This was originally written for Radio Controlled Cars back in 1992. It was a 100 page book. It did not sell well, so I gave it to the world's largest RC Car manufacturing company. This is a copy from that website today. It is still applicable to all cars. Timeless because it is the basic math/theory.

Marc's Car Handling Guide explains some of the theory behind car handling and racing. If you want to understand the technical secrets behind a winning setup, this is the place. Because its highly technical detail is probably not something you are used to reading, you'll have to give the guide more study than you normally would a web page. Of course, you can have fun without car handling theory, but you will always be wondering why everyone else's car is faster!

 

Tracking the Roll Centers

This picture shows one of the roll centers of a car. Notice how it moves up and down with body roll (cornering forces).

This web guide was marketed through RC Mania in the mid '90s. It's many sales prompted the decision to post it on the web. The information is timeless. In late 2000, Team Associated was offered the chance to post it as part of Associated's web site.

This information is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding car handling dynamics. For more in-depth research, Marc suggests you get a copy of the 890-page Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by William and Douglas Milliken.