The Serendipitous got me thinking about the tunnel. I just thought it would be cool to see how the air flowed over it and if smoke would show any down force patterns on the design of the body. Then, of course, that got me thinking of other cars that I've done that would be kind'a neat to see the aerodynamic flows over their bodies. Not saying any would ever see a track because most of mine are made NOT to roll.
Here's a question. Since gravity is the "power source" of a gravity racer. Would you not want a gravity racer to have lift instead of down-force? Seems to me the weight would remain constant. But if some lift were generated the car wouldn't be pushed into the track as much and would go faster. If not only by a fraction. Valtteri Bottas can testify to what a difference of .001 second can somtimes make ...
Only experience I've ever had with gravity racing were racing MOY's down the driveway when I was a kid. Three generations of Cub Scout Pinewood Derby's and driving a homemade gravity cart with a #2 washtub as a seat; down the road that leads up to Chimney Rock Mt Park. In Chimney Rock, NC. That was back in the early 80's when they still had the Chimney Rock Hill Climb. The washtub race was an intermission race during lunch break. It was nspired by a streaker in the early '70's, going down the mountain in a red, Radio Flyer wagon. Don't know where he started from on the mountain. But the road rash he got when he wiped out at turn 5 only added insult to injury when he got arrested for indecent exposure. The washtub cart is a planter now. No.... It didn't make it down the hill. It got up to about 40 mph then shook and bounced itself to a stop. Yes...... I did think I was going to die. This was called "The Mosquito."
