Expert: Dan Liddy - 3/2/2008

Question
Dan
  I would like a recommendation for book on set-up on race car suspension and interactions. I race a SRF in the SCCA so there are limited modifications we can do. What I am most interested in is how different set-up changes interact and affect the handling of the car. I have a few books on the subject, but they tend to go into to much detail on how to modify the suspension rather than how to adjust what you have to work with.


Answer
Hi Bill:  

I am vaguely familiar with the SRF car, and understand about the rules. I've been racing in ITC, GT-4 and SPU for about 20 years. The SRFs had about an 8 car SNAFU last weekend at Sebring !

The book I use as my Bible is "How To Make Your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn (or Phun) You should be able to find it at any larger book store, or worst case, they'll order it for you.  It's about $16 and well worth it.

Fred's explanations are quite clear; all are based on the concept that the contact patch is what controls all else. He explains weight and balance , the use of anti roll bars, even asymmetrical adjustments of the anti roll bars to gain a little weight on one corner.

I'd suggest you read through the entire thing first, then go back to chapters that you find challenging. Read them a second time, and THEN take your body off and look at what the good people at Roush and SCCA have given you. You'll need at lease 4 small engineers rulers, the little steel 6" ruler marked in 64ths. of an inch.  It's got a nifty little slider you can use to mark things and such. Also some string, plumb bobs and assorted other junk.

There's a thing called a weight checker in Fred's book, they're about $160 and will help you a lot with primary set up stuff.  Don't buy a set of scales ($1000 + ) until you thoroughly understand what you're trying to accomplish.

That's about all I can think of at the moment, feel free to ask for more !!

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida