The Physics of NASCAR: How to Make Steel + Gas + Rubber = Speed | 
 enlarge | Author: Diandra Leslie-pelecky
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 10802
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 286
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.8
ISBN: 0525950532
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.720153
EAN: 9780525950530
ASIN: 0525950532
Publication Date: February 14, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! NEW Book! May have remainder mark. Most orders ship within 1 BUSINESS DAY with ORDER CONFIRMATION.
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Product Description
Every NASCAR fan at one time or another asks the same question: Why isnt my favorite driver winning? This is your chance to discover how much more there is to NASCAR than Go fast, turn left and dont crash. If youve ever wondered why racecars dont have mufflers, how bump drafting works, or what in the world Lets go up a pound on the right rear and add half a round of wedge means, The Physics of NASCAR is for you.
In this fast-paced investigation into the adrenaline-pumping world of NASCAR, a physicist with a passion uncovers what happens when the rubber hits the road and 800- horsepower vehicles compete at 190 miles per hour only inches from one another.
Diandra Leslie-Pelecky reveals how and why drivers trust the engineering and science their teams literally build around them not only to get them across the finish line in first place, but also to keep them alive. Professor Leslie-Pelecky is a physicist in love with the sports beauty and power and is uniquely qualified to explain exactly how physics translates into winning races.
Based on the authors extensive access to race shops, pit crews, crew chiefs and mechanics, this book traces the life cycle of a race car from behind the scenes at top race shops to the track. The Physics of NASCAR takes readers right into the ultra competitive world of NASCAR, from the champion drivers hot seat behind the detachable steering wheel to the New Zealander nicknamed Kiwi in charge of shocks for the No. 19 car.
Diandra Leslie-Pelecky tells her story in terms anyone who drives a car--and maybe occasionally looks under the hood--can understand. How do drivers walk away from serious crashes? How can two cars travel faster together than either car can on its own? How do you dress for a 1800F gasoline fire? In simple yet detailed, high-octane prose, this is the ultimate thrill ride for armchair speed demons, auto science buffs, and NASCAR fans at every level of interest.
Readers, start your engines.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 An Excellent Introduction July 19, 2008
In her book, "The Physics of NASCAR", author Diandra Leslie-Pelecky takes the reader inside the sometimes ignored world of engineers and gearheads to get a glimpse of the science that is used to make a car travel at speed of nearly 200 mph while still being consistently drivable. Pelecky follows the story into the garages and mobile offices (haulers) of several NASCAR teams to get an up-close understanding of the issues that car fabricators, engine builders, crews and drivers face in their quest to capture the checkered flag at the end of a long week of work.
The book is very much written at an introductory level with no prior knowledge of physics, chemistry or auto-racing assumed. With chapters on nearly everything of any importance related to going fast and doing it safely, Pelecky does an excellent job of balancing the technical side of the topic with stories and descriptions of the real human beings that make it all happen. Nowhere will the reader feel like they have gotten lost in an avalanche of technical jargon and yet most readers will feel as if they have a much deeper understanding of what it takes to run fast.
The only contention I might have is that I would have liked to have seen a bit more information on the specific effects of aerodynamic changes and a discussion of the engineering of tires to provide more grip. These however are minor points that are likely more based on personal preference than any real defect int he book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in NASCAR or auto racing in general and who finds the network spots on the car leaving them wishing for more. You'll find most of that more here in a way that is easily accessible to nearly anyone.
The Trek to the Track June 28, 2008
For less than a price of a hat feature the sponsor's logo of your favorite driver or most new die-casts, you can get an easy-to-understand explanation of what makes the NASCAR hot-rod get around the track every Sunday afternoon.
Through the use of diagrams and text, author Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, a physicist at the University of Texas - Dallas, delves into the chemistry, physics and - yes - the human element in the quest to develop the perfect ride.
Doing everything but throwing a helmet down on the ground in the initial chapters, Leslie-Pelecky discusses the chassis, diagrams how welding works, and some nuances in the game, like how the white paint on a car appears white to our eyes. But getting the car onto the track is where the book picks up speed. She reports on the kinetics of racing through engines, brakes, tires, drag and lift.
Leslie-Pelecky gets a reader as close to the real action of the sport and the NASCAR fan will not view that favorite die-cast in the same way ever again.
Don't let "physics" or "NASCAR" scare you away June 27, 2008
NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing,
even if "stock" is totally wrong, and "car" is just barely right.
NASCAR racing is a popular sport, mostly in the southern US, and
is frequently derided and sneered at by some others, as ignorant
hicks driving in circles.
You do not have to be a NASCAR fan, or even an auto racing fan of
any type, or even a scientist or engineer to enjoy this entertaining
and informative book. Most readers that are interested in how things
work or why it is done that way -- machines, businesses, recipes,
societies, whatever -- will enjoy this book. Those without much
background in any quantitative science can still enjoy the book.
