5 comments about One Helluva Ride: How NASCAR Swept the Nation.

1. With equal parts sports history, business strategy and social commentary, Clarke tracks the rise of NASCAR by focusing on the personalities that made (and continue to make) the sport grow.
   
   If you're looking for a book that recaps significant races or focuses on racing strategy, this isn't it. However, if you want to walk away with the feeling that you've spent an afternoon on Richard Petty's front porch chatting over a few Cheerwines, then you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. Clarke has clearly invested much of herself in NASCAR and the sport has repaid the debt with the gift of its personalities which Clarke presents here as very few could do.
   
   While Clarke clearly loves the sport, she does not sugarcoat some of NASCAR's historic flaws such as the reluctance to quickly address safety issues. In the end, this fast-paced account will leave you with some great insight and knowledge that will serve you as well in Hueytown, Alabama as it will on Madison Avenue.



2. It's a great book. The best thing is buying online thru Amazon. Delivered right to your home, plus save a few bucks also.



3. I saw the book report of this book by the author, Liz Clarke, on BOOK TV a few weeks ago and throughly enjoyed it. I am a NASCAR fan of lots of years so naturally I wanted the book. I am so glad I got it for it is one of the best reads I have ever experienced. I would recommend it to anyone, NASCAR lover or not. I have shared the book with some fellow NASCAR followers and each of them has had the same opinion, GREAT READ!



4. I'm delighted with the book and had a great "ride" reading it. I recommend it to anyone who is a newbie to NASCAR (like I am) or has enjoyed it's growth.



5. A must for all fans of NASCAR, whether casual or hard-core. This book traces the sport through the lens of a witty, sophisticated, Springsteen-loving, private-school-educated woman. Liz Clarke is hardly your average NASCAR writer, and this is far from your average NASCAR book. The brilliant character studies here of champions like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt show Clarke's resolve to part NASCAR's curtain and reveal the men who made the sport so much more than simply turning left. Read it and you will be glad that Clarke -- who has written about the sport for years, starting at The Charlotte Observer and now at The Washington Post -- has embraced this sport with her uncommon insight. What this book needs more than anything else is a sequel!

5 comments about How to Tune and Modify Engine Management Systems (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. this book is detailed enough in its explanations that a programmer could write his own engine management system. It is good to the point that if you own one of the many project cars mentioned you should buy this book. The author obviously knows a LOT about engine management systems. If you ever worried about the specifics such as proper ignition timing or what the best AFR would be in situation x , this book is the answer. There is no reason to make this review lengthy, the book is very good. I am very picky about my books, I wont even buy one if it's amazon rating is under a 4, and I think this book is great.



2. This book is a great book for overview if you never knew how a car works. It's a great book for basics and has several projects that are glossed over. Its' got lots of great photos.
   
   Not one place does the book talk about Engine Management tuning. Fuel Maps, Ignition maps, what you are looking at, what they mean, basics like adjusting the 2bar spark map for turbo, etc... It talks a lot about history and products but does not cover what it says it does which is the actual engine management tuning. I strongly suggest looking elsewhere for a book if you actually plan on doing some ECM tuning or EMS tuning, this books does not even get you started on how to do it, it has lots of photos and history so you can sound like you know what you are talking about at the next car show, but nothing there to get your hands dirty.
   
   good for beginners not wanting to actually do tuning but understand the management systems.



3. It doesnt get any better than this! Another "Motorbooks workshop" series book.Its 270 pages in colour that explains in great detail engine management systems.
   
   There is at least one fault,its a bit too technical for some people but its still a great book.
   
   There are plenty of diagrams and photographs throughout.If you are building a street machine or hot rod and want to consider EMS instead of carby engines this book will explain it all.



