Fact or Fiction

[BenjiSayers]

Prize to the first one of us to try it in a family car.

Well volunteered

 

[therealnerd2]

I'm confused though. So at 78mph, downforce = gravity, so great. But surely it would then have no traction, and so you'd have to be going considerably faster to have enough traction to maintain your speed ... ?

 

[Django x2]

hve you never thrown a matchbox car around a loop de loop?

Same principle

 

[iaind]

hve you never thrown a matchbox car around a loop de loop?

Same principle

No its not - a loop is centrifugal force, this is a straight line just upside down, being held there by downforce

 

[Django x2]

Ahh, i see. In which case.

"Have you never thrown a matchbox car through a tunnel upside down?"

Same principle

 

[iaind]

Ahh, i see. In which case.

"Have you never thrown a matchbox car through a tunnel upside down?"

Same principle

Funnily enough...no.

 

[SlyReaper]

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the car needs to be upright in order for fuel to flow from the tank to the engine.

So it would work for a few seconds, then stall.

 

["andy"]

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the car needs to be upright in order for fuel to flow from the tank to the engine.

So it would work for a few seconds, then stall.

surely the fuel doesnt need to flow at all and is either pumped or under pressure ?

 

[TaKeN]

Typical OcUK. Discussing whether fuel would get to the engine upside down

 

[john_s]

surely the fuel doesnt need to flow at all and is either pumped or under pressure ?

They need to do something a bit clever to get fuel out of the tank in a F1 car. I remember reading an interview with a F1 team engineer a while ago, who said one of the biggest challenges they face with fuel is keeping it flowing when cornering because the fuel sits all up the side of the tank, so they can't just pump from the bottom of the tank like road cars. It didn't say how they do it though.

 

[[TW]Taggart]

They need to do something a bit clever to get fuel out of the tank in a F1 car. I remember reading an interview with a F1 team engineer a while ago, who said one of the biggest challenges they face with fuel is keeping it flowing when cornering because the fuel sits all up the side of the tank, so they can't just pump from the bottom of the tank like road cars. It didn't say how they do it though.

a team of midgets with straws. This sounds like a job for mythbusters or topgear... how hard can it be?

 

[Django x2]

They need to do something a bit clever to get fuel out of the tank in a F1 car. I remember reading an interview with a F1 team engineer a while ago, who said one of the biggest challenges they face with fuel is keeping it flowing when cornering because the fuel sits all up the side of the tank, so they can't just pump from the bottom of the tank like road cars. It didn't say how they do it though.

Simple, saddle tanks.

Think 'Titanic' and bulkheads

 

[BigglesPiP]

I'm skeptical.

Aside from the fact the engine wouldn't run long upside down. Would the traction remaining be enough to sustain x mph against the drag?

 

[snowdog]

Hmmmm so an F1 car with a jet engine and upside down would make great plane and take off at 70 mph already ?

 

[focus130]

Supposidly the gumbert can do it too? Though there aint a tunnel smooth enough to try it?

This is the car the manufacturer claims is able to do it:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumpert_Apollo

Claims they have the tunnel but need someone to volunteer.

 

[kaiowas]

Claims they have the tunnel but need someone to volunteer.

/Grabs crash hat.

I'm game assuming they're supplying the car.

 

[ShakenNstirred]

Fact (unless some new regs have limited the downforce hugely?)

the new regs did lower the downforce, but there already not far off the old level, such is the pace of F1

 

[miniyazz]

the new regs did lower the downforce, but there already not far off the old level, such is the pace of F1

I never understood why there're so many regs surrounding F1. Safety regs, fair enough, but surely the point of F1 is to be the pinnacle of performance cars, and should therefore be able to use whatever designs/features the teams decide on to improve performance?

 

[Janesy B]

I never understood why there're so many regs surrounding F1. Safety regs, fair enough, but surely the point of F1 is to be the pinnacle of performance cars, and should therefore be able to use whatever designs/features the teams decide on to improve performance?

The amount of spoliers and aerofoils was just getting silly.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

But if it was on a treadmill, would it still take off?