The science is McGiver or Discovery Channel level. Those of us with
a strong background will not be disappointed; the science is almost
always right, and the exceptions are useful for the story, such as
"the oxygen atom wants to ..."
The most interesting parts, for me, were the technical details,
including the economics. There is nothing stock about a NASCAR
stock car. The frame is a custom design that is hand made. No part
of the sheet metal has ever appeared on any production car.
Your car might have four valves per cylinder, but NASCAR limits
the cars to two. New valves are needed for each race, and those that
will last an entire race cost about $60 each. Your car might have dual
overhead cams, but NASCAR demands pushrods. Your car probably has
fuel injection, but NASCAR demands a particular carburetor. All of
these make your car more powerful, faster, and last longer than if
it used the technology NASCAR demands. But the NASCAR engine runs
half again as fast as yours and produces three times the power.
Those hicks create their own computational fluid dynamics programs,
run multiple regression analyses, use the techniques of design of
experiments, and fill the gas tank, clean the windshield, adjust
the suspension, and change four tires in 14.5 seconds. They debate
which gas to inflate tires with, compute the ideal tire pressure
for each of the four tires, and make adjustments of 1/2 psi in
one tire in case they did not get it perfect on the first try.
NASCAR uses RFID to score the race and enforce the speed limit
in the pits.
The competition is tough, and tight. One team thought they lost
one second on one turn during one qualifying lap; it cost them
sixteen places in the starting lineup. "Each race is different"
is not just a cliche. A small temperature or humidity difference
can have a substantial effect on lap times, and not all in the
same direction for all cars. The "best" aerodynamics depends on
the track. Even fuel economy is important. One extra pit stop
can cost many places in the final results.
This is a fun and informative read. I might even watch a
NASCAR race someday soon.
An interesting book June 18, 2008
As a Yurpeen, my knowledge of NASCAR racing, prior to reading this book, consisted of the knowledge that it exists. However, as someone who has worked all his life in professional science, I've always been interested in the interaction of science with everyday life. I found this book fascinating. Professor Leslie-Pelecky covers a vast amount of ground, ranging from the nature and structure of materials to the physical forces operating on a racecar. At times the explanations are too simplistic, and she occasionally gets things wrong, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise very entertaining and informative book, which hopefully will encourage people to consider science not as something remote, done only in laboratories, but as having relevance to the world around us.
A new NASCAR Afficionado May 29, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I loved that book, and read it in two sittings and have lost track of my copy, since it is being passed around by a bunch of my colleagues who are some of the best aerospace engineers in the world. Thus it gets my 5 star seal of approval.
I have to admit that I never was really interested in any NASCAR activity. For me NASCAR was synonymous with huge, loud, beer swilling, funny hated and sun burned crowds. The millions of people that spent their time and a small fortune to watch a few dozen cars roll around a track driven by good old boys trained in the hinterlands of home made moonshine country, with the accompanying noise dust and yelling from the hyper heated crowd, was absolutely not my cup of tea. Something I am sure, is difficult to find around the tracks, at Talladega or other Texas Motor Speedways.
So smug in my opinion, I do not remember what attracted me when I saw the gaudy colored cover of this book, beside the title. Being an aerospace engineer with about as many degrees as stickers on a "Car of Tomorrow" body, I was intrigued by the title. Was there really physics in NASCAR?
The instant I opened the book, I was hooked. The science is not exactly graduate school stuff, which is perfect for this type of popular books, but it refreshed some of my undergraduate memories and it is with delight that I jumped in with both feet and read the book in two sittings. That I was amazed is an understatement, I was even more delighted. A complete new world opened to me. The clear, concise and easily to follow physics lesson by Dr. Diandre Leslie-Pelecky are a delight to read, at least for an avid science reader as myself. It is maybe asking too much of each of these above described NASCAR fans to be excited by basic metallurgy, or the atomic structure of hydro carbons, or an explanation of turbulence and other air flows, but they should maybe be interested in problems like "roof lift", which maybe could cause some mayhem. By the way, I learned how extremely important the safety aspect of the race, for drivers and cars is for the NASCAR management.
From the descriptions of how to built the car, to the physics of aero dynamism, and going through a complete explanation of what happens physically when the rubber really meets the road, I was enthralled, excited and hooked. The biggest surprise was the rigorous rules and severe inspections of NASCAR racing. Even the spoilers are standard and cannot be customized.
Let me inform future readers of that book that the RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology has been proposed and recommended by the FAA, yet still not installed by Boeing nor AIRBUS in their advanced airplanes, but NASCAR has it in their cars!
Now, I know who Elliott Sadler is, and next time I watch a NASCAR race on my TV, I will root for car No 19!
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