Wicker or no wicker???

[Dave J]

I have a Vortech formula vee and it has a wicker on the rear tail section (see photo). I may be replacing the rear tail section and I can get the new body piece with or without the wicker. So I'm trying to determine if the wicker is just adding drag or if it's really an aerodynamic enhancement.

Let me know what you think.

[SEComposites]

Get it without wicker then just make your own and tape it on. If it improves cooling then keep it in your tool box. I doubt you’d see any other aero benefit.

[DaveW]

I think you will be surprised how much difference just a few lb of downforce can enhance handling. Even those small tabs are probably worth a few lb at speed. I'd certainly want to do a back-to-back with and without to evaluate.

[SEComposites]

What are you calling a wicker in the photo. I don’t see one. Are you referring to the horizontal fins either side of the exhaust? Now I’m not sure what I’m looking at! A wicker is a gurney or counter flap.

[Dave J]

What are you calling a wicker in the photo. I don’t see one. Are you referring to the horizontal fins either side of the exhaust? Now I’m not sure what I’m looking at! A wicker is a gurney or counter flap.

I'm sorry about the bad photo. The red color of the horizontal fins hides the wicker. If you blow up the photo and look closely, there is a wicker attached to the horizontal fins on either side of the exhaust...

[Dave J]

Get it without wicker then just make your own and tape it on. If it improves cooling then keep it in your tool box. I doubt you’d see any other aero benefit.

The wicker on my car doesn't affect cooling at all. I know the photo doesn't do a good job of showing the wicker...

[Dave J]

This photo is a little better.

[Steve Davis]

Dave,
I doubt that the 'wicker' does anything aerodynamically, however it does provide stiffness to the horizontal sections and it worth having for that purpose. I have similar horizontal sections on my bodywork and I just made that section thicker to achieve the strength needed. I also doubt that the wicker is hurting you aerodynamically, but someone (including a tech official) MIGHT decide to protest you about 'aerodynamic devices', which are illegal in our class.

[SEComposites]

Oh I see. My first post still holds true though. Get the engine cover without and simply have a collection of different height wickers to experiment with.

[Jnovak]

Oh I see. My first post still holds true though. Get the engine cover without and simply have a collection of different height wickers to experiment with.

i agree, experiments are good.

You learn as much or more when an experiment does NOT work!

[Dave J]

Dave,
I doubt that the 'wicker' does anything aerodynamically, however it does provide stiffness to the horizontal sections and it worth having for that purpose. I have similar horizontal sections on my bodywork and I just made that section thicker to achieve the strength needed. I also doubt that the wicker is hurting you aerodynamically, but someone (including a tech official) MIGHT decide to protest you about 'aerodynamic devices', which are illegal in our class.

I've seen quite a few different cars with wickers. It looks like GCR 9.1.1. section 9 (H) says:

H. Wings (airfoils) are prohibited.

I don't know if I'd interpret a wicker as a wing or airfoil. My argument would be that I have yet to see an airplane fly with a wicker attached to each side of it's fuselage instead of wings...

I really appreciate the input Steve. I didn't consider the structural aspect of the wicker.

[Fred Michael]

Airfoil is a shape. A wicker is not an airfoil.

[Roland V. Johnson]

I don't know exactly how the rule is written know...........don't do much SCCA racing, however in FF it used to read "wings and other aerodynamic devices.....I do believe a wicker is an aerodynamic device.

[Buc01]

Been my experience that wickers can make a difference in the handling during medium to high speed corners.
I would experiment with and w/o. Also, really depends upon the track. IMHO.

Aaron

[DaveW]

I don't know exactly how the rule is written know...........don't do much SCCA racing, however in FF it used to read "wings and other aerodynamic devices.....I do believe a wicker is an aerodynamic device.

So is a sloped flat nose - where do you draw the line? How about the bottom surface of a multi-time champion's FV? That, IMO, is flat bottom ground effects...

I don't think it is at all cut and dried.