Drag Racing Terminology
02-20-2002, 12:44 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: College Park
Posts: 94
Drag Racing Terminology
After Market - Generally, the replacement parts and high performance products market.
Air Dam - Used to direct or block air flow. Used in front to prevent air flow to undercarriage,
intended to prevent turbulence and lift.
Air Foil - Stabilizer, generally used to create down forces, increasing stability and tire-to-track
adherence at high speeds.
Arm Restraints - Restraining straps to restrict arm movement in a car accident.
Ballast - A controlled amount of weight, functionally positioned, used to help car meet class weight
requirements.
Belly Pan - Generally, a skin of aluminum or fiberglass used to cover the under carriage of vehicle,
assisting in preventing turbulence and air drag.
Blueprinting - The meticulous matching to factory specifications all parts and/or components.
Dressing parts to absolute design callout or manufacturer's specifications.
Bleach Box - Section of track before the starting line where cars spin the tires in water.
Breakout - (Run Under) When your elapsed time is quicker than your dial-in, causes you to be
disqualified.
Burned Piston - When a cylinder runs lean (too much air in the air-to-fuel mixture) and excessive
heat burns or melts the piston.
Burn-Out - Spinning of rear wheels at high RPM in water to heat and clean drive tire rubber prior to
a run, resulting in increased traction.
Bye Run - A lone run given to a randomly chosen car, because of an unequal number of cars in the
round.
C.C. - Cubic Centimeter, a metric unit of volume measurement, equal to approximately 0.061 cubic
inch.
C.F.M. - Cubic Feet per Minute. A measure of volume.
C.I.D. - Cubic Inch Displacement. A measure of volume.
Camber - Tilting of the top of the wheels from the vertical. When tilt is outward, camber is positive.
Caster - Tilting of steering axis forward or backward to provide directional steering ability. Positive
caster recommended for drag racing.
Catch-Can - A container used to catch liquid overflow, preventing spillage on race track. Also
known as catch-tank.
Christmas Tree - An electronic starting device incorporating calibrated lights displaying a visual
countdown for each driver, activated by a designated official.
Chromoly - Also Chrome Moly. Short for Chromium Molybdenum steel. A very strong and light
tubing highly adaptable for race cars.
Chute - Short for parachute or drag chute. Used to assist high-speed braking.
Clutch Can - Bell housing, the bell-shaped housing used to encase clutch and flywheel.
Clutch Lockup - The progression of the clutch-disc engagement controlled by an air-timer
management system.
Competition Area - The staging lanes and race track surface.
Deep Staging - When the racer inches his car forward, not completely passed the starting line
(staging line) so much as to turn off the staging light.
Dial-Ins - Driver's predictions of E.T.'s their cars will run in their first eliminations.
Dialing Under - Allows competitors in Stock and Super Stock the option of selecting a time faster
than the National Index. Applied in handicap elimination racing where breakout is in effect.
Diaper - A blanket made from ballistic and absorbent material, often Kevlar, that surrounds the oil
pan and serves as a containment device during engine explosions.
Displacement - In an engine, the total volume of air/fuel mixture an engine is theoretically capable of
drawing into all cylinders during one operating cycle.
Dropped Cylinder - When a cylinder becomes too rich (too much fuel in the air-to-fuel mixture) and
prevents the spark plug (s) from firing.
Dry Hops - Process of spinning your tires on dry pavement.
E.T. - (Elapsed Time). The total time it takes to get from the starting line to the finish line.
Eliminations - When cars are raced two at a time, resulting in one winner and one loser
"eliminated". Winner continues to race in a tournament-style competition.
F.I.A. - International Federation of Automobile Clubs. Sole international body governing motoring
sport.
Ferrous - Containing iron, as in metals.
Fishtail - Aft lateral oscillation, generally the result of traction loss.
Final MPH Light Beam - Shuts off MPH computer.
Finish Line - Line which determines winner and computes Elapsed Time.
Finish Line Light Beam - Light beam to shut off elapsed time computer and signals win indicator
and elapsed time.
First MPH Light Beam - Light beam to start MPH computer.
Flash Shield - A device to encompass the air inlet of a carburetor's sides, top, rear. To protect
driver in case of engine backfire.
Foul Start - Leaving the starting line before the green light starting signal.
Fuel Check - A tech station used to inspect fuels to insure content is within limits allowed for that
particular class. Analysis of fuel.
Fuel Injection - (F.I.)A system replacing conventional carburetion which delivers fuel under
pressure into combustion chamber of air flow prior to entering chamber.