4. Personally, I think everyone who owns a car should read this book, or at least the key early sections detailing the process by which your car's computer controls the engine and reacts to internal and external stimuli. If you didn't know the material before, look under your hood before and after reading the book and you will sense a dramatic difference as what looked like a mess of wires and tubes and sensors will have assembled itself into a cohesive system designed to make your engine operate and tune itself, rather than simply to confuse anyone without a mechanic's degree that wants to take a wrench to it.
   As some have pointed out, anyone who wants plug-and-play numbers for specific cars and states of tune will be disappointed by this book, but reading this book will give you the knowledge you need to find or create that information for yourself. If you're interested in learning and applying your knowledge, this is your book. If you're interested only in the end product of your specific car going fast and will get impatient with having to digest and apply theory, this is not your book, but really, if that's your only goal you are probably better off taking your car to a speed shop than attempting the work yourself. If you want to at the very least feel less helpless when you take your car in to the mechanic and at best create your own engine management system (including building your own intake manifold!), this book is a fantastic place to start.
   
   Btw, despite my 5-star rating, it does have its flaws. Some things are repeated--some ad nauseam--and it seems clear that this book was written in sections that the author didn't necessarily see as segueing into each other, or perhaps even originally anticipate appearing together in the same text. None of this seriously detracts from the information in the book, which is after all the point, so it didn't affect my rating, but you will likely notice.



5. This is the only book that has a lot of formulas, and describes each car component in the EEC-IV systems. It describes what is needed to not only tune but modify the setups. Plenty of Graphs and plots.

5 comments about Auto Repair For Dummies.

1. Why hasn't there been any newer editions since 1999?
   
   Self-reliance with regard to car maintenance is something that I have always wanted for myself.



2. Has been an all-inclusive auto resource. For newbies, but is packed with stuff.



3. After watching my sister go through several Auto Tech classes to learn how to work on a car, I was intimidated by the amount of time & money I thought it would take to get the same knowledge. Then I found this book. I've been a faithful reader of the Dummies books for a long time, and this one just reinforced my opinion of them.
   
   After reading this book, I am able to change my own oil, check & change my brakes, change a flat tire, know which replacement tire to buy and why, and diagnose almost any car problem myself. I have saved hundreds of dollars (maybe over $1000 by now) because I knew exactly what I needed a mechanic to do to my car whenever I took it in.
   
   As a bonus, my car now runs better than it ever has before, because this book also covers preventative maintenance in extreme detail. It even lays out a monthly routine for you for checking most of the systems in your car.
   
   I highly recommend this book to absolutely anyone who wants to learn about cars. Even if you know nothing except how to start, drive, and stop your car -- before reading this, I thought the rim CAME WITH the new tire! -- this book is for you.



4. Before this book I didn't know a thing about cars. Now, I would still say that I don't but, I would NOT go to the mechanic for everything.



5. I've always relied on mechanics (with mixed results), but I wanted to know what was going on with my car and to be able to perform basic maintenance myself. This book is very easy to use (MUCH better than my owner's manual). It provides a good overview of how cars work, as well as specific advice for particular repairs and maintenance. If you're already a gearhead, this is presumably too basic, but if the inside of your car is a great big mystery to you, this is definitely the book to get.

5 comments about Engine Management: Advanced Tuning.

1. Logically presented. Dense with important information and thin on fluff. Stops short of hard physics. Couples what to do with the "why" it works. Walks you through EFI tuning from beginning to end.
   
   Most books on tuning I find myself skipping chapters because the material is too simplistic. I skipped nothing in this book. There was always something new to learn in each chapter.
   
   Great book! I highly recommend it to anyone new to EFI tuning... and those that "think" they are already have mastered the art.



2. This is a very good book, well thought out. Easy to read and understand, even for a beginner. Step by step details of what you need to do and check from beginning to end.



3. This is a very informative book for someone just starting out in tuning and gives some pointers for the experienced. I recommend this book to anyone interested in tuning there own vehicles and needs some help getting started.



4. This book is very well written and easy to understand and follow. It starts out explaining the basics of automotive engines, controls, sensors, etc then gets into how these systems interact with each other and then how to look at the different engine paramaters to determine how to alter controls and sensors related to pressures, speeds and temps to increase engine performance. Good read for the novice as well as the advanced tuner.



