What are some good books to read?I read alot here(don't post much)but i need more info I understand what after market parts do(i.e. bars,springs) but do not understand how to tune a suspension,or what happens when you make a change to say........the front shock settings and tire pressures what it does to the rear and so on.

thanks guys/gals

At this point, Tune To Win by Carrol Smith.


EXCELLENT book, and since I don't have the Milliken book, I think Tune To Win is the only book worth bothering with.

I used to recommend Fred Puhn's How To Make Your Car Handle, but all the info it has, and so much more is in Tune To Win.

The Herb Adams book is useless IMO.


Check out StreetModified.org for more info on usefull books. Keep in mind though the site owner IS an engineer, so some of the stuff may be pretty involved. Not sure.

I've read both "Secrets of Solo Racing" by Henry Watts and "Going Faster" by Skip Barber. Both have great advice for driving what you have, and I recomend both, but they don't really go into tuning the car except to say that you should add more bar and brakes here or there, kinda too generic really. I know many here have and live by the Miliken & Miliken book, but that covers a lot of engineering and math. It sounds like I'll have to add Carrol's book to the library too... I think I spied a box about the same size as the Miliken book (with solutions manual) under the tree today!!!

THANKS GUYS
I'll just have to get some of them and give it a shot to see if i uderstand them.

IM NOT THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED

ANY MORE?

I don't have this book, but it looks interesting. It's based on the previously unpublished writings of Maurice Olley and rearranged (their word for it) by the Millikens.

Chassis Design: Principles and Analysis

Has anyone read it?

It's not exactly chassis/suspension setup, but I am currently reading "Competition Car Downforce" by Simon McBeath. So far I am very impressed.

http://frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?act=ST&f=1&t=1781

I've been eyeing that book as well Sean. Anyone else have it?

Jason S.

I found this old post. I'm going to be buying some books soon.

Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Milliken and Milliken. From what everyone says it is the bible. Question, should I buy the Problems, Answers, and Experiments to go along with this?

If I get that book, should I still get Tune to Win by Carroll Smith?

How about The Shock Absorber Handbook by John C. Dixon here is a better description https://shop.sae.org/technical/books/R-176

Also planning to get Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed

I've read the Carroll Smith series of books and I tried to read Race Car Vehicle Dynamics. Being an engineer I found RCVD very good, but also very textbook like and had my fill of those types of books at the time. They have the solutions manual for a reason!

Tune to win was published in 1978... It's still good?

I'm guessing that the Tune to Win will be a good read, while RCVD will be used more as a reference i.e. pull it out when you want to do a calculation.

Best book I've read about driving (there's nothing in there for suspension/chassis/etc) is Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code. It's a motorcycle roadracing book, but the fundamentals are exactly the same and it is explained better than anything I've read.

I read Drive to Win over the winter. I need to do a quick refresher before I go to my next track day.