Full Tree - The method used to start cars at the starting line. The method used is one yellow light is
used at a time, then the green light. As opposed to all yellow lights are lit at once then the green light
(Pro-Tree). The reaction time used in full tree is .500.
Gilmer Belt - Toothed or splined drive belt used with matching pulley, generally a non-slip drive
belt.
Guard Beam - Light beam to alert officials if driver starts to race before the green light appears.
Often called a foul start.
Gusset - A reinforcement addition adding web-like or triangulation reinforcement to car structure,
usually welded in place.
Halon - Special Freon Fire Extinguisher. Generally a 3% to 5% concentration will extinguish fire.
Handicap - When one car is faster than the other, the slower gets a head start. Headstart depends
on previous elapsed times or dial ins.
Headers - Fine-tuned exhaust system routing exhaust from engine. Replaces conventional exhaust
manifolds.
Hemi - Generally an engine with a combustion chamber having resemblance to a hemi-sphere or
round ball, cut in half. Spark plugs are also located in center of head, not to one side.
Hole Shot - Starting-line advantage achieved by the quicker reacting driver.
Hydralic - When a cylinder fills with too much fuel, thus prohibiting compression by the cylinder and
causing a mechanical malfunction, usually an explosive one.
Index - Elapsed time assigned by NHRA or IHRA to allow various classes to race together with an
equitable handicap starting system.
Inline - Cylinders in a single row, valve stems in a single row.
Interval timers - Interval timers are part of a secondary timing system that records elapsed times,
primarily for the racers' benefit, at 60, 330, 660, and 1000 feet.
Ladder Bars - A 3-point traction device with 2 attaching points at rear axle housing and 1 point at
frame.
Length of Track - 1320' 1/4 mile distance from start to finish.
Lexan - A trade name of General Electric used for a durable thermal resistant plastic material used
where transparent material is required (i.e.., face plates, goggles, windows, etc.)
M.I.G. - Metal Insert Gas Arc welding. Uses a continuous-feed filler rod material pulled through the
torch from a roll of wire.
M.P.H. - Miles per hour.
Magnaflux - The process of using a special electromagnet and magnetic powder to detect cracks in
iron which may be invisible to the naked eye.
Methanol - Technically pure methyl alcohol CH3oh(toxic) produced by synthesis.
Minimum Weight - The lowest allowed weight for the vehicle in it's class.
Nomex - Trade name of DuPont, a fire-resistant fabric used in the manufacture of protective
clothing.
O.E. - Original Equipment (as originally produced and installed by factory manufacturing
automobile.) Originally equipped.
Air Dam - Used to direct or block air flow. Used in front to prevent air flow to undercarriage,
intended to prevent turbulence and lift.
Air Foil - Stabilizer, generally used to create down forces, increasing stability and tire-to-track
adherence at high speeds.
Arm Restraints - Restraining straps to restrict arm movement in a car accident.
Ballast - A controlled amount of weight, functionally positioned, used to help car meet class weight
requirements.
Belly Pan - Generally, a skin of aluminum or fiberglass used to cover the under carriage of vehicle,
assisting in preventing turbulence and air drag.
Blueprinting - The meticulous matching to factory specifications all parts and/or components.
Dressing parts to absolute design callout or manufacturer's specifications.
Bleach Box - Section of track before the starting line where cars spin the tires in water.
Breakout - (Run Under) When your elapsed time is quicker than your dial-in, causes you to be
disqualified.
Burned Piston - When a cylinder runs lean (too much air in the air-to-fuel mixture) and excessive
heat burns or melts the piston.
Burn-Out - Spinning of rear wheels at high RPM in water to heat and clean drive tire rubber prior to
a run, resulting in increased traction.
Bye Run - A lone run given to a randomly chosen car, because of an unequal number of cars in the
round.
C.C. - Cubic Centimeter, a metric unit of volume measurement, equal to approximately 0.061 cubic
inch.
C.F.M. - Cubic Feet per Minute. A measure of volume.
C.I.D. - Cubic Inch Displacement. A measure of volume.
Camber - Tilting of the top of the wheels from the vertical. When tilt is outward, camber is positive.
Caster - Tilting of steering axis forward or backward to provide directional steering ability. Positive
caster recommended for drag racing.
Catch-Can - A container used to catch liquid overflow, preventing spillage on race track. Also
known as catch-tank.
Christmas Tree - An electronic starting device incorporating calibrated lights displaying a visual
countdown for each driver, activated by a designated official.
Chromoly - Also Chrome Moly. Short for Chromium Molybdenum steel. A very strong and light
tubing highly adaptable for race cars.
