The book lists below are started with one originally created by Norm Peterson and it is being updated to add books recommended in the posts below.

Handling & Suspension Books

How To Make Your Car Handle (Fred Puhn)
Chassis Engineering (Herb Adams)
Performance Handling (Don Alexander)
Chevrolet Power, 5th Edition (GM)
Basic Chassis, Suspension & Brakes (Hot Rod)
Chassis Brakes Suspension (Hot Rod)
Hot Rod Yearbook No. 11 (Hot Rod)
Mustang Performance Handbook 2 (William Mathis)
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (William & Doug Milliken)
Mopar Chassis (Mopar)
The Car and its Wheels (Jan P. Norbye)
Honda Builder's Handbook, Volume II (Joe Pettit)
Camaro Performance Handbook (David Shelby)
Prepare to Win (Carroll Smith)
Tune to Win (Carroll Smith)
Tires, Suspension, and Handling 2nd Ed (John C. Dixon) - added 2009/04/01
Shock Design Handbook 2nd Ed (John C. Dixon) - added 2009/04/01
Race Car Engineering & Mechanics (Paul van Valkenburgh)
Design for Competition, a 750 motor club publication
How To Make Your Musclecar Handle (Mark Savitske) available early 2011

Per Norm - "FWIW, not everything you read in many of the softcover books is 100% correct. In one or two cases, it isn't even 100% consistent with other statements made within the same book. They are mostly minor glitches and in some cases may have been the result of editorial changes that weren't back-checked by the author. Reading thoroughly, and then re-reading with a somewhat questioning/critical eye is suggested.

Keep in mind that the physics and engineering haven't changed much; only the details of the solutions. My point is that understanding the concepts and what things might be related is at least as important as the details of any actual examples given as illustration"

Driving Books

Speed Secrets series by Ross Bentley
The Technique Of Motor Racing by Piero Taruffi
The Racing Driver (The Theory & Practice Of Fast Driving) by Denis Jenkinson
Secrets of Solo Racing by Henry Watts
Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving by Carl Lopez of the Skip Barber Racing School
Drive to Win by Carroll Smith
Think to Win by Don Alexander
A Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code (motorcycle racing)

Internet links

To quote Norm - "Not everything you find out there in cyberspace has been proofread for technical accuracy by anybody other than the preparer (which doesn't count for a whole lot in most engineering professions). Some of the errors aren't particularly troublesome, but others might be depending on what the topic is, how knowledgeable the preparer was, and what was written."

Dennis Grant's site -
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html
http://farnorthracing.com/tech_autocross.html
http://farnorthracing.com/datalogging.html
A brief list that was put together by Andy Hollis - www.dmvrscca.org/topten.htm
Ackerman - http://www.smithees-racetech.com.au/ackerman.html
http://www.virtualracersedge.com/physics_of_racing.htm - added July 15, 2009
http://www.1010thsmotorsports.com/page/page/5265175.htm - added July 15, 2009

Engine Books
How to tune and modify engine management systems by Jeff Hartman - goes into details about all the different sensors and actuators and how they affect the engine's fuel/timing map

 

I thought that this reading list might be of interest to some of our newer members who are interested in understanding more about the subject.

 

You can add "Tires, Suspension, and Handling, Second Edition" and "Shock Design Handbook, Second Edition", both by John C. Dixon to the list. Neither is an "entry-level read", but it is interesting that in the introductory chapter to "Tires, Suspension, and Handling", Dixon specifically mentions Puhn's book as being a "largely practically oriented overview" and a "useful popular work".


Norm

 

The two have been added to your original list in post #1. Thanks.

 

How about some books on how to drive: SpeedSecrets series by Ross Bentley

 

My two are pretty old but I think still valid references and are available
1) The Technique Of Motor Racing by Piero Taruffi
2) The Racing Driver (The Theory & Practice Of Fast Driving) by Denis Jenkinson

 

This should be a sticky.

 

"Secrets of Solo Racing", Henry Watts

Somewhat less formally, but no less useful:
Dennis Grant's site (farnorthracing)
A brief list that was put together by Andy Hollis (http://www.dmvrscca.org/topten.htm). Pay particular attention to tip #8 if you want to stop hating slaloms).


Norm

 

Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving by Carl Lopez of the Skip Barber Racing School is my favorite driving book. IMO, it goes over everything that you need to know to take a car out on the track.

Drive to Win by Carroll Smith is more of a "how to become a professional race car driver" primer.

The Ross Bentley SpeedSecrets books are good too. I believe there are three of them now, and they are relatively cheap.

-Wayne

 

great info! i'll definitely look into some of these.