Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (R146)

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Summary: Incredible technical detail by Chaparal engineers
Review: Complete coverage of tire, chasis and aerodynamics.Detailed mathematical models

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Summary: Epic
Review: If Puhn's "How to make your car handle" is practical and straightforward then RCVD is marvellously comprehensive and thorough. Casually flipping through it you might be deterred by the intensity of some of the mathematical passages in this book but this is just the "textbook" side of things. The Millikens also give very clear explanations, diagrams and concise well-structured advice. My one gripe was that the index, while long enough, tends to hide information under unexpected headings, with successive indents snaking from page to page until you quite lose the thread of where you are in the suspension alphabet. Still, it is probably the best currently published work on suspension theory, leavened by some very funny quotations in the chapter headings.

Rating:
Summary: Epic
Review: If Puhn's "How to make your car handle" is practical and straightforward then RCVD is marvellously comprehensive and thorough. Casually flipping through it you might be deterred by the intensity of some of the mathematical passages in this book but this is just the "textbook" side of things. The Millikens also give very clear explanations, diagrams and concise well-structured advice. My one gripe was that the index, while long enough, tends to hide information under unexpected headings, with successive indents snaking from page to page until you quite lose the thread of where you are in the suspension alphabet. Still, it is probably the best currently published work on suspension theory, leavened by some very funny quotations in the chapter headings.

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Summary: A.K.A. The Formula SAE bible
Review: If you are a student designing a race car for the competitive Formula SAE student design compitition, this book is essential. Along with the Caroll Smith's "--- to Win" books.

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Summary: Gives a complete statement of race car dynamics
Review: This book is a necessity for anyone who is seriously interested in understanding what happens concerning all aspects of the car. Whether mechanic, engineer, or general fan this book says it all. If you really want to understand the book completely, I would recommend at least a brush up in Calculus, and some trig.

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Summary: The DEFINITIVE Guide to Vehicle Dynamics
Review: Tired of reading articles by so called 'experts' that have probably never driven a rae car in their lives and wouldn't know the difference between oversteer and understeer if it hit them in the face. This book has all the answers, and that's as simple as I can make it. It has all the math, all the theory, and some of the best stories I have ever read. Everything about this book extrudes excellence, go on and buy it, just don't show it to your friends.

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Summary: PERFECT!
Review: Who better to publish a book about vehicle dynamics than the Society of Automotive Engineers? I was a bit sketchy about the price at first, but I probably would have spent five times as much buying all the different books it would take to get all the information in this one! It only took me a week or two to get it, even though it said something like 3 to 5 weeks. Anyway, highly recommended!