Chute - Short for parachute or drag chute. Used to assist high-speed braking.
Clutch Can - Bell housing, the bell-shaped housing used to encase clutch and flywheel.
Clutch Lockup - The progression of the clutch-disc engagement controlled by an air-timer
management system.
Competition Area - The staging lanes and race track surface.
Deep Staging - When the racer inches his car forward, not completely passed the starting line
(staging line) so much as to turn off the staging light.
Dial-Ins - Driver's predictions of E.T.'s their cars will run in their first eliminations.
Dialing Under - Allows competitors in Stock and Super Stock the option of selecting a time faster
than the National Index. Applied in handicap elimination racing where breakout is in effect.
Diaper - A blanket made from ballistic and absorbent material, often Kevlar, that surrounds the oil
pan and serves as a containment device during engine explosions.
Displacement - In an engine, the total volume of air/fuel mixture an engine is theoretically capable of
drawing into all cylinders during one operating cycle.
Dropped Cylinder - When a cylinder becomes too rich (too much fuel in the air-to-fuel mixture) and
prevents the spark plug (s) from firing.
Dry Hops - Process of spinning your tires on dry pavement.
E.T. - (Elapsed Time). The total time it takes to get from the starting line to the finish line.
Eliminations - When cars are raced two at a time, resulting in one winner and one loser
"eliminated". Winner continues to race in a tournament-style competition.
F.I.A. - International Federation of Automobile Clubs. Sole international body governing motoring
sport.
Ferrous - Containing iron, as in metals.
Fishtail - Aft lateral oscillation, generally the result of traction loss.
Final MPH Light Beam - Shuts off MPH computer.
Finish Line - Line which determines winner and computes Elapsed Time.
Finish Line Light Beam - Light beam to shut off elapsed time computer and signals win indicator
and elapsed time.
First MPH Light Beam - Light beam to start MPH computer.
Flash Shield - A device to encompass the air inlet of a carburetor's sides, top, rear. To protect
driver in case of engine backfire.
Foul Start - Leaving the starting line before the green light starting signal.
Fuel Check - A tech station used to inspect fuels to insure content is within limits allowed for that
particular class. Analysis of fuel.
Fuel Injection - (F.I.)A system replacing conventional carburetion which delivers fuel under
pressure into combustion chamber of air flow prior to entering chamber.
Full Tree - The method used to start cars at the starting line. The method used is one yellow light is
used at a time, then the green light. As opposed to all yellow lights are lit at once then the green light
(Pro-Tree). The reaction time used in full tree is .500.
Gilmer Belt - Toothed or splined drive belt used with matching pulley, generally a non-slip drive
belt.
Guard Beam - Light beam to alert officials if driver starts to race before the green light appears.
Often called a foul start.
Gusset - A reinforcement addition adding web-like or triangulation reinforcement to car structure,
usually welded in place.
Halon - Special Freon Fire Extinguisher. Generally a 3% to 5% concentration will extinguish fire.
Handicap - When one car is faster than the other, the slower gets a head start. Headstart depends
on previous elapsed times or dial ins.
Headers - Fine-tuned exhaust system routing exhaust from engine. Replaces conventional exhaust
manifolds.
Hemi - Generally an engine with a combustion chamber having resemblance to a hemi-sphere or
round ball, cut in half. Spark plugs are also located in center of head, not to one side.
Hole Shot - Starting-line advantage achieved by the quicker reacting driver.
Hydralic - When a cylinder fills with too much fuel, thus prohibiting compression by the cylinder and
causing a mechanical malfunction, usually an explosive one.
Index - Elapsed time assigned by NHRA or IHRA to allow various classes to race together with an
equitable handicap starting system.
Inline - Cylinders in a single row, valve stems in a single row.
Interval timers - Interval timers are part of a secondary timing system that records elapsed times,
primarily for the racers' benefit, at 60, 330, 660, and 1000 feet.
Ladder Bars - A 3-point traction device with 2 attaching points at rear axle housing and 1 point at
frame.
Length of Track - 1320' 1/4 mile distance from start to finish.
Lexan - A trade name of General Electric used for a durable thermal resistant plastic material used
where transparent material is required (i.e.., face plates, goggles, windows, etc.)
M.I.G. - Metal Insert Gas Arc welding. Uses a continuous-feed filler rod material pulled through the
torch from a roll of wire.
M.P.H. - Miles per hour.
Magnaflux - The process of using a special electromagnet and magnetic powder to detect cracks in
iron which may be invisible to the naked eye.
