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INTER COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE

                                                                              FILE                DATE
                                                                              CODE                May 7, 1969
     TO - NAME                           DEPT.                       DIVISION                PLANT/OFFICE
              Distribution
     FROM - NAME                         DEPT.                       DIVISION                PLANT/OFFICE
              J. E. Vaughn                         4830                    Space                  Huntsville

     SUBJECT
               Performance Report - Aerodynamic Investigation of 3/8 Scale Automobiles In The
              Wind Tunnel, Report Period - March 5, 1969 - April 30, 1969





                       Tests were conducted from March 7 through March 19, 1969 at Wichita
               State University on a 3/8 scale Dodge Charger automobile. These tests were
               designed to improve the total aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle for
               race purposes. Therefore some rather unorthodox configurations were investi
               gated in an attempt to both lower the aerodynamic drag coefficient and to
               improve the vehicle’s aerodynamic stability characteristics.

                       Preliminary results from these tests were presented to the proper race
              oriented personnel at Central Engineering on March 21, 1969. At this meeting
               it was learned that Plymouth Division also was desirous of building a race
               car that would be competitive with the Dodge. This was a 180° reversal of
               their previous stated policy to us. Therefore due to Plymouth’s urgency and
               the wind tunnel availability schedule a crash program was instigated so that
              wind tunnel data could be obtained on a Plymouth car during the week of March
              31, 1969. These tests did occur that week and preliminary results were given
               to the proper race personnel on April 25, 1969 (Chrysler Report HSM-R13-69).
              Wind tunnel tests results on both cars show them to be aerodynamically similar
              when properly modified, with a speed potential somewhat greater than that ex­
              pected from other competitive cars.

                       Concurrently with the wind tunnel tests a cursory theoretical investi­
              gation was conducted on NACA flush inlets. Several references were located
              which report results of experimental wind tunnel tests conducted on numerous
               configurations of the basic flush inlet design. These references were used
              as a basis for designing an inlet to be used on race cars for carburator air
               intake.   Mr.  G.  McCanless   conducted   thes o  studies and              them to Central
              Engineering personnel on April 25, 1969. An inlet is presently being fabri­
              cated to Huntsville specifications and is to be tested at the track in late
              May or early June to verify theoretical predictions.





                                                                     J. E. Vaughn


              JEV:lp
              Distribution:


                       H. Bader, Jr.
                       W. P. Wright S'
                       M. L. Bell

              cc:      J. E. Call
                       E. E. Zimmerman

      84-110-7879 REV. 1-63
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