Customer Reviews

Classic Racing Engines: Design, Development and Performance of the World's Top Motorsport Power Units

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a Kansas Rancher who works with technology based at best in the 1970's. Bailing wire and duct tape can fix most of my problems. Ludvigsen writes for my understanding level; no high math or esoteric physics, just how the engine was designed; what new, different, or improved insights were polished to make a winner out of the raw product. From the individual product of the designer of the Kuchen 2-liter of 1952 to products of cubic money and scores of engineering departments of major manufactures like the Honda V-12 of 1992, Ludvigsen explains the reasons the design worked, why problems happened, and how the engine contributed to the evolution of mechanical knowledge. I enjoyed reading and using it as a frame of reference.

Wow.

I own hundreds of automotive books, but "Class Racing Engines" is the one that I read over and over. It combines deep technical information, fantastic photos, rare blueprints, and most important of all, Ludvigsen's unique ability to place things within a historical context.

What I like most about this book is how it puts you right in the shoes of the engine designer. What should the valve angle be? Hemispherical combustion chamber? Materials? Number of bearings? You get the picture... this book gets you deep into motor design and then wallows around in it. It's almost a sinful delight to read.

The photos & in-depth descriptions were far beyond what I expected. I'm hoping for a sequel.

Not as detailed in the 'specification' category as I first expected but who wants to read pages full of stats anyways? I've an automotive background so wanted to know more about every subject but given the few books dedicated to automotive engines this one is a keeper.

Weighted towards older engines but has a good look at more modern ones. It is interesting to look at the bhp/ton over the years as this illustrates the technology/ material / thinking differences.

I'm sure you could criticize it if you wanted but it has given me years of reading pleasure and will do for more to come I'm sure.

The damage to the book was worse than the description