Cuz they're just smarter than you!

"Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius" (rex-imperator) 04/30/2015 at 08:21 • Filed to: WEC

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Mirrors on the new Audi R18++++++

BJ > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 04/30/2015 at 08:49

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I suppose when you’re cornering at 200+ MPH your reality is sufficiently distorted so that a curvy mirror makes sense.

Rock Bottom > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 04/30/2015 at 09:06

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Some small companies are working on replacing side mirrors with cameras that can be flush-fit in the A-pillar. Side mirrors are a HUGE source of aero drag, so making them go away would be a significant boost to fuel burn numbers across the board. The only problem is (not surprisingly) the government. They won’t let it happen because the camera might fail and then you have no mirror. I guess they never heard of mirrors being damaged... which I see all the time...

Either way, I bet it’s only a matter of time before cameras replace mirrors on race cars.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > BJ 04/30/2015 at 09:22

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Actually, this is divine engineering. To the bullet points!

The mirror is behind the fender out of the wind

The mirror is below the drivers line of sight leaving the view over the fender unobstructed

The face of the mirror is convex which I’m certain has an aero advantage over a flat mirror

We are used to horizontal convex mirrors that spread the view wide. A race car driver only needs to see the next 10-12 feet, not 25.

The vertical convex, plus looking down to the glass means that the bottom of the mirror can show the first few feet beside the car, the middle of the mirror can see immediately behind the car and the top of the mirror can see way the freak down the track.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Rock Bottom 04/30/2015 at 09:24

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Corvette has rear blindspot radar. I think it can even tell the driver if the car in the blindspot is a P car or a GT car.

BJ > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 04/30/2015 at 09:29

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That was an informative answer.

Excellent points about forward visibility and aerodynamics; these are the most obvious benefits of the mirror’s placement.

I imagine it must still take some serious practice for a mirror of this shape to look and feel natural.

At 200+ MPH, how often do you really need to worry about someone coming up on you?

I like making lists.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > BJ 04/30/2015 at 09:40

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People go ape shit on Jalopnik when you use bullet points. Dunno why. That’s why it’s fun.

Next week I’m mixing there, their and they’re

Rock Bottom > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 04/30/2015 at 09:53

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Really!

hoosyusa > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 04/30/2015 at 12:45

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I’m gonna need some sauce for that dish, that’s really cool

icelandr > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius 04/30/2015 at 13:18

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Not only blindspot, but also can predict which side the car is likely to pass. It judges difference in speed for class difference. That is c7.r, but is through bosch so viper had them as well.