Drag Racer (Junior Dragster) Quick Start Learning Guide
Get started on your race car project today with this Quick Start Learning Guide to help you choose books that will provide the best initial value, information and guidance.
Tips On Choosing Junior Dragster Books
Junior dragsters are a niche race car that can be purchased as a pre-fab kit and assembled or built from scratch and components.
Building a car from the ground up can be a great family activity and driving and winning in your own handywork is perhaps the best feeling there is. If you wish to take this route, then books on chassis design, metal fabrication and drag racing would top our list of suggestions.
If you are interested in building from a kit, then we would suggest a book on drag racing itself along side the plans the manfacturer provides.
| Book Category | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving |  How to Drag Race  (5 / 5)Covers the drag racing experience, equipment setup, driving techniques and classes. This book also includes information about safety equipment, tires, line-locks, delay boxes and racing math. Get "How to Drag Race":    | |||
| Materials/Fabrication |  How To Weld  (4.5 / 5)A complete guide for beginner welders on the history, safety, equipment and techniques for welding. The book covers metal fabrication tools, types and properties of metals, welding joint designs, gas welding, brazing, arc welding (MIG, TIG, stick) and cutting. It also includes sample exercises to help the reader practice what they have learned. Get "How To Weld": | |||
| Materials/Fabrication |  Metal Fabricator's Handbook  (4 / 5)Teaches welding techniques, metal forming, hammerforming and practical metal fabrication projects. Project include forming custom body panels, tanks, roll cages/safety cells and exhaust headers. Get "Metal Fabricator's Handbook": | |||
| Vehicle Dynamics/Handling |  Fast Car Physics (4.5 / 5)A great introduction to the world of vehicle dynamics, in language and explanations that are easy to understand. Learn basic vehicle physics, handling/dynamics, suspension types and geometry, and the latest approaches to green technologies for racing--energy recovery and storage. Get "Fast Car Physics": | |||
| Whole Car (Design and Build) |  How to Build a Winning Drag Race Chassis and Suspension (4.5 / 5)This book explains how to modify a street car chassis and suspension for drag strip or high performance street use. It includes theory on handling, chassis fabrication, front/rear suspension, shocks and springs, brakes, rear axle selection, steering, and wheels/tires. Safety information is also included. Get "How to Build a Winning Drag Race Chassis and Suspension": | |||
| Whole Car (Design and Build) |  How to Hook & Launch: Traction Mods for Street & Strip (4.5 / 5)Concepts of drag racing vehicle dynamics. The author explains the incremental process of a drag racing car's launch, traction and performance. The book takes a practical approach to maximizing traction through a wide variety of potential chassis/suspension modifications as well as engine/powertrain optimization and tuning. Get "How to Hook & Launch: Traction Mods for Street & Strip": |
More Information
For complete information on the design and construction of the Drag Racer (Junior Dragster) race car type and a full listing of books and learning resources, see our Drag Racer (Junior Dragster) race car type article.