Delta Wing Discussion ONLY

[miatanut]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Michelin were making and developing tires for a car that didn't exist.

If each musician practised individually in an orchestra, and played the piece perfectly the first time they've been thrown together, I'd call that luck.

I agree, there's a combination of hard work and luck.

The first time you build anything, it's like that. In the old days, everybody shared a lot of drawings. Nowdays, with 3D CAD, everybody can share a complete CAD model and keep it pretty up-to-date. Boeing had a really good system going until they decided to outsource a lot of stuff and their subcontractors fell down on the job, but with the 777 the first one went together a lot smoother than they did in the old days.

I think the difference here is the vehicle dynamics are so different from the usual, everybody's working well outside of what they are used to. The result will be when Le Mans comes around, this vehicle will still have a lot more potential for development than usual and if you are competing under normal rules, if you don't have it at 98% or better, you won't be competitive. If this program is allowed to continue, they might be able to improve 5 seconds a lap or more.

My sister is a professional cellist and she's worked on some movie soundtracks. She's told me that sometimes there's just one take. Other times, they try it two or three different ways, all of them sound good, and somebody later makes the decision which to use.

With that and something like this, the key is really good people working on the project. With really good people, some pretty impressive stuff becomes possible.

[Catingaround]

This might be cool, Nissan has a camera crew following the Deltawing around and will be doing installments of the cars attempt at Le Mans, starting with wind tunnel testing:

http://www.highcroftracing.com/news/...icks-off.html/

[cheapracer]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

It is always interesting to read the feedback from the drivers on the revolutionary car concept:


"Erik Comas ... 'Well, I can tell you three things for sure. One, it's absolutely the most stable car I've ever driven in a straight line. Two, the braking is phenomenal. And three, I've never experienced a car with better initial turn-in.'

Well that's to be expected when you jump into a 475kg car after a 900kg one (LMP).

Put this triangular footprint on a 900kg foundation and I'm confident the driver report would be somewhat different.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by cheapracer

Well that's to be expected when you jump into a 475kg car after a 900kg one (LMP).

Erik Comas has not driven a LMP car since 2006.

[Maelochs]

Regardless of when he last drove an LMP ... fact seems to be, the DWing works, and works about as well as a traditional design.

The issue now is whether it will work Better than a traditional design.

Dilemma: What if a car most people hate actually provides the improved performance those people seek? IndyCar went therough it in the early '60s. Now it's our turn.

I'd hate to see a field of tricycles at Le Mans, but the next generation of racing fans might take it for granted.

[Catingaround]

With what happened to Toyota, I wonder how many AMR tubs are available for the Deltawing... One testing mishap could really put them in a bind for LM

[gwyllion]

Another interview with Marino Franchitti on the DeltaWing: http://www.lemans.org/en/news/deltaw...rope_6753.html.

Two highlights:

The car is completely unique and very different, but Ben has developed the concept to be user-friendly for the driver and that is something we have seen so far, of course there are improvements we want to make, like slowing down the steering as it was turning a little too well to start with, but this is a normal part of the development process.

The big change in perception is not having the big wheel arches out to left and right, in the car I now instead see the two small bubble wheel arches out in front of me. People are interested in how difficult it is to place the rear wheels as we don’t apex with the front wheels, I have to say that was very easy for me to get used to.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Catingaround

With what happened to Toyota, I wonder how many AMR tubs are available for the Deltawing... One testing mishap could really put them in a bind for LM

Six AMR-One tubs have been built. According to http://www.racecar-engineering.com/n...-by-pescarolo/ two tubs went to DeltaWing and two to Pescarolo.

[Catingaround]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Six AMR-One tubs have been built. According to http://www.racecar-engineering.com/n...-by-pescarolo/ two tubs went to DeltaWing and two to Pescarolo.

Very cool, thanks

[stylish]

I have it on good authority that it is currently splashing round @ Snetterton......

[Catingaround]

Found some pics from Snetterton on twitter: http://racersdrive.com/racers-drive-...at-snetterton/

Weather was wet today, wonder what the rest of the week looks like, hope they need this wet testing.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Looks like it goes round corners.

[joeb]

hmm, do they need special rain tires for the fronts? or just the rears I wonder?

[Victor_RO]

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmarch12.html

MulsanneMike's musings on the whole Deltawing theme.

[terence]

The Nissan at Snet was having the steering 'softened',it was just a little too sensitive,other than that,seems good to go! Has enormous traction,even in the wet.

[Simmi]

I wonder what the hold-up is with the third driver on this? Surely they will have a third driver?

Whoever it is ideally needs to be getting track time in the car by now.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Looks like it goes round corners.

OMG , just look at the hips on that . Remonds me of a farmers wife !!!

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by The Badger

OMG , just look at the hips on that . Remonds me of a farmers wife !!!

As a farmer i am deeply offended by that comparison!

[The Badger]

Sorry mate , someones gotta suffer !!!

Appologies to your better half

[merlot brougham]

Mulsanne Mike's analysis was spot-on as usual, even venturing off into speculation territory. Hey, doesn't he realize that is Ten Tenth's domain!

And incidentally, I like big butts. But I still don't like the look of it. Good thing I'm more concerned with function over form for race cars as opposed to form over function for women's butts.

[Gingers4Justice]

How on earth are those headlights going to produce enough light to give the drivers good visibility at Le Mans?

[gwyllion]

The latest edition of RCE has an article by Marshall Pruett on the DeltaWing: http://gb.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issn=0961-1096&p=8

[terence]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

How on earth are those headlights going to produce enough light to give the drivers good visibility at Le Mans?

Dont forget there are four sets,one in each rear wheel cover as well as the pair in front.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by merlot brougham

Mulsanne Mike's analysis was spot-on as usual, even venturing off into speculation territory. Hey, doesn't he realize that is Ten Tenth's domain!

And incidentally, I like big butts. But I still don't like the look of it. Good thing I'm more concerned with function over form for race cars as opposed to form over function for women's butts.

Maybe we could have a seperate thread for this ..... quite an interesting topic !!!

Im a Butt man myself ..... but something that big perched on my nose doesnt do it for me Merlot !!! ..... Black or white .

Eemmm ..... how big is big ?

[The Badger]

I cant see how the front wheels will work .

We all know the Mulsanne is a public road , much used by heavy trucks . The heavy traffic forms a groove . The rear wheels will nestle into the groove , while the fronts will ride the crest .
Seems to me there will be some very erratic driving style required .

While Im passed slagging the Delta wing off , I do still have some concerns about it . Like the wide rear end with the slim front .

Mark my words ..... if this car starts the race , there will be some major cribs about it from other drivers .

I feel its dangerous , not well thought out , while the principle of it is worthy .