Came back from the 4th round of the Miata Challenge after a weekend full of aero testing fun.
Spent a few sessions playing with both front and rear wing adjustments.
More testing is needed for sure, but the front wing definitely made an impact on aero balance and grip levels.

The car was very neutral and balanced in Laguna last month and the only change I made in it since was the front wing.
Before going out on track for the first time during the weekend, I cranked the rear wing's AOA up by a good bit with the understanding that if the front wing worked as expected, I'll encounter oversteer unless the rear wing was set more aggressive.
And boy was I right..

Even with the steeper AOA on the rear wing, the balance shifted to the front enough to get the rear end to step out and make me look like a hero in a bunch of corners.

So yeah, it may have the look that only a mother can love and a face for the radio, but the thing works.







Moti

 

Pics don't work for me.

 

Something is wrong with your browser, you should look into it

 

Don't work here either.

 

your browser must suck too...

i can CLEARLY see pictures of boxes with red x's.....

 

All of your browsers suck. I can clearly see small image icons with a little moon and a mountain. Obviously these images are meant to illustrate... well, something...

 

Spectacular fail lol

What's even more funny is "last edited by Braineak" apparently even the Brain wasn't able to fix the massive fail either.

OP - please try again.

 

Massive fail seems to work alright on other forums using the same links...

Let's try attachments instead.

Moti

BTW, if any mod or admin wants to edit the OP to show the pics somehow using the original links, here they are -
http://www.blackbirdfabworx.com/SRP2013-049w.jpg
http://www.blackbirdfabworx.com/SRP2013-083w.jpg
http://www.blackbirdfabworx.com/SRP2013-081w.jpg

 

Much better. Thanks

*edit: that is one crazy looking miata, wow. I really like how the front "wing" doesn't look stupid (like that one scion with the front wing, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about) is that your design?

 

wow.. i was expecting that same thing (scion wing) but that is actually pretty sic!
do you plan on keeping this design, or are you still gonna be rennovating it?

 

Yep, my design and execution.
It's 28" wide and the cord length is 8".
Given that I didn't have a very good idea with regards to what AOA is actually zero to start with (air does not flow @ 0 at the chosen location), I made the wing highly adjustable with a range of 0-35 degrees.

Moti

 

Scion wing is done mehh... most other front wings that I've seen before are much lower and smaller, clean air is not hard to come by at the front of the car.

I designed the uprights so they can be used for a wing at the center only or with extensions on both sides, so in theory I can run a 7' wide wing if I wanted and even make the sides adjustable independently of the center.

The airfoil itself is a prototype and the finish is okay, not spectacular or anything.
I'll most likely build more wings to try, now that all the architecture is there.

Moti

 

What AOA (rear wing) were you at previously with the neutral balance? After playing with your current unfinished design what AOA are you at front and rear? I am at 7 degs now with the front splitter and under aero. I have a quite bit of understeer and am looking for some more front downforce, but I think I'm going to try something different that I have seen anyone on here try yet.

 

The question is where you're encountering understeer.
If it's slower corners, downforce is less likely to help you and you need to dial in your mechanical grip better.
For high speed stuff, you can always dial out your rear wing a little for improved balance.

My AOA angles are pretty much irrelevant for you because I don't have a windshield and you don't have a front wing.

Moti

 

Its at 60+ but my whole setup will change when I get back to Florida with my engine swap. I was asking about your AOA because it would give me an idea of how much of a change it was with your new and old setup.

 

So let me get this right, you're running a wing off a civic in the front but not running a splitter?

 

Splitter is visible in the pictures?

 

Hmm my bad such a tiny little thing i didnt even see it haha. MAKE IT BIGGAAH.

 

Not sure what pics you are looking at, but in the pics above, the car HAS a splitter...

 

and 4 mins ago he acknowledged that he missed it...