Side Panels

[Karlo]

I think the purpose of the panels on the sides is to help with the wind.

I wonder how much it helps?




http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z302/landfalcon/atom310_1142766114_profil_sur_la_pi.jpg

[#Rotor]

quite a bit...

but it's more for keeping the gravel out of one's face... having some proper track rubber on, makes for a steady stream of little rocks and sand, straight into your face, when you turn....

[Karlo]

Rotor

Is it best to place the panels on the inside or outside?

[Gage]

It has been documented. An Atom owner running the same track without panels and then with them hit a top speed about 7 mph higher. We had side panels on our Atom. It reduced rocks and debri flying into the cockpit that most of these exoskeleton cars throw up, kept us warmer in the winter, and greatly reduced wind in the cockpit at high speeds.

[#Rotor]

they would work on both sides, though I'd imagine better on the outside.

I actually install shaped triangles of mesh into the holes, so as to still show off the frame, though a clear Perspex\polycarbonate sheet would be much better for the visual aspect.
Like so
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2255/2342899702_279182724f.jpg

[Karlo]

Another type of side panel. Seems to very common.

[Craig – Absolute PACE]

Looks like tinted acrylic/perspex. Very nice. We are looking at some sort of side panels.

[fiestycolumbian]

Looks like tinted acrylic/perspex. Very nice. We are looking at some sort of side panels.

Thats my atom!:D
Actually its made out of lexan, and I used 3M bra material. For the side panels I used a darker material than the clear stuff. It came out quite well, I think.

Gage, I certainly have gone about 5 mph faster with it on, its helps reduce the drag quite a bit, helps stability, and gives more confidence to go faster.

fiesty

[Craig – Absolute PACE]

So it's clear Lexan with tinted 3M protective film. Cool idea. I expect with that film on, it's holding up very well to chips/damage.

Have you had any bubbling or pealing of the film at all? How long has it been on for. Lexan releases a gas that eventually bubbles normal window tint film.

Mate, it looks fantastic. :D

Would you mind if we borrowed and adapted your idea for our road cars here if it suits?

[Karlo]

Thats my atom!:D

fiesty

Are we ok posting pics of your Ariel Atom?

[fiestycolumbian]

So it's clear Lexan with tinted 3M protective film. Cool idea. I expect with that film on, it's holding up very well to chips/damage.

Have you had any bubbling or pealing of the film at all? How long has it been on for. Lexan releases a gas that eventually bubbles normal window tint film.

Mate, it looks fantastic. :D

Would you mind if we borrowed and adapted your idea for our road cars here?

Yeah, got for it, its something I tried, and its worked out great. Its holding up perfect to chips and scratches with no bubbles whatsoever. I went with 3M Material just for this reason, and luckily for me, they have a tinted version of it(actually they have a lighter tint as well).

Karlo, pics are fine, although that pic is when my car was still a baby cub, here is a few pics of it now:

fiesty

[JackMcCornack]

I have just enough experience driving unskinned Locosts around that I like side panels -- cars like this make me laugh with my mouth open, and side panels reduce the roughage in my diet. But I don't quite get what distinguishes an exo car (yes, I read the Wikipedia entry); it seems to do with visibility of the chassis, and I get the vibe that clear side panels are okay as far as exoness (exohood? exoosity?) though opaque panels are not.

Hey, I'm new to this forum, gimme a break, this is a serious question: so if I emulate Wonder Woman and build a Lexan Locost, can I hang out with the exo cars? How about if I panel a Locost on the inside and leave the frame on the outside, kinda like how Madonna used to wear her underwear? Would it then be an exocar?

[B-T]

To answer I would say yes and yes!
BT

[bolus]

Only a wuss would use a side panel. :) I drove my car across country 2700 miles without the side panels.

[JackMcCornack]

I drove my car across country 2700 miles without the side panels.You must know a short cut. :-)

I've <flown> across country -- and across other countries as well -- without side panels, so I'm not a wuss 24/7...just during the rainy season. Which here in southern Oregon lasts most of the year. We have the rainy season, and we have August.

[bolus]

You must know a short cut. :-)

I've <flown> across country -- and across other countries as well -- without side panels, so I'm not a wuss 24/7...just during the rainy season. Which here in southern Oregon lasts most of the year. We have the rainy season, and we have August.

It was not allll the way, just portland to tulsa

I'm in Portland, and I did have the side panels on for a while but felt like too much of a wuss :)

[JackMcCornack]

That sounds like a fun trip. I'll bet nobody who saw you on the road turned to their passenger and said, "Look at that guy. What a wuss!" like they do when they see Atoms with side panels.

I'm basically with you. I like open air driving, open air flying, and the only reason I've ever put a fairing on a motorcycle was to make it go faster. But I might risk a bit of abuse in pursuit of efficiency. We'll see; I ain't there yet.

[bolus]

Its actually kind of fun to take a turn a little close and have some gravel fly up off the tires into your chest. Long as you have eye projection on. It adds to the experience :)

[soon_2b_evil]

Its actually kind of fun to take a turn a little close and have some gravel fly up off the tires into your chest. Long as you have eye projection on. It adds to the experience :)

LOL this guy is nuts! he wants to be hit with gravel in the chest! LOL I like your way of thinkin,

[bolus]

Lets see... 3 inches above the ground, sides open so that you can literally reach the ground from the drivers seat, 500hp per ton, supercharger 4 inches from your head screaming like an elephant getting its legs ripped off. 1 g of horizontal acceleration and 2 g's of lateral acceleration. bee's hitting you in the face and gravel in the chest. Passenger screaming with their arms and legs flailing like they just fell off a building....

Yeah, that's definitely an experience not quite like anything else. :)

[soon_2b_evil]

Lets see... 3 inches above the ground, sides open so that you can literally reach the ground from the drivers seat, 500hp per ton, supercharger 4 inches from your head screaming like an elephant getting its legs ripped off. 1 g of horizontal acceleration and 2 g's of lateral acceleration. bee's hitting you in the face and gravel in the chest. Passenger screaming with their arms and legs flailing like they just fell off a building....

Yeah, that's definitely an experience not quite like anything else. :)


LOL couldnt have said that any better way. I think i might go ahead and get myself a RooF Boxer Helment. Also thinkin about going Turbo! LOL