Book Description
Aimed at all those autocross drivers who race the cars they drive every day, this thorough and easy-to-follow handbook covers everything from choosing the best class and car for competing to tuning, modifying, and racing that car. Richard Newton, an ASE-certified Master Technician, discusses the rule book and driving techniques used in autocross events. He focuses on car subsystems, including engine, suspension, wheels and tires, and brakes, among others. The book includes drawings of course set-ups, as well as a complete reference appendix. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Looking to begin racing & searching for a guide how
I've been interested in getting into autocrossing and purchased this book in hopes it would help me find my way. The book is full of color pictures, many of which I found interesting but after a while began to feel it took away from the substance of the written material. I will say the book also does a nice job of explaining the various SCCA classes and what is required to meet the class specifications.

I also recently read another book that talks about how people can begin participating in motorsports including autocrossing - "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" by Dave Gran. I would highly recommend that book to anyone interested in motorsports! Actually, if one buys both books and use them together, you'll have all the information one could need to get into autocrossing (and other forms of racing Dave talks about in his book).

Lacks references to the other titles
I like this paperback very much for its photos: much of the space on pages is covered by great exciting pictures with valuable comments under each image.

This book is the unsurpassed reference on how to choose the best class for SCCA autocross; it has excellent descriptions of requirements of each class, actual for 2006 season.

The major drawback of this book is the lack of references section. When you complete this book, you have no directions where to proceed; you have no idea of further reading. When the author quotes somebody, he gives no source. I see no shame in exposing the source. All prominent writers are dwarves standing on the shoulders of giants (previous writers). There are also errors in the names of products: "Motul" damper on page 25 (should be "Moton"), "Scroth" on page 113 (should be "Schroth"). The second edition of this book is desired.

While most of the book is devoted to differences in SCCA classes, very little attention is given to driving techniques. For example, the author devotes only a quarter of textual page to "oversteer & understeer" with no illustrations. As a comparison, Carl Lopez in his famous title "Going Faster" gives 17 pages full of illustrations to explain these modes of car behavior. I highly recommend "Going Faster" to any autocrosser.

In addition to this book, I would recommend "Winning Autocross Solo II Competition" by R. H. Turner & J.B. Miles; and "Secrets of Solo Racing" by Henry A. Watts

If you need something deep on driving techniques (which apply to any motorsport, not just autocross), I would recommend "Competition Driving" by Alain Prost, "The Technique of Motor Racing" by Piero Taruffi, "Driving in Competition" by Alan Johnson and "Sports Car and Competition Driving" by Paul Frere.
... Read more

Book Description
The Autocross Logbook is designed for the autocross enthusiast for keeping track of vehicle settings, race times and event information. The logbook includes sections for twenty five auto cross race events with the ability to record different vehicle settings for up to six runs per event.The log book includes space to log the following items:EVENT INFORMATION: Event Name Date Location Weather Vehicle Make Vehicle Model Tires FTD (fastest time of the day) PAX Ranking Class Rank Area for a Course SketchRUN INFORMATION: Includes six runs for each event section and allows you to record different settings, notes and time for each run. Front Tire Pressure (Driver & Passenger Side) Rear Tire Pressure (Driver & Passenger Side) Front Shock (Driver & Passenger Side) Rear Shock (Driver & Passenger Side) Swaybar (Front & Rear) Time Notes ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Risk & Insurance, published by Axon Group on August 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1037 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A ripened talent: a farm boy from Minnesota with a passion for autocross finds himself in charge of risk management for an agribusiness conglomerate. His journey has taught him that managing risks in the tomato industry is no small potatoes.(Profile)
Author: Mindy Toran
Publication: Risk & Insurance (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 1, 2004
Publisher: Axon Group
Volume: 15Issue: 9Page: 49(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Little value for autocross drivers
I have a feeling that this book is of little value for autocross drivers. For example, there is an advise in the book "to follow the slalom of direct line of pylons with constant throttle application". This is quite inefficient. What is much better upon my opinion is to release the throttle (or even press brake lightly for slow turns) on straight to transfer ahead the weight of the car, wait until the front suspension gets loaded, rotate the steering wheel to make the car enter the turn, and then apply throttle while you are unwinding the steering wheel exiting the corner. Any beginner who takes autocross courses, two hours daily, will be able to effectively apply this "brake-steer-throttle" technique on 5th or 10th lesson.

