The air dam type WRC wings worked for years, then in '92 with the first of the Mitsubishi EVO's and with Subaru stepping up their game, something had to be done to cut the drag so people could remain competitive. Thats when all the modern wings started. I still have that M7 POS out in the garage... I might find some aluminum to make into new end plates, and prototype a solution for its non functionality. It could be a fun little summer project to kill some time.
The thing one must remember about those wings used on those factory rally cars. They were tested in the wind tunnel & thoroughly tested on the stages. I'm quite sure a place like M7 never did any of this. A guy selling a wing who says oh boy it works has little meaning if no testing was done. An unnamed maker of these once barked at me & said his lap times were faster with his wiz bang wing. No testing just the placebo effect. I turned my best ever qualifying lap at Mid-Ohio after eating a ham sandwich. Therefore eating a ham sandwich will make one go faster than ever. I'm not discouraging a wing, justa saying it may work well or not. In either case it will look cool. Rally cars need wings.
Chuck, I've heard that eating a ham sandwich adds 15 horsepower to most cars and makes them corner better. I'm glad you clarified that
Back in my Vintage Racing days a friend used to put on a full lunch BBQ and fill all of us in the run group up. It was his way of slowing us down. So, I don't buy the ham sandwich makes you faster theory! Don You need a wing from the P car GT3 to hold the MINI down.
Don that's because it was vintage BBQ. If the competition is in the crapper when they call cars to the false grid he's beat you for sure. :wink:
Rear wings make a difference on ralley cars because they are 4 wheel drive unlike the MINI. You don't need one because you only have front wheel drive. The wing will actually remove downforce from the front wheels. The Ham sandwich will add at least 10-15 hp.
I'd guess a properly designed wing can add an amount of down force that helps keep the rear planted while not adversely affecting the front bite. I do agree it would have more benefits for an AWD car.
Hahaha Maybe I should build a wing out of ham and bread! Back in the 90"s I used to run with a packet of mashed potato mix of the roof of the car as we were know for taking food to the rallies to save money. Regarding the wing: I'm looking at the cool factor as the rally fans in CR love that *****. I know the M7 and FU type wings don't really do anything that's why I don't want to waste money on a new one. I'm going to contact them for a damaged one I can fix or like Dave says, build my own as I have time. Modfather, So if I was going to build my own wing what would be an idea material to use? I was thinking somelike they use to build surf boards then coat it in fiber glass and bondo? should be a fun project costing way less than buy the M7, FU wing.....also it need to look like one i can buy from Mini or go the Audi route..hahaha https://www.pinterest.com/pin/427490189603689297/
Chris I'm not sure your MINI has enough surface area to attach all those Batmobile wings & things. Ham sandwich rear-wing seems like a brilliant idea, until your hungry service crew chews it off. I may have to start selling my donut antenna toppers & add ham sandwich-wings on my new webasite. Diet of Speed coming soon to a computer near you. :donut1:
The benefit of having a little wing on the rear of a FWD car is to simply try to balance out the weight distribution. Our cars are still front heavy.
Gear box should be here tomorrow. Other than that I have nothing Mini to take in my checked bags, a first! Regarding the wing, M7 are heping me with that.
Front heavy is not a bad thing when you only have FWD. Now off you are jumping you MINI FOR something that could be an issue.:ihih: Example below! OUCH:nonod: [ame="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bcb_bCg7Zns"]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bcb_bCg7Zns[/ame]
Looked like a farkin plane crash. If that was a real MINI there would be 1/4 mile worth of crash debris. That off road truck in a MINI suit held up amazingly well. I wonder what the G loading were that the pilot received. Bet they were massive.
Back on the subject of the wing. I see what you mean about the M7 C wing. I thought the side plates were attached to the hatch but I see they are free from any support. On a rally that wing would hanging off after a couple of stages. Anyway M7 have some end plates and a old top wing I can play with. I was thinking of narrowing it so the end plates attach to the hatch.
