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Auto Racing Glossary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z -A- acceleration – An increase in speed which occurs when the throttle
is applied or by using gravitational force going downhill until terminal
velocity is reached. accelerator – The gas pedal. altered - A class of drag racer that starts with an
automobile body and can then be modified in almost any manner. apex – The ideal point in a turn which the driver should hit between
turn-in and track-out to achieve the fastest line through the turn. armco - Guard rail that is strategically placed around a race track to
improve safety for racers and spectators. Typically named after the
manufacturer commonly known to produce it (for example, people often refer to
tissues as "Kleenex"). ATDC – Acronym which stands for “after top dead center”, as used in
describing engine timing. autocross - A form of competition in which the object for
the driver is to pilot a car around a course defined by pylons in the least
amount of time. Sometimes used to mean a gymkhana that allows greater speed
than usual. Also called "Solo II" within the SCCA. back off - To slow down; often said of a driver who is
attempting to pass and realizes he can't make it, so he backs off to try
again later. banked turn - A turn that's inclined so the outside area is higher
than the inside area, usually measured in degrees. banking – The slope of a turn, usually described by
degrees. That turn has 30-degrees of banking. bend – 1) A shallow turn, 2) To damage a car slightly. berm - Raised sections of asphalt or cement which runs
along the inside and/or outside of a turn, usually painted colors to offset
it from the track. Primarily used at apexes and track-out points as a
driver's aid. big banger - An engine with a large volume of displacement,
usually 302 cubic inches or more. big bore - 1) Same as big banger, 2) An engine whose cylinders have been bored out to the maximum allowable tolerance. binders - Brakes, particularly the calipers and pads. black flag – 1) When furled,
signals a warning to a driver that he was observed doing something
unsportsmanlike and that he should not do it again, 2) when open, signals a
driver to return to the pit for further instruction. Usually means he is
being penalized for having done something unsportsmanlike, including passing
under a yellow flag. blend - A racing fuel combining methanol and nitromethane. blind turn – A turn in which the driver cannot see the apex
or track-out until it is reached. Sometimes due to elevation changes, but can
also be due to visual obstructions such as Armco, tire walls, or other
barriers. blip the throttle – A short burst on the accelerator. block – 1) The main part of an engine which houses the cylinders,
crankshaft, etc., 2) verb – to prevent another racer from initiating a pass
by moving in the same direction. Not allowed on a repeated basis and could be
cause for a black
flag. blower - A supercharger. blown engine – 1) An engine that has failed completely, 2) A
supercharged engine. blue flag - In most racing, the blue flag usually has a
yellow or orange stripe and is used to alert a race driver of a faster
vehicle approaching from behind. boinger – A piston engine bore - The diameter of the cylinder bore. box - 1) The transmission, 2) In autocross, a turn which is defined by
cones arranged so that they square-off the corners, usually allowing drivers
to choose a line that suits their car's handling characteristics the best . brake fade - Loss of braking effectiveness, usually caused by
overheating. Brickyard - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. BTDC – Acronym which stands for “before top dead center”, as used in
describing engine timing. bubble - The last position on the starting while
qualifying is going on; the driver in that position is said to be "on
the bubble." bull ring - An oval track of a half-mile or less. bump – In relation to shock absorber dampening, it is the movement that
compresses the internal oil or gas volume, thus often referred to as
"compression". bump draft – To close in on a draft at a rapid enough pace
that the bumpers touch. Often done intentionally to increase the speed of
both the "bumper" and the "bumpee". See "Spec
Miata". bump steer – The ill-effect a fully compressed damper has on
steering through turns. Referred to as such because often times when a damper
is fully compressed, it is against its bump stop. When this point is reached,
neither the damper nor the spring can do it’s job, usually causing loss of
grip. May also refer to when the wheels steer themselves, without input
from the driver, caused by bumps in the track interacting with improper
suspension tuning or alignment. carb - Short for carburetor. CART – Acronym for Championship Auto Racing Team. cc - Cubic centimeters, the standard measure of displacement in Europe
and Asia. center of gravity - checkered flag - The flag of black and white squares that signals
the end of a race. chicane - A corner generally, but not always added by
afterthought, intended to reduce speed for the sake of safety at an otherwise
high-speed point on a road track. Could also be intended to simply add