5. This manual goes into a lot of electronic tuning theory. After you've read it all, you should have a basic knowledge of computer tuning of electronic management sytems. As the book says "If you can tune a carburetor, you can tune EFI".

5 comments about Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques.

1. 
   This book may be a good read for someone that is new to riding a sport bike, with only a very basic idea of how to ride. It does go into some good fundemental tips and techniques, he also reviews some riding gear, and setting up your ergo's. So, if this is the first motorcycle book you have ever purchased, and you have only been riding for a little while, and dont plan on being a hard-core knee dragger, then sure buy this book.
   
   However, if you are an experienced rider, this book is flat out boring. I even caught myself shaking my head in disbelief at some of this guys points of view and advice. Plus this guy is just straight up a dork, he try's to be funny, but he really gets on my nerves.



2. This book covers just about every aspect of riding from suspension set up to throttle control to riding strategies, it even includes a section on being a passenger. While I have yet to start doing the excercises included in the book, I have started using some of the techniques, and they do indeed increase your margin of safety. I also have more faith in myself, and in my bike. If you're planning on racing, while there is good information here, you may not be happy with this book, but if you're a street rider as I am, it's a great resource.



3. If there was just one book I had to buy, this wouldn't be it, but I liked it. It had a lot of good things to say about mental attitude. There are some things I would of like to see him leave out, like his pictures. I am glad that I read it and will review it from time to time.



4. "Total Control" isn't the pinnacle of riding techniques. Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling," (both of them) and Ienatsch's "Sport Bike Ridng Techniques" are the hands-down winners in that respect. However, the book has some worthwhile content that other books don't cover. As a secondary source, it is well worth price. Some of his scrunched-up portrait photos would have a buzzard turn around and fly the other way.



5. I first read "A Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding", then I read this book. I greatly appreciated Twist of the Wrist for providing the geeky details and well-written descriptions of what was happening to the bike and rider when everything is working correctly (or not), but this book was able to add some more pictures that helped to clarify things which weren't clear to me from Twist of the Wrist.
   
   There were some descriptions in Total Control that resonated better with me than what was in Twist of the Wrist, and vice versa. The same thing can be said for the drawings and pictures.
   
   My recommendation: buy both books. If you don't like reading very much and want better step-by-step pictures, then Total Control is probably the better book for you. Once again, I strongly recommend buying both books - Total Control and Twist of the Wrist 2.

5 comments about Convert It!.

1. This well written, thoughtful book was written in 1993, and badly needs to be updated. The technologies have changed (batteries, motors, controllers), and the candidates for cars to convert have changed (for example, you need to be very careful with the computer-driven dashboards and controls of most cars built in the past 8-10 years).
   It is a little shocking that this book (and Bob Brant's Build Your Own Electric Vehicle, published in 1994 and not upbdated) are the only ones available for this exciting, rapidly changing field.



2. in an era of gloabal warming, high gas prices and a growing feeling of helplessness its nice to have a book that tells you haw you can make a positive impact by doing your own conversion.
   
   the steps are clear the layout is concise and when there are options they discuss pros and cons of your choices.



3. The book is a quick read and goes over the details of constructing an EV. Focuses mainly on the construction and is light on the background and concepts.



4. author michael p. brown says this book is a step by step of what is involved in converting a petrol to electric and that is exactly what you get for a novice ev converter its all you will need --- bar a lot of motivation



5. Very good introduction to EV conversions. Worth the price just for the practical tips and process information. Written in the early 90's, so it lacks information on newer motor systems (eschews AC because of complexity) and recent battery technology (lithium ion, etc.). It really could use and update... I'm sure there have been advances in the last 15 years. Mr. Brown is still offering workshops in EV conversion in Seattle and runs a conversion supply company (Electro Automotive). Interestingly he offers newer AC kits through his operation. If you're serious about converting to electric, this book is a good place to start.

5 comments about The Physics of NASCAR: How to Make Steel + Gas + Rubber = Speed.

1. This is an entertaining, informative, and very unusual book. The author has actually written two books, one about NASCAR technology and one about elementary physics; however, she has melded them seamlessly into something rare: a serious academic book that is so entertaining that you forget it's serious.
   
