Searching for the limit

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I’m back from the dead with something that you all might be interested in, and which might be also be shameless self-promotion.

One of the best things about Formula SAE is the stories you pick up along the way; from ill-advised keg parties in Detroit hotel rooms to that time a particular team from the Midwest accidentally set the better part of Missouri on fire. I decided to take the stories from our build blog, the emails, and the memories from my senior year and condense them down into a book.

I think this gives an entertaining account of not only my senior year, but paints a pretty good picture of life on a Formula team in general. I made it pretty accessible to people who don’t know FSAE but also entertaining for those who have been there, and hopefully helpful and illuminating to anyone on a team now.

Paperback (https://www.createspace.com/3708063) is a whopping $5 if you use this coupon code: NT6MWD8J. Ebooks are 99 cents for the Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00637KNZG), Nook (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Racecar/Matt-Brown/e/2940013642300), and iPad (http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/racecar/id475948135). iPad version is non DRM.

The first two chapters are free here in PDF (http://www.sevencargarage.com/racecarpreview.pdf) or EPUB (http://www.sevencargarage.com/racecarpreview.epub) .

I hope you enjoy the read, and I hope you also fondly remember the good times of your Formula experience, and conveniently forget the way it really was http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[RobbyObby]

Well, I'm hooked!
I'm surprised it's taken this long for someone to put together something like this. But I must say, it's brilliant.
You'll be gettin' my 5 bucks for sure.

[swong46]

This is great!
You just got $5 from me =D

[Bemo]

Damn, you're first. I'm writing a book rigth now about life in general - and big surprise, FASE is quite a big chapter.

[ed_pratt]

Ditto

This looks great, I've been waiting for someone to do this for a little while, I wondered if Geoff "Big Bird" Pearson was going to be the first but congratulations on getting it done first!

Ed

[NickFavazzo]

This awesome, you will be seeing my money shortlyhttp://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[vikram.]

awesome read.

[Xeilos]

Excellent. Money coming as well.

You literally just made my day. I was looking for something to do during my flight home. Watching Truth in 24 again will not take my entire flight, so a great read about FSAE/life will be perfect.

[Luniz]

Awesome! 5 US Dollars are on the way from Germany as well... Plus another 6.something for shipping. Createspace said it is going to be delivered 11th of January, wtf??? Is someone going to take it across the ocean in a rowing boat?

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I've kind of always expected a book or a made for tv movie or something about FSAE, there are so many people involved. Hopefully we can get some more books and stories written; I would love to see other people's adventures in FSAE.


Originally posted by Luniz:
Awesome! 5 US Dollars are on the way from Germany as well... Plus another 6.something for shipping. Createspace said it is going to be delivered 11th of January, wtf??? Is someone going to take it across the ocean in a rowing boat?

Wow, sorry for the wait, though $6 shipping halfway around the world isn't bad. If you want to PM me your email, I can send you the PDF.

[t21jj]

Looks like a great read!

[RacingManiac]

Wish I came here first lol....Bought it on Amazon for the full 10 beans...http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

No worries, looks like a good weekend killer...now that I am without FSAE of course...

[coastertrav]

I missed the discount, but wanted it in hardcover anyway. After reading the first two chapters I realized that I'd really like to have this survive many years to come, and had to get the hardcover.

Amazing work, and I really appreciate the effort you put into putting something like this together. Your writing style reminds me of Peter Egan, of Road & Track and Cycle World fame, full of humor that anyone with half a brain would understand, but enough technical input to keep the brain functioning.

[billywight]

You just got my money. Looks awesome from the preview, nice job!

[Nicky]

May sound naive, but I've never done net-banking. Mostly because I never trusted it. A good roll of small change took me through my 4 years. Got to know the security guy from the local bank quite well.

Cutting to the chase. I ran to the bank to get that setup so that I could pay for this book(the paper back one)!!! However, the delivery is on the 11th of Jan '12.

