How to Build Motorcycle-engined Racing Cars Speedpro Speedpro Series: Amazon.co.uk: Tony Pashley: Books

Review

The Motor Cycling Club, September 2008
UK club newsletter
Circ: approx 1000
Having spent the summer of 1956 with a Cooper JAP, after which I never wished to see anything engined by something from a motorcycle again (although I broke that vow the following year when I raced an outboard hydroplane with a similar motor), my face was wreathed in a wry smile when I read this title. However, we should remember that modern motorcycles are powered by something much more sophisticated than the poor old speedway JAP with its total loss lubrication system, which liberally coated the driver with evil smelling castor-based oil, although in my case it fortunately never had the dire effects on my digestive system that my father suffered in WW1 when he had to sit for hours on end in an open cockpit breathing from a slipstream full of castor oil droplets. Apart from bringing back a few memories I enjoyed this book which is much wider in scope than its title suggests and indeed deals with most aspects of designing and building a special, certainly not confining itself to the whys and wherefores of modern motorcycle engines. Although looking specifically at something for the track much of the content would be of interest and helpful to any member who is contemplating a trials special or even modifying an existing car. It's not light reading although easy to follow and I suggest that once read it will frequently be taken from the bookcase for reference. Worth having.

teamdan.com, July 2008
http: //www.teamdan.com/archive/2008/book_review/book_reviews.html
When this book landed on my doormat I opened it with much interest, as it isn't something I would normally read about.If I show the book to my wife I know that there will be a polite look of interest followed by a snort of derision at the idea of me building a car. I might have the spanner set, but they are still largely unscratched and unused in their original carry case, unsullied by grease and oil. But how hard can it be anyway - I was exceedingly handy with a technical Lego set as a child! Reading the introduction entitled "Health Warning" didn't seem to me to be any different to my usual experiences. Mr. Pashley says "You'll also have suffered the ridicule and contempt of family and acquaintances as you neglect all of the duties and pastimes of the 'real world', and maybe, just maybe, excite a few feelings of respect and even envy in the folk whose views you care about." It sounds as though building a motorcycle-engined race car is just like maintaining my website!
The book has certainly achieved one of its aims - it has convinced me that I would be unable to do it. It takes you step by step through the entire construction process, highlighting all of the bits and pieces that you need to consider. However, to read the book it helps if you have some familiarity with metal working terminology - especially as you will be expected to construct your own chassis, either from metal tubing on aluminum honeycomb. If you don't know how to weld you ought to buy a companion volume and practice first, and if using glues, you will need something stronger than Pritt Stick. The book is about proper engineering ...
--UK club newsletter

Product Description

If you are aspiring to build a racing car, this could be the book that you've been waiting for! Tony Pashley revisits the path that he took in the Pashley Project articles in Race Tech magazine during the design and construction of two successful hillclimb cars, but this time in great detail, with a view to enabling the reader to carry out a similar exercise for themselves. Although hillclimb and sprint cars are the focal topic, a lot of the book is applicable to race cars in general. The cars under discussion in the book are powered by motorcycle engines, which are meeting with great success in the smaller racing car classes. The total process of building a car is described, beginning with the selection and procurement of the engine. Chassis and suspension design is covered in a simplistic but adequate manner as the author's aim is to minimise the inclusion of involved calculations. Two recipes for chassis construction are illustrated in detail along, with guidance on the processes of construction and a description of the required equipment. Following on from this, the fabrication of the suspension is explained. Further chapters are dedicated to the remaining aspects of the vehicle, covering transmission, brakes, fuel and coolant systems, and electrics. The book is heavily illustrated with 200 photographs and extensive explanatory diagrams and tables. A vital addition to any would be kit car builders library.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

4 reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars

Write a customer review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

A Must Have For Any Budding Constructor! 22 Jan 2009

By Mr. Philip A. Bain

Format:Paperback

If you want to build a kit car, this is not the book for you. If however you have a budding designer wanting to embark on designing and constructing your own racing car this book is a must have. Its a very well put together book, guiding you through the process of designing and building a motorcycle engined racing car, with everything from engine selection, to design and construction. The best thing about this book is that it warns you of the pitfalls of various decisions that one could make, guiding you to design and plan your car so that you avoid such mistakes. For this alone its worth many times it's cover price as it will save you both time and money when it comes to design and build your car.

So in closing, if you want a book with full designs for a cookie cutter knock-off Caterham this isnt the book you want, but if you want to build a unique and competitive car for racing, sprinting or hillclimbing then buy this book right now!

Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Dissapointing 25 Oct 2008

By D. L. Anderton

I was dissapointed by this book. I thought it would show you chassis and suspension drawings, but alas not. It does give some good detail about how to build a racing car, but not to the same level as a haynes roadster or Ron Chapions book. So if you want a book that includes plans that you can use then look else where.

"One for the road?" 12 Sep 2011

By Simon_K

Covers a lot of stuff you will never use, but is none the less VERY informative. No 'Blueprints' I'm afraid, but you do get a good idea of the cars layout. If you are planning on building such a race car from scratch, my advice would be to invest in wood rather than steel to build the prototype chassis. Make your mistakes and THEN build from metal. Combined with the Haynes "Build a Roadster" book, you should be able to build something from scratch. The two books complement each other. If you have the time and skill, you have an awesome road car in the making.