Drag Racer (Production-Based) 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 Production-Based Drag Racer Books
Depending on the class of production-based drag racing you intend to participate in, modifications can be minimal to extensive. We suggest starting with a book on drag racing techniques and general drag racing builds for street cars.
For more extensive modifications, you will likely need to delve into specialized books on engine, driveline and chassis modifications.
| 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":    | |||
| 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 |  Advanced Automotive Welding (5 / 5)Advanced Automotive welding teaches basic and advanced welding skills specifically geared toward race car construction. Joint types, metal types, and welding processes such as TIG, MIG, oxy-acetylene and stick welding are covered. Includes projects such as roll cage, seat supports, floor pan and others. Get "Advanced Automotive Welding": | |||
| 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 |  High-Performance Differentials, Axles, and Drivelines  (4.5 / 5)This book explains how to select and match driveline components to engine power output to minimize or eliminate driveline breakages. Also covers gear ratio selection, differential rebuilding and driveline components. Get "High-Performance Differentials, Axles, and Drivelines": | |||
| Powertrain |  Modern Engine Blueprinting Techniques: A Practical Guide to Precision Engine Building (5 / 5)Explains the engine blueprinting process through illustrations and detailed procedures. Includes professional techniques on how to balance, make true and match components as an optimized group. Components include block, crank, connecting rods, pistons, rings, cylinder heads, intake manifolds, camshafts. Get "Modern Engine Blueprinting Techniques: A Practical Guide to Precision Engine Building": | |||
| Powertrain |  Performance Exhaust Systems: How to Design, Fabricate, and Install  (4 / 5)Explains how to design and construct exhaust systems matched to the engine to optimize power. The book includes theory and practical design of the entire exhaust system (headers, resonators, catalytic converters, mufflers) and teaches how to fabricate or select and purchase the individual components to match the design. The book also shows metal working techniques for fabricating full-custom systems. Get "Performance Exhaust Systems: How to Design, Fabricate, and Install": | |||
| Powertrain |  Turbo: Real World High-Performance Turbocharger Systems (5 / 5)Includes explanations of how turbochargers are constructed and function, matching them to gas and diesel engines, manufacturers, installation, maintenance. It also includes detailed information on building the engine to handle turbocharging, rebuilding the turbocharger and turbocharger troubleshooting/failure analysis. Get "Turbo: Real World High-Performance Turbocharger Systems": | |||
| 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": | |||
| Whole Car (Preparation) |  Prepare to Win: The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Professional Race Car Preparation (5 / 5)Carroll Smith's guide to preparing a race car for competition. Includes information about fasteners, riveting and welding, basic metal working, plumbing , fuel safety cells, electrical, brake system, clutch, suspension, wheels, tires, engine and gearbox and more. Get "Prepare to Win: The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Professional Race Car Preparation": |
More Information
For complete information on the design and construction of the Drag Racer (Production-Based) race car type and a full listing of books and learning resources, see our Drag Racer (Production-Based) race car type article.