@Matt: I'll send you the email confirmation when I get that done. Cant wait for the hard copy!! Preview's amazing.

[Tom W]

All I can say Matt is screw you!

I really could have done with some more sleep last night to make the day at work a whole lot less painful! But hey there we go FSAE still stealing my sleep a year after I finished up with the team.

Genuinely though thank you for a great read, it reminded me of so many of my own experiences.

[mech5496]

It was about time that something like this comes up! Already ordered....http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[BrendonD]

I like that when I checkout, the line item is:

1 - Racecar - $10.00

Thanks for putting this into words, and putting those words into a book.

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

Hey, thanks guys. I like to think I'm a good engineer and a decent writer, but I know all of jack squat about marketing, so if you like the book it would be awesome if you could send out an email or two to car blogs or school papers or whatever. I don't really make any money on this (if you use the $5 coupon code, my take is a gargantuan $0.04), but it is cool to have readers, and to have the FSAE experience accessible to people who would otherwise not have it.

[Ben K]

Originally posted by Superfast Matt McCoy:
Hey, thanks guys. I like to think I'm a good engineer and a decent writer, but I know all of jack squat about marketing, so if you like the book it would be awesome if you could send out an email or two to car blogs or school papers or whatever. I don't really make any money on this (if you use the $5 coupon code, my take is a gargantuan $0.04), but it is cool to have readers, and to have the FSAE experience accessible to people who would otherwise not have it.

Looks like I'm not using the coupon code--you deserve more than .04 for this.

Ben

[BMH]

Purchased the electronic version for my kindle. I started reading the preview and got addicted to it and couldn't wait several days to get a chance to see what happens next. So far I am 15% into the book and love it!

Awesome job Matt! I will also be buying a hard copy of the book.

[Mike Cook]

Pretty awesome Matt. I've never been one for words, but if I were, I couldn't write it any better than that.

[RyMan]

I don't really make any money on this (if you use the $5 coupon code, my take is a gargantuan $0.04), but it is cool to have readers, and to have the FSAE experience accessible to people who would otherwise not have it.
Sounds like someone needs to cut out the middle man. Anyway I appreciate your philosophy but if anyone should make money off this it is the author, not the distributor.

[Christian Amersbach]

awesome job matt!!!
i was waiting for sth like this...
i ordered it after reading 5 pages of the preview..
now i need to wait until mid of january ;-(

[Test Driver]

Matt,

PM sent.

[Jean Paul]

Matt,

Awesome job! Thanks for putting something like this out there.


Cornell Racing

[Rachel]

Is this for your 2006-2007 car competing in Fontana? If so, I'm going to throw my Kindle out the window if I'm not mentioned. But seriously, I can't wait to read it.

[Wesley]

Rachel! I haven't read it yet but I sure hope he mentioned you guys. We'd have been sunk without you!

And great job, Matt! Making OU proud yet again!

[BMH]

Finally finished the book! One of the best books I've read! Good job Matt!

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

Originally posted by Rachel:
Is this for your 2006-2007 car competing in Fontana? If so, I'm going to throw my Kindle out the window if I'm not mentioned. But seriously, I can't wait to read it.

I think you will not be disappointed http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Kyle Walther]

You know.. it's all about Rachel and Pablo!!

[Ben K]

Got it in the mail today! Looks awesome.

Ben

[pablo180]

Matt,
I came across this thread yesterday and pushed it on to Rachel...hard to believe its already been 5 years!

"Rachel is the girl with pink hair and Pablo is... the guy named Pablo."

haha, i haven't read it yet, but Rachel told me about it. I will buy a paperback copy and get it shipped out here to the UK.

All the best,

Pablo
Lotus Renault GP
Graduate Mechanical Designer

[Rachel]

It's confirmed...
"Rachel is the girl with pink hair and Pablo is... the guy named Pablo."

SO. AWESOME. You guys rock. Good times with OU! There's even talk about the sticker... http://twitpic.com/13nc9u

I had that photo up in my cubicle in California and it brings a tear to my eye to be able to read about friends from back home while I'm out in the UK.

