Anatomy of Vehicle Performance

About the Book

With this book and published vehicle test data, the reader will be able to determine the following:

• Acceleration with passenger and luggage loads selected by the reader.
• Hill climbing capabilities with passenger and luggage loads plus speed selected by the reader.
• Highway fuel mileage with passenger and luggage loads plus speed selected by the reader.
• All performance specifications can be modified to find the values over high altitude roads selected by the reader.
• Trailer towing capacities with loads and speeds selected by the reader.
• Maximum speeds in each gear of a manual transmission with loads selected by the reader.
• Compare data with other vehicles that are considered most important by the reader. A good compromise should reveal the best vehicle to buy.
• Engine performance changes with alternate fuels and supercharging.

About the Author

The author is a native of San Jose, California, and received his BSME - Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering - from San Jose University.

Although his entire career has been in the area of computer peripherals, his passion has been for the vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.

By the 1980's, the author's analysis procedures were used to aid in selecting a new vehicle for purchase. Several analyses were made for friends and associates to aid them in selecting a vehicle for purchase.

After the author's retirement in 1996, he became a consultant to Sam Wheeler, the designer, builder, and rider of the E-Z-HOOK streamliner motorcycle for racing of the Bonneville salt flats. Sam set a new land speed record, sanctioned by the Southern California Timing Association, of 332.420 MPH in August of 2004.

The author's second client, Mike Akatiff, contacted him in January 2003. The #899 streamliner motorcycle "Ack Attack" was completed in August of 2004, and set a land speed record for gasoline powered motorcycles of 328.304 MPH at Bonneville sanctioned by the SCTA.