Methanol - Technically pure methyl alcohol CH3oh(toxic) produced by synthesis.
Minimum Weight - The lowest allowed weight for the vehicle in it's class.
Nomex - Trade name of DuPont, a fire-resistant fabric used in the manufacture of protective
clothing.
O.E. - Original Equipment (as originally produced and installed by factory manufacturing
automobile.) Originally equipped.
02-20-2002, 12:44 PM
#2
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: College Park
Posts: 94
More Terms
O.E.M. - Original Equipment Manufacturer. Original Automobile Manufacturer.
O.H.C. - Overhead Cam.
Otto Cycle - The four operations of intake, compression, power, and exhuast (4-cycle engine).
Named for inventor Dr. Nikolaus Otto.
Permanent - Pre-assigned, registered competition numbers assigned by NHRA or IHRA.
Pilot Chute - A spring-loaded device which pulls the braking chute from its pack.
Pits - Where the race cars are worked on.
Pre-Staged Light Beam - Light beam used to warn drivers they are inches away from starting line.
This beam when broken by front wheels sets off pre-staged bulb on top of the Christmas Tree.
Planetary Transmission - A transmission in which the various gears revolve around one another.
Consists of a sun gear, carrier with planet gears and ring gears. Also known as overdrive or
underdrive.
Port - The opening in an engine where the valve operates and through which the air-fuel mixture or
exhaust passes.
Protest - A complaint filed against a competitor, investigated by officials.
Pro-Tree - The method of starting cars from starting line, using the Christmas tree. Method used is
all three yellow bulbs light then green as opposed to one yellow light at a time then green (full tree).
Also uses a reaction time of .400.
R.P.M. - Revolutions per minute.
Rake - Bottom of body not parallel to ground (lower in front).
Reaction Time - Computed in thousandths of a second and is the time how quickly you moved off
the starting line after the go signal.
Return Road - Road which leads from shutdown area back to the pits or staging lanes.
Round - When all cars in a bracket (class) have made a run.
Shutdown Area - Area located after finish line for racing cars to slowdown.
Speed Trap - The final 66 feet to the finish line, known as the speed trap, where speed is recorded.
Staging Director - A person who directs the flow of traffic from the staging lanes to the race lanes.
Staging Lanes - Lanes where drivers line up and wait to make a run down the track.
Staged Light Beam - Light beam used to warn drivers they are on the starting line ready to race.
This beam when broken sets off staged bulb on top of the Christmas Tree.
Supercharger - The supercharger, or blower, is a crank-driven air/fuel compressor. It increases
atmospheric pressure in the engine, resulting in added horsepower.
Tech Area - Area where Drag Officials inspect tires, steering, brakes or anything that might be a
safety hazard before time trials.
Time Slip - Printout of Elimination information.
Time Trials - Practice runs.
Timing Booth - Printouts of Elimination Elapsed Times are located here.
Traps - The two beams of light at the end of the drag strip which compute mile per hour.
Water Burnout - Process of spinning your tires in water to get the tires hot and sticky for
better traction.
Wheelie Bars - Bars attached to the rear of the car to prevent excessive front wheel lift.
O.H.C. - Overhead Cam.
Otto Cycle - The four operations of intake, compression, power, and exhuast (4-cycle engine).
Named for inventor Dr. Nikolaus Otto.
Permanent - Pre-assigned, registered competition numbers assigned by NHRA or IHRA.
Pilot Chute - A spring-loaded device which pulls the braking chute from its pack.
Pits - Where the race cars are worked on.
Pre-Staged Light Beam - Light beam used to warn drivers they are inches away from starting line.
This beam when broken by front wheels sets off pre-staged bulb on top of the Christmas Tree.
Planetary Transmission - A transmission in which the various gears revolve around one another.
Consists of a sun gear, carrier with planet gears and ring gears. Also known as overdrive or
underdrive.
Port - The opening in an engine where the valve operates and through which the air-fuel mixture or
exhaust passes.
Protest - A complaint filed against a competitor, investigated by officials.
Pro-Tree - The method of starting cars from starting line, using the Christmas tree. Method used is
all three yellow bulbs light then green as opposed to one yellow light at a time then green (full tree).
Also uses a reaction time of .400.
R.P.M. - Revolutions per minute.
Rake - Bottom of body not parallel to ground (lower in front).
Reaction Time - Computed in thousandths of a second and is the time how quickly you moved off
the starting line after the go signal.
Return Road - Road which leads from shutdown area back to the pits or staging lanes.
Round - When all cars in a bracket (class) have made a run.
