The Ford Barn

marc hildebrant · 03-01-2018, 04:51 PM

Group,

Here on Cape Cod, we are often hit with strong winds off the ocean. I drove the Model A on route 6 while the winds were strong, hitting the car broadside. The other cars were O.K. at the speed limit of 55 mph, but when I tried to get up to 45-55 the car was all over the road.

My car has about 1 inch of slop in the steering, and fair shocks. It's a Tudor style.

Am I expecting too much from this car with regard to high speed in strong winds ? Should it drive just like a "modern car" with strong winds ?

Marc

Synchro909 · 03-01-2018, 05:39 PM

Should it drive like a modern car? Hell NO!
There are several things working against that:

The profile of the car presents a large area to a side wind so there is a large force pushing you sideways.
High and narrow tyres will roll on the rims. That is, they deform just like they do when cornering. What are you tyre pressures like?
These (usually) are what you guys cal bias ply tyres. They do not hold the road as well as the radials you will have on the modern car you are comparing with
The suspension system is a throwback to the horse and buggy. There was a discussion here recently about Panhard Bars. One of those might help.
Steering is not as precise as a modern car and is affected by variations in the road surface.
How good are your shock absorbers?

Even with all of these things in as perfect a condition as you can get, a car like the Model A will still be susceptible to cross winds. It's part of the experience!

Those are just the things that sprang immediately to mind. Other will have more to say, I'm sure.

Jim Baskin III Pa. · 03-01-2018, 05:54 PM

A very dear friend once told me "Our wonderful Tudors have the aerodynamics of a brick,enjoy "

And I have to agree with him.

California Travieso · 03-01-2018, 06:12 PM

I have to agree with Jim and Synchro. Tudors and Four Door Model A's have bad aerodynamics. We have strong Santa Ana winds of 40 to 60 mph here in So Cal in the fall. The California Highway Patrol always recommends that people with high profile vehicles stay off the roads. Even modern cars are affected.

David Serrano

jimalabam · 03-01-2018, 06:14 PM

I have driven my '31 Tudor, Elmer since 1964, I agree with Jim Baskin. Has the aerodynamics of a brick, or even a concrete block.

1931 flamingo · 03-01-2018, 06:18 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

How good/old are the tires and what pressure??
Paul in CT

1930-Pickup · 03-01-2018, 06:19 PM

Your 'A' drives the same as most cars of that era.
On 'road challenging' days, I leave mine at home.

gustafson · 03-01-2018, 06:35 PM

think of a dining room table on casters......going down the road at speed

updraught · 03-01-2018, 06:46 PM

"... Noticeably, the boat tailing or the planform curvature has been found to decrease the yaw moment in Howell (1993)
....

... During a gusty event, and for road vehicles, the yaw rate appears to be the key factor for handling as a sudden change of direction might lead to a traffic collision whereas the roll rate is critical for rail vehicle as they may overturn in strong crosswind."

http://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/get...FULLTEXT01.pdf

A boat tail sports is a safer vehicle.

Tom Wesenberg · 03-01-2018, 09:39 PM

Marc, you're going to have to move inland, and keep your Model A out of the salt air.
My 28 Phaeton acts the same way in high crosswinds.

SeaSlugs · 03-01-2018, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gustafson

think of a dining room table on casters......going down the road at speed

More like taking the tool shed out for a spin

BILL WILLIAMSON · 03-01-2018, 11:05 PM

It's SHOCKING when you see BIG RIGS blown on their sides!!! I've even seen them fueling up at a Truck Stop & blown on their sides, along with Diesel Pumps blown over!!!! I've been on 4 lane freeways & suddenly, without warning, I'm in the NEXT LANE!!! (Where's my DEPENDS?)
Bill Scared

Pete · 03-01-2018, 11:08 PM

I don't have any problems with mine.
It drives like a modern car at 150.

3.6rs · 03-02-2018, 01:18 AM

Maybe you should think about putting side skirts and spoilers on your A

3.6rs · 03-02-2018, 05:43 AM

Is this your car after the side wind ?

JBill · 03-02-2018, 08:00 AM

I sure wouldn't drive my roadster in such conditions. I'd be afraid the wind would take the top off!

WHN · 03-02-2018, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3.6rs

Is this your car after the side wind ?

Have to ask. What happened to this car?

3.6rs · 03-02-2018, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHN

Have to ask. What happened to this car?

Heavy side wind ???

CapeCod_28A · 03-02-2018, 10:21 AM

If you're driving on the Cape today you may need a boat! Raining cats and dogs.

KGBnut · 03-02-2018, 12:53 PM

I lived on the Cape for a couple of years. It was before I had my Model A, but I did have a motorcycle. Those winds could be brutal on a good day.

The worst I remember was hurricane Bob in the early 90s. That was some serious wind on a skinny stretch of land.

