The Forward Look- more than just fins/Exner SAE Paper

["Don Nonnweiler" <dnonnwei@xxxxxxxxx>]

If memory serves correct Chrysler was doing quite well in AAA racing which
is who ran racing before Nascar took over, alot had to do with the
aerodynamic fins and of course the infamous hemi which AAA banned the hemi
after the 59 season and then of couse the hemi was banned by Nascar in 1970
and we all remember the wings of the superbird and daytona.  But the main
reason Exner used wind tunnels was because in those days Chrysler backed
there racing teams alot
Don
59 Crown
55 St regis

----- Original Message -----
From: "John M Brauninger" <flightsweep@xxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 8:24 PM
Subject: Re: IML: The Forward Look- more than just fins/Exner SAE Paper


>
> I believe Virgil Exner presented a paper at an SAE (Society of Automotive
> Engineers) conference in the late 50s that outlined the aerodynamic
> principles and benefits (e.g., stability in crosswinds) of  Mopar
> tailfins. This topic has been discussed before but the site search engine
> appears to be down so I can't provide any links for those interested in
> more details.
>
> John B.
>
> On Sat, 21 Dec 2002 11:07:08 -0600 (CST) dardal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> > Quoting kenyon wills <imperialist60@xxxxxxxxx>:
> >
> >
> > > wind was blowing really hard.  Of course the weight of the car,
> > and the
> > > relative lack of hurricane force cross winds might probably also
> > > contribute to the fins not really making a difference.  Maybe at
> > 100
> > > mph
> > > they make the car track straighter, but the gyroscopic forces of
> > the
> > > wheels would tend to help any car on that point.
> >
> > Actually, as the speed increases, I have noticed that the effects of
> > the cross
> > winds generally diminish.  The reason is most likely that the fast
> > forward
> > speed reduces the angle at which the wind "hits" the car.
> > D^2
> >
> >