Author Topic: Do I need a wing?  (Read 4643 times)

Offline BK

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Do I need a wing?
« on: August 14, 2022, 05:27:33 AM »
Some basics for you to work from
120" Altered, 4 link, ridged front
23 T body. Rear tires are exposed. It's the body that the rear deck is a little higher the tire.
1700#s with me in it. 1100#s on the rear.
15x33 Slicks
630 hp small block
Runs 1.12 60s, 5.20s eighth mile at 130 mph. very consistent.
When the sun is out the car is fine. Straight, consistent does just what you would expect.
As soon as the sun gets a little lower in the sky, say below 45deg. the car becomes a handful. 60s hold up but it starts slipping and sliding down track. Pretty sure the tire is spinning.
And I seem to be the only one with this problem so I'm not thinking track.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2022, 05:32:34 AM by BK »

Offline Calkins

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2022, 08:37:28 AM »
All I'll say is, Bryan Hall won the March Meet in the Tramp with a 5.987 @ 240.85 on a 13" tire with zero downforce...
Justin Calkins - Iowa Falls, Iowa  USA

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Offline BK

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2022, 08:47:22 AM »
All I'll say is, Bryan Hall won the March Meet in the Tramp with a 5.987 @ 240.85 on a 13" tire with zero downforce...

Thats why I question the need for a wing.
I thought about a narrower tire maybe helping.

Offline Calkins

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2022, 09:07:59 AM »
I ran the car in my profile photo in 2001 at a local 1/8th mile.  My best pass was a 5.77 @ 118.  We were using used TAFC slicks from a local team.  So, I would guess they were 16" or 17" wide.  I believe this was in October.  During time trials, the car seemed to run fine.  Come first round, the sun was going down, and the dew was coming in.  I specifically remember the shift light staying on at the 1-2 shift for the rest of the pass.  It is still my belief that I was spinning the tires most of the run due to the dew under the very oversized tires for the combination we were running.
Justin Calkins - Iowa Falls, Iowa  USA

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:  1997 Hal Canode 225" FED

Offline JEFF/21C

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2022, 02:10:44 PM »
For the most part when dew falls the track gets slick we were running 10wx33x15 it would affect us more than the  heavier door cars.
have you posted any pic's of your car?

Offline THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2022, 06:12:17 PM »
You do not need a wing. This, from a prominent A/Altered Comp Eliminator racer who tested one and said below 200 MPH a wing on a '23 T is unnecessary.

Play with the 4-bar. Try a shorter, higher instant center. But don't go any farther than necessary to keep it glued down or you may start to pull the tires out of the beams.

Offline masracingtd1167

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2022, 11:38:49 AM »
If there is dew on the track you should not be racing !

Offline slingshot383

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2022, 03:05:52 PM »
I'd say a wing starts working at around 175 mph, but less than that, it's just a billboard.
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Offline BK

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2022, 04:35:08 AM »
 I think what I ended up with would be called a spoiler. I followed the top of the body back about 18"s over the rear deck. I only got to run it a few runs but I think it did what I needed. It was late in the season on an overcast day. Something that was a problem before. And I could make a full pull.
 Now I need to put the 4 link back to where it works at the first part of the track.
 For those thinking it was Dew on the track it wasn't, all it had to be was the sun getting at a lower angle and the track cooling off. I'm thinking the glue shortage had an affect on it also, as it was worse this year than previous years.

Offline Curly1

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Re: Do I need a wing?
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2023, 05:08:25 AM »
From my experience when I started running faster than 5.25 in the 1/8 mile the wing helped. In the 1/4 mile you could feel it get up on the tire and felt loose. Never did anything stupid but you could feel it. When I put the wing on it the faster you go the smoother it got. Also helped in the 1/8 mile when air was really good and track temps were cooler or marginal tracks. On a National event prepped track you may not ever need it but for me it was a big help.