What I recommend is "Secrets of Solo Racing: Expert Techniques for Autocross and Time Trials" by Henry Watts. ... Read more

Product Description
"It is my feeling . . . that (this book) might make a winner out of a loser. I will keep my copy of Winning Autocross at hand whenever I'm watching or participating in an autocross event . . . I always have been a believer in home study . . . This book is the best way I know to go faster, without buying a turbocharger." Charles L. Cannon, Associate Editor, AUTOWEEK ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Brief, concise, truthful
This is a good book about autocross - brief, concise, truthful and accurate. Great deal of attention throughout the book is paid to suspension behavior, weight distribution and the smoothness of the driver's movement. What I liked most in the book is the advise to use left-foot-braking during the transition from braking to acceleration and vice versa. This helps to avoid excessive suspension fluctuation and provides slow, smooth weight transfer. It is good to use this technique for RWD cars and even better for FWD cars. The author gives an exercise:

"Accelerate to thirty mph. As you reach the point where you wish to brake, start to apply braking pressure with your left foot, and at the same time, lift your right foot slowly off the accelerator Increase your braking pressure to reach ten mile per hour at the pylon. As you pass the pylon at then mph, reapply accelerator pressure, and start releasing braking pressure."

The author states that the tire is the most important part of the car. I agree with that, and recommend you to read "Racing & High Performance Tire" by Paul Haney.

In addition to this book I recommend the "Secrets of Solo Racing" by Henry Watts. ... Read more

Book Description
Expert Techniques for Autocross and Time Trials. Hands-on info for racing and car prepping. Lists clubs, tracks, rules and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Should be on the desk of every Autocross racer
I am not an autocross expert, but I purchased this book as a gift for someone who is an award winning autocross racer. He told me that this is the best book he's ever read on the sport and that it provides extremely practical and useful advice.

There are not many books for autocross racers on the market but the valuable tips in this book make up for that. I would say that if someone who is already successful on the amateur autocross racing circuit feels the book is helpful, it is a good buy(and trust me, this guy is not easily impressed!).

Pass it up
First off, racing is door to door and wheel to wheel.Solo or autocrossing is not racing.Fun with cars, yes.But not racing.

This booklet is a waste of paper.It's for the guy who wants to talk about autocrossing to other people who've never done it and never will.No organization, stick figure drawings, stuffed full of "job descriptions" for working at an autocross with no usefulness except upping the page count.The "modifications" section is worthless.

He talks of "weight transfer" when he really means inertia loading.He attributes cornering forces to the mythical "centrifugal force" and talks of your body being forced outward, when it's the car accelerating towards the center of the circle.

The first chapter of Skip Barber's "Faster" has more useful information than this entire book.

Oh yes, no "secrets" are revealed.

Oldie but goodie!
When I first started out autocrossing and doing high performance driving events (HPDEs), I read this book and found the driving techniques discussed to be very helpful and written in a manner I could understand. Even after obtaining additional experience, I found myself going back to this resource and picking-up new things. While the book I've written "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" discusses the steps necessary to start autocrossing, HPDEs, and wheel-to-wheel racing, this book does a great job of explaining the other side: driving techniques. This book is well worth reading.

Solo Racing, Best Information available to the new commer
This is the only publication available that gives a comprehensive overview into the sport, and somewhat eases the frustration of what to expect during the course of a day's event that goes beyond just racing. My driving skills are improving & I'm even thinking of moving up to road racing in Club Racing, or Spec Racing.

absolutely fantastic, except I wish...
Great book, I just wish they would have had a diagram of a full course and how to run it.They showed one turn, with a late apex.made sense!They showed linking turns with early apex, into late apex.Made sense!But then when I got to the course for the first time, and it was like 75 linking turns?YIKES!

Still, this book taught me A LOT... ... Read more

Product Description
Do you ever dream of racing? If you have the desire to drive in wheel-to-wheel road racing events, but do not know how to make this sport a reality, this book is a must-read. "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" describes the process for you to easily get off the sidelines and begin participating in motorsports from autocrossing, high performance driving events, time trials, to wheel-to-wheel club racing. Have you ever wondered exactly how much it will cost to participate in these various forms of racing? This book actually lays it all out with actual costs, what's needed versus items that would be "nice to have", and various budgets. In this book you will learn how to: Race on your budget - from economy to extravagant; maximize "seat time" - get the most racing for your buck (including free track time!); modify your car to produce the greatest amount of gains; overcome the most common obstacles; gain racing experience before you have a racecar; build your own racecar on a realistic budget; become a front-running driver. Not only is this book extremely informative, it's also fun to read. So stop watching & start racing! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

EXCELLENT BOOK!
THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTLEY FANTASTIC!!

I have a good friend that's been racing SCCA for the past 8-9 years and for the past couple years he's been on my case to give SCCA racing a shot. I've ALWAYS been a car guy and have always been big in to drag racing and American muscle cars. Well, this past August I finally gave in and took part in a PDX at Mid-Ohio in my daily driver SRT4. MAN-O-MAN what a blast!!!

