Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model) 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 Scratch-built/Late model Stock Car Books
Stock cars can be built from a pre-fab chassis or from a scratch design. In either circumstance, it is useful for you to have a good knowledge of vehicle dynamics so that the handling of the car can be understood during setup and racing. We suggest starting with a book on vehicle dynamics, preferably including oval/circle track racing.
For both pre-fab and scratch builders, we would also suggest a guide to chassis and suspension setup for circle track which is useful in understanding the particular hardware associated with the car. For scratch builders, we would suggest books on chassis/suspension design and metal fabrication. Books that cover both dirt and asphalt will give a more complete picture of vehicle dynamics.
| Book Category | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerodynamics |  Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed  (5 / 5)An in-depth and comprehensive guide to race car aerodynamic theory and practice. It covers everything a designer needs to know--from basic theory and aero devices (i.e. wings, venturis, diffusers, spoilers and more) to their applications on different types of race cars. Written with the non-engineer in mind, it also provides many examples and diagrams that show how to optimize the air flow around and through a race vehicle. Get "Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed":    | |||
| Chassis |  Chassis Engineering: Chassis Design, Building & Tuning for High Performance Handling  (4.5 / 5)Chassis Engineering is a great introduction to race car design. In a practical and down-to-earth way, it covers the fundamentals of how race cars handle and the requirements for designing and constructing a car. The book includes chapters on chassis design, suspension design, frame construction, aerodynamics and tuning. Overall it provides the reader with the foundation of how the key components of a race car work and interact together. Get "Chassis Engineering: Chassis Design, Building & Tuning for High Performance Handling": | |||
| Chassis |  Dirt Track Chassis and Suspension: Advanced Setup and Design Technology for Dirt Track Racing (4.5 / 5)Technical guide to the design and setup of dirt track race cars. Includes chapters on dirt chassis theory and design, chassis tuning, setup tips and driving tips. Get "Dirt Track Chassis and Suspension: Advanced Setup and Design Technology for Dirt Track Racing": | |||
| Fasteners/Joining |  Carroll Smith's Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook (5 / 5)Teaches how to use the correct fasteners and fastener materials. This book includes extensive information on fatigue properties, joints, mounts, and vehicle plumbing. Get "Carroll Smith's Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook": | |||
| Materials/Fabrication |  Engineer To Win: The essential guide to racing car materials technology (5 / 5)A comprehensive, easy-to-read guide on metallurgy (metal properties), fastening and plumbing. The book applies this information to many aspects of race cars with the goal of building cars that do not break or leak. Get "Engineer To Win: The essential guide to racing car materials technology": | |||
| 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": | |||
| Powertrain |  David Vizard's How to Build Horsepower (5 / 5)A guide to designing the engine as a system and constructing it to produce maximum horsepower. The design aspects use the airflow through each part of the engine as a basis for instruction. Provides detailed information on how to select, modify and tune each component to work at peak efficiency with others in the engine. Get "David Vizard's How to Build Horsepower": | |||
| Powertrain |  Stock Car Racing Engine Technology: Advanced Engine Theory and Design for All Levels of Circle Track Racing (5 / 5)Circle Track magazine's guide to the theory and design of stock car engines. Includes information on block prep, engine oiling, valvetrain, Blueprinting tips, cooling for power, component selection, cylinder head design, induction and exhaust systems. Get "Stock Car Racing Engine Technology: Advanced Engine Theory and Design for All Levels of Circle Track Racing": | |||
| Vehicle Dynamics/Handling |  How to Make Your Car Handle (5 / 5)Teaches how to improve vehicle handling through suspension and chassis modifications and understanding vehicle dynamics. Includes basic suspension theory on roll centers, roll axis, camber change, bump steer, anti-dive, ride rate, ride balance as well practical chassis modifications. Get "How to Make Your Car Handle": | |||
| Vehicle Dynamics/Handling |  Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (R146) (5 / 5)A comprehensive book on the vehicle dynamics of race cars (and applicable to road cars). Includes the most in-depth theoretical knowledge about vehicle handling, suspension and dynamics available in a single book. Along with clear explanations of principles there is a large mathematical component for engineering design. Can be used as a university textbook for vehicle engineering/Formula SAE/Student. Get "Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (R146)": | |||
| Vehicle Dynamics/Handling |  Tune to Win: The art and science of race car development and tuning (5 / 5)The fundamentals of race car vehicle dynamics in a clear, well-written text. Explains suspension, weight dynamics and vehicle handling behaviours in a way that permits the designer to understand cause and effect and improve their race car design, vehicle tuning and even driving. Get "Tune to Win: The art and science of race car development and tuning": | |||
| Whole Car (Design and Build) |  Building the Pro Stock Late Model Sportsman (5 / 5)Provides information on building a Pro Stock / Sportsman car from a 1970-1981 stock Camaro front stub and fabricated perimeter frame. Blueprints are included in the book, along with component selections and explanations for each selection. Includes chassis setup information and tuning as well as adjusting the car for track conditions. For asphalt and dirt tracks Get "Building the Pro Stock Late Model Sportsman": | |||
| Whole Car (Design and Build) |  Dirt Track Stock Car Technology (4.5 / 5)A guide to building, setup and tuning dirt track stock cars. Includes basic chassis design and fabrication, suspension setups/adjusting to track conditions, rear suspension systems, scaling, tuning with shock abosrbers, tips and advice. Get "Dirt Track Stock Car Technology": | |||
| Whole Car (Overview/History) |  Stock Car Race Shop: Design and Construction of a NASCAR Stock Car  (3 / 5)A guided tour through NASCAR stock car team shops and the car design process. Color photographs, design drawings, and schematics depicting chassis, engines, bodies and other components at the design stage and on the shop floor. Get "Stock Car Race Shop: Design and Construction of a NASCAR Stock Car": | |||
| Whole Car (Preparation) |  Dirt Late Model Chassis Technology (4 / 5)Guide to setting up a late model dirt chassis and 4 link suspension. Covers front/rear suspensions, steering, handling dynamics, chassis tuning, setup, scaling the car, track tuning and adjustments for common handling issues. Get "Dirt Late Model Chassis Technology": | |||
| Whole Car (Preparation) |  IMCA Modified Racing Technology (5 / 5)Instruction on building and setting up an IMCA modified-style car. Covers front suspension system, geometry, rear suspension systems (3-link, swingarm, coil/monoleaf, 4-link), brake system, springs/shocks, ballast and weight. Also includes chassis setups for dirt and paved cars as well as problem solving for handling and adjustments for track conditions. Get "IMCA Modified Racing Technology": | |||
| Whole Car (Preparation) |  Paved Track Stock Car Technology (4.5 / 5)How to tune and setup the chassis of a paved track stock car. Shows step-by-step chassis setup, scaling the car and adjusting the weight, adjusting the chassis to track conditions, performance handling, front suspension and alignment, rear suspension. 300 illustrations. Get "Paved Track Stock Car Technology": |
More Information
For complete information on the design and construction of the Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model) race car type and a full listing of books and learning resources, see our Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model) race car type article.