Matt, you need a donation site so we can actually give you money.

[Canuck Racing]

Hits for this topic rose 3470% as soon as Rachel got involved.

And most of them have tried to trace back that Twitter account to Facebook pics.

[Mbirt]

Originally posted by Canuck Racing:
And most of them have tried to trace back that Twitter account to Facebook pics. I think the Waterloo bikini incident turned us all into pros.

[Drew Price]

Thanks Matt, can't wait to get mine.

[spierson]

Just finished reading it tonight, awesome book Matt. You nailed it.

[Spetsnazos]

Originally posted by Rachel:
Is this for your 2006-2007 car competing in Fontana? If so, I'm going to throw my Kindle out the window if I'm not mentioned.

...this brought on some serious lulz.

[Adambomb]

Very cool, just downloaded the Kindle edition. Looking forward to getting a chance to read it. Had to give it a good glance from the first couple pages for now at least, thought the plot at the beginning was hilarious as you'll often see the exact same types of plots on the whiteboard in our office. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Looks great!

[tingra]

Just made my purchase, Matt!

I look forward to reading it in my free time (if applicable).

[Schrader]

Bought the kindle version and didn't stop reading until it was finished. Pretty well written for an engineer! =P
Would recommend.

[coleasterling]

Got it today and finished it today. Thanks for a fantastic read!

[colinE30]

Excellent read! The insight you provide about being a chief engineer is invaluable.

I found myself quoting it as I was reading in our shop. Spot on with many of your points, particularly, formula is not an engineering design comp, but a project management comp with a lot of engineering, so true. In fact I would say this is the most obvious difference between the top 10 teams and the top 30 teams.

Great work sir, I think we should make it part of the required reading to be on the team..

[coastertrav]

Just got this gem delivered to me today, already on pg 71 (got it maybe an hour ago and I'm at work).

I love the "A racecar! It's a racecar! That's the coolest thing ever!"

[B Lewis @ PE Engine Management]

Hey Matt,

Just laughed out loud reading the preview. My wife and kids think I am freakin' nuts laughing at a graph.

[dazz]

There's at least one copy heading down under! Just have to wait around til Feb for it to arrive now... And thanks to your discount code the shipping is dearer than the book itself!

Thanks Matt, looking forward to the rest of the book.

Darren.

[Adambomb]

LOL, so you're the guys that came up with Rich Mahogany the first time? Should have known, I remember Wes has mentioned it in the past as well. Yeah, we copied that. For '09 and '10 we had a rich mahogany dash, and for the '10 design report whole car model our seat was rendered in rich mahogany. Was it you guys that did the Mahogany steering wheel a couple years ago too? Was thinking it was one of the midwest teams at least, that trend seemed to be running strong. Perhaps it's because of all the rich mahogany applique you find on the interiors of all the '70s-'90s domestic beaters we drive. I know it's lacquered all over my '85 Sedan DeVille and my '92 Dakota. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/34610_771761297180_16912542_44074295_626073_n.jpg

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

Originally posted by Adambomb:
LOL, so you're the guys that came up with Rich Mahogany the first time?

We didn't actually use mahogany in '07, just wrote it on the spec sheet. The next year, after I left, they did the steering wheel with it, and I think the dash after that. Seems like an inefficient material to use, but I think some other teams have used it as well. Maybe they should have an award this year: "Most creative use of rich mahogany."

[AxelRipper]

I seem to remember a team at Michigan for the past few years that had wood paneling on their entire interior.

[Wesley]

http://i40.tinypic.com/34zm4up.jpg

It weighed a lot. Multiple Pounds. But it was so rich.

[fade]

Based on a true story?

[ZAMR]

Originally posted by fade:
Based on a true story?

I'm still not sure. I thought that superdave guy was only a myth, a legend if you will, who was constructed to awe new members...

Also I can't picture Wes as the new guy asking questions. Usually he has all the answers!