Shutdown Area - Area located after finish line for racing cars to slowdown.
Speed Trap - The final 66 feet to the finish line, known as the speed trap, where speed is recorded.
Staging Director - A person who directs the flow of traffic from the staging lanes to the race lanes.
Staging Lanes - Lanes where drivers line up and wait to make a run down the track.
Staged Light Beam - Light beam used to warn drivers they are on the starting line ready to race.
This beam when broken sets off staged bulb on top of the Christmas Tree.
Supercharger - The supercharger, or blower, is a crank-driven air/fuel compressor. It increases
atmospheric pressure in the engine, resulting in added horsepower.
Tech Area - Area where Drag Officials inspect tires, steering, brakes or anything that might be a
safety hazard before time trials.
Time Slip - Printout of Elimination information.
Time Trials - Practice runs.
Timing Booth - Printouts of Elimination Elapsed Times are located here.
Traps - The two beams of light at the end of the drag strip which compute mile per hour.
Water Burnout - Process of spinning your tires in water to get the tires hot and sticky for
better traction.
Wheelie Bars - Bars attached to the rear of the car to prevent excessive front wheel lift.
jk i like trans ams
08-16-2003, 12:17 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Raleigh, NC // Charlotte, NC
Posts: 52
[/nit-picky engineer mode ON]
Airfoils (a.k.a. "wings") reduce lift. it is only "downforce" when you make overall negative lift (as measured at the axle)
CFM is a measure of flow, not volume.
FIA is the main international motorsports governing body, not the sole one. ALMS, CART, NASCAR, etc are not under the jurisdiction of the FIA.
Air Foil - Stabilizer, generally used to create down forces, increasing stability and tire-to-track
adherence at high speeds.
adherence at high speeds.
C.F.M. - Cubic Feet per Minute. A measure of volume
F.I.A. - International Federation of Automobile Clubs. Sole international body governing motoring
sport.
sport.
03-26-2005, 09:09 PM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: vancouver WA
Posts: 22
drifting represents an iconic symbol of motor sports power.....as a drifter you are able to intimidate your opponent with a driving skill that is unlike any other....
its all about the power of the driver only when u find that perfect chassis will u then be able to go crazy....
RIGHT NOW...its a crucial time to make sure that we as drifters help push the scene toward the right direction...especially if we want it to last....!!!
-ITS not fun driving in a STRAIGHT LINE-
its all about the power of the driver only when u find that perfect chassis will u then be able to go crazy....
RIGHT NOW...its a crucial time to make sure that we as drifters help push the scene toward the right direction...especially if we want it to last....!!!
-ITS not fun driving in a STRAIGHT LINE-
06-25-2007, 10:03 PM
#12
Holy crap man, it's like this thread just REFUSES to die. I mean damn, look at all the dates of the postings. Most of them are 6 months to a year apart. And look at snickersgirl's sig and Sil80 Freak's avatar. And how is Fanatic a "EX-MOD" and not a "Registered User"? It's like this thread defies all logic and reason and physics.
09-01-2008, 12:55 AM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Boise Idaho
Posts: 23
drifting represents an iconic symbol of motor sports power.....as a drifter you are able to intimidate your opponent with a driving skill that is unlike any other....
its all about the power of the driver only when u find that perfect chassis will u then be able to go crazy....
RIGHT NOW...its a crucial time to make sure that we as drifters help push the scene toward the right direction...especially if we want it to last....!!!
-ITS not fun driving in a STRAIGHT LINE-
its all about the power of the driver only when u find that perfect chassis will u then be able to go crazy....
RIGHT NOW...its a crucial time to make sure that we as drifters help push the scene toward the right direction...especially if we want it to last....!!!
-ITS not fun driving in a STRAIGHT LINE-
drifting would be funn if i had somewhere to drift. dragging is all some of us got :/
06-11-2011, 08:06 AM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: india
Posts: 1
Megan Racing coilovers
Hello,
Easy suspension tuning is in your hands. S - Tech was made so that everyone can enjoy sports driving. TEIN based these springs on original specification so that the installation is easy. Full compliance with car inspection, and great styling. Adding some more exicitement to your ride.. The highest quality brought to you at great JayDM prices. Now comes in two types to choose from.
Easy suspension tuning is in your hands. S - Tech was made so that everyone can enjoy sports driving. TEIN based these springs on original specification so that the installation is easy. Full compliance with car inspection, and great styling. Adding some more exicitement to your ride.. The highest quality brought to you at great JayDM prices. Now comes in two types to choose from.
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