How Does A NASCAR Wind Tunnel ACTUALLY Work? Behind The Scenes in an Official Testing Facility!
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- Опубликовано: 14 янв 2023
- In this video we visit Gary Eaker at Aerodyn Wind Tunnel in Mooresville NC. I realized one day that with all the mentions of wind tunnels we hear regularly, I really didn't know HOW they worked, how they measured things, how they are designed, etc. So I asked John Callies (the former Pontiac Motorsports manager) if he knew anyone that could get us an inside look at a wind tunnel. He connected us with Gary who was also a former General Motors employee in the aerodynamics dept. Before starting the Aerodyn tunnel, Gary was the head Aerodynamicist at Hendrick Motorsports!
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This is one of those times I set out to answer my own curiosity and figured other people have the same questions too 😂 is wind tunnel tech something you’ve ever pondered before?
As an Aviation nut, yes. Even while building hobby planes (Rc) I've used simple fans to check flight characteristics. It's all Fluid Dynamics, even the air we breathe. It's all the same in a different way. Do fish drink water? Yep, not how you think though. Cheers man, this was epic!
All of the time
Every drive every day lol
As a mechanical engineer with a great interest in NASCAR and aerodynamics, this is probably my favorite RUclips video of all time.
We love to hear that 💪🏻
Fascinating stuff. As an engineer (not an aero engineer, I just build bridges), I can appreciate the level of tech into this stuff. And he did a terrific job of explaining the whole thing.
I'd sit through several hours of lectures from this man. He should be a teacher.
He is widely known as the Wind Wizard. I learned so much from Gary early in my career. A brilliant guy.
It often seems to me that a true measure of intelligence is how easily someone can break a complex subject down into a more simple, comprehensible explanation for those that don't understand it to the same level. This is a fascinating and insightful video. Please keep these coming! Love to see more of the mechanics of what makes for a fast car, and understanding some of the physics and engineering behind it.
Thanks James you’re extremely right!
What a Straight-to-Business-with-no-quarter-given Explanation
Finally someone who doesn't do a "premiere" and you go to see when it is and it's in three days..... at 6pm.
I don’t plan out that far 😂
So I'm not the only one that is driven crazy by that!? I get why they do it.....I'm just an instant gratification kind of guy I guess lol.
The way this guy explains everything is incredible
It really is!
Very good explanation of this craft.
That is amazing tech for one man to engineer.
Bet is was awesome to see the build team make it work. Must have been a lot of great guys working together.
It’s damn amazing looking too.
Imagine how clean he has to keep that building.
Was thinking same thing!!!!
So Digestible
That was a really good interview with someone who can convey the information without overwhelming technical details. It would be killer to have a follow up with a car being tested.
So much knowledge on this channel, I learn something from all your videos. The hard work you two put into these videos is appreciated. Thanks!
Thanks Michael we appreciate you!!
This has got to be one of the most in-depth practical aero discussions I've seen!
Thank you Steve!
Mitchell, I love when you interview these smart people. This guy is so awesome and smart. Thanks for sharing.❤
Thanks Greg!
Great job. I spent my career in the engineering field, mostly power plants and have worked with many Gary’s in my time. I was impressed how he explained complex technical concepts such that any layman could understand. I was told many years ago the true measure of someone’s understanding was if they could explain a complex concepts in simple terms, which Gary did. Again well done and thoroughly enjoyable.
I think I remember when they first set this up and the apparent advantage that their cars had on the track. It really was very disruptive technology. Everyone was forced to follow suit. I have been looking at manufacturers and companies that are using the computer models that apparently are getting pretty good results to estimate drag, downforce, and how the air moves. People are modeling now in the computer and making the changes and then putting the modified vehicle in the wind tunnel to validate. That is what the manufacturers are doing now for production cars as they are looking for ways to squeak out good numbers for the EPA tests and compliance. Having watched some of the testing I can completely agree with his assessment. The air does not do what you would think that it would. It really is very interesting.
At the end he had a point! my first 30 years of my career were as a Union Sheet Metal Worker about 20 of that was Commercial HVAC Systems......things you move air through!
the Last 10 years was working at Boeing ......helping build things that move through air!
while the technology behind both are similar there are a lot of differences!
Along the way I acquired a text book book used to teach Mechanical Engineering in the 40's....
I read that book cover to cover and studied it a few times and used it as a reference for what I was doing,
as well to solve problems and understand things that I was doing as well....
especially when dealing with Engineers!.......
In Trade School before I started in the Sheet Metal Industry I had an instructor who would say
"when you know everything there is to know about moving air,...its time to go meet the Big Tinner!"
he was absolutely correct!
