Know Your Racing Terms by Stone Brothers Racing

SBR has compiled a series of racing terms designed to educate fans and keep them interested during the "off" season.

DAG - Acronym for "Data Acquisition Geek or Guy," a computer expert who maintains a team's Data Acquisition system and analyses the data.

DATA AQUISTION - Teams use sophisticated sensors, transmitters, computers and software to provide information on what the car and the driver are doing. Everything from engine stress to the driver's heartbeat can be monitored. The information is analysed to improve handling, performance and even driver technique. Data can be acquired by connecting a computer to the car or by wireless telemetry.

DISPLACEMENT - This is a general automotive term describing the sum of the volume of the cylinders of the engine. The displacement of a V8 Supercar engine is 5.0 litres, allocated equally among 8 cylinders.

DONUT - A crowd-pleasing victory celebration in which the driver hits the accelerator and spins the car in place, sending up a cloud of tyre smoke

DRAFTING - A fast-moving car creates a low-pressure area behind it, causing the air to try to move with the car. A car following behind can take advantage of this low pressure as it actually sucks the car along faster, known as "being in the slipstream." A smart driver can either use the draft to pass, or to lift off slightly and conserve fuel.

DYNO - A contraction of "Dynamometer," an engine-testing device used in the race shop that measures power and simulates the loads and environment of a racing engine.

ECU – ENGINE CONTROL UNIT - The engine control unit in a V8 Supercar is a more sophisticated version of the computer in a street car, controlling functions such as ignition timing and fuel metering. An ECU can be easily reprogrammed by connecting a laptop computer to a plug on the side of the car. In V8 Supercar racing the ECU are a “controlled” device and are handed out to teams by race officials at each meeting.

FLAT SPOT - If a tyre stops spinning and drags along the road, it can rub off an excess amount of rubber in that spot and cause a flat spot. This can happen from locking the brakes or from sliding sideways with one or more wheels not turning, and usually causes a severe vibration in the car at speed.

FUEL CELL - A bladder-like container to hold fuel. It is designed to be virtually puncture-proof, thus reducing the change of a fire during crashes.

G FORCES - The inertial force exerted upon drivers as the car changes direction. One "G" is equal to the force of gravity. Inertia causes a moving object to try and keep the same speed and direction of travel. As a V8 Supercar races around the track, any change in direction creates some amount of G Force. High-speed corners exert more G force on drivers than do very slow corners due to the additional grip provided by downforce as speeds increase, but braking, acceleration and rises or drops in the road also create "G"s.

GRID - The starting order of cars, as determined by qualifying position.

GRIP - Grip is the car’s ability to hold the road in a turn and while accelerating or braking. The amount of grip available is a function of the composition of the track, the composition of the tyres, aerodynamic downforce and mechanical issues such as roll centers, spring rate, shock dampening, tyre pressure and camber. It is also important to balance the relative grip at the front and rear of the car.

HAIRPIN - A sharp, 180-degree turn.

HANDLING - The performance of a car while racing. The response characteristics of a race car or “how it handles” are determined by its tyres, chassis, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and other factors.

HANS Device - Acronym for Head and Neck Support. A yoke-collar safety device designed to reduce extreme head motions and neck loads during high-speed impacts. Many drivers in V8 Supercars are using these and they have become compulsory in some categories around the world.

HAT DANCE - The ritual of photos taken after a race, with the top three drivers changing sponsors hats for each photo.

HORSEPOWER - A measure of an engine's maximum output in terms of torque over a period of time. V8 Supercar engines produce around 620hp.

IN THE FENCE - When a driver hits the wall and crashes.

INFIELD - By its nature, a race track is an enclosed loop of pavement, beginning and ending in the same spot. Anything inside this loop is considered the infield, and it usually must be accessed by tunnels or bridges so vehicle and foot traffic do not interfere with the racing surface.

KART - Many drivers in the V8 Supercar field began their racing careers in karts, and use them to keep their reflexes sharp and their bodies toned between races and in the off-season. The phrase "go-karts" is usually reserved for basic karts with very low-powered motors that are rented to the general public. Racing karts, however, are extremely quick and physical to drive, serving as a low-cost way to go racing with a high-level experience. It's also a great place for families, with special classes and karts just for kids.

KITTY LITTER - The gravel runoff areas on the outside of many road course turns that help slow cars that go off the track.

LIFT - To partially or completely release the throttle pedal, reducing engine RPM and speed. May also be referred to as "breathing" the throttle.

LINE - This is the quickest way around a race circuit, taking advantage of braking, cornering and acceleration. For example, the line for a typical right-handed corner would begin by lining up on the left side of the approaching straight, braking hard, turning in all the way across the track to the inside curb, and then unwinding the steering wheel on the exit to release the friction of the turn, which takes the car back across the track to the outside again. The idea is to use the maximum amount of arc possible to maintain the greatest speed through the corner. The line is often visible due to the rubber laid down by cars, and interestingly is not the shortest way around the track, just the fastest.

LIVERY - A term describing the graphic design on a race car, including colour schemes and sponsor branding.

