Aerodynamic Discussion Thread
Thanks, that's what I was thinking too.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: The Race Track & St Pete FL
Since there is still a discussion on hood vents. Here are some pics I took at 12 Hours of Sebring that I thought were interesting.
Audi R8

Audi R8 Hood Vent

Audi R8 Rear Diffuser



BMW Z4 Hood Vents

Aston Martin

Audi R8 Flying Lizard Motorsports

Dodge Viper Display Model


These weren't cars at 12 Hours of Sebring, but it some more pics I thought would be good for future reference
Carrera GT

Rear Diffuser

Rear Diffuser Right

Rear Diffuser Left

Rear Diffuser Left Side Looking Back

Front

Front Brake Duct

Radiator in Front

McLaren P1
Rear Diffuser


Rear Cooling Fan

Front Headlight Duct

Front Headlight duct Exit


Hood Vents


Side Door Ducts


Side Door Ducts Open Door

Bottom Side Door Ducts

Top Side Door Duct (Radiator/Intercooler)

Clutch Cooler Duct

I have a lot more pics, if you want to see more I might have them.
Audi R8

Audi R8 Hood Vent

Audi R8 Rear Diffuser



BMW Z4 Hood Vents

Aston Martin

Audi R8 Flying Lizard Motorsports

Dodge Viper Display Model


These weren't cars at 12 Hours of Sebring, but it some more pics I thought would be good for future reference
Carrera GT

Rear Diffuser

Rear Diffuser Right

Rear Diffuser Left

Rear Diffuser Left Side Looking Back

Front

Front Brake Duct

Radiator in Front

McLaren P1
Rear Diffuser


Rear Cooling Fan

Front Headlight Duct

Front Headlight duct Exit


Hood Vents


Side Door Ducts


Side Door Ducts Open Door

Bottom Side Door Ducts

Top Side Door Duct (Radiator/Intercooler)

Clutch Cooler Duct

I have a lot more pics, if you want to see more I might have them.
Last edited by 1993ka24det; Apr 12, 2014 at 06:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 646
Total Cats: 62
From: The Race Track & St Pete FL
Airflow, Cooling, Airflow, Cooling, Airflow, Cooling... such high priorities for proper race cars, and so overlooked/low priority in the minds of many DIYers. Makes me feel good about all the time I'm putting into these two things right now on my own car. Thanks for the awesome pics
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 646
Total Cats: 62
From: The Race Track & St Pete FL
Which Pic?
Trying something new
That's what I'm working on and it hasn't been done on any other Miata.
I'm installing 5-10 NACA ducts on the underbody and making away for more air to make its way out of the back. Plus the V8's exhaust will come out on either side of the license plate. Still a work in progress...


Airflow, Cooling, Airflow, Cooling, Airflow, Cooling... such high priorities for proper race cars, and so overlooked/low priority in the minds of many DIYers. Makes me feel good about all the time I'm putting into these two things right now on my own car. Thanks for the awesome pics 

That's what I'm working on and it hasn't been done on any other Miata.
I'm installing 5-10 NACA ducts on the underbody and making away for more air to make its way out of the back. Plus the V8's exhaust will come out on either side of the license plate. Still a work in progress...


Trying something new
That's what I'm working on and it hasn't been done on any other Miata.
I'm installing 5-10 NACA ducts on the underbody and making away for more air to make its way out of the back. Plus the V8's exhaust will come out on either side of the license plate. Still a work in progress...
That's what I'm working on and it hasn't been done on any other Miata.
I'm installing 5-10 NACA ducts on the underbody and making away for more air to make its way out of the back. Plus the V8's exhaust will come out on either side of the license plate. Still a work in progress...
The stuff I'm working on is all on the front right now, basically reworking all of the airflow (both exterior and ducted) forward of the windshield.
-Ryan
I'm not understanding the headlight duct that exits in front of the front wheel on the McLaren? I've seen a similar setup on some 911s but I can't wrap my head around pushing air out at a 90 degree angle to the flow around the car. It must work if McLaren does it though...
I'm not understanding the headlight duct that exits in front of the front wheel on the McLaren? I've seen a similar setup on some 911s but I can't wrap my head around pushing air out at a 90 degree angle to the flow around the car. It must work if McLaren does it though...
Honestly, love the technology but not the shape.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 646
Total Cats: 62
From: The Race Track & St Pete FL
I'm not understanding the headlight duct that exits in front of the front wheel on the McLaren? I've seen a similar setup on some 911s but I can't wrap my head around pushing air out at a 90 degree angle to the flow around the car. It must work if McLaren does it though...
The one of the z4, you can see flexible hose running on either side of the engine from the front but they don't go to the brakes like normal. It looks like they go through the firewall and into the cabin
It looks like someone has already done what you're trying
This is a miata right? :P
Trying something new
That's what I'm working on and it hasn't been done on any other Miata.
I'm installing 5-10 NACA ducts on the underbody and making away for more air to make its way out of the back. Plus the V8's exhaust will come out on either side of the license plate. Still a work in progress...
That's what I'm working on and it hasn't been done on any other Miata.
I'm installing 5-10 NACA ducts on the underbody and making away for more air to make its way out of the back. Plus the V8's exhaust will come out on either side of the license plate. Still a work in progress...
This is a miata right? :P
Venting air above the rear diffuser is definitely common practice among race cars. Usually it's slower moving air that has already passed through heat exchangers, transmission tunnel, or a rear engine bay.
Less common but very cool is pulling fast-moving air from the sides and channeling it to the top of the diffuser to fill the space behind the car. Some LMPs have done this. Not sure how similar of an effect taking air from below the car would give, I'd be concerned about possibly decreasing diffuser effectiveness.
-Ryan
Less common but very cool is pulling fast-moving air from the sides and channeling it to the top of the diffuser to fill the space behind the car. Some LMPs have done this. Not sure how similar of an effect taking air from below the car would give, I'd be concerned about possibly decreasing diffuser effectiveness.
-Ryan
As a drastically simplified rule of thumb, downforce > reduced drag, so I'd expect that reducing the diffuser's effect to reduce drag wouldn't add up to a net improvement. In lap times, that is. If we're talking fuel economy that's a whole different ball game 
-Ryan

-Ryan
















