I am looking for some feedback on some of the racing/driving/prep books out there. I have read a few like Secrets to Solo and How to make your car handle. Fairly dry and somewhat behind the times.

The Carroll Smith books are what I would like to know about as well.
Prepare to win.
Tune to win.
Engineer to win.
Drive to win.

I would like to see up to date suspension componets discussed, not stuff from the 70/80's.
If anyone has any imput on what books are interesting, updated, boring or the same info as another, please share. I understand that most of this is boilerplate info and the basics may not have changed in the past decades.

If anyone wants to sell/trade any of these books please PM me.
TIA

 

There are several books listed in our Suspension and Handling Links here. Besides books there is some good reading from around the web there as well.

Personally I have and study all of the Carroll Smith books; they are great. Highly recommended. Some people feel his books are dated but vehicle and suspension dynamics have not changed; the laws of nature are always valid.

Another favorite book is the one from the Skip Barber driving school (also in link list).

My next two book purchases will come very soon: The Milliken text on racecar vehicle dynamics (also in the link list) and Paul Haney's book on modern race tires .

My opinion FWIW is that I don't care for "How to make your car handle" and "Secrets of Solo racing". If I had never driven a car before or was a real neophyte then they would be of use.

 

Damon, the link is a great source for info...thanks.
I think I want to buy the Tune to Win. You stated that the Smith books are great, did you get a lot out of this book? Would you recommend any other book instead?
Thanks for your imput.

 

For people who wrench and drive their own racecars my minimum library would have all of Carroll's stuff. If I had to pick only one I would go with Tune to Win, but they are all great sources of info.

All of Carroll's books are full of firsthand info and are easy to read. His intent is to present the racer with usable material, not confuse him with formulas he may not understand. Carroll does a good job at explaining concepts for the reader's understanding without requiring use of a calculator, but that by no means insists that many of the topics aren't "advanced".

Lots of these books just climb the scale of knowledge. I have not purchased Milliken's "Racecar and Vehicle Dynamics" yet but understand it to essentially be an engineering text. I like the physics and the numbers and look forward to going through this book, but my understanding is that it is most certainly not a casual read.

I think Brian Beckman's "Physics of Racing" articles that are in the link list some of the best stuff out there. Best thing is that one is free!

 

I think the race car vehicle dynamics book is a amazing. Indepth techical discussion on the design of race cars.
=)

 

Ayrton Senna - Principles of Race Driving

my favorite driver