[Fred G]

I'm still waiting for my copy since purchasing it 1 month ago. I'm catching a flight on Monday and was hoping to have a book to read.

Sounds like a great read. Are there pictures? Maybe somebody should make a FSAE picture book also.

What's next Matt? A movie doco?

[NilsonTotti]

Hey Germany-Guys, what did you do wrong? My copy just arrived yesterday! But sadly I'm still in Asia till February... So I have to wait too. But the preview was awesome. I think we have to give every new member a copy. First read this book, then read the rules and after that start questioning. Haha
And yes a movie would be great!!!

[mech5496]

Movie? Waiting on GFR's "relentless"... Any news on that?!

[kcapitano]

Thanks for the awesome read Matt. This will definitely be required reading for all new members; so much insight.

[mech5107]

Is the discount code still valid, because the website gives me an error.

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

Originally posted by mech5107:
Is the discount code still valid, because the website gives me an error.

No, the discount expired. You'll have to pony up the whole $10 now http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Markus]

Just put it on order... From the preview I already saw a lot of myself.

I think Lutz was right, they really must row it across the ocean for it to arrive as late as in March. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

Free Racecar for everyone!

The book!

Sorry, did you think I meant something else?

I finally broke even on the book (writing is a terrible way to make money. Stay in school kids!) so I'm giving digital copies of the book away for free.

http://www.superfastmatt.com/2...1/free-racecars.html (http://www.superfastmatt.com/2012/01/free-racecars.html)

Thanks to all of you who purchased a copy.

Paper copies still cost money, but if you have an e-reader or want to read it on the computer, you can download the PDF or EPUB at the link above. Feel free to send it out to all your friends and family, coworkers, teammates, random members of the press, Jay Leno, Bob Lutz, and Elon Musk.

[mech5496]

Damn you Matt! It is exam period here mate, and I'm supposed to study! Much appreciated, as the hardcopys will take their time arriving to Greece, but I think that still everyone has to buy it; it just does not feel right, plus I want it to my library!

[mech5496]

Fuck studying for exams...I read the whole thing almost in one go! Great book Matt! I love how I could see not only myself but also other fellow team members in your team; plus emotions and workload has been pretty much the same around here for the past five-and-a-half years I've been with the team! Oh, and a quick comment on how comfortable an FSAE car can be; I actually fell asleep in our car on the test engine area, trying to fix our noise problems in FSG '11.... http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Markus]

So did I break you even then? http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

The book actually came yesterday but I already finished reading the online version a week ago.

Even though I can't agree with everything on the book it was a good read and good insight to FSAE. Sometimes it's good to know that the feelings we go through in the workshop are pretty universal.

I have to give the book to a friend that has nothing to do with FSAE to get an unbiased review.

PS. Now I really regret that we've been honest and detailed with the cost report, especially now with the data acquisition inclusion which a lot of teams just "forgot" and got away with it (avg. -3000$ that is). D*mn finnish nature.

[Chapo]

Matt,

Cheers for writing this. I picked up my copy and then didnt put it down till I finished it. At which point I got back on amazon and bought another three copies as gifts to some people. It provides a great insight as to what is required to be a useful member in an FSAE team.

I hope that you now start to make some money off it, you deserve to.

Good Job,

Chappy

[Tom Wettenhall]

Awesome.
I cracked up when I saw the photo of one of the team sitting in the bones of the chassis in a welding helmet. There's one the same of our '11 monster and the guy who welded the chassis.

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=227133690658463&set=a.220012571370575.53115.190213917683774&type=3&theater

[Dash]

Sweet book man. I was reading it and told two newer members about it. Both of them downloaded it and finished it before me! Definitely gives inspiration to guys that haven't seen the competition to let them know we aren't the only ones having issues.

Also, the " ask you mom " joke was pretty good.

[revolutionary]

Really good writing and a great view of the whole 'race car world'. Thanks for the free download - I stuck the link on the MTSU Formula SAE Facebook page.

