Racecar: Searching for the Limit in Formula SAE

I have to admit I didn't set out to buy this book. I think I was looking in historical fiction and somehow from click to click I landed here.I am not terribly surplussed because I do buy a lot of automotive books, usually about the golden age of racing.Being free, it was not a hard decision, but my expectations were pretty low. The good reviews inspired me to give it a shot.A bit later I started reading it and I was hooked. The writer has a very easy going style and he makes you feel like you are part of the team trying to build this racecar. To me, this is a story that goes well beyond racecar building, driving or even competition. It's a story about people passionate about what they do. It could have been a racecar or a racehorse. It could have been a college band. It doesn't matter. The level of commitment, the sacrifices will resonate with everyone that has ever put hearth and soul into something they were passionate about.The fact that this is a racecar of course made it more interesting to me and more relevant to my own passion. Incidentally, I am still reading the book, although I am a few pages from the end.I definitely suggest this book to anyone interested in compelling stories and of course to anyone planning to go into the same field.I would also suggest this book to anyone married to someone so involved in a project or a hobby. It may give you insights on what drives your spouse to do what he or she does.The answer is: Because racecar

This is an interesting look into a little-known form of motorsport: race cars built as school projects by college students. It's also a glimpse into just what kind of obsession racing can become, as Matt Brown details how building and driving the car slowly begins to consume all of his (and his teammates') time and money. Everything falls by the wayside as these students spend up to eighteen hours in the shop in the pursuit of speed.This is a fun book, and if you're into racing at all, give it a spin. I wish I had known about Formula SAE when I was younger; if I had, I may have gone to school instead of the military. Of course, given how racing devours your time and money and often gives so little back, maybe it's good that I didn't.

What do you think would happen if you put a handful of college students in charge of designing, manufacturing, testing, and competing in their very own race car? Matt Brown, the head of the team, narrates a year in the life of just such a program at the University of Oklahoma.The book is enjoyable in every way. There is person-versus-person conflict between the various team members and their different philosophies and work ethics. There's person-versus-nature conflict, or perhaps person-versus-machine, as they try to cobble the car together, tweak it, tune it, and get it ready to go under harsh deadlines. There's person-versus-self conflict as Matt figures out what it means to be a leader and bring such a diverse team together in the pursuit of one objective. Matt does an excellent job of balancing all this conflict with major doses of humor, and the end result is a book that is simply a total blast to read. I think I finished it in less than 24 hours because I just couldn't put it down.It's highly accessible to readers who don't have a particular interest in racing or engineering, which means you have no excuse not to buy it and love it. Do so. Right now.

Great read!

One of the best books I've read written from the viewpoint of a racecar engineer, amateur or professional.

This book is an interesting read - which is mainly about "what it takes" to be successful. The headline subject won't appeal to everyone - but the dedication and commitment - show what it actually takes to reach the top. This book tells the unvarnished story of how to obsess about your passion - and how to turn that obsession into a successful career. This is a story that a lot more people in our world should read and understand - because it is all about how to succeed - with hard work and judicious use of brainpower.Much, much more than the history of a few geeks who like racecars.

Interesting book about a college racing team run by engineering students...This book is a well written and entertaining diary of the trials and tribulations of the OU racing team...Students on the team are committed to excellence, spending night and day working on their car...The book documents how addictive racing can be, but it also demonstrates the practical value of hands on experience. Racing is a sport that is always in a state of change, and teams are constantly making adjustments to stay competitive. Manufacturers like Honda understand the educational value of racing, and employ many of their young engineers in their racing programs...The prizes in all of the competitions are trophies and footnotes on a resume, but the top teams are dedicated to winning in this amateur sport...Recommend this book to anyone interested in racing, and engineering students with automotive aspirations...Great price for the digital version.

Not much of a read really. It is more like a journal. As an Engineering Major I can totally relate, but that doesn't make it a great read.

Well written

Si estás o has estado en algún equipo de Formula SAE/Student, te sentirás identificado.

Consigliato a chiunque voglia farsi un idea delle dinamiche di un team di ragazzi alle prese con un progetto capace di cambiare la loro vita. Una storia ricca e rinfrescante.

学生向けのフォーミュラカーの競技であるフォーミュラSAEに出場するための設計法について書かれています。競技用自動車の設計、開発に関心のある方にお勧めです。

I too was completely ignorant about Formula SAE, but that's OK: the author takes the time to explain what it's all about, and strikes the perfect balance- not patronizing, but not assuming I know everything either. This is a great book, with the author's passion for the subject shining through. Formula SAE is clearly a subject very dear to his heart, and his enthusiasm and knowledge drags the reader in. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone with a penchant for motorsport- think of it as Formula 1 for college students.