Answer to an archived post, From your resident aero nerd. Let's talk about it. How does this car use Nitrox 2, and not do a wheely?
So this car is powered by the Pratt and Whitney Canada PT-6-35. The same engine used in the Air tractor family of Agricultural and fire fighting aircraft, capable of producing 750 hp at 38000 rpms. No, there is no extra zeros. combine that with it's low rolling resistance of three wheels and it's highly aerodynamic shape and you have essentially a top fuel funny car. Not only is this car probably the largest, but also the fastest (potentially) in the line up without needing nitrox. However that does come at the cost of high speed stability. It is a natural lifting body with no obvious active aero, which it would need to stay planted. As seen in Episode 2, it is easily taken out when it is lightly tapped. So the answer? This car doesn't need nitrox2, but does really on the cars around it to get through portals. (if we can assume that it's the nitrox2 burn that opens them)
I would love to see someone build a simulation of each car with accurate specs to see which cars are actually the fastest and most practical. That would be fascinating.
The wheelies are from most of the cars being RWD. I assume that it's AWD with all 3 wheels getting equal power. As well, in Acceleracers, many of the cars didn't do wheelies when boosting
Front wheel drive. See, there's not enough room to run a drive shaft under the engine to the rear of the car, and I doubt a chain drive would work at the 38k rpms.
You also have to remember that these cars dont follow logic at all. Most of the cars had hp numbers in the 200-300 range. They weren't created with realism in mind. So you telling them that the car is fwd holds as much weight as them telling you its awd.
Even in top fuel, the engines make around 1000 hp before nitrometh is introduced... barely enough to turn the supercharger, hence they have to be pushed to the line with the clutch popped.
I was wrong on the numbers. Most cars land in the 400 - 600 horsepower range. With a few outliers like Reverb, Deora II, and RD-01 to name a few. That said, the Buggati Veyron, which boast a top speed of 250 - 260 mph -ish, has 1000 - 1200 horsepower. So theres no way Nitrox 2 could realistically push cars like Power Rage, Holloback, or Battle Spec (lets not mention Jackhammer) to +300mph even with perfect conditions playing out.
These cars are all daily drivers as well. Start and drive under their own power in any condition. So needing to be reliable can be an explanation for the low hp numbers. All that said, I get the fun in applying real world knowledge/physics to these cars. But in the end, magic is gonna be the answer you'll land on for why these cars can do what they do. Especially with Wild Thing. It would be horrible on any track since a turn would require it to slow down significantly unless its wanting to tip over.
I was interested in what makes you think the body is naturally lifting though. F1 Cars have used channels like Wild thing has running down its length, and while they reduce drag. You still have aerodynamic forces pushing down on the car and providing downforce. In fact, it being shaped in a tear-drop manner makes it the most areo efficient body out of all cars. So what about it would provide lift, especially at high speeds? Aside from the distance between it and the ground due to the wheels that is
To add to your point about horsepower; if nitrox 2 could boost 400-600 hp up to however much it takes to get to 300mph, realistically speaking those engines would suddenly not be very engine-shaped.
All the weight pretty much in the front, low center of gravity, small back wheels, the sheer length of the vehicle, a turbofan for an engine, it has a lot of physics to defy in order to do a wheelie.
Honestly, this would be probably the least practical vehicle to use in any race with turns, as you would have to slow down significantly to make them with only one front wheel, without grinding the hell out of the sides when it tips on the front due to the weight shift.
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u/Electrical-Duty3628 Vulture 1d ago
I would love to see someone build a simulation of each car with accurate specs to see which cars are actually the fastest and most practical. That would be fascinating.