I really wanted to see more. I'm fascinated by this sort of stuff. I want to see it in action.
Great video Stapleton. These videos remind me why your channel is one of if not the best in the automotive/Motorsports space on RUclips and definitely my favorite channel. Keep up the great content that nobody else is doing, it’s awesome!
Thanks man 💪🏻
That was the best info yet Mitchell.
Awesome!!!!!
Thanks David!
Gary Eaker is an absolute GEM! Could listen to him for hours, didactic people are the best at explaining things
I think I met this guy in the late eighties when I graduated GM tech school. We took a trip to Michigan and one of the stops was at the GM wind tunnel in Warren. Wow, so cool.
Great video! I had the pleasure of doing some aero testing a few years ago at their smaller tunnel ("A2") next door. I was an engineer for an on-road vehicle made by a powersports company. We didn't exactly have a lot of aerodynamic knowledge (except for me being a race fan), but the staff at A2 (I think it may have been Gary's son) was great to work with. In a couple days we were able to do over 50 runs with different aero configurations and left with all of the data in an excel format that was easy to work with. We did get to peek into this bigger wind tunnel while a NASCAR team was between runs, but I didn't get the whole history like you got in this video.
And again you knocked it outta da park! I really didn’t think this would be that interesting but as usual I was wrong. That was a master class in “wind tunnel” design and operation not to mention aerodynamics! Also I’m guessing that guy has been in an accident or something because I noticed the first finger on his left hand is stiff plus a slight limp. What a wealth of knowledge in that man and he presents it as a good teacher. No substitute for experience either!
Thanks Rick!
I use to work with Gary at Hendrick Motorsports right after I first started there in 1999. He's an amazingly smart person, we jokingly called him the Wind Wizard! One of the first things I remember doing there was putting pressure sensor plates on the spoiler of Jack Sprague's truck with him, to get it ready to go test Daytona before the first truck race there in 2000.
thats awesome
As a gearhead like me this is the fourth time I've seen this video I would love to go and see one of these up-close-and-personal because I still don't know how this thing works. Hopefully I can see one in the next 5 years making a goal for myself.
It blows 130mph wind
They measure pressure on the car
The run smoke and drag tests while it runs
They’ve used fluid mechanics to replicate the boundary layer of air against pavement as if the car is in motion and as if the air is not
They determine if their bodywork flows with the least resistance in certain areas while providing downforce and yaw characteristics that make a car go around the track fast
Keep it up Mitch; such incredible content!
This was a great interview you did, I have watched videos of testing in wind tunnels, but never heard the nuts and bolts about how it is designed and function of things. Thanks for sharing it, and look forward to your next videos.
I never knew BTU was measurement of melting ice. Gentlemen was very good presenter.
I didn’t either lol. Gary is the man
Excellent, how good is it to have an engineer explain things that the average person understands.
Great job…
Thanks Mitch and Logan for this. Great info and what a great guy he is spending the time explaining aero and how he and his team work with it! 👍👍
Our pleasure!
Mitchel / Logan this was one very interesting video. I was somewhat familiar with boundary layer air working on high performance aircraft my entire life but this really put everything into a very clear picture. Outstanding information. In aircraft testing they would constantly be looking at the airflow over the wings and fuselage. In fact the slightest increase in paint thickness on the leading edge of an aircraft could make it uncontrollable at certain angles of attack. Thanks for sharing and also Happy New Year to both of you. 👍
This was another great video by you two...i am so appreciative of you guys making these videos....i am already looking forward to your next video...keep them coming
Our pleasure! We will
Fascinating, especially with the attention to the floor surface design and ability to measure pressure differentials. Kinda curious if they've ever been asked to set up a simulated (or practical) wall to look at the amounts and effects of air compression and additional side force for those drivers (Larson/Reddick, for example) who like to run as close to the wall as possible.
thats a good question! I have wondered the same thing
Once again a very informative video. I have learned so much, about the sport I've been watching all my life, from all your videos. Thanks.
I could listen to this guy and his endless information for hours!
Thanks for the great video and asking great questions, the best I've witnessed for quite some time.
Thank you Tony!!
As someone who works in nascar, I used to work for a team right around the corner below Carolina beverage company, this is literally the best content for our sport. Thanks for doing what you do.
Another great informative video!!! You do such a great job getting into a place like that and getting all that info and passing it to us!!
Thanks again!
Incredible! I read everything I can about aero and try to apply it to our dirt car and this video brought up some great points to think about. Love all your NASCAR stuff.
