Wishbone Flaps

[cake eater]

Hi,

Looking for some wishbone flaps. I know, probably useless but I want :0
Anyway, only seen them available here http://westermann-motorsport.com/index.php?page=pr...
Wondering if anyone know of other options?

Thanks,
Robert

[BertBert]

I'd spend the money on a track day instead!

[KN02LEY]

Caterham here?

[bcr5784]

KN02LEY said:

Caterham here?

+1 And if you want to go the whole hog get the ducted nosecone and radiator ducting from the R300 too - both the whiskers and revised nose were aimed at reducing front end lift. Combined with the revised cycle wings they were, if I remember rightly, said to cut front end lift in half at 100mph on the CSR.

[DCL]

I think there's some confusion - the wishbone flaps fill in the wishbones and are not whiskers. I like the idea of them and they're on my wish list. I suspect they do clean up the air flow slightly, if not provide some down force.

Edited by DCL on Wednesday 8th February 19:56

[bcr5784]

DCL said:

I think there's some confusion - the wishbone flaps fill in the wishbones and are not whiskers. I like the idea of then and there on my wish list. I suspect they do clean up the air flow slightly, if not provide some down force.

I think we understand the difference. It may be that the flaps have some beneficial aero effect (as the manufacturer claims) but the alternatives suggested are those things that Caterham have done in this area to reduce lift. That said I don't thing Caterham are going to put Adrian Newey out of a job anytime soon, and what they have said about the whiskers, ducted radiator and CSR cycle wings may not stand up to scrutiny - but they did look into this
a bit for the CSR and have more experience (if not necessarily expertise) in this area. Unfortunately the manufacturer provides no data from which we may judge the effectiveness of the bits.

Edited by bcr5784 on Wednesday 8th February 19:56

[BertBert]

Really? They make fk all difference. No harm in doing it. But why bother?
Bert

[bcr5784]

BertBert said:

Really? They make fk all difference. No harm in doing it. But why bother?
Bert

You may be right and I'd be doubtful if the wishbone flaps alone would produce a noticeable effect - but do you have any evidence of that? You have to do back to back tests with a data logger or use a wind tunnel to realistically assess the effect of minor aero tweaks. Front end lift is certainly one of the Caterhams big issues, contributing to both drag and understeer and while there probably isn't a single magic bullet it's perfectly possible that a combination of things would produce a noticeable result.

People seem to give up on the Caterham's aero performance BECAUSE it's so dreadful. But, actually, precisely because it's so dreadful there is plenty of scope. Doing that without seriously changing the 7's "iconic" shape significantly is where the difficulty lies.

[mono fraud]

Well... who cares... looks good. Did aero wishbones do anything aero on the original K-series R500? I don't think so. Did she look good? Absolutely.

[rubystone]

mono fraud said:

Well... who cares... looks good. Did aero wishbones do anything aero on the original K-series R500? I don't think so. Did she look good? Absolutely.

Well if it's about looking good surely the OP should buy one of those Harrods edition cars? I believe one can specify s log burner and leaded light windscreen too...

[bcr5784]

It amazes me that anyone who buys a Caterham is that bothered about looks. That said, Caterham have clearly introduced the Signature programme in the belief that there is a market for looks/image conscious buyers. Personally I think the 7 has practically nothing to recommend it other than its dynamics - though it's clear that a fair number of buyers (not me) have a nostalgic affection for it's traditional appearance.

[mono fraud]

rubystone said:

Well if it's about looking good surely the OP should buy one of those Harrods edition cars? I believe one can specify s log burner and leaded light windscreen too...

HAHA... very funny... maybe the OP doesn't like the Harrods Edition...

And if one thinks it looks good... they should do whatever they want... regardless of benefits, or lack thereof.

[bcr5784]

mono fraud said:

HAHA... very funny... maybe the OP doesn't like the Harrods Edition...

And if one thinks it looks good... they should do whatever they want... regardless of benefits, or lack thereof.

That's saying that aesthetics trumps dynamics/functionality. That is, of course, true of jewellery and high fashion and, it must be said, in "flash" sports cars, but I would have thought (hoped?) that Caterhams were one of the last bastions where that wasn't true.

[rubystone]

bcr5784 said:

That's saying that aesthetics trumps dynamics/functionality. That is, of course, true of jewellery and high fashion and, it must be said, in "flash" sports cars, but I would have thought (hoped?) that Caterhams were one of the last bastions where that wasn't true.

Oh I dunno...the amount of 7s loaded down with carbon tat back in the day....cost? £2k, weight saving? About a kilo....