Akina's build

[AKINA FC]

+1 on the epic last picture.  That's awesome.

A couple thoughts on the aero front:

I really think you should be able to get that lip down to 8-10 lbs or so.  You just need to find someone who' can lay up carbon with a core (or else make it yourself.)  There are a variety nicer composite cores available (Divinycell rigid PVC foam would be a good one), but even something as simple as balsa wood would be a massive step in the right direction.  Target 1/2 or 5/8" core thickness and you can probably do as little as two or three layers of carbon twill on each face.  You will need to add inserts to avoid crushing it with bolts and you'll also want wrap the front edge, but that's a great way to build in an aero friendly lead radius.  Hell, you're already set up to do it since the first one you make becomes a perfect template to cut the foam core and locate inserts.

Remind me, have you done anything to support the wing inside the car?  I'm guessing the sheet metal will be the weak link. The span where you have it mounted is unsupported otherwise. so I wouldn't recommend standing on it yet! 

When will you be taking it back out?

I would love to do that! but I am not the best with carbon and I don't have the equipment to do it right so I am trying to find someone to do it right for me. I have never been great with composite materials 

Yes the mounts are tied into the cage and the floor. Hard to see it in this pick but you can see the two bars going from the rear to the cross bar between the wheel wells. The other two are straight up and down, tied into the unibody frames on the sides.
I have already stood on it but I didn't have anyone with me to take a pic! I can stand out on the sides which is pretty awesome, proper made carbon parts are just sweet!!



I am running it this weekend so testing starts tomorrow! I'm pumped! 




Thanks guys! I thought that pic was pretty cool too!

[Cobranut]

Damn, you could have a family picnic on that splitter.   
Seriously, though, that's some nice work.  I really like your mounting solution.

[largeorangefont]

Awesome!

Was just thinking about bracing the trunk area for my wing yesterday.. was planning a similar setup to what you have already done.

[Cam_Ron]

All of the little things in this cars build and track development really make it special.

Thank you for sharing.

[Bowtie7]

Really great job!!! Can't wait to hear about the weekend!

[AKINA FC]

Thanks guys!

Well round one of the new aero didn't go as planned on . We had a good amount of rain, standing water on the track for the first day and all i had was my scrub r7's haha HYDROPLANE  Car felt ok when things dried out, rear high speed grip wasn't what i hoped for and ended up with the wing at like 22* AOA which caused major drag, could see the mph was down but it was the only way to somewhat balance the car at speed. Front splitter design was tough as nails but heavy, like 30lbs heavy so that was frustrating but it was a good template. Front end would turn in at any speed, so at least we had that going for us. Ended up about 4 seconds off the fastest over all and second place in class, went home with some knowledge gained.

Round two! Change everything! haha
I re-designed the front splitter from 5mm alumacorr and designed larger end plates. I highly recommed this stuff for aero, its awesome. Highly rigid and very very light, about $120 a sheet so very reasonable cost wise. Rear wing moved up 7" above roof height and 4" behind the bumper. Time to find out what it does! Next up Hallett summer shootout in oklahoma --- 6-24\25

Amazingly aero settings out of the box were damn near spot on the first day at Hallett, wing was set at 16* AOA and first run out the car was VERY neutral. I was pumped! Set tire pressures and just focused on me adapting to the new grip for the weekend. Couple of notes......Pad knock back was rearing its head again though, I think I need to just torque the front wheel bearings again but not sure. New brake pads from G-Loc are awesome, five stars for that and glad I made the change.
Took 1st place in class both days, corded the fronts and kept up with the radicals/aero cars in the unlimited class. We are really starting to gain ground! No records broken this weekend but I didn't expect it, untested stuff and old tires. Time to put fresh hoosiers on and go to hastings, to bad its not until sept 1st






One small note I did make a new shifter knob from delrin, really like the feel of it, adds a little weight to the throw.




Video from Hallett so you can see me work my knob.....              https://youtu.be/b9KUfjHx4RI

[digitalsolo]

Congrats!   Glad the aero is starting to work out.

I bought a weighted knob for my Focus ST and figured I'd never notice.   It's actually surprisingly nice and adds some solidity to the action.   A better purchase than I expected.

[1320king]

Where did you get the sheet of alumacorr?

[Supe]

Keep a close eye on those wing pedestal pads.  I've seen much less collapse the factory sheet metal there.  Give some consideration for adding a mini strut/brace off the rear wing mount going to the bumper area. 

[largeorangefont]

Keep a close eye on those wing pedestal pads.  I've seen much less collapse the factory sheet metal there.  Give some consideration for adding a mini strut/brace off the rear wing mount going to the bumper area. 

I believe Erik had some bracing in that area. Check the picture of the trunk area above.

[Supe]

My concern is that with the wing moved back, it's going to want to crease the area above the tail lights and crunch it forward, even if reinforced from the inside.  I run a strut through one of the mounting bolt holes on the wing mount just for that reason.  May be fine, but keep an eye on it.  Waaay too nice a car to lose at speed from sheet metal collapsing!

[AKINA FC]

Where did you get the sheet of alumacorr?

I got mine from Gantz Sign supply company, all the sign shops wanted to hose me so I figured out where they get supplies. 

[largeorangefont]

Perfect! They have a branch 20 minutes from my house.

[AKINA FC]

My concern is that with the wing moved back, it's going to want to crease the area above the tail lights and crunch it forward, even if reinforced from the inside.  I run a strut through one of the mounting bolt holes on the wing mount just for that reason.  May be fine, but keep an eye on it.  Waaay too nice a car to lose at speed from sheet metal collapsing!

I appreciate it Supe. The wing mounts are fully reinforced, it does look deceiving though since it looks so simple. The inside of the top edge and rear edge of the hatch opening (above the tail lights) has 1/8" 4130 plate welded to 1" 4130 rod that is attached to the cage and to the frame, both vertically and horizontally. So it basically has what your talking about, just on the inside. The weakest point, I think, would be the material used for the wing stands, 3/16" 6061 aluminum plate but I felt 1/8" 4130 steel plate might be a bit much and a bit heavy.

[Supe]

My concern is that with the wing moved back, it's going to want to crease the area above the tail lights and crunch it forward, even if reinforced from the inside.  I run a strut through one of the mounting bolt holes on the wing mount just for that reason.  May be fine, but keep an eye on it.  Waaay too nice a car to lose at speed from sheet metal collapsing!

I appreciate it Supe. The wing mounts are fully reinforced, it does look deceiving though since it looks so simple. The inside of the top edge and rear edge of the hatch opening (above the tail lights) has 1/8" 4130 plate welded to 1" 4130 rod that is attached to the cage and to the frame, both vertically and horizontally. So it basically has what your talking about, just on the inside. The weakest point, I think, would be the material used for the wing stands, 3/16" 6061 aluminum plate but I felt 1/8" 4130 steel plate might be a bit much and a bit heavy.

Good deal, the vertical section wasn't evident from the pic.