The Mechanic


Book Description

Meet Marc 'Elvis' Priestley: the former number-one McLaren mechanic, and the brains behind some of Formula One's greatest ever drivers. Revealing the most outrageous secrets and fiercest rivalries, The Mechanic follows Priestley as he travels the world working in the high-octane atmosphere of the F1 pit lane. While the spotlight is most often on the superstar drivers, the mechanics are the guys who make every World Champion, and any mistakes can have critical consequences. However, these highly skilled engineers don't just fine-tune machinery and crunch data through high-spec computers. These boys can seriously let their hair down. Whether it's partying on luxury yachts or gravity-defying photos aboard aeroplanes, this is a world which thrills on and off the track. This is Formula One, but not like you've seen it before.




Total Competition


Book Description

From Ross Brawn—one of the most successful figures in Formula One auto racing—comes a compelling insider’s account of what it takes to win, featuring practical advice for overcoming obstacles and becoming a champion both on and off the racetrack. Formula One racing is a wildly popular global sport with millions of fans and billions more engineering dollars at stake. For four decades, Ross Brawn has been one of the most innovative technical directors and team principals in the high-stakes world of Formula One. He is considered the most successful competitor in the history of Formula One to date, and “the closest thing there is to a certifiable genius” (The Wall Street Journal). Leading Benetton, Ferrari, Honda, and Mercedes, he has worked with legendary drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button, and Lewis Hamilton to make them Grand Prix champions. Now, in this fascinating book, presented as a frank conversation between Brawn and fellow Formula One competitor Adam Parr, Brawn reflects upon his career, shares the philosophies and methods that led to his success, and offers lessons that every leader working with teams—at work, play, or home—can use to achieve their own goals, too. Brawn and Parr share details about the unique pressures of Formula One racing and the intense, cutthroat world they inhabited, where coming in second place is never good enough. Just as Phil Knight recounted his accomplishments and devastating setbacks in the building of the Nike brand in the New York Times bestseller Shoe Dog, this book also provides a blueprint for leading teams, imparting lessons such as “Embrace Humility,” “Invest in People and Culture,” “Strive for Simplicity, Manage Complexity,” and much more.




Racecar


Book Description

In 2006, a small unavailing university auto racing team began building a racecar that would challenge the best engineering schools in the world. With fewer people and resources than any of the top competitors, the only way they were going to win was to push the limit, go for broke, and hope for more than a little luck. By the time they got to the racetrack, they knew: In the fog of fierce competition, whether you win or lose, you learn the hardest lessons about engineering, teamwork, friendship, and yourself.




How to Design Cars Like a Pro


Book Description

This comprehensive new edition of How to Design Cars Like a Pro provides an in-depth look at modern automotive design. Interviews with leading automobile designers from Ford, BMW, GM Jaguar, Nissan and others, analyses of past and present trends, studies of individual models and concepts, and much more combine to reveal the fascinating mix of art and science that goes into creating automobiles. This book is a must-have for professional designers, as well as for automotive enthusiasts.




Race Car Design


Book Description

Based on the principles of engineering science, physics and mathematics, but assuming only an elementary understanding of these, this textbook masterfully explains the theory and practice of the subject. Bringing together key topics, including the chassis frame, suspension, steering, tyres, brakes, transmission, lubrication and fuel systems, this is the first text to cover all the essential elements of race car design in one student-friendly textbook. It avoids the pitfalls of being either too theoretical and mathematical, or else resorting to approximations without explanation of the underlying theory. Where relevant, emphasis is placed on the important role that computer tools play in the modern design process. This book is intended for motorsport engineering students and is the best possible resource for those involved in Formula Student/FSAE. It is also a valuable guide for practising car designers and constructors, and enthusiasts.




The Science of Supercars


Book Description

Trace the evolution of the supercar through the technology that drives it. With an introduction by David Coulthard. This is the definitive story of the science behind the art of supercar design. Featuring bespoke technical illustrations from F1 insider Neil Waterman and contributions from the biggest names in the supercar world, including: Adrian Newey - legend of Formula 1 design Gordon Murray - creator of the McLaren F1 Achim Anscheidt - chief designer of the Bugatti Chiron Tony Hatter - Porsche design guru Horacio Pagani - founder of Pagani Nigel Mansell - Formula 1 world champion Christian von Koenigsegg - founder of Koenigsegg And many, many more. From the earliest supercharged monsters to the complex machines of today, The Science of Supercars traces the evolution of the supercar through the technology that powers it.




The Science of Formula 1 Design


Book Description

Leading F1 journalist David Tremayne unravels the mysteries of modern Grand Prix car design. The authoritative, extensively illustrated text explains just how an F1 car works, and this revised and updated third edition includes new material about the rules changes introduced for the 2009 season. The philosophy and technology behind the chassis, engine, transmission, electronics, steering, suspension, brakes, tires and aerodynamics are analyzed, and the important question of how these parts and systems interact is explored. This is an absorbing insight into the secretive and technology-driven world of racing car design at its highest level.




Speed Read Supercar


Book Description

From Motorbooks' beautifully designed and illustrated Speed Read series, Speed Read Supercar guides you through every aspect of these imagination-capturing, eye-widening, land-bound speed missiles. When Lamborghini unleashed its Miura on an unsuspecting world in 1966, it set off a high-performance arms race that continues to this day. Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, Porsche, and Lotus all accepted the challenge. Over the following five decades, numerous others stepped up, including stalwarts like Aston Martin, BMW, and Audi, as well as small-volume specialists such as Koenigsegg, Pagani, Noble, and Spyker. The result is a veritable smorgasbord of blazingly fast and delicious-looking land missiles available to anyone with several hundred thousand dollars to spare. Supercars are complex subjects that interest nearly everyone. Every part of a supercar represents myriad decisions informed by engineering, aesthetics, human interface, and emotion. Speed Read Supercar answers the hows and whys of these fantastic cars in sections divided by topic, offering an engaging review of history, engineering, design, key concepts, and key people. Each section ends with a glossary of related terms, and informational sidebars provide fun facts, historical tidbits, and mini-bios of key people in the supercar world. Sleek illustrations showcase the incredible designs. With Motorbooks’ Speed Read series, become an instant expert in a range of fast-moving subjects, from Formula 1 racing to the Tour de France. Accessible language, compartmentalized sections, fact-filled sidebars, glossaries of key terms, and event timelines deliver quick access to insider knowledge. Their brightly colored covers, modern design, pop art–inspired illustrations, and handy size make them perfect on-the-go reads.




How To Be An F1 Driver


Book Description

AUTHOR OF SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, LIFE TO THE LIMIT In his 17 years as a Formula 1 driver, Jenson Button has picked up a thing or two about how to do the job properly. Sure, you need to be able to drive a car fast - and Jenson is on hand to pass on a few tricks of the trade here - but you also need to know the real rules for making it to the top. Like, how to tell a multiple F1 champion they need to check their blind-spot. What the difference is between a helmet and a hat, and indeed a 'helmet-hat'. How to practise your champagne spray ahead of the big day. Why it is never, ever, under any circumstances a good idea to buy a yacht. And how to face down your team when you've just stacked their multi-million-pound car into a wall during practice. But 'JB' (nicknames in F1 run the full range from initials to, well, just using first names) doesn't stop there. HTBAF1D (catchy) lifts the lid on the people, the places, the weird rituals, the motorhomes, the media, the cars, the perks and the disasters. Join Jenson as he reveals how not to race a stupid big truck, why driving Le Mans is like having five shots of tequila before lunch, and what to do when you finally hang up your helmet-hat.