What a great video guys! Thanks for yet again raising the bar! I try to never miss these premieres!
Thanks ST!
That guy was a great speaker / explainer for an engineer.
This guy sounds like a rocket scientist. Amazing test guy. His technology is off the charts. There were points where he hurt my brain trying to digest what he is saying. Gary is absolutely brilliant.
He basically is one
Happy New Year!! Aero is one of my favorite part of top speed efforts. Tks!
Thanks man happy new year!
Very interesting video. Gary presented it in such an understandable way. Great work Mitchell.
This was the least erotic description of sucking and blowing I've ever heard. Kudos on your professionalism Mitchell for not cracking jokes the whole time!
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video, I learned a lot about wind tunnels. Our son is homeschooled and we used your video as part of his curriculum today.
Wow that’s awesome!
Mitch I started watching your channel because you are from PA and I was born in Clarion County, lived there until I was 45 and like you I live in NC. But son you are an impressive individual, you know more about racing and drivers from my era than I do and I thought I knew stuff. Keep it up son, your going places.
Thanks man 💪🏻
Thank you for this! He explained it so well, made a lot of comments from DJD and Scene guests make a lot more sense when talking about how they tweaked aero. Larry Mac has talked about putting random items in random places on the roof of the car to lessen the drag, I was hoping that would come up in this vid. If you do a followup, maybe pose that question. I assume it's lessening the effect of the dead air but it'd be interesting to know why.
Thanks again. Your channel is the best of RUclips.
He won’t answer questions like that directly. It’s part of his job not to disclose information 😂
If u want to hear some great behind the scenes stuff listen to Todd Gordon on the NASCAR radio on xm90. He's usually on the late shift and if u use the app u can hear them talking about springs with the guy who was building Nascar springs on last night's show it was fascinating. He also explained the tubes that measure pressure during testing on the spoiler
5:15 - a 'Snoot' on a camera flash focuses light using exactly the same method - only the light heading straight down the honeycomb passes through, pointed in the direction of the subject model. Same goes on large Cinema lights, where a foldable grid fits over the front of an unfocused light source to ensure there's no light heading anywhere other then the subject.
An Excel dot mesh built out of stock from a hardware store - Brilliant!
another incredible video! I could listen to him talk all day! He's great on-camera and explains things so well! GREAT VIDEO! (as always) :)
Last thing he said was that professionals designed the system in his house. The system was designed at a price point to be competitive. Unless you want custom systems. That’s how cookie cutter homes get built….even the expensive McMansions. Yeah, I’m a crotchety old retired commercial HVAC “Professional “. Lol. The rest of the video was excellent. I came away with a better understanding of his tunnel compared to the mostly aeronautical tunnels at Langley, Wallops Island and a few others. Cool video! Thanks!
Every time I watch one of these I learn so much. Thanks for posting this series
This might be your best video yet, and it’s not even about NASCAR history. This is cool
Most thorough wind tunnel video I've ever seen. Excellent viewing, thanks.
Super awesome information. Everything I ever wanted to know and more about wind tunnels.
That was awesome. I feel a lot smarter. I learned a ton of things from this video. I worked HVAC systems and used intake air to keep positive pressures in Missile Silos, and it all makes a lot more sense to me now. Thank You so much for making an awesome video.
Man that had to be an interesting job!
@@Stapleton42 Yes it was. Learned a lot about over-pressure and airflow.
Amazing information. So most knowledge presented from this guy. Thanks Stapelton42.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’m someone not smart enough to understand everything in this video, I barely graduated high school. I found this video very fascinating and I think I actually learned something watching, thank you for making this video
Thanks man! Gary is a smart dude
Thank you for this video! One of the best I have watched and definitely one of the most intriguing. Also, big thanks to Gary for describing in such great detail that even someone not educated in aerodynamics can understand. Great work, keep it up!
This is by and far the best guy you have interviewed. Obviously he knows every tiny technical detail of the facility because he designed it but the ease in which he conveyed the tech bits in a fashion that was easy to understand but at the same time didnt feel like being talked ti like a child
that was awesome. Knew a lot in general about aerodynamics from working years in aerospace and reading but all the little details about how the tunnel works blew my mind. I like the fact he keeps investing and tweaking it to be more like real life. Did you ask him if there was a way in theory to setup as if there were two cars side by side and measure sidedraft and extra drag? Also great to hear the disclaimer that he just provides the facility and capabilities to collect data but doesn’t recommend anything or share anything. That kind of discretion is a key to his success working with all teams. The Mercedes story likely has a parallel in Cup as with the new car last year some hit it on the mark right away but others missed and since aero is key to handling obviously some teams missed data or didn’t understand it.