a challenge to an otherwise boring section of track. chute - A straightaway, usually short. compound - A substance used to make racing tires, generally
some blend of natural and synthetic rubbers with resin, carbon black, bonding
agents, and other substances. compression – 1) In relation to a cars engine, it is the ratio
which the displacement volume reduces upon the compression stroke, 2) In
relation to shock dampening, it is the movement which compresses the internal
hydraulic oil or gas volume. contact patch – The total surface area of a tire that makes
contact with the pavement. corner balance – Verb, to make a
race car weigh as close to the same amount as possible at each of the four
wheels. Accomplished on cars with adjustable ride height suspensions by
raising and lowering the corners until equal or near equal weights are
attained while the car is on scales. Other means include moving various
components around or by installing ballast in certain locations, where rules
permit. Also referred to as "corner weight". corner weight – See "corner
balance". countersteer – To turn the steering wheel in the opposite
direction the car is turning, usually in a sliding condition. crankshaft - The shaft which the pistons drive via connecting
rods. Transmits power to the transmission. cubes - Cubic inches of displacement, as in, "That car has 350
cubes." damper – See "shock". deceleration – Opposite of acceleration. A decrease in speed
which occurs during braking, coasting, or sliding without using the throttle. decreasing radius – Where a turn becomes tighter before it’s exit,
requiring progressively more steering input. dicing - Close, dangerous driving; from the notion that
the driver is gambling with lives. differential - The final link in the drive train, which
transmits power to the wheels. diffuser – An aerodynamic device used to deflect or
redirect air, causing a positive effect such as reduced drag coefficient,
reduced lift, or increased downforce. displacement - A measure of an engine's total volume. It's the
difference between the volume contained in the cylinders when the pistons are
at the bottom of the stroke and the volume that remains when the pistons are
at the top of the stroke. It can be calculated using the formula: downforce – The amount of gravitational force created by air
passing over a moving vehicle’s aerodynamic aids, such as a spoiler, usually
measured in pounds or kilograms. downshift - Shifting from a higher gear to a lower gear. drag coefficient – A coefficient representing the drag on a given
airfoil or other body, or a coefficient representing a particular element of
drag. Used to describe the amount of resistance created by a moving vehicles
bodywork and aerodynamic aids designed to create downforce or smooth out the
flow of air. The lower the number, the better. drag parachute - A parachute attached to the back of a drag
racing car that can be deployed during a run to decrease speed and also,
under certain conditions when two or more are used, to control and stabilize
the race car upon deceleration. draft - To follow another car very closely, taking advantage of decreased
air resistance. drift - A controlled, four-wheel slide through a turn, to get a car lined
up for a straightaway with minimum steering input. drive-by-wire – When the throttle opening and air/fuel mixture
is controlled by electronics rather than by mechanical linkage. drive train - The system that carries power from the engine to
the driving wheels; it includes the crankshaft and the differential. dynamometer - An instrument primarily used to measure engine
output and for tuning. esses – A series of two or more consecutive turns which go in opposite
direction from one another. e.t. - Elapsed time. fishtail – Noun, Movement of the rear end of a car from
side to side. Verb, as in, "His car is really fishtailing as it comes
out of the turn." flat out – As fast as one can go with the accelerator to
the floor. forced induction – When air is forced into an engine to increase
horsepower, such as with supercharging and turbocharging. formula - A set of specifications that defines a class of
racing cars; Formula One is the best known. fuel - Usually any fuel except straight gasoline; commonly some mixture of
methanol and nitro methane. full bore – Full throttle or flat out. gasser - A drag racer that runs on gasoline. gator strips - A berm with exaggerated
raised portions, often rough enough to deter drivers from driving over them. Grand Prix – French for "Big Prize", usually used
to denote a road race that counts toward a world championship. Commonly used
by the FIA in Formula One racing. green flag - In most racing, the green flag indicates the
start of the race. grid - The arrangement of cars in the starting lineup;
at the Indianapolis 500, the grid is made up of 11 rows with three cars per
row. groove – 1) The fastest route through a turn or around
the complete course. Also see "racing line", 2) often used to refer
to a driver who is driving a perfect race, making no mistakes and turning
fast laps, "that driver’s in his groove and running away with it". GT - Grand Touring; originally from the Italian Gran Turismo, meaning a
