C6 vs Ford GT

[Tom Bryant]

A couple of nights ago I was northbound on I 69 in lower Michigan and a yellow C6 passed me going south. About 5 minutes later a red and a black Ford GT passed me also going south. I see them on I-69 occasionally. They were obviously drafting in an attempt to catch the C6. I wonder why they were so far behind. :L

Tom

 

[RCG]

Um...............

Drafting only helps the guy behind.

Cheers!

 

[koolaid117]

Actually two cars drafting together is faster than one car by itself. One of the few things that watching Nascar taught me.

 

[RCG]

Live and learn.

Why, or should I say how?

Cheers!

 

[1g1yy]

The car in front is faster because it does not have the rear drag -- the rear car is faster because the front car has seperated the flow. To completely oversimplify all this!!

 

[Tom Bryant]

In NASCAR races on the super speedways you often see a strong lead car out in front by himself after a restart and then 2 or 3 cars will hook up in a close draft to run him down.

The commentators will say that the car by it'self doesn't have much of a chance outrunning the drafting cars coming up behind him. If one of the cars drafting gets greedy and pulls out of the draft to attemp a pass then it's all over. The cars running side by side will loose ground to that lead car running by himself in clean air.

Another example is when nobody can get around a lead car and a 3rd place car will draft up right under the rear bumper of the 2nd place car and give him an aero push past the lead car. The 2 running a few inches apart are faster than the lead car running alone.

Tom

 

[Hib Halverson]

In NASCAR "drafts" the greatest advantage is always to the cars behind the lead car in the draft but all those in a draft benefit.

 

[Senator75]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I thought a resident rocket scientist should weigh in.

Everyone is right though...the car in front experiences a reduced drag because the car behind reduces the aerodynamic separation behind him. Ever seen the new "shells" some semi trailers are adding to the back end? That provides less drag, and increased fuel economy.

For the guy in the rear, it is more easy to see...the lead car "breaks" the wind, providing for less drag on the guy in the back.

I know...nothing new there, but I had to talk about something that I got my degree in...

Sen

 

[Kotzenjunge]

Waitasec, you saw two Ford GTs in one place at once?

 

[Tom Bryant]

Waitasec, you saw two Ford GTs in one place at once?

Yup. Not uncommon in Michigan to see the big 3 testing on the public interstates. Before the T-Bird came out I used to see them in groups of up to 8 or so.

 

[Edmond]

Yup. Not uncommon in Michigan to see the big 3 testing on the public interstates. Before the T-Bird came out I used to see them in groups of up to 8 or so.

Tom,

Do they usually test at night to try to keep things kind of secretive? Or do they test during the day when everyone could take pictures and stuff?

 

[Tom Bryant]

When I go that way it's usually around 5-7 pm so if they came from Dearborn they have been on the road for a couple hours already. Occasionally I'll spot something at a convience store wearing a discuise late at night when I stop for coffee but those are more mundane cars. I have been seeing a group of 4 SUVs quite often lately. No markings and they are past me before I notice them. They look kind of like a Pacifica with Jeep styed front end. I used to see SSRs on the road around Lansing, where they are built, before they came out. Now they are somewhat common in that area and you have to look for the manufacturer's license plate to determine if it is a test car or a private owner car.

Tom

Tom

 

[WhalePirot]

"breaks" wind....I got my degree in.

Wow! I am just an amateur, if well practiced in such. What school offers such a degree. Welcome to the forum, Sen!


To me, drafting is wake turbulence.

 

[Senator75]

Wow! I am just an amateur, if well practiced in such. What school offers such a degree. Welcome to the forum, Sen!


To me, drafting is wake turbulence.

For the record, my degree is in Aero Engineering...when it comes to "breaking", there is no degree needed, only a quick stop at the local Taco Bell.

Sen

 

[Edmond]

For the record, my degree is in Aero Engineering...when it comes to "breaking", there is no degree needed, only a quick stop at the local Taco Bell.

Sen

We refer to those around here as Taco Hell. Believe you me, after you've made a break at one of those; they will break you later! :L

 

[Senator75]

We refer to those around here as Taco Hell. Believe you me, after you've made a break at one of those; they will break you later! :L

They're Taco Hells out here too. Where in Illinois are you though? That is where my real degree is from...

 

[Edmond]

They're Taco Hells out here too. Where in Illinois are you though? That is where my real degree is from...

I'm in the south suburbs of Chicago. University of Illinois at Chicago!