Winged Formula SAE/Student Books

Formula Car (Winged) 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 Winged Formula Car Books

As the formula car is scratch-built and often races in a very narrow performance band, we suggest you start with a solid understanding of vehicle dynamics that will enable you to maximize the performance of the car through your design.

Other good books to consider would be chassis/suspension design, motorcycle-engine powered race car design, metal and composites fabrication and fasteners/metallurgy. Aerodynamics play a significant role in racing so books on aero design should be considered as well. Depending on how your design or concept evolves, other categories should be considered.

Quick Start Books
Shown below are the books we suggest as first-reads for the Formula (Winged) race car type. Some of the books may apply to any type of race car including yours. To filter the books, follow the instructions below.

Quickstart learning books filter instructions

Book Category 
Topic (Level)
Vehicle Type
Resource Type
Aerodynamics
Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed
Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed
5 out of 5 stars (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. Read full review

Get "Race Car Aerodynamics: Designing for Speed":
Aerodynamics ( Basic)
Aerodynamics ( Advanced)
Drag Racer (Scratch-Built)
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
GT
Pickup Truck (Scratch-built)
Rally
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model)
Supercar
Touring Car
Book Resource
Chassis
Chassis Engineering: Chassis Design, Building & Tuning for High Performance Handling
Chassis Engineering: Chassis Design, Building & Tuning for High Performance Handling
4.5 out of 5 stars (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. Read full review

Get "Chassis Engineering: Chassis Design, Building & Tuning for High Performance Handling":
Dynamics/Handling ( Basic)
Dynamics/Handling ( Advanced)
Chassis ( Basic)
Chassis ( Advanced)
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Aerodynamics ( Basic)
CycleKart
Drag Racer (Scratch-Built)
Dune Buggy
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Kart
Midget (Full Size)
Midget (Quarter)
Off-road Truck
Pickup Truck (Scratch-built)
Quad/ATV
Rally
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Sprint (Full Size)
Sprint (Micro)
Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model)
Street Rod
Supercar
Book Resource
Chassis
The Race Car Chassis : Design, Structures and Materials for Road, Drag and Circle Track Open- and Closed-Wheel Chassis
The Race Car Chassis : Design, Structures and Materials for Road, Drag and Circle Track Open- and Closed-Wheel Chassis
4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

Aspiring designers will find Forbes Aird's book on chassis design to be a good introduction to the fundamental purposes, structures and materials of race car (or road car) chassis. What the book might lack in formulas and design calculations, it makes up for in sheer breadth of chassis design and construction ideas. It provides sufficient information to the reader to leave them with a solid understanding of the various chassis types, materials and construction so they can make informed choices about designing their own chassis. Read full review

Get "The Race Car Chassis : Design, Structures and Materials for Road, Drag and Circle Track Open- and Closed-Wheel Chassis":
Dynamics/Handling ( Basic)
Chassis ( Basic)
Chassis ( Advanced)
Drag Racer (Scratch-Built)
Dune Buggy
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Midget (Full Size)
Midget (Quarter)
Off-road Truck
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Sprint (Full Size)
Sprint (Micro)
Book Resource
Fasteners/Joining
Carroll Smith's Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook
Carroll Smith's Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook
5 out of 5 stars (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 ( Basic)
Materials/Fabrication ( Advanced)
Fasteners/Joining ( Basic)
Fasteners/Joining ( Advanced)
CycleKart
Drag Racer (Production-Based)
Drag Racer (Scratch-Built)
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
GT
Midget (Full Size)
Midget (Quarter)
Off-road Truck
Pickup truck (Custom Off-road)
Pickup Truck (Scratch-built)
Rally
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Sprint (Full Size)
Sprint (Micro)
Stock Car (Production-Based)
Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model)
Supercar
Touring Car
Book Resource
General
Racecar: Searching for the Limit in Formula SAE
Racecar: Searching for the Limit in Formula SAE
4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

An account of the experiences of students involved in the Formula SAE university race car design and construction contest.

Get "Racecar: Searching for the Limit in Formula SAE":
General/History/Bio
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Book Resource
Materials/Fabrication
Engineer To Win: The essential guide to racing car materials technology
Engineer To Win: The essential guide to racing car materials technology
5 out of 5 stars (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":
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Powertrain ( Basic)
Powertrain ( Advanced)
Materials/Fabrication ( Basic)
Materials/Fabrication ( Advanced)
Fasteners/Joining ( Basic)
Fasteners/Joining ( Advanced)
Drag Racer (Scratch-Built)
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Midget (Full Size)
Midget (Quarter)
Off-road Truck
Pickup Truck (Scratch-built)
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Sprint (Full Size)
Sprint (Micro)
Stock Car (Production-Based)
Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model)
Book Resource
Materials/Fabrication
Metal Fabricator's Handbook
Metal Fabricator's Handbook
4 out of 5 stars (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":
Chassis ( Basic)
Chassis ( Advanced)
Materials/Fabrication ( Basic)
Materials/Fabrication ( Advanced)
Fasteners/Joining ( Basic)
Fasteners/Joining ( Advanced)
Bar Stool Racer
Drag Racer (Junior Dragster)
Drag Racer (Scratch-Built)
Dune Buggy
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Kart
Midget (Full Size)
Midget (Quarter)
Off-road Truck
Pickup truck (Custom Off-road)
Quad/ATV
Rider Mower
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Sprint (Full Size)
Sprint (Micro)
Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model)
Street Rod
Book Resource
Suspension
Suspension Geometry and Computation
Suspension Geometry and Computation
4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

Teaches detailed theory, analysis and examples for designing suspension geometries. This is an advanced and very detailed design book that provides an engineering-level understanding of suspension design which is recommended for automotive engineering students.

