost is drag, which would lower top speed. The wingless Countaches go faster than those with wings at least in terms of top speed.

 

Clint had opinion about wings, among other things...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJLbR9TEMD8

 

"Remember, a Piper Cub can fly at speeds as low as 25 mph, as the wing is sized in relation to it's mass. So, the bigger the wing, the slower the speeds at which it starts to become effective. (and you balance out the speed you need it to be effective at with the increased drag at higher speeds on the straight)."

And this, gentlemen, is why I get so many compliments from women in bed. You see, my big "wing" doesn't need to work hard to become effective.

 

But it depends on the goal.

If top speed is your goal, you want little to no wing. But you have to manage drag and lift together.

On a race track (any type of road course) your goal is lowest lap times, not just top speed. The F1 and Indy guys have adjustable wings, You add some wing for extra downforce, for increased traction in the turns. If the time made up in the turns is greater than the lost time down the straightaway, then you keep the added wing.

The F1 guys have the "kers" system. When the trailing car gets to within 1 second of the car in front, the driver can flatten out the rear wing from its static setting in the "passing zones" giving more top speed down the straightaway.

The guys with less hp run less rear wing and fight for traction on the twisties to keep up with the higher hp cars down the straight. If you have the hp, you add some wing for better traction without giving away top speed. All a question of balance and tradeoff.

Regards,
Jerry

 

You are think of DRS, the Drag Reduction System. KERS is the hybrid power system where they recover energy for short bursts later on.