LOCKING THE BRAKES - Engaging the brakes so hard that one or more wheels stops turning completely. This can cause a loss of steering if the front brakes are locked, or a spin if the rear brakes are locked. Locking the brakes can be a minor incident with no bad effects, or cause a driver to lose control, or flat spot one or more tyres, creating a bad vibration in the car. A driver can adjust how his brakes perform by using the brake bias adjustment in the cockpit.

LOOSE OR OVERSTEER - Same as Oversteer. Typically describes a cornering condition where the rear tyres lose adhesion before the front tyres, resulting in a car that feels like it wants to spin easily. If the front end hits the wall, it was understeer. If the rear end hits the wall, it was oversteer.

MARBLES - Bits of rubber scrubbed off of racing slicks while cornering. These small balls collect on the outside of the turn, and if a car goes wide (into the marbles, or "the grey", referring to the lighter appearance of an area covered with marbles), then much adhesion is lost. In addition, this rubber debris will stick to the hot tyres and cause poor traction for the next few corners until they are rubbed off the tyre.

MIRRORS FULL - Means a driver sees someone trying to pass him on the track.

PADDOCK - The area where the team transporters are parked, and where the teams work on cars between on-track sessions. In V8 Supercars, this area is usually accessible to the general public.

PIT CREW - Each team has a number of personnel that work in specific areas of team operations, from accountants to engineers. One elite group of team members travels to each event and serve as the pit crew, servicing the car during pit stops for fuel and tyres and managing the race from the pits, including race strategy and communications.

PIT LANE - An area adjacent to the track where cars pull in to be refuelled or serviced before and during a race. There is always a maximum speed limit along pit row, usually 40kph.

PIT STOP - To stop in the pits.

PITS - The area where cars come in for fuel, tyres, adjustments and repairs during on-track sessions. The name originated from early racetracks, where the mechanics actually stood in a shallow pit where they could duck if an out-of-control car came their way. Today, mechanics are protected by concrete walls, and the pit lane is segregated from the actual racing surface.

PODIUM - The top three finishers in an event stand on a podium (or stage) to be recognised after the race. The winner is usually in the middle on a higher pedestal, flanked by the second and third-place-finishers.

POLE - This historic term refers to the driver who starts at the front of the field on the inside of the front row by virtue of the fastest qualifying time. The term originated at horse tracks. The finish and distance markers of a horse track are marked by poles set on the inside edge of the track.

PUSH OR UNDERSTEER - Typically describes a cornering condition where the front tyres lose adhesion before the rear tyres, resulting in a car that feels like it wants to go straight. Solutions include adjustments to tyre pressure; softening the front anti-roll bar setting or spring rates in order to provide more grip; or by making changes to reduce grip at the rear.

QUALIFYING - Qualifying determines starting positions, based on each driver's best lap time during the qualifying session or sessions. Each car is timed, and the starting grid is determined by the order of fastest cars.

RAIN TYRES - Treaded tyres used on a wet track. Also referred to as "Wets."

REBOUND - In shock absorbers, a rebound adjustment is a change to the dampening of the shock on the expansion stroke. Without rebound dampening, the car would tend to bounce as it passes over bumps on the track. Rebound adjustments can also affect how the weight of the car shifts around during braking, acceleration and cornering.

REV LIMITER - Modern engines are controlled by electronic "mapping" software that controls things such as fuel consumption and ignition timing. Rev limiting is used for two purposes: to keep the engine from exceeding its maximum rotational speed and exploding into bits of very expensive shrapnel, and to adhere to speed limit rules in the pit lane.
V8 Supercars have a maximum rev limit of 7500rpm. Maximum rev limits are set by the engine manufacturer, while the pit lane rev limiter is controlled by a pushbutton on the steering wheel.

SCOOP - A V8 Supercar has one main scoop built into the front bumper. This scoop gathers air and forces it into a specific places for a specific purposes, from feeding air into the engine to be mixed with fuel for combustion to keeping hot parts cooled down, such as brakes. There is usually also a little side scoop built into the rear passenger window. This usually transfers air to the driver to keep them cool.

SCRUBBED TYRES - Also known as Scuffed Tyres, which have a few laps on them to remove the outer sheen and provide more consistent traction.

SET-UP - There are a huge number of variable adjustments to the suspension, tyres, gears, engine, wings, brakes and virtually every other piece of the car that can be moved or electronically altered. The idea is to improve the handling and performance by making a car conform to a particular track, temperature and even weather condition. The driver with the best setup is in a good position to win. A driver with a less-than-perfect setup can sometimes "hustle the car" and compensate for the deficiency, but most drivers perform at their utmost only when the car is comfortable.

SHOCK ABSORBERS - Oil-filled devices on which the suspension springs are mounted. Shock absorbers, or "shocks", help control the movement of the suspension by dampening that movement.

SHUNT - Another term for crash or accident.

SILLY SEASON - Refers to the rumours and innuendo that occurs as driver-candidates jockey for positions within the ranks of V8 Supercar teams. Can actually occur all year long as many drivers vie for the limited number of seats available each season.

SLICKS - A racing tyre with no tread. There is a misconception that the tread pattern of a tyre provides traction. This is true in dirt, snow or on wet pavement, but on dry pavement the maximum amount of "contact patch" is desirable.

