Race Car Engineering and Mechanics

Rating:
Summary: Finding the perfect compromise between theory and practice.
Review: A very useful book, perfect for race engineers, and a good launching platform for an engineer just starting to delve into the field of racecar engineering. Mr Van Valkenburg has a very unique view of racecar engineering that makes his writings a pleasure to read.

Rating:
Summary: Technical, but still Easy to Read
Review: I love this engineering book, and I own several. But the thing is, I'm no engineer, and as one reviewer put it, this book is a pleasure to read.

The author sticks to the basics, and the version I have is a revision of an older work. But proof that his basics are down-to-pat, the theories haven't changed. He just updated the pictures and some anecdotes.

Full of useful information, a racecar engineer might want to delve deeper by getting more technical books, but this book is still full of the basics -- what's really important. And for the race car driver or car enthusiast, this book will help you understand more about vehicle dynamics, suspension, etc.

Overall, highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely informative, a must read for any race car crew.
Review: Mr. Van Valkenburgh has succeeded in getting across a great deal of technicalinformation, and presenting it in such a way that the non-technical reader can understand and apply it. From tires and shocks, to suspension geometry and slip angles, all of the nuts and bolts info. is covered. No muss, no fuss, no useless information that won't help you win races, just factual, useful information. I take it with me every time we go to the track, and I use it every time.