Spirited Driving Question

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

First off, I am a track guy.

Pre-production models of the 1st Boxsters did not have a spoiler. Porsche discovered at high speeds (WELL into triple digits) the back end began to lift. So as a last minute addition, the rear spoiler was drafted into production. It was defn needed on a vehicle that supposedly has a 160-170mph top speed. I would assume Porsche chose 75mph for it to deploy because of research they did, but don't know that for a fact. It may deploy at that speed because it would have a smaller, less adverse effect at that speed than popping it up at 100, IDK. The rush to get the problem solved before production began may be why the spoiler looks like an afterthought.

When I'm tracking my CSS, I manually set my spoiler to up. This is because the tracks I drive incl runs up to 130mph and several corners in the 30-50mph. The spoiler would be going up and down multiple times per lap. Since it's a mechanical device, I don't want it failing on one of those 130mph blasts.

Would not having the spoiler come up at 75 or 85 cause you to crash violently? Probably not. Would it provide any effect by having it up when driving 35? No. Can you drive it that slow with it up? Sure.

Burg - on my 987.1 CSS, when the spoiler is manually deployed, the spoiler stays up until you put it down manually. It does not operate on speed. Can't imagine they did it differently on a 986.

Ah now we are getting to the heart of my question. I am Sure no stability issue with slower, but is there a traction benefit?

I suppose the 70 or 75 point was some type of tested safety zone.

Anyway, can you dicern more traction when taking the lower speed corners with the spoiler up, or not?

In theory should have some, but what does buttometer say?

I ask here as I have no oputunities for a driver course! Thanks

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by Cunningr

Anyway, can you dicern more traction when taking the lower speed corners with the spoiler up, or not?

In theory should have some, but what does buttometer say?

No. You're pushing insignificant amts of air over the spoiler at low speed to feel any effect. If there was a benefit at slow speed, Porsche would have it pop up at a lower mph. Speed thru a 30-50mph corner is influenced more by:

what tires you're using
what pressure you're running in your tires
whether you're running a stock or modified suspension
what line you take thru the corner

[husker boxster]

Be aware that Cup2s are not very good in the rain. They are track tires that "can" be used on the street. But their forte is dry track tire, not necessarily a street tire. If you're buying Cup2s, you should be running it primarily on a track, not the street.

You may have had PS2s, which is an old design and not a great tire IMHO - rides rough and takes significantly longer to warm up on the track than SuperSports or Conti DW.

[edc]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Be aware that Cup2s are not very good in the rain. They are track tires that "can" be used on the street. But their forte is dry track tire, not necessarily a street tire. If you're buying Cup2s, you should be running it primarily on a track, not the street.

You may have had PS2s, which is an old design and not a great tire IMHO - rides rough and takes significantly longer to warm up on the track than SuperSports or Conti DW.

In your opinion of course. I have used my Cup2s only on the road and even in winter and rain. Cup2 are fine in the rain a long as it isn't torrential or with big standing water. In the UK it can rain any time any day of the year. Also here and Europe there are a fair few standard cars released as standard on Cup2 or other manufacturer equivalent tyres. We get a bunch of hot hatches that you don't get on these and of course in the same stable the GT4.

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by edc

In your opinion of course. I have used my Cup2s only on the road and even in winter and rain. Cup2 are fine in the rain a long as it isn't torrential or with big standing water. In the UK it can rain any time any day of the year. Also here and Europe there are a fair few standard cars released as standard on Cup2 or other manufacturer equivalent tyres. We get a bunch of hot hatches that you don't get on these and of course in the same stable the GT4.

For me We get so few rainy days where I live, unless my daily is in the shop I don’t drive my boxster in the rain. Actually get so hot I worry about tar road patches getting slippery. We are already in the 40s here.

[Rich XTR]

Originally Posted by Cunningr

Ah now we are getting to the heart of my question. I am Sure no stability issue with slower, but is there a traction benefit?

I suppose the 70 or 75 point was some type of tested safety zone.

Anyway, can you dicern more traction when taking the lower speed corners with the spoiler up, or not?

In theory should have some, but what does buttometer say?

I ask here as I have no oputunities for a driver course! Thanks

My GUESS is the real benefits are at an even much higher speed than 70 or 75. Look at all the cars on the road with no spoilers and no issues at speed in that range and much higher. things get drastically different in higher speeds these cars are capable of. I understand that the shape of the car has everything to do with it. Porsche needed the spoiler to make the car safe at a much higher speed but didn't want to put a spoiler on that no one would see work until ultra illegal speeds(in the usa) so they made it come on at speeds that are legal. As far as the low on speed, once you determine you up speed you need a big gap for the down speed to prevent frequent up and down of the spoiler.