Sports Car and Competition Driving [Paperback]

Paul Frere (Author), Phil Hill (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Driving | Publication Date: April 2003

As an accomplished racer and a trained engineer, Paul Frre- Le Mans winner, Grand Prix driver, and Road & Track Magazine's European editor-is unusually qualified to discuss both the practical skills necessary to become a top driver and the physics behind vehicle dynamics. Indeed, as 1961 World Driving Champion Phil Hill remarks in his foreword, "It is the analytical ability of Paul the engineer matched to the perception of Paul the race driver that makes "Sports Car and Competition Driving" such a valuable book...Considerable amounts of time can be gained on track by a driver utilizing the countless lessons in this 'textbook'."

First published in 1963, "Sports Car and Competition Driving" sold tens of thousands of copies, establishing it as the definitive book on driving. Now Frre has revised and updated his classic to explain to drivers how to meet the new challenges posed by radical advances in technology.

Frre discusses the physical laws governing a car at speed, giving particular emphasis to the critical areas where the most time is won or lost: the corner. He also recommends proven approaches to practicing, setting up a car, qualifying, passing, and endurance racing-to name only a few of the many topics covered.

With 78 photographs, illustrations and diagrams, including historical shots of great drivers in competition, "Sports Car and Competition Driving" is required reading for anyone interested in racing or becoming a more masterful driver on the road.

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Bentley Publishers (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0837602025
• ISBN-13: 978-0837602028
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #685,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Professional & Technical > Automotive > Driver's Education

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very friendly book!, November 21, 2004

By 

Maxim Masiutin (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sports Car and Competition Driving (Paperback)

From the first glance, I liked that book much! It is written in a very friendly tone, clear language! It begins with a large chapter about the driving position; there are lots of photos with the right and wrong poses, with analysis of each case. The evolution of the correct driving position is also exposed. Then goes a chapter about power, torque and when to change the gear to achieve different goals: fuel economy, engine lifetime, maximum speed. After that there is a section about the correct braking and pedaling.

The author has dedicated a large topic of this book to quick and safe cornering, explaining the forces and vectors that act upon the axes and wheels; about the oversteer and understeer, about slipping, sliding and skidding. There are very simple and clear formulas to calculate the total adhesion of a wheel with the road.

The rest of the books is about the sport events: how to prepare and how to perform. Should the generic reader be aware of the contests, right?

The detailed reading of the book has shown some arguable points. For example, the author is glorifying the ABS in one chapter and writes about controlled slide in another chapter, not mentioning the controlled slide is hardly possible with ABS. It seems that the textual fragments which were added in the second edition of the book about the modern whistles-and-bells like ABS are not well aligned with the rest of the book (that's why four stars only) which Paul Frere has published in the first edition, and this original text about physics of cornering is just brilliant!

However, if you liked a better book about cornering and not filled with much information about sport events, I would have recommended numerous textbooks by Professor Tsygankov, who has even a separate textbook about the correct handling of the steering wheel. This subject is almost overlooked by Paul Frere.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars AMAZINGLY Technical!, April 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sports Car and Competition Driving (Paperback)

This book is full of formulas for computing maximum theorhetical speed through corners, and the like. The information is presented in a way that people with several seasons under their belts could use, but definitely NOT for the beginner, unless you happen to also hold a PHD in physics. If you are considering writing a video game, THIS is the book for you. It has all the formulas you'll need to make your car handle realistically.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thinking man's book to driving fast, August 16, 2010

By 

Ed (Altadena, California United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sports Car and Competition Driving (Paperback)

This is a thinking person's book, from a great world class driver. Eloquently written and clear advice combined with basic level formulas, photos, and illustrations to get the messages to the reader on multiple planes of communication. Approaching fifty years since it was first released, the immensely practical advice in this book is timeless. Frere provides not just "tips" to drive fast, but concepts and tools to develop your own thinking and analytical skills to learn how to handle all manner of challenges on the road and track. It promotes "safe" as much if not more than fast, and that is all the more reason to have, read, study and practice the lessons it provides.