sedan built in limited quantities and designed to provide fast, comfortable
transportation over fairly long distances. gymkhana - A competition in which cars are driven around a
twisting course, executing certain specified maneuvers, against the clock. hairpin - A turn that goes through 180 degrees. hairy – Frightening, originally short for "hair-raising." hauler – 1) A very fast car, 2) a trailer used to
transport racecars and/or equipment. heel-and-toe - A driving technique in which the accelerator and
brake pedals are operated with the same foot. Usually, the right heel
controls the accelerator and the right toes operate the brake pedal. horsepower - A standardized measure of an engine’s power
output (see formula). Hp =
rpm x torque 5,252 Brake
Horsepower (bhp): Prior to electronic bench testing, horsepower was
quantified as the amount of resistance against a flywheel brake. Although the
method is no longer used, the term remains an industry standard. Gross
Horsepower: Absolute maximum horsepower at the flywheel, with
no load or drag from auxiliary systems, such as the alternator, water pump,
etc. Created in an ideal environment with precisely controlled intake and
exhaust flow characteristics, this category is of little practical use. Net
Horsepower: Maximum horsepower at the flywheel, with intake and
exhaust systems in place and accounting for load from auxiliary systems. This
is what most automotive manufacturers publish as SAE net horsepower. Real-wheel
Horsepower: Measured on a chassis dyno, the maximum horsepower
transferred to the ground by the rear wheels. It can be affected by gearing,
with lower (numerically higher) gearing tending to indicate a lower torque
peak. Considered the most practical measurement of usable horsepower, it is
the standard used in all 4WD vehicle tests whenever possible. infield - The area enclosed by a course. Often used for the paddock and spectator seating at major races. IRL – Acronym for Indy Racing League. jack-knife – When the driver of a tow vehicle hauling a
trailer loses control and the trailer comes around. Often referred to as such
because the tow vehicle and trailer will slide sideways in an inverted
"V" fashion. juice - A racing fuel blend. jump - To start before the signal is given. kart – A go kart. Usually refers to the high-speed variety used in racing. lap – 1) Noun, One trip around the racing circuit, 2) Verb, when one
driver gets so far ahead of another that he passes him, thus putting more
than a lap ahead, he is said to have lapped him. leadfoot - An aggressive driver who always goes for the
lead. Le Mans start - A type of start in which the drivers, at the
starting signal, run to their cars, start the engines, and begin racing. line - The route taken by a driver, especially through a turn, as in
"He took an inside line to avoid being passed." liter - A measure of displacement which is equal to 1000 cubic centimeters,
or 61.4 cubic inches. loud pedal – Slang for the accelerator. meatball flag – A black flag with an orange dot. The signal for
a racer to come into the pits, usually to allow officials to inspect the car
and determine whether it can run safely after an accident. It may also mean
that officials have already decided the car is to slow or too dangerous to
continue running, as when it has a serious oil leak that makes the track
slippery. modification - modified - modify - na – See "Normally Aspirated" NASA – Acronym for National Auto Sport Association. NASCAR – Acronym for National Association of Sports Car
Racing. nerf - To bump lightly against another car, usually from behind and often
on purpose, as a warning or a bit of psychology. Very common in NASCAR
racing. nitro - Nitro methane, commonly used in racing-fuel blends. Nitrous – Nitrous Oxide gas. Injected to cool the air/fuel
mixture, making it more dense thus increasing power. NOS – See "nitrous". normally aspirated - Descriptive of an engine that does not use
forced induction, but rather inducts the air through naturally created
vacuum. Also referred to as “naturally”
aspirated. off-camber turn – A turn in which the slope of the track angles
away from the direction of the turn. Opposite of banking. opposite lock – Turning the steering wheel in the opposite
direction of the turn until it won’t turn anymore. Basically, it’s maximum countersteer
and usually precedes a spin or going off the track. oversteer – When the rear tires lose traction while
cornering, causing the rear of the car to slide. pace car - The car that leads the competitors around the
course before the race begins. pace lap - The lap before the official start, on which cars
travel in formation, usually behind a pace car, building up speed so they'll
be near top speed when they reach the starting line. pacer - A driver who travels at pretty much the same speed throughout the
race, conserving his car in the hope that those traveling faster will be
forced to drop out with mechanical problems. paddock - The area in which the race cars are kept and
worked on when they’re not on the track parade lap - A lap taken by cars at slow speed, before the
pace lap, to give spectators a good view of them. pit – 1) Noun, An area beside the track where cars stop for fuel and
