I see you'all didn't like my idea of the Vanagon race for a 100 miles.
So here is my next suggestion ............. lets drop two similar vanagons
off a 50 story building the one that lands first wold be declared the most
efficient.
This could be the solution to what 300 pounds can do for you.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Elliott" <j.michael.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: How much fuel efficiency gained by shedding 300 lbs?

> On 8/17/2005 2:33 PM Martine Boudreault wrote:
>
> >If the theory of "wind resistance" vs "weight" is correct,
> >
>
> It's not a theory.
>
> http://www.bgsoflex.com/aero.html has a handy "Aerodynamic HP
> Calculator" that lets you see how much horsepower is needed to push a
> vehicle along at various speeds. You can change the weight of your
> Vanagon and see the resulting rolling and aero horsepower requirements.
> You can add on the square footage frontal area of your plastic box and
> see the resulting hp requirements. It will do everything except maybe
> get you elected Queen of the May.
>
> (According to some tech geeks, the measured coefficient of drag for the
> Vanagon body is 0.75, and the rolling coefficient is 0.014. See
> http://www.goshen.edu/physics/horsepower/1998_LabReport-87Vanagon.gif )
>
>
> -
> Mike Rocket J Squirrel