Thanks, so the back doors are two, with each half opening to the side? The front door is single hinged at the front? Chutes spring launched?
We went with a spring launch at about 45 deg. from Stroud on Hooley's Stude this year and like it, but the chute seemed to stay high, but we have no pictures to confirm that. Stroud lengthened the tether and we will try and get a rear camera when we go back. Launching like that definitely got the chute right up in the air. It looks like you might be doing about the same.
Have you considered a third chute to use if you run the international course at Cook's meet? At the speeds you will be running I think I'd like a third as insurance when running towards the interstate.
I'd for sure be interested in video when you get a chance and I'm sure others would also. I can't remember now if you deployed the chutes when you ran the mile. The snow you have was probably some left over from some that was here about 5 days ago. Gone for now but I'm sure we will see more before we are out of here.
....I studied your design for a bit . Why would you want to change what you have. It looks pretty good to me. Are you contend about the drogue chutes clearing the doors?
I guess I'm worry about a malfunction of the chute doors and what that might do to the car at speed. If one side or the other did something other than open correctly it could steer the car off in one direction or the other. It would also be embarrassing to have them torn off by the air stream
I'm like you and was trying not to leave anything on the table as far as aero. I have two tubes but will start with only one chute. I'll probably keep the doors and bolt them shut for now and stick the tube out the doors in a more conventional configuration. I did try and keep the doors neutral in the air stream when open. In fact as they open the leading edge opens first so that the air going in helps to open the doors until they are both parallel with the air stream and centerline of the car.
Stroud doesn't care for doors and the chute tubes that far in the body so recommended that I also put in smaller tubes with a smaller chute that would be blown out way past the back of the car and pull the main chute out. I'd go that route if I try and run the doors.
Also since I'm switching to a car motor I'm going to have to remove the rear axle/suspension I have now and put in a new solid mounted axle back about 3 feet on the car and might need the room where the chute tubes are now so that I don't have to lengthen the car.
If we were around here in Jan. I'd try and go to the Roadster show to see your car but I guess I'll have to wait until August
Thanks for all the pictures and the new ones you posted above,
Sum