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Autocross/Solo (Entry-Level)
Learning Resources
Tips On Choosing Entry-Level Autocross/Solo Books
The entry-level autocross classes require a stock or near-stock vehicle, and therefore the design and construction aspect of the vehicle are limited to what the regulations permit. We suggest books that focus on driving techniques, understanding vehicle dynamics (How a vehicle behaves in motion), production vehicle preparation and setup and minor modifications such as tires or wheels (If permitted).
| Book Category | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodywork |  Automotive Bodywork & Rust Repair  (4.5 / 5)Provides instruction on repairing damaged and rusty bodywork. Covers tools, preparing/cleaning sheet metals, fabricating sections and patches, welding options, fitting and smoothing, metalworking and finishing. Get "Automotive Bodywork & Rust Repair":    | |||
| Driving |  Speed Secrets: Professional Race Driving Techniques  (5 / 5)Provides a compact, concise guide to race driving essentials. It includes chapters on optimizing the car, reading and using the track, driving techniques as well as safety, data and communications tips. Get "Speed Secrets: Professional Race Driving Techniques": | |||
| Driving |  Winning Autocross Techniques (4.5 / 5)Specifically written for Autocross, this volume in the Speed Secrets series focuses on the lower average speed/higher number of turns format of Autocross and the special driving techniques that reduce course lap times. Get "Winning Autocross Techniques": | |||
| Interior |  How to Restore and Customize Automotive Interiors  (4 / 5)A step-by-step guide to both restoring and customizing interiors. Teaches what tools and materials to use, planning projects, techniques for restoration and customizing and maintenance/care. Includes seat repairs and re-covering, floor coverings, custom door panels, headliners, and consoles. Get "How to Restore and Customize Automotive Interiors": | |||
| 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": | |||
| Materials/Fabrication |  How To Weld (4.5 / 5)A complete guide for beginner welders on the history, safety, equipment and techniques for welding. The book covers metal fabrication tools, types and properties of metals, welding joint designs, gas welding, brazing, arc welding (MIG, TIG, stick) and cutting. It also includes sample exercises to help the reader practice what they have learned. Get "How To Weld": | |||
| 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 |  Street Turbocharging: Design, Fabrication, Installation, and Tuning of High-Performance Street Turbocharger Systems (4.5 / 5)Provides turbocharging theory, practical information and project vehicles. Includes components, constructing systems, engine building, fuel injection, and testing and aftermark options. Get "Street Turbocharging: Design, Fabrication, Installation, and Tuning of High-Performance Street Turbocharger Systems": | |||
| Vehicle Dynamics/Handling |  DIY Testing of Car Modifications  (3.5 / 5)Provides low cost techniques to help measure and compare performance changes of a vehicle. Includes flow testing the intake and exhaust, aerodynamics and acceleration. Get "DIY Testing of Car Modifications": | |||
| Vehicle Dynamics/Handling |  Fast Car Physics (4.5 / 5)A great introduction to the world of vehicle dynamics, in language and explanations that are easy to understand. Learn basic vehicle physics, handling/dynamics, suspension types and geometry, and the latest approaches to green technologies for racing--energy recovery and storage. Get "Fast Car Physics": | |||
| Vehicle Dynamics/Handling |  High-Performance Handling for Street or Track: Vehicle dynamics, suspension mods & setup (4.5 / 5)Provides advice on planning modifications, installing components and tuning the handling characteristics of street vehicles. Includes an overview of vehicle dynamics and advice on selecting aftermarket components such as brakes, wheels, camber adjusters, anti-roll bars, springs, shocks and bushings. Also includes tire and wheel selection. Get "High-Performance Handling for Street or Track: Vehicle dynamics, suspension mods & setup": | |||
| 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 |  The Racing & High-Performance Tire: Using Tires to Tune for Grip & Balance (R-351) (5 / 5)Provides comprehensive information on how tires work, their construction, manufacture and testing. The book also covers vehicle dynamics and the tire's contribution to them. Get "The Racing & High-Performance Tire: Using Tires to Tune for Grip & Balance (R-351)": | |||
| Whole Car (Customize/Upgrade) |  Race Car Fabrication & Preparation (5 / 5)Production car preparation for racing. Includes information on transmission preparation, clutches, component selection, safety systems, wrecking yard parts, fabrication, welding basics, rear end setup, hardware, the cockpit, roll cages, wheels and tires, plumbing systems, electrical and cooling system. Get "Race Car Fabrication & Preparation": | |||
| Whole Car (Preparation) |  How to Autocross (5 / 5)Teaches car setup, driving skills and modifications for autocross racing. This book includes basic modifications for tires and suspension and more advanced modifications for mid to top level classes. Autocross driving skills such as acceleration, braking, shifting, weight transfer, slalom and driving lines are explained. Provides information how autocross events are run, the classes and the use of data logging to help analyze performance. Get "How to Autocross": | |||
| 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": | |||
| Whole Car (Preparation) |  Showroom Stock Race Car Preparation (4 / 5)200 step-by-step technical illustrations and information on preparing a stock production vehicle for racing. Get "Showroom Stock Race Car Preparation": | |||
| Website |  FAQ For SCCA Solo II A useful series of questions and answers for those interested in participating in SCCA Solo II autocross racing. Prepared by San Francisco Region SCCA club. | |||
| Website | Mods permitted for SCCA Solo Classes Comparison of modifications permitted for various SCCA Solo classes | |||
| Website | SCCA Solo II Handbook Tirerack.com hosted SCCA Solo II handbook resource Prepared by Kate Hughes of Glen Region SCCA (Painted Post, New York) © May, 1996 revised, March, 1998 |
Sanctioning Bodies/Organizers
| Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Australia |  CAMS Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) | |
| Canada | ASN Canada FIA FIA sanctioned sporting assocation in Canada | |
| International | FIA Federation Internationale de l'Automobile | |
| UK | MSA British Autocross Championship UK Sanctioning body for Autocross | |
| USA | SCCA Sports Car Club of America |
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