Ken

03-01-2018, 04:51 PM	#1
marc hildebrant Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 1,128	Realistic Driving In High Wind Group, Here on Cape Cod, we are often hit with strong winds off the ocean. I drove the Model A on route 6 while the winds were strong, hitting the car broadside. The other cars were O.K. at the speed limit of 55 mph, but when I tried to get up to 45-55 the car was all over the road. My car has about 1 inch of slop in the steering, and fair shocks. It's a Tudor style. Am I expecting too much from this car with regard to high speed in strong winds ? Should it drive just like a "modern car" with strong winds ? Marc

03-01-2018, 05:39 PM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind Should it drive like a modern car? Hell NO! There are several things working against that: The profile of the car presents a large area to a side wind so there is a large force pushing you sideways. High and narrow tyres will roll on the rims. That is, they deform just like they do when cornering. What are you tyre pressures like? These (usually) are what you guys cal bias ply tyres. They do not hold the road as well as the radials you will have on the modern car you are comparing with The suspension system is a throwback to the horse and buggy. There was a discussion here recently about Panhard Bars. One of those might help. Steering is not as precise as a modern car and is affected by variations in the road surface. How good are your shock absorbers? Even with all of these things in as perfect a condition as you can get, a car like the Model A will still be susceptible to cross winds. It's part of the experience! Those are just the things that sprang immediately to mind. Other will have more to say, I'm sure. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

03-01-2018, 05:54 PM	#3
Jim Baskin III Pa. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lock Haven Pa. Posts: 252	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind A very dear friend once told me "Our wonderful Tudors have the aerodynamics of a brick,enjoy " And I have to agree with him.

03-01-2018, 06:12 PM	#4
California Travieso Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Moreno Valley, CA Posts: 945	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind I have to agree with Jim and Synchro. Tudors and Four Door Model A's have bad aerodynamics. We have strong Santa Ana winds of 40 to 60 mph here in So Cal in the fall. The California Highway Patrol always recommends that people with high profile vehicles stay off the roads. Even modern cars are affected. David Serrano

03-01-2018, 06:14 PM	#5
jimalabam Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee County Alabama Posts: 828	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind I have driven my '31 Tudor, Elmer since 1964, I agree with Jim Baskin. Has the aerodynamics of a brick, or even a concrete block.

03-01-2018, 06:18 PM	#6
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) How good/old are the tires and what pressure?? Paul in CT

03-01-2018, 06:19 PM	#7
1930-Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: southern California Posts: 725	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind Your 'A' drives the same as most cars of that era. On 'road challenging' days, I leave mine at home. __________________ *"That's my wild unsubstantiated guess, and I'm sticking to it regardless of the facts!"*

03-01-2018, 06:35 PM	#8
gustafson BANNED Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 128	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind think of a dining room table on casters......going down the road at speed

03-01-2018, 06:46 PM	#9
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,969	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind "... Noticeably, the boat tailing or the planform curvature has been found to decrease the yaw moment in Howell (1993) .... ... During a gusty event, and for road vehicles, the yaw rate appears to be the key factor for handling as a sudden change of direction might lead to a traffic collision whereas the roll rate is critical for rail vehicle as they may overturn in strong crosswind." http://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/get...FULLTEXT01.pdf A boat tail sports is a safer vehicle.

03-01-2018, 09:39 PM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind Marc, you're going to have to move inland, and keep your Model A out of the salt air. My 28 Phaeton acts the same way in high crosswinds.

03-01-2018, 11:05 PM	#12
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind It's SHOCKING when you see BIG RIGS blown on their sides!!! I've even seen them fueling up at a Truck Stop & blown on their sides, along with Diesel Pumps blown over!!!! I've been on 4 lane freeways & suddenly, without warning, I'm in the NEXT LANE!!! (Where's my DEPENDS?) Bill Scared __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

03-01-2018, 11:08 PM	#13
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,407	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind I don't have any problems with mine. It drives like a modern car at 150.

03-02-2018, 01:18 AM	#14
3.6rs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgistan (formerly known as Belgium) Posts: 573	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind Maybe you should think about putting side skirts and spoilers on your A

03-02-2018, 08:00 AM	#16
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind I sure wouldn't drive my roadster in such conditions. I'd be afraid the wind would take the top off!

03-02-2018, 10:21 AM	#19
CapeCod_28A Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Cape Cod, MA Posts: 25	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind If you're driving on the Cape today you may need a boat! Raining cats and dogs.

03-02-2018, 12:53 PM	#20
KGBnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southwestern Connecticut Posts: 931	Re: Realistic Driving In High Wind I lived on the Cape for a couple of years. It was before I had my Model A, but I did have a motorcycle. Those winds could be brutal on a good day. The worst I remember was hurricane Bob in the early 90s. That was some serious wind on a skinny stretch of land. Ken __________________ Style beats speed any day, and with a lot fewer tickets.