This stuff is why I follow your channel,and hope you are getting enough out of it financially and personally to keep doing it!
Great visit. Very informative.
Fantastic video on how air tunnels work very informative. Keep up the great work.
Glad you like them!
Thanks again for another great video. On a different note I was in Daytona last month and saw Rusty's black Miller light car that you had Rusty show you on one of your videos. The car was fantastic looking in your video, in person it's absolutely amazing.
That’s awesome lol
"Midnight."
Didn't he have one called "Elvis," also?
Awesome video! Always wanted to know more. Neat to learn something today
As someone that tests fluid/thermo dynamics professionally (different field, same considerations), I can assure you that the question should have been, "Have you ever actually had something test the same as you predicted?"
Very humbling field...
You keep knocking it out of the park. You amaze me with the access you get to awesome people and places. If you’re ever in Northern California come give us a visit! Thanks for what you do.
Thanks man!
Holy cow man! Every time I think you've gone and grabbed a new level- here you go again! Amazing work and a great idea to check into things like this. Off to some of these "single source" parts providers for the new car next?...
Fantastic video, this was fascinating to learn about!
Wow, more topics from this guy would be fantastic. Great information.
Incredibly Interesting. Very well explained from a person of high technical ability to the average audience of technical curiosity and interest. He would probably make an awesome teacher
Wow I'm learning so much!! So detailed!!
This is the third time watching this, still learning stuff I missed the first time!! So much information!! Thank you for this video!!!
Dude this guy was awesome! I have no use for thus info but I'm a gearhead and this is one of my top videos of all time! A few of your other history shop tours are up there too! Your doing good stuff!
thanks man!!
Chips wind tunnel is bad ass
Happy New Year …..here’s hoping you two are doing well.
Happy new year!
I have learned so much and presently surprised to have unexpectedly learned from watching your channel......thank you for this
You are so welcome!
Outstanding Information ! Thanks for all your work on video / editing, I just happen to be wearing my Boom Tube tee shirt while watching .
Thanks Steve 💪🏻
YES YES YES, MORE with the Petty brothers!!! What an awesome place,from the original stickers to the wrap business, such a great place!!! But, imo the mid 40's Allis Chalmers engine stands still being used daily, was the best!!!
Heck of a video for us gear heads Mitch, keep up the awesome content
Excellent description and knowledge session
Glad you liked it!!
Carving your own path here on YT well done
Great video. There's a lot of art in wind tunnels. Maybe do part 2 2nd discuss drag through radiators, and effects of intake and exhaust and how they account for it.
I talked to him about that stuff after the camera turned off. Exhaust columns can behave like a solid object...its very interesting
This is awesome. I enjoy the technical stuff.
thank you Rob!
This guy did this all with excel!? That's incredibly impressive. Imagine if someone gave him some CFD software! I love people that do what they can with what they have. You interview so many people that have more experience in the dirt under their fingernails than I'll have in my entire life.
The thing with CFD is it has to be validated in a wind tunnel or else the numbers don't mean much and all you are pretty pictures.
@@sexyfacenation gee golly here I was with no clue on how CFD works. 🙄
@@picklefart ok mate
Another great video by you guys Thanks
Thank you for another extremely interesting and informative video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very interesting stuff! It's amazing how people figure this stuff out. I'd love to see the inside of the wind tunnel that Chip Ganassi has inside one of the old Pennsylvania Turnpike Tunnel.
You and me both!
From what I have read, is that the test drivers did not like the tunnel too much!
Keep up the banger videos, this will be a gigantic channel eventually. Good work!
Thanks man!
This could be one of the best episodes you have ever done.
Thank you so much Boris!
Great vid, what a wealth of knowledge that dude has!
Very informative. Well done.
Glad it was helpful!
Yet another banger. While I love the history videos the most, this was fascinating. Hell of a job bro!
That's a man that loves what he does. Awesome video
He should be an adjunct professor. He’s great at explaining.
Aero is some of my favorite tech specs.. appreciate this !
Thanks Jeff!
Excellent video, I watched the whole thing and it felt like 10 min. went by.
I do love to learn about aerodynamics though.
Glad you enjoyed it!
ty Gary! I loved the tour! ...oh u 2 Mitchell!
Great content thanks for sharing
Great interview, you asked the right questions and he didn’t seem to hold back any info.
This guy did an excellent job giving an explanation of the tunnel
Very impressive! Thanks!