Stock Car Racing Engine Technology

Build smarter, race faster, win more. Covers topics such as airflow basics, cylinder head and fuel systems tech, blueprinting tips and techniques, camshaft theory, and selection.

Build smarter, race faster, win more.Covers topics such as airflow basics, cylinder head and fuel systems tech, blueprinting tips and techniques, camshaft theory, and selection.

This compendium is an update to two best-selling editions published by SAE International in 1995 and 2003. Editor Doug Fehan has assembled a collection of technical papers from the SAE archive that will inspire readers to use race engine development as an important tool in the future of transportation. He focuses on several topics that are important to future race engine design: electrification, materials and processes, and improved technology. Today’s electric hybrid vehicles and kinetic energy recovery systems embody what inventors envisioned in the early 1900s. First employed in trams and trains of that era, the technology was almost forgotten until racers resurrected their version in 2009 F-1 racing. The automotive industry has long admired the aircraft industry’s use of lightweight metals, advanced finishing processes, and composites. The use of these materials and processes has helped reduce overall mass and, in turn, improved speed, performance, and reliability of race engines. Their initial high cost was a limiting factor for integrating them into mass-produced vehicles. With racing leading the way, those limitations were overcome and vehicles today feature some amazing adaptations of those processes and materials. Engine power, efficiency, durability, reliability, and, more recently, emissions have always been of primary importance to the automotive world. The expanding use of electrification, biofuels, CNG, high-pressure fuel delivery systems, combustion air management, turbocharging, supercharging, and low-viscosity lubricants have been the focus of race engine development and are now turning up in dealer showrooms. The papers in this publication were selected for two reasons: they demonstrate the leadership that racing plays in the future of automotive engineering and design as it relates to engines; and they will be interesting to everyone who may be in racing and to those who may want to be in racing.

The 1960s were a fascinating decade on the race scene. Relive the memories today through this wonderful new book. Drag racing has a long and storied history. Many have said that the first drag race happened shortly after the second car was made. While that may or may not be true, racing prior to World War II was mostly centered around dry-lake activities and top-speed runs. After the war, drag racing became organized with the formation of the NHRA, and during the 1950s, many tracks were built across America to accommodate the racers. Technology in the 1950s centered on the manufacturers updating old flathead designs into newer overhead-valve designs, and the horsepower race really started to heat up. In many forms of racing, the 1960s brought technological evolution. The decade began with big engines in even bigger stock chassis and ended with purpose-built race-only chassis, fiberglass bodies, fuel injection, nitro methane, and blowers. Quarter-mile times that were in the 13-second range in the beginning of the decade were in the 7-second range by the end. New classes were formed, dedicated cars were built for them, and many racers themselves became recognized names in the sports landscape. In Drag Racing in the 60s: The Evolution in Race Car Technology, veteran author Doug Boyce takes you on a ride through the entire decade from a technological point of view rather than a results-based one. Covered are all the classes, including Super Stocks, Altered Wheelbase cars (which led to Funny Cars), Top Fuelers, Gassers, and more.

The focus of the book is on the driving dynamics of racing vehicles. The interaction of the tyre, the aerodynamics, of the chassis and the limited slip differential specific to racing vehicles is dealt with. A chapter on the basics of vehicle dynamics makes it possible to get started with this topic even without prior automotive engineering training. A historical review and a consideration of the essential safety aspects create an understanding of higher-level requirements, which are specified, for example, by the technical regulations.

This invaluable handbook on the structural design and science behind the race car chassis includes sections on materials and structures, structural loads, a brief overview of suspension and chassis design, multi-tube and space frame chassis, joining ferrous metals, stressed skin construction, and joining light alloys.

Racing continues to provide the preeminent directive for advancing powertrain development for automakers worldwide. Formula 1, World Rally, and World Endurance Championship all provide engineering teams the most demanding and rigorous testing opportunities for the latest engine and technology designs. Turbocharging has seen significant growth in the passenger car market after years of development on racing circuits. Advances in Turbocharged Racing Engines combines ten essential SAE technical papers with introductory content from the editor on turbocharged engine use in F1, WRC, and WEC-recognizing how forced induction in racing has impacted production vehicle powertrains. Topics featured in this book include: Fundamental aspects of design and operation of turbocharged engines Electric turbocharger usage in F1 Turbocharged engine research by Toyota, SwRI and US EPA, Honda, and Caterpillar This book provides a historical and relevant insight into research and development of racing engines. The goal is to provide the latest advancements in turbocharged engines through examples and case studies that will appeal to engineers, executives, instructors, students, and enthusiasts alike.

The Full Course RCT book will help you avoid the trial-and-error approach to chassis setup. It will teach you sound, proven technology that is both easy to understand and easy to use, so you can set up your race car in the shop and see the positive results on the track immediately, with very little tweaking. What follows is a common-sense approach to chassis setup, vehicle dynamics and race-car design, founded on solid engineering theory. However, you will need to have an open mind, and be willing to accept new ideas that may go against previous chassis setup thinking. Just to make it clear, the technology presented here applies to all race cars, from quarter midgets to Formula One and everything in between. This book tends to lean towards stock car racing because it represents most of the world's automobile racing. But know that not only will be useful for all forms of circle track racing from asphalt types to dirt cars, a great deal of the technology applies to all race cars.