What I'm thinking is, I'd love to add to my foundation of automotive knowledge with some in depth understanding of things like:

ECUs
Bump/Rebound
Gearing
Differentials
Shocks
ARBs
Forced Induction
etc.

What I think would be a great idea (if it doesn't exist already) is a class, preferably an online course, where you meet at a certain time, plug in a microphone, and have real time instruction on tuning. I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat.

I did it as a real estate agent when I was with Century 21. They had a 6 week online course dedicated to our field. It was fantastic, and I did it from in front of my computer.

If anyone already knows of something like this, let me know.

 

I know there are EFI tuning classes available... they're generally one or two day courses that run over a weekend...

That will teach you the basics of tuning a stand-alone stand alone engine management system, but the only way to really learn is to actually do it yourself...

Anyone else care to chime in on the rest?

 

Tuning is engineering + practical knowledge. Race teams hire engineers.

My old Fedex driver had an R32 he wanted to tune. He quoted a bunch of questionable ideas he read in tuner magazines. I recommended he stop reading the magazines and pick up this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Tune-Win-Carroll-Smi...42510273&sr=1-4

Don't be put off by the book's age. The principle are still quite valid. Good starting point.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Engine-Management-Ad...42512983&sr=1-1

 

[QUOTE=949Racing,May 16 2009, 02:02 PM]Tuning is engineering + practical knowledge. Race teams hire engineers.

My old Fedex driver had an R32 he wanted to tune. He quoted a bunch of questionable ideas he read in tuner magazines. I recommended he stop reading the magazines and pick up this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Tune-Win-Carroll-Smi...42510273&sr=1-4

Don't be put off by the book's age.

 

I think you're looking for an online/distance learning course for Motorsports Engineering. The only places that I have seen that offer these degrees are from Colorado State University (Masters and Doctorates Degrees only) and Aflred State University of New York (Bachelors Degree). But, those don't offer and distance learning programs.

 

Those are wildly complex subjects when you starting digging into them... magazines keep things simple for the masses, it really depends on how much you want to learn. If you just want to know how to tune your own car using other peoples parts etc., then look no further than the internet lol

 

He may be referring to F1 but the tuning/concepts apply to every form of motorsport. Tune to win is a very easy book (but to the point, laymen terms). If its over your head, there are much more complex books out there... suspension dynamics is a very very deep subject.
TheNick recommended Warren Royley's "Race Car Engineering" (book I), after reading milliken&milliken, its definitely a more practical book when it comes to applying engineering. It also comes with some amazing software (WinGeo). Its a must have book, pick it up...

 

Not trying to be mean BUT if any of the "X to Win" books are over your head then DON'T get Rowley or Milliken or really any book mentioned so far. Try something simple like van Valkenburgh's Race Car Engineering and Mechanics or Adams' Making Your Car Handle. Then start volunteering with an amateur race driver near you during race weekends - that will get you started to where these concepts begin to make sense. After that perhaps graduate to the previously mentioned books, Glimmerveen's or Roulle's classes or better crew for pro teams.

 

get an internship at a tuning shop if they'll let you