No doubt you’ve seen one or two of these in you day, although you may not necessarily have known them by their proper name.
The VFR750 has a very exaggerated one on the middle fairing.
So, what are they and where did they come from?
Well, here’s a potted history of this widely-used aerodynamic device. And here’s a technical explanation relating to how and why they work. And here’s a practical application worked out by someone who obviously has plenty of time on their hands. This last one does look quite interesting, actually. V8 supercar teams have lately been using a NACA duct in the rear windows of the cars to help get more cool air into the cars and aid driver comfort.
So, the next time you see an F1 car or a racing car of most sorts, you’ll know why those funny-looking holes are in the bodywork.
All part of the service, really.
