Aero testing kart with roof rack?

[Alan Dove]

OK, so it sounds a bit mad but I can't get this idea out of my head.

I have always thought about developing a Superkart, and naturally given the expense of testing, of which there is pretty much just one dedicated test day now per year, I had to engage my puny brain. So... is there any efficacy in basically putting a kart on a roof and collecting data somehow? Naturally you can't go above 70mph (in the UK) but it did get me thinking.

[Greg Locock]

yes, that's how did the early tests on our 1:5 model of the solar car. We measured the pressure distribution down the centerline using water manometers. you need a baseboard as well. I have no idea how useful it was but the aero guy was happy, I guess anything is better than nothing.

[Stu]

OK, so it sounds a bit mad but I can't get this idea out of my head.

I have always thought about developing a Superkart, and naturally given the expense of testing, of which there is pretty much just one dedicated test day now per year, I had to engage my puny brain. So... is there any efficacy in basically putting a kart on a roof and collecting data somehow? Naturally you can't go above 70mph (in the UK) but it did get me thinking.

I guess that the biggest issue with doing this with a super last is that you need the driver to be in the Kart!

[CMSMJ1]

Whatever you do, Alan, let's film it

I'm thinking this is mainly an underbody test rather than overall efficiency and so a willing lunatic to sit on the roof may not be needed.

If timing works for me I'll be coming to have a look at these karts at Donington.

[Alan Dove]

I guess that the biggest issue with doing this with a super last is that you need the driver to be in the Kart!

Possibly but the driver isn't all that much exposed in a superkart. So you can fashion from kind of 'helmet'.

[Hoffman900]

The kart better be positioned well above the roof line…

Positioning it on the roof, the whole flow field is entirely dictated by the car’s aero.