[FsaeSpec]

I am about 75% of the way through the book and honestly this deserves the $10.

[Mustafa]

I read the first 2 chapter preview you put up and decided to buy the book. Being from Bangalore India importing books usually ends up costing a bomb.

Some time later I found an Indian retailer (flipkart) offering the book for about 10$ with free shipping.

They said it will come in 15 days, but it arrived, amazingly in 9 days flat.

Well written Matt, essential reading in my opinion for first year teams and first year members.

And since we all love a good underdog story, I won't be surprised if it becomes a movie!

[M. Nader]

I came in initially a week ago (after reading the preview) to buy the book and found that you were now offering it for free.
Having downloaded it and have it on my iphone i read about a chapter a day (as my time allows me), sometimes in lectures or before getting the very few hours of sleep you talk about. I have to say the book is very well written and really every team can relate what was happening to themselves. Being technical director of our team I can relate to nearly everything you experienced (albeit us being a first year team) and it has been extremely motivational.

[Superfast Matt McCoy]

Hey all,

Thank you for the kind words. I love hearing that you've enjoyed the book and that you can see some of your own team in the story.

If any of you outside of the US have ideas on how I can make the book more accessible in your country, please let me know. And of course, if you would like to distribute the PDF or EPUB on your team website, you are more than welcome to.

[Kevin Hayward]

Great Book. Impossible for an FSAE junkie to put down.

Kev

[Choripan]

Finished it within two days while working at my internship, Good Stuff!!

P.S. Thanks for mentioning CSUN, WOO CSUN!!!

[Tonks]

Great book Matt. Got the new kids on the Adelaide Team to read it. I don't think they quite know what they are in for yet though.

Adelaide recently got our half tonne jig table into the workshop. Why did we get a half tonne jig table? .... Because Racecar

http://tinyurl.com/Jig-table

Madeleine Tonkin
University of Adelaide 2011, 2012

[Wesley]

Originally posted by ZAMR:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fade:
Based on a true story?

I'm still not sure. I thought that superdave guy was only a myth, a legend if you will, who was constructed to awe new members...

Also I can't picture Wes as the new guy asking questions. Usually he has all the answers! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've seen the Superdave! He's real!

And when it comes to engines, I can either make up enough crap or obfuscate the issue enough to get people off my back, but 5 years later I'm still clueless when it comes to suspension.

I've read what a roll center is a hundred times and I still forget what it is until I see the picture.

As for the book, I re-read it the other day on my phone. Matt, next time you're in DFW (and I am also) I will buy you a liver's worth of beverages.

[Drew Price]

Matt,

Great read (and you have a much better memory than I, that or I tried to block out most of the personal tribulations we had on our team.)

I read the book on the plane while I was on my way to visit one of my former FSAE team-mates, then left the book with him to read. His immediate reaction was... "Wow.... this sounds just like what we went through..."

FSAE made me what I am today. The 5 groomsmen at my wedding were my brother, and my 4 FSAE team-mates, the guys I lived with, went to class with, laughed with, and wanted to murder on several occasions, but also the guys who I can count on no matter what to always come through.

If you're ever in LA I'll take you out on a bender too.

[Steve Slowboy]

I read the first sample and kept meaning to go and order a copy - brilliant read!

So when I saw the download I had to print it out. Excellent!

And they say Engineers can't write.... I loved it.

Steve

PS - what was the cause of the stuck gear linkage?

[RacingManiac]

Great book, I had the paper copy for a while but sorta forgot about it. Finally sit down and finished it and it was fantastic. The experiences are quite similar even if I am no where near Oklahoma. Our team had the same experience in 2007 design judging at Michigan and we were probably just as bummed out as you were. It was also interesting to describe how your California experience, being the 2nd competition, is so much more relaxed. Being able to attend Formula Student UK a few times, that was kinda like how we were when we go there. Minus the pirate ship kiddy pool....

Also now working in Detroit area, the weather around that time of the year is still very much the same every year....