SPEED TRAP - At certain places around the course, V8 Supercar Timing and Scoring officials place timing sensors to detect cars passing by them. By measuring the distance between a set of lines and the time it takes for a car to pass over them both, speed can be calculated. These speed traps are usually set up at the end of long straights just before the braking point to provide a good approximation of the maximum speed attained.

SPLASH AND DASH - Also splash and go or short fill. At certain points during a V8 Supercar race, particularly on the final pit stop, a car may stop in the pits just long enough to take on a minimum amount of fuel in order to lessen time spent on pit lane. Sometimes teams will use a pit strategy that includes one or more short fill stops during a race to try and gain track position, passing a competitor who may stay longer in the pits doing a complete fill up. Using this strategy during the middle of a race can be very complex since it means that the car will not be able to go as far before the next pit stop, creating a trade off between gaining track position now and losing it later.

SPOTTERS - Sometimes teams will have crew members at different parts of a circuit to see how our cars are performing or to give immediate warning of an accident or oil on the circuit.

SPRING RATE - The springs in the suspension of a V8 Supercar can be changed with different spring rates to soften or stiffen the suspension. Spring rates are generally measured in pounds of force per inch of compression. In other words, a 1,000-pound spring rate would compress one inch if a 1,000-pound weight were placed on it. The higher the spring rate, the stiffer the spring.

SPRINGS - A V8 Supercar is held off the ground with four springs mounted to shock absorbers within the suspension. They consist of a coil of heavy wire which will compress as pressure is applied. Springs are necessary so that the car can pass over bumps in the pavement without generating an immediate loss of grip.

STICKERS - A brand new tyre, with the manufacturer's sticker still on the surface.

SUSPENSION - A car is suspended off the ground by a complex set of arms, springs, shocks and anti-roll bars that connect the chassis to the four tyres. How these components interact is crucial to good handling.

SWAP PAINT - Two cars that touch each other are sometimes referred to as having "swapped paint", suggesting that the paint from one car ended up on the other.

TAKE A LOOK - A driver following closely behind another car may dart momentarily to the inside at the entry to a corner, pretending to attempt a pass in order to disrupt the concentration of the driver in front and hopefully cause a small mistake, setting up a subsequent passing attempt.

TELEMETRY - Data acquisition transmitted wirelessly while the car is on the track.

TYRE PRESSURE - The Dunlop racing tyres used in V8 Supercar competition can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the tyre pressure. Tyre pressure is a measurement of compressed air inside the tyre expressed in pounds per square inch. Tyre pressure is adjusted to change handling, as the flexible tyres serve as an additional spring rate in the suspension. Increasing tyre pressure serves to stiffen the overall suspension, while lowering the pressure will soften the overall suspension. This is a fine-tuning adjustment commonly made during a race since the team doesn't have time to change the actual springs.

TYRES - The tyres used in V8 Supercar racing are specialised Dunlop racing slicks manufactured to withstand the extreme demands of racing on road courses and street circuits. Special treaded rain tyres are used for wet weather competition.

TRACTION CONTROL - This is banned in V8 Supercar racing. In other forms of the sport Traction control is managed by the ECU using specialised software and can be adjusted by the driver. In a very powerful race car, it's easy to spin the rear wheels on acceleration, even in upper gears at high speeds. Spinning the rear wheels reduces acceleration and can cause the tyres to overheat, and can also cause a car to oversteer and result in a loss of control. Traction control works by temporarily reducing engine power output when sensors on the wheels detect wheelspin. Traction control is a very complex exercise in software programming and can be customised for particular tracks, invoking varying levels of traction control in different gears or at different points around a circuit.
Not having traction control in V8 Supercar racing requires the driver to have more skill to ensure a faster lap or more control in difficult conditions.

TRANSPONDER - Small electronic transmitter mounted to the chassis. When the car passes mounted devices around the track, it sends a signal to the V8 Supercar timing computer for lap and lap-segment timing. Each car has a specific code so the computer can keep track of the individual cars.

TRANSPORTER - A large prime mover-trailer rig used to move cars and equipment from one race location to another.

TURN IN - As a car reaches a corner, this is the moment at which a driver actually begins to turn the wheel. The timing of this action and the car's response to it are crucial for setting fast lap times.

VICTORY LANE - A special place reserved for the winner of the race or the top-three finishers to park their cars and climb onto the Victory Podium, a three-level stand where the top three finishers receive their trophies and spray the champagne.

WIND TUNNEL - A facility built for the purpose of aerodynamic evaluations, a wind tunnel usually consists of a large tunnel with a powerful fan at one end and a spot downwind for whatever is being aerodynamically tested, whether a racing car, street car, airplane or other device. The fan blows a powerful stream of air across the stationary object being tested, which is connected to various sensors and computer systems to study engineering issues such as downforce and drag. A small wind tunnel may often use scale models, while larger and more expensive wind tunnels may use full scale models or actual vehicles. Some of the best wind tunnels for automotive use will actually have a fast-moving floor that simulates the car moving across the ground. In V8 Supercars wind tunnels are used by the manufacturers and not individual teams.

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