Aerodynamics in off road racing

[Short Bus]

Simple... No restrictor plates.

This is probably important to emphasize. The Dakar/FIA offroad trucks have significant intake air restrictions (~35mm). They don't have the luxury of "overpowering" the wind resistance. With limited power the aero tweeks are really important.

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[FlyHiFlyLo]

This is probably important to emphasize. The Dakar/FIA offroad trucks have significant intake air restrictions (~35mm). They don't have the luxury of "overpowering" the wind resistance. With limited power the aero tweeks are really important.

Yes this is a big factor... I'm sure RG would have ignored so much aero tweaks if he could have used the full 427 cubic inches.

[200MPHTape]

Lots of what has been suggested here as already been done, like Fly's little dealeo in front of the driver, this was for the tire. Like some one said back there in the thread, once you crash it's gone(and we know, everyone ends up off course at one point). Lots of the stuff that has been tried either got F'ed up on the course or it slowed them down in the pit's, or went away with the racer. Speaking of power over areo.

[ACID_RAIN28]

This is probably important to emphasize. The Dakar/FIA offroad trucks have significant intake air restrictions (~35mm). They don't have the luxury of "overpowering" the wind resistance. With limited power the aero tweeks are really important.

How does everyone think he got busted at Dakar this year ..... Top speed was impossible with the restrictor plate without two -8 air feeds that "deflated tires" ha

[DanMcMillin]

How does everyone think he got busted at Dakar this year ..... Top speed was impossible with the restrictor plate without two -8 air feeds that "deflated tires" ha

Robby is the King of the Grey Area. Always pushing the limits, I like it! USA!

[arqangel67]

How does everyone think he got busted at Dakar this year ..... Top speed was impossible with the restrictor plate without two -8 air feeds that "deflated tires" ha

He still put a whooping on them without it, so aero nor was the restrictor a factor. Just good ol' American horsepower.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Speaking of power over areo.

Grape Fruits

He still put a whooping on them without it, so aero nor was the restrictor a factor. Just good ol' American horsepower.

More Grape Fuits.

[mexgamer]

That probably has a lower drag coefficient that a TT. All the air has to go around it rather that through it creating turbulance.

Yeah, I think you are right with that. First step to improve aerodynamics in off-road racing vehicles would be to add windshields, without it nothing else really matters.

[MadMike1111]

A windshield is worth a couple of MPH on a class 11 so I am surprised more guys don't run them.....but then I'm not since you need a reliable and effective wiper system to keep them clear. You always hear about the wipers breaking and then the windshield gets kicked out and that doesn't save anytime at all!

[Old School 8]

I think this is the thread to post these. In the late seventies, wings were HOT. In one photo, you can see this car, (my first desert racer) as it was built. It was a Chenoweth kit car, and I built it in my parents garage. I had an stick welder, high-school welding class, and a 3/8" drill. I raced it twice, in two ADRA 150 mile races here in Az. Surprising to me, we finished both. In the other photo, you can see "the wing", that I added after the first race. I built it out of steel angle iron, cutting a hundred slots with a sawzall, on one edge, to shape it into what I though was the idea shape (that, and spy photo's from magazines). After two desert races in a buggy, I started work on my first class 8. I dont know what ever happened to that car when I sold it, but the wing, was cool !