What's Your Favorite Books for Autox and Track?

robharvey · **Posted:** Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:07 am

With Chrismas coming up, I'd like to add some books on autox/track/car prep to my wish list. Here are some of the books I've heard people in the club mention.

Tune to Win - Carroll Smith
Drive to Win - Carroll Smith
How to make your car handle - Fred Puhn
Secrets of Solo Racing - Henry A. Watts
Engineer to Win - Carroll Smith

What are some of your favorite books on this topic?

Rich Anderson · **Posted:** Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:32 pm

Competition Car Preparation by Simon McBeath is my favorite. Does not cover a lot of specifics, but gives you a good framework in which you can work. Simply put, the book is guide to how you can manage your own efforts as though it were a real race team.
Race and Rally Car Sourcebook by Allan Staniforth is a close second. The second section of the book is a history of some of the great cars which while fascinating, is not really what you are asking for. Fortunately, the first half more than makes up for it. This book is very "down-to-earth" and aimed squarely at the home mechanic and club level enthusiast, but doesn't shy away from attacking the real technical subjects.
Four Stroke Performance Tuning and its companion Forced Induction Performance Tuning both by A. Graham Bell, are in my opinion the only two books worth the money if you are looking to go under the hood. Obviously, if you don't have forced induction, the second is not needed. Be forewarned, however, they both will make you want to modify your engine.
Chassis Engineering by Herb Adams is another good book to own. On the whole, I don't think it is as good as Puhn's work (particularly the latest revision of How to Make You Car Handle) however, I personally find Adams' explanation of instant center movement and roll couple distribution much easier to grasp.

I would be happy to loan you any of the above to you as I own them all.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:50 pm

I wanted to bring this thread back up since it's a little old and I'm about to purchase some books on Amazon myself. Anyone have any updates to add to this list that's a good source of info for wanabe drivers like myself?

Thanks

ChuckNelson · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:52 pm

Red Harvest.

Mitchell Moore · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 3:11 pm **Posts:** 197

Going Faster by Carl Lopez. I bought this book after doing track for about a year. I wish I had bought it sooner. Good technical information on car dynamics that is write for those of us who are not engineers. Well worth the money.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:10 pm

I also like the Secrets of Speed series by Bentley

Stacy King · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:10 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

I also like the Secrets of Speed series by Bentley

Get it right man :wink:

Speed Secrets

http://www.speed-secrets.com/

I second this recommendation... lots of different volumes, some more in-depth and specific than others. Concentrates mostly on the driver.

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