Racing Terms | Racing Bodies
Racing Terms
A-ARM-A component of front suspension or the design of the front suspension of some race cars.
APEX-The point at which the entrance to a corner ends and the exit begins.
APRON-The paved portion of the track that separates the racing surface from the infield.
BACK MARKER-A slower car that is running near the rear of the field.
BANKING-The slope of the race track from the apron to the outside wall, measured in degrees.
BITE-Jargon referring to the adhesion of a tire or tires to the racing surface.
BOOGERED UP-Messed up; generally said about a car that is wrecked or has spun.
CAMBER-Refers to the vertical angle of a car's wheels in relationship to the chassis and the ground.
CHASSIS-Refers to the car's floorboard, roll cage and interior as a single unit.
DONUTS (as damage)-Black, circular, dent-like marks found on the side panels after rubbing against other cars at race speed.
DOWNFORCE-A combination of aerodynamic and centrifugal force. The more downforce, the more grip your car has. However, more downforce also means more drag. More downforce provides better cornering performance, but a loss of top speed.
DRAFT-An effect that occurs when a trailing car closely follows another at high speed. The trailing car experiences less drag, and is "pulled" toward the leading car. This enables the trailing car to gather more speed than the leading car, and easily overtake the opposition.
GROOVE or RACING LINE-The preferred path around a race track.
HEAD WRENCH-Slang for "Crew Chief".
INTERVAL-The time-distance between two cars.
LAP TIME-The amount of time it takes for the car to go around the track once.
LAPPED TRAFFIC-Cars that have completed at least one full lap less than the race leader.
LOOSE-Also known as "oversteer", a car is said to be loose if the rear wheels lose traction with the racing surface before the front wheels do. This causes the car to "fishtail", as the rear end swings outward during turns.
MARBLES-Jargon for pieces of worn tires and debris that collect at the top, or outside, of a track during the course of a race.
PIT ROAD-Where pit crews service the cars.
PITS-The location where the cars are parked and worked on between races.
POLE POSITION-The first position on the starting grid, awarded to the fastest qualifier.
PUSH-Condition in which the front of the car heads towards the wall as the car goes through a turn.
ROLL CAGE-The steel tubing inside the car's interior. Designed to protect the driver, the roll cage must meet strict safety standards.
ROOKIE-Used to refer to a driver in his first year in a particular division.
ROUND-One revolution or turn of a wrench; usually used in conjunction with Wedge adjustments, such as "adding a round-and-a-half of bite".
SCUFFS-A race tire that has been run a short distance. Refers to the fact that the manufacturer's label, or sticker, has been scuffed off.
SETUP-All of the current tunings and adjustments on the car are referred to as the car's "setup".
SPLASH `N GO-A quick pit stop that involves nothing more than refueling with the amount of fuel necessary to finish the race.
SPONSORS-Companies that pay the race team money in return for advertising, usually on the race car.
SPOTTER-Member of the crew who gives the driver information about other cars on the track via a radio.
STAGGER-If the tires on the right side of the car are larger in diameter than on the left side, this is called "positive stagger". This technique is often used to improve the cornering performance on oval tracks.
STICKERS-This refers to new tires that still have the manufacter's sticker attached.
TIGHT/PUSH-Also known as "understeer", a car is said to be tight if the front wheels lose traction with the racing surface before the rear wheels do. A tight race car doesn't seem to be able to be steered sharply enough through corners. Instead, the front end continues out toward the wall.
WEDGE-Term that refers to the cross weight adjustment on the car.