C8 IMSA race car

[Roger H.]

Can someone please educate me? What is the purpose of these items on the front of the IMSA cars? They appear to be probes of some kind.

[Gary B.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

Roger,

Not pitot tubes to measure air pressures?

Gary

[Patrick B.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

They look like safety latches to keep the frunk lid down.

[Leif A.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

they look like safety latches to keep the frunk lid down.

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[Mark F.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

Roger, Not pitot tubes to measure air pressures? Gary

Hi Gary,

If Roger was referring to the the two blue-circled projections on the windsplit of the frunk, yes, those are pitot tubes (see below).

Not sure why there are two there; maybe they take an average of both ? maybe two in case one fails ? dunno

The kinds I have used to do ventilation ductwork transects measure velocity pressure (VP) thru the exposed tips (as shown) and static pressure (SP) thru taps (not shown) that are welded in perpendicular to the VP tube (somewhere under the frunk in this case ?).

I used to have to use a manometer (cumbersome to handle and set up properly in a field situation) to acquire the data and then translate into velocity (not VP). I guess they must consider this a more accurate measurement of true speed vs a speedometer (wheel slip; tire wear; etc. ?).

I can imagine today there must be some pretty fabulous electronic gizmos in those cars that do all of those calculations for you

If Roger was referring to the red arrows in his picture, I agree with Patrick and Leif (safety latches).

pitot tubes_001.jpg

[Roger H.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

Thanks for the help guys. Yes, it is the pitot tubes to which I am referring. I forgot the technical term for those. The ones pictured are on the C8 IMSA car which is on display at the NCM. Those red arrows are part of the car's graphics. Sorry for the confusion.

[Mark F.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

No problem, Roger...interesting that those were not your arrows - but ones painted on the car...

As an aside, I wonder how these things work in the environments they are used ?

Preferred placement of Pitot tubes are generally in totally unobstructed, laminar airflow situations...that's why you'll see them as far forward and away from any of an airplane's structural parts...they are trying to get as far into "Clean Air" as possible...

I'd love to see what these puppies are reading when they're 6" off the rear bumper of a car in front of them going nearly 200 mph !

[Duke W.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

IMO those pitot tubes are far enough forward and above the body to give accurate air speed readings. I recall the pitot tubes on the Cessna 150s I learned to fly in were hung a few inches below and aft of the leading edge of the wing placing the inlet right at about the leading edge and a few inches below.

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: C8 IMSA race car

IMO those pitot tubes are far enough forward and above the body to give accurate air speed ratings. I recall the pitot tubes on the Cessna 150s I learned to fly in were hung a few inches below and aft of the leading edge of the wing placing the inlet right at about the leading edge and a few inches below.

Duke

Right Duke and similar on low wing Cherokee 140. Way back when as a line boy had to be careful when glazing had to be careful not to accidently clog it.