Get "Suspension Geometry and Computation":
Dynamics/Handling ( Basic)
Dynamics/Handling ( Advanced)
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Supercar
Book Resource
Vehicle Dynamics/Handling
How to Make Your Car Handle
How to Make Your Car Handle
5 out of 5 stars (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":
Dynamics/Handling ( Basic)
Dynamics/Handling ( Advanced)
Chassis ( Basic)
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Powertrain ( Basic)
Aerodynamics ( Basic)
Construction/Assy ( Basic)
Construction/Assy ( Advanced)
Autocross/Solo (Entry-Level)
Autocross/Solo (Mid-Level)
Custom Street/Import
Dune Buggy
Formula (Winged)
GT
Midget (Full Size)
Midget (Quarter)
Off-road Truck
Pickup truck (Custom Off-road)
Rally
Rider Mower
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Sprint (Full Size)
Sprint (Micro)
Stock Car (Production-Based)
Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model)
Street Rod
Supercar
Touring Car
Book Resource
Vehicle Dynamics/Handling
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (R146)
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (R146)
5 out of 5 stars (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)":
Dynamics/Handling ( Basic)
Dynamics/Handling ( Advanced)
Chassis ( Basic)
Chassis ( Advanced)
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Autocross/Solo (Mid-Level)
Autocross/Solo (Top-Level)
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
GT
Pickup Truck (Scratch-built)
Rally
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Stock Car (Scratch-built /Late Model)
Supercar
Touring Car
Book Resource
Vehicle Dynamics/Handling
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics: Problems, Answers and Experiments
Race Car Vehicle Dynamics: Problems, Answers and Experiments
5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

Companion student workbook of problems, answers and experiments for readers of the Race Car Vehicle Dynamics book.

Get "Race Car Vehicle Dynamics: Problems, Answers and Experiments":
Dynamics/Handling ( Basic)
Dynamics/Handling ( Advanced)
Chassis ( Basic)
Chassis ( Advanced)
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Pickup Truck (Scratch-built)
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Supercar
Book Resource
Whole Car (Design and Build)
How to Build Motorcycle-engined Racing Cars
How to Build Motorcycle-engined Racing Cars
4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

How to design and construct a motorcycle engine powered race car. This book explains how select and integrate the engine into a car as well as the design of the other aspects such as chassis, powertrain, brakes, fuel, coolant and electrics.

Get "How to Build Motorcycle-engined Racing Cars":
Chassis ( Basic)
Chassis ( Advanced)
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Powertrain ( Basic)
Powertrain ( Advanced)
Aerodynamics ( Basic)
Materials/Fabrication ( Basic)
Fasteners/Joining ( Basic)
Electrical ( Basic)
Dune Buggy
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Quad/ATV
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Sprint (Micro)
Book Resource
Whole Car (Design)
Race Car Design
Race Car Design
4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

Explains the fundamental design of chassis, suspension, steering, brakes, transmission and fuel systems in race cars. Specifically mentioned is its usefulness for Formula SAE/Formula Student engineering students involved in race car design.

Get "Race Car Design":
Dynamics/Handling ( Basic)
Dynamics/Handling ( Advanced)
Chassis ( Basic)
Chassis ( Advanced)
Suspension ( Basic)
Suspension ( Advanced)
Powertrain ( Basic)
Powertrain ( Advanced)
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Sport Racer/Sports Prototype
Supercar
Book Resource
Whole Car (Design)
Red Bull Racing F1 Car: An Insight into the Technology, Engineering, Maintenance and Operation
Red Bull Racing F1 Car: An Insight into the Technology, Engineering, Maintenance and Operation of the World Championship-Winning Red Bull Racing RB6
5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

Created in the format of a Haynes auto repair manual, this book includes photographs and information about the design of the Red Bull RB6 Formula One car designed by Adrian Newey. For aspiring race car designers, it provides a close up view to components and insights into their design and optimization.

Get "Red Bull Racing F1 Car: An Insight into the Technology, Engineering, Maintenance and Operation of the World Championship-Winning Red Bull Racing RB6":
Chassis ( Basic)
Suspension ( Basic)
Powertrain ( Basic)
Aerodynamics ( Basic)
Safety/Ergo/Interior ( Basic)
General/History/Bio
Formula (Non-wing)
Formula (Winged)
Book Resource

More Information

For complete information on the design and construction of the Formula (Winged) race car type and a full listing of books and learning resources, see our Formula (Winged) race car type article.

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