wind buffeting

[slngsht]

has anyone tried rear fenders that gradually slope away from the body, rather than just being perpendicular to it? I wonder if that will significantly reduce the cross winds into the car.

[MichaelD]

Mazda,



You need to try my wind wings. Guaranteed to cut the cross winds by 90%



Michael D.

[JohnCh]

I made wind wings similar to Michael's. They made a huge difference! You can (barely) see them >here (http://home.comcast.net/~cobar/workbench8.jpg) and >here (http://home.comcast.net/~cobar/halfhood2.jpg).



-John

[slomove]

has anyone tried rear fenders that gradually slope away from the body, rather than just being perpendicular to it? I wonder if that will significantly reduce the cross winds into the car.



I din't think the rear fenders have anything to do with cockpit wind buffeting. After all, they are mainly sitting behind the cockpit (but they will surely create a massive vortex and drag in the wake of the car).



I see the buffeting caused by the inrush of air through the low "doors" into the vacuum created by the "barn door" windshield. That is probably why the smaller Brooklands are known to create less turbulence and why half doors, wind deflectors and the like help. They don't eliminate the turbulence but move it a little back and out of your face and ears.



I have hybrid >half-doors/wind deflectors (http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/id14.html) and they work very well.



Gert



P.S.: Modified rear wings might do a better aerodynamic job but it just would not look like a Seven anymore....<edited><editID>slomove</editID><editDate>2006-11-10 20:05:04</editDate></edited>

[slngsht]

I see the buffeting caused by the inrush of air through the low "doors" into the vacuum created by the "barn door" windshield.



Makes sense

[77R500]

I see the buffeting caused by the inrush of air through the low "doors" into the vacuum created by the "barn door" windshield.



Makes sense



My experience agrees with Gert's observation. After playing around with various Caterham options, I've found that the combination of half-doors, the full-width aero-screen (i.e., no windshield), and tonneau over the passenger compartment drastically cuts wind buffeting. I don't even think about it any more. I also have the lowered floor and shell bucket seats, which help because I'm over 6' tall.