SOON thereafter I started seriously thinking about picking up a full-fledged SCCA race car, but I initially resisted. That's around the time I purchased/read Dave's book and that was the "clincher", I was HOOKED!!Soon therefter I was on the lookout for a SSB/SSC/ITA/ITC race car and within a month bought an SSC Focus.I'm looking forward to driver's school this April.THANKS DAVE for a great book!!!!!!

Highly Recommend!
A MUST read if you want to start road racing, have just started road racing or even have been turning laps for years. The book brings up a lot of great points often overlooked. Easy and quick to read, I couldn't put it down! This is real life information you need and won't get from any sanctioning body or how to drive book.

Awesome Book
Excellent book! I read the whole thing in one sitting. It is probably the only book I have ever read cover to cover. I thought I had a pretty solid plan to start getting into road racing. After reading the book, I realized I was way off.This book covers all the stages you will encounter during your racing carrer.Whether you have never driven a racecar, are an amature racer, or an experienced racer you will benifit from this book.Thanks to Dave, I will be saving myself a ton of money! Thank you! You guys reading this page, stop wasting your time and buy the book! You will not regret it.

A must read for anyone interested in starting to race!
Right from the start, Gran got me sucked into his book by explaining what a day at the races is really like. Normally I find myself putting down books often, but this one captively held my attention with a highlighter in hand. I purchased this book based upon reviews I read from Motor Trend and Grassroots magazine, in hopes it would shed light on how to begin racing - it most definitely accomplished that goal. I also found myself referring back to it several times and re-reading various chapters.

The book is written in a very fun and friendly manner as if Dave was talking to me over a few beers, which is why I found myself lured into turning page after page. Instead of simply stating information like a text book, many of the chapters use anecdotes and provides the information in a much more interesting manner. It is full of valuable information that will save you a significant amount of money and heartache. I've have heard that racing can be accomplished on a relatively low budget, but what exactly does that mean? I was told "you can buy a racecar inexpensively." Exactly how much is that? Go Ahead - Take the Wheel lays it all out on the table defining the various costs associated with racing. Whether you're a budget minded racer like myself or have a deeper pocketbook, it's all there.

The author is upfront in that this book is not aimed at discussing racing lines or other technical racing techniques and refers people to other books for this purpose. I did however find the chapter that discussed what's necessary to become a front runner very interesting and helpful.

So, if you've ever thought about racing, you really need to pick-up a copy of this book. Gran's advice has surely saved me a lot of money on stuff I don't need and given me the necessary information to get out there myself.

great starting point
If you think that you want to race, but you don't know where to begin, this is a very good book to start out with.
No fluff, straight forward, ways to get you involved in wheel to wheel racing.
Mostly geared towards SCCA, but easily adaptable to different clubs in your region.
Even if you are not ready to take your care out on the track, Dave Gran offers insight to other ways to volunteer to work the track and work with some of the crews out there now.
Sure you knew that is what you needed to do, but he tells you how to get yourself there.
He offered solutions to get involved into the racing that I was looking for, and saved me a great deal of time trying to find out how to go about it. ... Read more

Book Description
He began his career as a dyslexic accountant.He keeps a low profile and dislikes publicity. And he's set to become the world's best-known name in the business of motor sport. Meet David Richards, the quintessential driven man. This book is the first to tell Richards' life story, from an unlikely beginning to the even-less-likely present: a real shot at world racing domination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Driven Man: David Richards
As a biography on David Richards the man this book fails miserably, it's more of a biography about Prodrive the Company than it is about David Richards.There is very little by way of background about how David Richards thinks, runs his buisness nor indeed how he really got to where he is today.To sum the book up in one word - for me that word is - disappointing.

Good but not great
I would give this 3.75 stars if I could but 4 isn't unfair.

As the title would suggest, this was a semi-biographical work about David Richards in his role as head of Prodrive, probably the most successful independent racing company in the world.It follows him from his early rallying days and the foundation of the company through to the various race programs Prodrive had with different manufacturers over the years culminating in the current Aston Martin DBR9 program.

My problem with the book is that it didn't have much technical depth.Neither in the cars Prodrive built or how exactly it was that Richards was a "shrewd businessman" or conducted operations wih tight restrictions on cost.I would have liked to see how the business actually operated and I would've loved to see more detail about the cars.The Unfair Advantage (Mark Donahue) had some of this detail I was searching for.

As it is, this book feels like the work of an undergraduate student.A good account of the Prodrive organization but not a whole lot of insight on the why's and how's.Perhaps its because they've done so many programs that it would be difficult for the author to fit that kind of information in one tome.I also must admit that I am probably on the lunatic fringe of racing aficionados so someone who is not quite as hardcore might enjoy this book more.

So in short, not bad, but like a tasty meal in too small a portion I was left wanting more. ... Read more