servicing, 2) Verb, to approach and enter the pit. pit lane - A road that takes cars from the course into the
pits and back out again. Also "pit road." pit stop - The act of leaving the course to enter the pit
for refueling, tire changes, servicing, or repairs. plow – See "understeer". pole – Short for "pole position", the best position in the grid, usually awarded to the driver who has the fastest
qualifying time. In oval-track racing, it's the position on the left of the
front row. On a road course, it’s usually the side on the front row which
marks the inside of the first turn. pop – 1) Any exotic fuel blend, 2) what an engine does when it fails. production – 1) A sports car that is based on a mass-produced
model, 2) A production engine or car is one that is made in quantity, usually
on an assembly line. prototype - A sports car that is not in production; either
an experimental model or a car made in very limited quantities, solely for
racing. push – See "understeer". qualifying - Preliminary race sessions in which cars race
against time to determine their positions in the grid. racing line – The optimal path around a race track that
results in the fastest possible lap. May vary between cars of radically
different natures, such as a heavy GT car and a light formula car. rebound - In relation to shock absorber dampening, it is
the movement that expands the internal oil or gas volume, thus opposite of
"bump" or "compression". rev – 1) Verb, To depress the throttle and increase engine rpms, 2) Noun,
short for revolution, as in "revolutions per minute." riding the rails - Taking the outside line around a turn. roll bar - A frame of tubular steel that protects the
driver if the car rolls over. roll cage - A structure of tubular steel, padded with foam
rubber, used primarily in stock cars for driver protection. roll center - A vehicles center of gravity, which is dependent on many variables such as weight of vehicle, ride height, suspension dampening, swaybar rigidity, unsprung weight, etc. rotary - An internal combustion engine that is unlike a
piston engine in that it doesn't have pistons, camshafts, valve train, or a
crank shaft. It has three main moving parts, which are two rotors and an
eccentric shaft, also referred to as an output shaft. For a more
detailed description and comparison to a piston engine, refer to: rpm – An acronym for Revolutions Per Minute. sandbag - To hold back on a car's performance, during
trial runs and qualifying, to mislead other drivers as to its potential. SCCA – Acronym for Sports Car Club of America. A national amateur and professional auto racing sanctioning body. SEMA – An acronym for Specialy Equipment Manufacturers' Association. SFI – Originally an acronym for "SEMA Foundation, Inc.," SFI now operates independently of the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers' Association) organization, and simply retains the original acronym as its name. shock – A device used in a vehicles’ suspension to
control the oscillation of the spring, using hydraulic oil or gas in a sealed
cylinder. Also referred to as a damper because it "dampens" the
springs’ natural bump and rebound movements.. shoes – Slang for "tires". In vintage car racing, could mean
brake shoes used in drum brakes. shunt - A collision; British. shut the door - To block a competitor who's attempting to pass. shut-off – Any time a driver has to lift off the throttle
such as to negotiate a turn or enter pit road. slalom - A type of gymkhana
in which drivers maneuver through a series of pylons, usually equally spaced
and in a straight line. slicks - Wide, flat tires used on the rear wheels of
dragsters. slingshot - A type of drag racer in which the driver sits
behind the rear wheels. slingshotting - Passing a car by first drafting to conserve
power, then suddenly moving out of the slipstream and using the reserve
power. slipstream - The area of drag created behind a moving car, often used in drafting (to conserve fuel and power) and slingshotting (to pass) Snell - Contrary to popular belief, "Snell" is not an acronym. It is the last name of a popular amateur sports car race driver who died of massive head injuries when the auto racing helmet he was wearing failed to protect his head. As a memorial to William "Pete" Snell's death in 1956, a team of scientists, doctors, racing colleagues, and friends teamed together in a dedicated effort to promote the research, education, testing, and development of standards geared to improve the effectiveness of automotive racing helmets. Through their work, the Snell Memorial Foundation was established in 1957. solo II competition - Also called "solo 2" and
"autocross". A form of "gymkhana"
run by the SCCA that requires a driver to maneuver his car through a course
defined by pylons in as short of time as possible. speed trap – 1) An area at the end of a drag strip where
electric eyes are used to measure a vehicle's speed at the end of its run, 2)
a means for law authorities to generate income which is used, in part, to pay
their salaries and justify their existence. spin - To lose control so that the car revolves around its vertical axis.
