Re: Which themes have been done to death?
Daniel, have you read up on the 2E? The car was an automatic so that the driver could operate a third pedal which controlled the wing. When the driver pushed down the "clutch" pedal on the straights, the wing flattened out, reducing drag. This same idea could work for a crapcan racer. The giant wing could be used for both braking and cornering. The problem is that it takes a skilled driver to forget everything he knows about controls and push the "clutch" pedal on the straights. I'd forget what to do and have that wing flapping up and down constantly.
So what you're saying is that it needs to be done on a manual transmission car so the driver has four pedals to choose from?
I had suggested to another team a few years ago to use air cylinders. As the drag built up on the wing it would compress the air in the cylinder/tank combo and flatten out the wing at speed. I happen to have a pile of air cylinders...and a compressor from a yank tank with rear air ride. I can make you good deal on the parts.
If you're using drag to force it down, how are you making the car any faster when you're trying to reduce drag? Why not just mount your wing on bungee cords (besides causing Evil John conniption fits)?
Skid Marks did something like this for Autobahn.
Looks like a smaller version of Sensory Assault's plywood airbrake.