   On one level, the book is about how NASCAR race cars are engineered, constructed, and adjusted to enable them to achieve two often contradictory goals: safety and high performance. On another level, the book is about the basic principles of physics and chemistry, including motion, fluid dynamics, combustion, materials science, etc. The uniqueness of the book derives from the way she combines the two, using car racing to illustrate the scientific principles.
   
   I'm a NASCAR fan, and I have a pretty good background in science. I found this book engaging on both of those levels. At the same time, I think it would be a very valuable book for a casual fan-- or even a non-fan-- to read. It makes the sport come alive as something much, much more than just a bunch of guys who stomp on the gas and turn left.
   
   I thought this was a valuable, enjoyable book, and I recommend it most highly.



2. I'm not a NASCAR fan by any stretch of the imagination. But this book's title intrigued me. Browsing through it and seeing all the interesting diagrams convinced me that I should buy it and read it. I did and I was not disappointed. The author, a physicist, is a gifted expositor of scientific principles at a level ideal for the general reader. She explains, using many useful analogies (and no mathematics), the finer points involved in building an automobile suitable for racing the NASCAR circuits. The book could just as easily have been entitled "The Science of NASCAR" since sciences other than physics are also involved and explained, e.g., chemistry, metallurgy, aerodynamics, engineering, biology, etc. In addition to the science, the author gives a fascinating overview of some of the dedicated people who are involved in building and racing a potentially winning car as they do their work before, during and after a race. The writing style is clear, authoritative, very accessible and quite engaging. Based on the way this book is written, it can be enjoyed by absolutely anyone, not only science buffs or NASCAR fans.



3. I'm a forty-something, female, liberal arts graduate who works in healthcare marketing, but I felt like the book was written just for me. It was entertaining and educational; and now I have a new appreciation for a sport I've barely noticed. But my new heros aren't Jeff Gordon or Dale Jr....it's the hundreds of men (and the occasional woman) to design, build, and manage the cars.



4. I found the book very informative. I know the sport well but found the book going into details that I never
   considered. It is easy reading and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in NASCAR!!



5. The author gets into details regarding how to build
   a supercar. In doing so, many scientific explanations
   are set forth in easy-to-understand language.
   
   For instance, engineering slip involves defects or
   missing atoms which can be corrected by placing more
   counterbalancing defects. Mild steels promote
   magnetism. The use of iron increases the melting point.
   Cross-linking of materials; such as, polymers can increase
   strength overall. Tighter tolerances provide for more
   precise measures. Adding small metallic flakes to paint
   allows for added coloration.
   
   The idea of engineering torque and power are dependent
   upon the structure of the engine. The Nascar engine
   gets 850 horsepower. Both beryllium and copper valves
   dissipate heat better than steel by the author.
   
   The author presents a study of wind tunnel airflow.
   Slower moving area exerts greater pressure on machinery
   wings aerodynamically. Airlift can be best achieved
   when the top of the wing is more curved than the bottom.
   Lastly, the author extols the advantage of good welding
   in the manufacture process.
   
   The book provides an excellent perspective on how to
   build a virtually indestructible Nascar !
   It should be read widely by race car enthusiasts and
   auto buffs in general.

5 comments about How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive 19 Ed: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot.

1. My father's motto regarding do-it-yourself repairs was "anything you can do, someone else can do better." I heard that refrain hundreds of times when I was a kid and a teenage, trying to learn how things work and how to fix them when they break. Reading this book and "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" were breakthrough moments in my life. I owe a good bit of my life and career to John Muir. Learning that I could disassemble a complicated (at the time, for me) engine and return it to its proper place in working order opened up a world of technology to me and I have never looked back to this book with anything but affection.
   
   I no longer own a VW (after 20 years of several bugs and vans), but I still love this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.



2. It tells you everything you need to know about our beloved VW's, and how to fix the problems in a step-by-step procedures. The drawings are a class in its own and very illustrative. Maybe the book is little outdated because of the date it was published but it has plenty of liner lones about the latter VW models and appendix articles as well.
   
