One way you can tell the success and worthiness of a book is by how many times it has been reprinted; and in this case, we're talking at least 10 times. This book is that good.

First published in 1954, Philip H. Smith's The Design and Tuning of Competition Engines has been revised and updated through the years; the latest version from Bentley Publishers is 544 pages in length, with 300 photographs and diagrams. My copy (shown her), which I bought back in the mid-1970s, is the 468-page version, but you can tell from the tattered cover jacket that it's been read and re-read many times.

Measuring just 5.75 x 8 inches in size, this hardcover book packs all the information you need to know regarding the hows and whys of high-performance engine design and tuning. And it's written in a manner that is easy to read and understand, without being overly technical.

The book opens with a chapter on thermodynamics, and how heat affects engine operation. The Otto Cycle, horsepower, torque and other theories are all clearly explained. Then the author discusses the production of power and how compression ratios, valve size and gas velocity can alter an engine's power development. Then each and every engine component is well explained, not only for water-cooled engines but for air-cooled engines, too.

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