Also "spin out." splitter - Usually refers to an air deflector mounted on
the front of a car, designed to reduce the amount of air under the car at
high speed, thus improving traction. Sometimes referred to as a "front
spoiler", "chin spoiler", or "front air dam". spoiler – Usually refers to an air deflector mounted on
the rear of a car, designed to provide downforce at high speed, thus
improving traction. sports car - Generally, any car that handles better, brakes
better, and is more maneuverable than an ordinary passenger car. sportsman - A type of stock car with a light body and engine
modified in certain limited ways. stock - An unmodified car, almost exactly as produced by the manufacturer. stock block - An unmodified engine. stroke - The distance the piston travels within the
cylinder. stroke it - To drive below maximum speed, usually to
conserve the car when it has a safe lead near the end of a race. super speedway – An oval (or tri-oval) track in which a lap is
one mile or longer in distance. supercharger - A high-powered
turbine driven by gears or a belt that forces air into the engine, helping to
increase power. switchback - A hairpin turn; British. tachometer - An instrument that measures rpm. Tank slapper – When the rear wheels start to come around in a
turn, either intentionally or by encountering oversteer, but the driver
remains in control. t-bone - To hit another car broadside. ten-tenths - A car or driver's absolute upper limit, as fast
as either can possibly go. tether – A safety device used to keep parts from leaving
a race car in the event of an accident. Usually consists of high-tensile
strength metal-stranded cable secured with hooked or looped ends that are
crimped or welded. threshold braking - A braking technique which requires a race driver
to apply brake pedal pressure as hard and late as possible without locking
the tires and without affecting the racing line, turn-in, or apex. tire wall – A safety barrier usually constructed of tires
which are either stacked in a specific manner or fastened together so as to
provide maximum protection from solid walls or other detrimental environments
(such as wooded areas). top dead center - Abbreviated as "TDC", the position a
piston reaches when its upward travel ends and pauses momentarily as the
connecting rod pivots beneath it. Used in setting engine timing. torque – A measure of an engine’s pulling capability,
expressed in pound-feet, or, lb.ft., calculated using horsepower and rpms
(see formula).
torque steer – When a car pulls to one side or the other under
acceleration, due to strong engine torque. Typically occurs in either front
or rear wheel-drive cars without limited slip. tow - A driver is said to "get a tow" when he drafts another
car. trail braking - A braking technique which requires a driver to
apply brake pedal pressure during a turn so as to reduce speed as little as
possible, without losing control. Sometimes referred to as "late
braking". track - 1) A racing circuit regardless of shape,
distance, or intended use. Can be an oval, a tri-oval, a straight line, a
figure "8", a closed road course, etc., 2) The width of a car as
measured between the outside of the left and right tires. track out – To carry enough speed at the exit of a turn to
require using the entire width of the track, sometimes referred to as
"drift out". tread – 1) The surface pattern of a tire, 2) The width of a car as measured
between the centerlines of the left and right tires. turbocharger - A high-powered turbine driven by exhaust gases
that forces air into the engine, helping to increase power. turn-in – 1) The point on a track at which the driver
turns the car and aims for the apex, 2) The handling characteristic
experienced upon initial rotation of the steering wheel and movement of the
suspension. tweak - To fine tune an engine or make any minor modification that will
result in a slight power increase. understeer - When the front tires
lose traction while cornering, causing the front of the car to slide. Also
referred to as "push" or "plow". unsprung weight – Weight of moving components when they’re not
moving, which contain potential energy. Typically referred to rotating
mass (such as with wheels, brake rotors, clutch, flywheel, driveshaft, etc.),
but is also used to describe suspension components that have movement.
Unsprung weight is a racecar’s enemy because it uses up energy that could
otherwise be applied to increasing speed. valence – Bodywork used in aerodynamics, usually at the
front or rear lower portion of a race car. veer – To gently steer in one direction. velocity – The speed at which a vehicle travels, even
though it is more properly used to describe the speed of airborne objects. Wankel – A rotary engine, designed by Felix Wankel, a
German engineer and inventor. wheelbase - The distance between a car's front and rear
axles. white flag - In most racing, a white flag alerts the race
drivers to a slow moving vehicle on the track. The slow moving vehicle
could be an emergency vehicle or a hindered race car. windmill – Slang for supercharger. wing - A spoiler. wires – 1) Short for spark plug wires, 2) Slang for wire wheels. x-car - An experimental car or a spare car. yaw moment – Also referred to as "yaw moment of
inertia". In it’s basic form, it is the point that separates traction
from sliding upon rotation of a moving mass, such as a wheel/tire or a
vehicle. Often defined as an angle calculated using various measures such as
speed, mass, etc. yellowtail - A rookie NASCAR driver, so called because cars
driven by rookies have yellow rear bumpers. yellow flag - A flag used to signal caution because of
dangerous conditions. A driver is not allowed to improve his position under
the yellow flag. zen (moment of) – Occurs when a driver reaches the point of
elation that causes a sensation of euphoria. Sometimes occurs immediately
upon winning a race. Often experienced while taking a victory lap or being
dowsed in champagne.
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Copyright 2004, Dale R. Black DBA
Blacktop Racing