Archive for Items Categorized 'Technology', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

Béla Barényi: Pioneer of Passive Safety at Mercedes-Benz

by Harry Niemann

Born into the age of the horseless carriage young Barényi had a knack for engineering and an uncommonly acute awareness of unintended safety hazards—so he built himself a racing sleigh with a padded steering wheel! One of his many innovations may well have saved your life.

OBD-I & OBD-II, A Complete Guide to Diagnosis, Repair, and Emissions Compliance  

by Greg Banish

Are you the sort of person who puts masking tape over that annoying Check Engine light? If your car has an ECU, realize that more and more states require a recent OBD-reader analysis in order to renew registration.

Now I Get It! Every Driver’s Handbook

by Lewis McCaw

A new car ain’t cheap—so don’t ruin it by not understanding what it needs from you. Strange lights/noises/smells are not normal. Clear language and good analogies make this book easy to understand and remember.

The History of GM’s Ramjet Fuel Injection

by Kenneth W. Kayser

Ramjet fuel injection has been around since the 1950s—and you can still order it straight out of the current Chevrolet Performance Parts catalog. But the new electronic version has only visual similarities to the old mechanical system—and none of its problems. This book by a long-time GM engineer has the whole story.

F1: The Pinnacle, The Pivotal Events That Made F1 the Greatest Motorsport Series

by Tony Dodgins and Simon Arron

From technical and regulatory issues to people and places, this book connects those dots in time whose influence were not fleeting but gave form to what the sport is now and, more importantly, will be tomorrow.

Holman-Moody: The Legendary Race Team

by Tom Cotter and Al Pearce

If Shelby American is the only association you make with Ford racing then this book will expand your horizon. Holman-Moody was active at the same time but a much, much, much bigger player.

Zenith Trans-Oceanic, The Royalty of Radios

by John Bryant and Harold Cones

Among vintage radio aficionados Zenith’s Trans-Oceanic models are both legendary and often a radio collector’s most prized possession.

Internal Fire, The Internal Combustion Engine 1673–1900

by C. Lyle Cummins, Jr.

Follow the history of the internal-combustion engine from as far back as the 1600s to sideshows such as the use of gunpowder as a motive force to its ca. 1900—and still absurdly inefficient—iteration.

Acoustical Materials, Solving the Challenge of Vehicle Noise  

by Pranab Saha

Can you hear me now? Ever chased a mystery sound? Ever thought it’s only in your head? Sound is different things in different contexts. In physics it is expressed as an acoustic wave. In psychology it’s the reception of that wave and its perception by the brain. This book tells you just how complicated it is to manage.

Colin Chapman: Inside the Innovator (republished)

by Karl Ludvigsen

When this important 2010 book went out of print, it left a hole. Thank goodness it’s back, in exactly the same form. History has had no reason to fundamentally change its views of the mercurial Lotus founder in the interim so the recollections and analysis gathered here remain valid.

The Hack Mechanic Guide to European Automotive Electrical Systems

by Rob Siegel

Not driving your modern car for a week or more? Trouble! Battery four years old? Trouble! If this book saves you only one service call it’ll pay for itself.

Engine Design Concepts for World Championship Grand Prix Motorcycles

by Alberto A. Boretti, Editor

If friction and spark and power density keep you awake at night, cozy up to this book. A broad overview of WCGP racing and micro detail analysis of highly technical concepts