   What I really loved about this book it at the end, where it gives you a list of the most common troubles your VW can come across in any circumstances, and a guide of what to do to solve it (referring, of course, to the specific chapter where that is being covered).
   A must for all the VW nuts!



3. If you have an air-cooled Volkswagen (or three) you need this book. This is the first manual you should buy. Seriously.



4. This is the essential manual for all air cooled VW's. Great guide for beginners. Teaches: valve adjustments, timing, clutch adjustments, engine removal, steering box adjustment, brakes, etc. Provides mechanical foundation for any make auto repairs. Must have.



5. Amazing book, everything you need to know about Volkswagens with great drawings and good humor.

5 comments about Build Your Own Electric Vehicle.

1. This well written, engaging book was written in 1994, and badly needs to be updated. The technologies have changed (batteries, motors, controllers), the candidates for cars to convert have changed (for example, you need to be very careful with the computer-driven dashboards and controls of most cars built in the past 8-10 years), and the assumptions about oil prices, electricity prices, and the global energy picture have changed.
   It is a little shocking that this book (and Michael Brown's Convert It, published in 1993 and not upbdated) are the only ones available for this exciting, rapidly changing field.



2. This is a great first book to learn about electric vehicles. It includes history of EVs, design notes and formulas for those interested in predicting the results of a conversion. All written in a clear and understandable fashion, even for the novice, though even those with knowledge of EVs will learn. Lots of information so it takes some time to read, but is well worth it.



3. I read the book and especially chapter 11 (actual conversion of the Ranger) I found the math in the book to be beyond my comprehension. I understood the point just to much math and explanation of the math. I have now read two books about converting cars to electric power. This book had more detail than the previous book which on one hand I liked. It would be nice to have an update on the book as this book was written over ten years ago there has been advancement in the areas of AC electric motor, controllers and batteries.



4. The book is practically a collection of mind maps of various decision trees and other concepts... The text probably is adequate for designing a decent conversion. It's pretty useful if you don't mind the author's quirks.



5. I liked this book a lot, it reads well, it provides the "how to" information in the title but also a lot of background information. The only real defect I can find in it is the date of last update (1993). Suprisingly, most of what is said is still valid, but there are some things missing which did not exist then or were not mature enough. Some recommendations actually got even better: the "AC propulsion" system, which is already much praised in the book, went on to even greater success in the Tesla roadster. Just get someone (the author, if still active, or someone else) to update it for 2008 new technologies.

5 comments about Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well.

1. Lots of information on Street riding, covers many topics. Some topics are very basic. But he is a good teacher and explains all of his concepts well.
   If I had one book this would be it. A motorcycle classic.



2. This is an excellent book. I have practiced the recommended exercises on my motorcycle. They are very good and have improved my slow speed control and my cornering.



3. A great source of info and should be handed down to any new rider to ride and study.



4. I bought this book the day after I purchased my first motorcycle. I made a promise to myself, and my mother, that I would take every step to being as careful as possible, so I decided I would read this book and take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (www.msf-usa.org) Rider Course before I began to ride. I am very thankfull that I bought and read this book completely before I took my first ride. There are to many points made in this book to point out, but I'll put it this way; two minutes into my first ride I found myself mentally and physically practicing the fundamentals discussed in the book. Needless to say, the challenge of riding a motorcyle is more than any other vehicle, but knowing some of the things I learned from this book began paying off immediatley. There are so many things taught in this book that novices like myself are not aware of when it comes to riding, especially in an urban environment. And like most of the other reviews state, do yourself a favor and read this book whether your a begginer or experienced rider. Excellent manual on riding safe, which ultimatley leads to enjoying the ride! Thanks for writing this book Mr. Hough.



5. If you ride a motorcycle, you should read this book every Spring. David Hough knows how to save your life and your skin, and how to keep the shiny side up, and puts it together in a very appealing style, with useful photos and illustrations. Keep riding. Stay out of the ER. Read this book and then pass it along to your riding buddy.