The Motoring Enthusiast's Library

[kingofthering]

Let's try something other than the tens of millions of "What cars would you have?" threads. :D

So let's say that you finally have those ten/twenty/however many cars, whatever they are, in your garage. The mechanics are there to keep the rubber bits fresh and metallic bits oiled. All you do is drive.

Now you turn your attention to your library. Bit barren, is it? How would you go about filling it? Let's use this thread as a place to talk about motoring and related books that you've read and liked. Links appreciated and encouraged.

I'll start off.

I've been getting into FSAE and I've done a bit of reading so as to improve my knowledge. My first book so far is "Racing and Sports Car Chassis Design" by Michael Costin and David Phipps.

So far it's pretty good. I'm far from finishing the book (midterms and such), but I've learned loads in the process. From what I've seen skipping through the book, there's some really good stuff about chassis/suspension design. Space vs. tube vs. unibody and some examples.

Unfortunately, the book is about 45 years old so some stuff (materials and ideas) is a bit outdated. Fiberglass seems to be a relatively "new" material for the time.

That and the book is out of print, so you'll have to scour and pay a fair bit of $$$. :( I borrowed it through the school library.

If you find it, it's a pretty interesting read.

[Kitdy]

I want to read the famous chronicle of GM and C5 Corvette development, All Corvettes are Red. I haven't been into the casual reading mode in several years and haven't read any books outside of school crap.

[pimento]

I ain't got time to read.

[VOGUE_MAN]

I love any book that refers to fibreglass as a new material.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Modernism Rediscovered by Julius Schulman.

It's not Car related, but it's a great read nonetheless.

I've also got a book about John Lautner coming my way. That's exciting.

[Matra et Alpine]

The Audi series from the 80s.
ALl the background and FANTASTIC photos of the Audi rally and race.
Not sure if they may still publish :(

Vizards books on the A-series and B-series engine tuning.
40 years old and STILL the place to go if you want to think about your own combustion chamber shaping, valving, inlet/exhaust flow as well as the rest of the engines.

Jackie Stewart's driving book. SHoudl be required reading for anyone who is going to sit behind a wheel whether they drive fast or not. About driving WELL :)

Think I've got 10 books on each aspect of car setup/tuning acquired over the decades.
Each adding a little insight.
THen for me it's marque books and no surprise loads of Alpine and Matra :)


let's not forget "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" - a REQUIRED course book at University :)

[Cyco]

Any and everything by Carrol Smith. Anything you can lay your hands on by Paul Van Valkenburg. Milliken's book on suspension. McBeth's book on aerodynamics.

Ron Bentley's Speed Secrets book series, as well as Sir Jackie's that MetA mentioned,

The Book on the inside of the Ferrari F1 car, plus all you you are interested in. I also like the V12 engine book, etc. I have a rather full bookshelf...

[RacingManiac]

FSAE books:

To Win series by Carroll Smith
Chassis Design, Principle and Analysis Based on Maurice Olley's technical notes
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Bill and Doug Milliken
Some book on working with composite material by Forbes Aird

Car Porn:
Driving Ambition, the Inside Story on McLaren F1 by Doug Nye.

[Merlelogan77]

I want to read books but i don't carry so much of patience to read everything that is there in the book ,so is there a shortest way that i can view Motoring that would be appreciated thanks .