RACECAR AERODYNAMICS 101

Understanding how I try to evaluate a racecar's shape.

[@Jvcomet]

That was an awesome video. Really makes you think about the little things that are done to make a car faster. Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@andrewlevine6689]

You’re a great resource and actual race experience, not just dyno. Look forward to all your videos. Small block 8.2 ford guy. Thx

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Thank you Andrew and it really changes when you go to actual competition and find out if it works or not.

[@marcoceccarelli6415]

The best channel on youtube.

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Thanks for tuning in Marco.

[@jmpsavescars]

Thankyou for all your content, 20 years into my career building custom cars,racecars, you name it. Still learning every day. Im surprised you didnt mention saab in this video and theyre aerodynamics take a look at the saab 96 from the 60s and youll see what i mean. Even the 900 makes absolutely zero wind noise. Built by an airplane manufacturer go figure!

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Saab cars have always been aero designs and it shows their aircraft heritage.

[@waynewatanabe5536]

Thanks Ben I also used to hang out at stadium way and brother hood raceway terminal Island .also been to Lyons drag strip and Palm Dale raceway. Born and raised LA Take care

[@benalamedaracing2765]

We come from the same place in LA and I miss our racetracks and the friends I met over the years! Have we met?

[@waynewatanabe5536]

@benalamedaracing2765 it's possible really like all the information you have to offer thanks again take care

[@blindabinda1234]

Do they also put the rake behind the slicks to help create a low pressure area to give more down force from the wing? Your content is greatly appreciated. It's people like yourself that is going to help keep the important knowledge moving forward. Anyone can throw an engine in a car and stuff boost and fuel into it to make power these days. I want to learn to make that power with no boost. Lol

[@benalamedaracing2765]

The rake's purpose is to create a tapering (or thinning) towards the end of the racecar body to it ends up punching a smaller hole in the airstream. Creating a more aerodynamic effect!

[@gabrieldimarco9646]

Thank you Ben. Love your videos.

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Your welcome Gabriel!

[@user-zg8vb1fd5p]

Thanks Ben,happy Saturday,it's nice to understand more about body shapes,keep the info coming

[@alejandro52612]

Extremely informative video, thank you! Could you do a video taking some of the aerodynamic principles but applied to cylinder head ports? I know you have quite a few for big block motors so I’m specifically asking as to 4 valve per cylinder heads, focusing mainly on the short side radius. (Seeing as though many of these focus on tumble and ignore the short side radius). Thank you for your knowledge!

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Alejandro, you are right on point about tumble as prevalent in Import 4V cylinder heads. I am about to do a dyno and flow test on an innovative design for the Pentroof cylinder heads and it looks promising.

[@alanwarner8489]

Plenty of examples not clear as day like Kam back Shelby Daytona Coupe and various flaps or dimples to either keep the flow attached or break up laminar flow at the trailing edge all to return the air to where the car punched through exactly as you said.

[@jarez3781]

Hello Mr. Alameda. Great video as always. I wanted to know what would be the best piston ring and compression combo for a mildly boosted 302 about 10 lbs. of boost max on E-85? Thanks again for the informative videos. Have a great day.

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Go for a flat top forged pistons preferably and consult them for a compatible ring package for their particular piston. With E85 you will have no problems and have good power at the same time.

[@georgedreisch2662]

Not to argue your pointing out general faults in aero. Most aero limitations are the result of regulatory bodies, and the desire to maintain a degree of product identity. NASCAR CUP, has, I feel, devolved, into essentially, a spec series, where cars are now so equally matched, and there being no innovation, that aero, specifically affect of one cars aero on other cars, has been weaponized, and is utilized by drivers, as a dynamic tool. Check out a video, I can’t attach a link, on the NHRA KZbin channel, Attention in the Pits Episode 117: Clint Neff. Think y’all find it interesting for the aero innovations.

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Nascar became boring because it is very hard to discern manufacturer differences. I prefer if a brand came out with an inferior design then let them suffer the consequence. Remember the aero Thunderbirds vs. the others? Chevy had to rush in the glassback Monte Carlo to keep up and that I feel was competition! Now a dominant team could not break the draft and more likely will be involve in a crash fest instead of possibly winning it all. Bill Elliot was awesome and ran away from the pack deservingly so! Today you are at the mercy of a teammate to help you push to the finish, a joke and now one instead of five wheel lugs like F1. Boring. The same with NHRA Pro Stock.

[@georgedreisch2662]

@@benalamedaracing2765 yup, I agree. NASCAR CUP has become IROC, without the novelty of drivers from a variety of motor sport disciplines. Also think the lack of brand identity and individual team / manufacturer association, will hurt the sport. Then there’s the part where they’ve adopted a team charter system, essentially creating a closed club. I agree with you also, as to NHRA Pro-stock.

[@benalamedaracing2765]

@@georgedreisch2662 , I missed the old days when I used to watch David Pearson in the Wood Brothers Mercury #21 won more superspeedways than any team. Same with Richard Petty they were untouchable and imagine if that was today with non of the nonsense pack racing which really can get a very fast car mired mid pack because if he does not have a teammate or a draft buddy he is doomed. lol Thanks George for your comments.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

Raindrops are round, not shaped like a teardrop. If they get bigger they flatten out until they break up. Plane wings aren't shaped like that either, they are flat on the bottom. Except for some stunt planes that are symmetrical, to make it easier to fly upside down, and fighter jet wings are flat.

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Not just stunt plane because the P51D which my dad flew right after WW2 had symmetrical wings unlike what was used at that time, giving it vastly superior range not just because of the gas tank but the wing design decreased drag. Tran- sonic (F-86F which dad also flew) to supersonic ran the same wing because the speed across the top vs. the bottom would create turbulence due to unequal top and bottom distance for the air to travel across its surface.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

@@benalamedaracing2765ok. my point was normal plane wings. and raindrops.

[@claytonstoolbox]

Hi Ben any tips on getting a station wagon to have better arrow dynamics?

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Most you can do it lower it very close to the ground and perhaps place some vortex generators bigger than normal at the edge of the roof before the glass door.

[@surreallife777]

Hi Ben, one thing I don’t think that understand . For example land speed record cars all have very sharp front needle nose front ends just as space rockets do. If I stick my hand out of a window and hold it vertically, I’m going to get pushback on my hand. If I hold my hand horizontally, it transitions through the air smoothly. As an example, if you had a land speed record car teardrop shaped with a square box front end and another identical car with a sharp needle nose front end, all things, being identical, except for the design of the front end the needle, no car will be faster, correct?

[@benalamedaracing2765]

Thanks for your comment and you are right the sharper nosed car all else being equal will produce faster speeds. That said, it does not cancel the merits of rear end area that produces a big hole in the air when it is big and it also has a significant effect perhaps more than we are accustomed to. As long as the front end is not a shoe box shape but more rounded it will work even for fast speeds @ Bonneville or any salt lake racecar.

[@surreallife777]

@@benalamedaracing2765 Ok 👍

[@williamzoom]

How did you have time to work for the PD, go to school & do racing related stuff?

[@benalamedaracing2765]

I did not seek promotion because it would get in the way of my racing and the department heads knew about it. And actually supported me doing it most if not all the time.

[@mr.x1510]

College students really didn't pick up on that?

[@benalamedaracing2765]

No sir and this is why I try to point interested individuals to Aerospace studies as much as possible to broaden their knowledge.