<VV> How spoilers work

[AeroNed@aol.com]

Just wanted to post a quick review of how spoiler, front and rear work...

Front Spoilers: A simple front spoiler, or air dam, is a vertical device that 
is to reduce or eliminate the airflow under the car. When air flows under the 
car and hits all the 'stuff' under the car, like the front suspension, it 
results in a high pressure area, which results in lift. A more effective version 
of this spoiler has a forward rake, like a cow catcher. With this type of 
spoiler, the high pressure on the front of the spoiler acts partially in a 
downward direction, downforce. The downside of the spoiler is the increase in the 
frontal area of the car. The 'cowcatcher' version is catching the air. These 
thing add drag.

Rear Spoilers: The rear spoiler considered is a simple flip, as seen on the 
engine deck of a Stinger. I'll leave out the reasons for putting a rear wing on 
a FRONT wheel drive car. This little device works like the 'cowcatcher' 
spoiler on the front of the car. The spoiler deflects the air up, which results in 
a area of high pressure, again resulting in downforce. This is not the most 
efficient method to get rear downforce. The downside is an increase in the 
'hole' the car makes in the air which is more drag.

These are just basic explainations, the bottom line is a front spoiler on any 
car, will help the handleing. The rear spoiler might help a little at speed 
above 60+ MPH, but they're easier to see and do look cool.

Ned