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Modifying the Aerodynamics of Your Road Car
Modifying the Aerodynamics of Your Road Car is a unique handbook that assumes no starting knowledge of vehicle aerodynamics. It begins with simple ideas and finishes with sophisticated and effective aerodynamic modifications that work.
Three major chapters cover on-road testing techniques that give you all the information you need to decide what modifications you should make - and, after you've made them, how well they work. Low-cost techniques allow you to visualize the patterns of airflow over your car so that you can actually see the problem areas that need improvement. Uniquely, you're also shown how to measure aerodynamic pressures, so you can determine which body surfaces are creating lift, drag and downforce. Want to work out where a wing should be placed? On-road testing to find that out is covered as well. The book also shows you how to measure downforce to see if that wing is actually working!
If you wish to reduce drag, more than ten different areas are covered. Reducing frontal area, lowering cooling system drag, optimizing vehicle ride height and rake, reducing the strength of the wake, achieving clean airflow separation and optimizing wheel designs are all covered using the latest research findings. And if you're a performance driver, there's a major chapter devoted to reducing lift and improving stability. This chapter includes the design and development of undertrays and diffusers, wings and spoilers. The example car developed measurable downforce when fitted with an undertray and rear diffuser, something that transformed its on-road handling.
The author has been writing about the aerodynamics of road cars for more than 25 years. He is also an experienced and proficient car modifier who has performed numerous aerodynamic modifications and upgrades to his own cars. The book's technical consultant, RH Barnard, is an acknowledged world leading automotive aerodynamicist. If you want a practical, hands-on guide that demystifies and explains car aerodynamics, and shows you how to make effective aerodynamic modifications to your car, this book is for you.
Three major chapters cover on-road testing techniques that give you all the information you need to decide what modifications you should make - and, after you've made them, how well they work. Low-cost techniques allow you to visualize the patterns of airflow over your car so that you can actually see the problem areas that need improvement. Uniquely, you're also shown how to measure aerodynamic pressures, so you can determine which body surfaces are creating lift, drag and downforce. Want to work out where a wing should be placed? On-road testing to find that out is covered as well. The book also shows you how to measure downforce to see if that wing is actually working!
If you wish to reduce drag, more than ten different areas are covered. Reducing frontal area, lowering cooling system drag, optimizing vehicle ride height and rake, reducing the strength of the wake, achieving clean airflow separation and optimizing wheel designs are all covered using the latest research findings. And if you're a performance driver, there's a major chapter devoted to reducing lift and improving stability. This chapter includes the design and development of undertrays and diffusers, wings and spoilers. The example car developed measurable downforce when fitted with an undertray and rear diffuser, something that transformed its on-road handling.
The author has been writing about the aerodynamics of road cars for more than 25 years. He is also an experienced and proficient car modifier who has performed numerous aerodynamic modifications and upgrades to his own cars. The book's technical consultant, RH Barnard, is an acknowledged world leading automotive aerodynamicist. If you want a practical, hands-on guide that demystifies and explains car aerodynamics, and shows you how to make effective aerodynamic modifications to your car, this book is for you.
248 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2018
About the author
Julian Edgar
35 books4 followersJulian Edgar, 56, started his working life freelancing for photography magazines. He then worked as a secondary school teacher for eight years before leaving teaching and becoming a full-time technical writer.
He edited a national Australian automotive print magazine before becoming editor of an online car magazine. Along the way he wrote extensively for electronics hobbyist magazines while also contributing articles to publications in Australia, the UK and the US.
He has also worked at Executive Level in the Australian Public Service. Formal qualifications include a Diploma in Teaching (Secondary), Bachelor of Education and Graduate Diploma in Journalism.
In the automotive field he has owned cars with two, three, four, five, six and eight cylinder engines; diesel, petrol and hybrid petrol/electric drivelines; front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations; and cars with single turbos, twin turbos and superchargers.
He has been electronically modifying his cars for about 30 years. Over that time he has modified engine management systems, engine cooling systems, turbo boost controls, electric power steering systems, auto transmission controls, all-wheel drive torque split controls, stability controls, hybrid car regenerative braking controls, and lighting and sound systems.
He also enjoys aerodynamic modification of cars. He was the first automotive journalist to extensively wool tuft cars and write about the results (starting in 1989), and use Magnehelic gauges to directly measure aerodynamic pressures (in 2000) - both approaches now widely used by amateurs. In 2018 he developed a technique allowing amateurs to measure car aerodynamic panel pressures on the road.
Julian has supercharged - and then turbocharged - a Toyota Prius. He has also turbocharged a Honda Insight and fitted it with programmable engine management, doing the engine mapping from scratch. The Insight also has electronically-controlled, custom air suspension that Julian developed and fitted.
He has an extensive home workshop that is equipped with a chassis dyno; lathe; mill; MIG, TIG and oxy welding gear; metal folder and other tools.
Julian lives in a hamlet 80 kilometres north of Canberra, Australia. He is married to Georgina and they have a son, Alexander, who is 16 years old. Also in the family are Victor the sheep and Ar-Chee the cat!
He edited a national Australian automotive print magazine before becoming editor of an online car magazine. Along the way he wrote extensively for electronics hobbyist magazines while also contributing articles to publications in Australia, the UK and the US.
He has also worked at Executive Level in the Australian Public Service. Formal qualifications include a Diploma in Teaching (Secondary), Bachelor of Education and Graduate Diploma in Journalism.
In the automotive field he has owned cars with two, three, four, five, six and eight cylinder engines; diesel, petrol and hybrid petrol/electric drivelines; front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations; and cars with single turbos, twin turbos and superchargers.
He has been electronically modifying his cars for about 30 years. Over that time he has modified engine management systems, engine cooling systems, turbo boost controls, electric power steering systems, auto transmission controls, all-wheel drive torque split controls, stability controls, hybrid car regenerative braking controls, and lighting and sound systems.
He also enjoys aerodynamic modification of cars. He was the first automotive journalist to extensively wool tuft cars and write about the results (starting in 1989), and use Magnehelic gauges to directly measure aerodynamic pressures (in 2000) - both approaches now widely used by amateurs. In 2018 he developed a technique allowing amateurs to measure car aerodynamic panel pressures on the road.
Julian has supercharged - and then turbocharged - a Toyota Prius. He has also turbocharged a Honda Insight and fitted it with programmable engine management, doing the engine mapping from scratch. The Insight also has electronically-controlled, custom air suspension that Julian developed and fitted.
He has an extensive home workshop that is equipped with a chassis dyno; lathe; mill; MIG, TIG and oxy welding gear; metal folder and other tools.
Julian lives in a hamlet 80 kilometres north of Canberra, Australia. He is married to Georgina and they have a son, Alexander, who is 16 years old. Also in the family are Victor the sheep and Ar-Chee the cat!
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