Concept for 500 mph V-8 front wheel drive streamliner

[X-Guy]

http://www.sonicwind.com/concepts5.html

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by X-Guy
http://www.sonicwind.com/concepts5.html

Different but have you ever considered what would happen if during an engine failure, one front wheel, or both, locked up.
In a rear drive vehicle one still has steering and the drag and instability is in the rear.
Here one loses all control of the car and a spin is inevitible. With such a structurally flimsy vehicle the driver could only hope the front separates from the rear as he then would not have to worry about having the cockpit smashed into the engine compartment.
Front drive road racers are generally avoided due to instability(the rear of the car does whatever it wants in a spin).
At the speeds these cars attain, such instability should be avoided like the plague.
Bob

[X-Guy]

Originally posted by Bob Riebe
Different but have you ever considered what would happen if during an engine failure, one front wheel, or both, locked up.
In a rear drive vehicle one still has steering and the drag and instability is in the rear.
Here one loses all control of the car and a spin is inevitible. With such a structurally flimsy vehicle the driver could only hope the front separates from the rear as he then would not have to worry about having the cockpit smashed into the engine compartment.
Front drive road racers are generally avoided due to instability(the rear of the car does whatever it wants in a spin).
At the speeds these cars attain, such instability should be avoided like the plague.
Bob

Sprag clutch in the drivetrain so if the engine or drivetrain locks up the wheels override it.

There have already been several 300 mph front wheel drive streamliners to run at Bonneville, including the Summer brothers famous "Poly Wog" car.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by X-Guy
Sprag clutch in the drivetrain so if the engine or drivetrain locks up the wheels override it.

There have already been several 300 mph front wheel drive streamliners to run at Bonneville, including the Summer brothers famous "Poly Wog" car.

Fascinatting

[StephenRae]

Couldn't you steer it with the rear wheels a la Noble, it would simplify the front pod...or maybe a hinge in the middle would do...you could incorporate an exploding bolt for when it all goes pear shaped, then you could have two accidents for the price of one!

[XGuy]

Originally posted by StephenRae
Couldn't you steer it with the rear wheels a la Noble, it would simplify the front pod...or maybe a hinge in the middle would do...you could incorporate an exploding bolt for when it all goes pear shaped, then you could have two accidents for the price of one!

Despite setting the first supersonic land speed record using rear wheel steering, Andy Green concluded it should be confined to forklifts.

[Heeltoe]

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

In a rear drive vehicle one still has steering and the drag and instability is in the rear.
Here one loses all control of the car and a spin is inevitible.

OK.
this question has always fascinated/buggered me.
you say that when the front wheels lock up, a spin is inevitible,
while a rear wheel lock up is controllable.

my experience is a little bit different;
I agree on you that you still got the steering (to some degree) when the lock up is at the rear.
but when I am hard on the E-brake in winter-time in my automobile,
the vehicle always skids around 180degrees and keeps on going backwards with the locked up wheels (the rear) leading the way.
and when a front wheel lock up happens, the car just slides on forward - again with the locked up wheels (now the front) leading the way.

absolutely impossible to have a spin with a front wheel lock up !

who is right ?
and why ?
can someone explain this phenomena ?

[ss_collins]

Heeltoe as serial crasher - I suspect you are correct that it could slew straight on at 'normal' speeds - however with the heavy load on this vehicles front pod I suspect that the front may dig in and cause a nasty flip, roll or spin...

but this is just a guess

[richard_sykes]

Looks like the enterprise :|

[R59]

Best of luck to them. Nice to see innovation.

[dtype38]

Originally Posted by Heeltoe

OK.
this question has always fascinated/buggered me.
you say that when the front wheels lock up, a spin is inevitible,
while a rear wheel lock up is controllable.

my experience is a little bit different;
I agree on you that you still got the steering (to some degree) when the lock up is at the rear.
but when I am hard on the E-brake in winter-time in my automobile,
the vehicle always skids around 180degrees and keeps on going backwards with the locked up wheels (the rear) leading the way.
and when a front wheel lock up happens, the car just slides on forward - again with the locked up wheels (now the front) leading the way.

absolutely impossible to have a spin with a front wheel lock up !

who is right ?
and why ?
can someone explain this phenomena ?

I think you'll find that at lower speeds its simply a question of which pair of wheels have the most drag in the direction you're moving. If you are on ice and lock the fronts up, or are on water and locking them causes aquaplane, then they will have virtually no drag and the rears will act as a sea anchor and keep you straight. If you are driving downhill on gravel, though, you virtually need to deliberately lock the rears up to act as an anchor to keep the back end where it should be... at the back! At higher speeds, though, aerodynamic effects are more important and it depends on the balance between traction and aerodynamic stability. That needs someone with a better understanding to explain

[SkaifeHRT]

Different!