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Classic Inlines
603 W Pecos Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210
(602) 708-6650
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Race Terms & Definitions
Air box: Used primarily on Pro Stock Motorcycles, it settles “negative air” around carburetors the way a hood scoop does on a car.
Air foil: the same as a wing — a stabilizer, generally used to create downforce, which increases stability and tire-to-track adherence at high speeds.
Bang the blower: an explosion inside the supercharger caused by a flame from the combustion process accidentally re-entering the supercharger, where fuel and air are present. Generally caused by a stuck or broken intake valve that normally would be closed during the combustion sequence.
Breakout: Used only in handicap racing, “breakout” refers to a contestant running quicker than he or she “dialed” his or her vehicle (predicted how quick it would run). Unless the opponent commits a more serious foul (e.g., red-lights, crosses the centerline, or fails a post-race inspection), the driver who breaks out loses. If both drivers break out, the one who runs closest to his or her dial is the winner.
Burned Piston: When a cylinder runs lean (too much air in the air-to-fuel mixture) and excessive heat burns or melts the piston.
Burnout: spinning the rear tires in water to heat and clean them prior to a run for better traction. A burnout precedes every run.
Bye Run: A lone run given to a randomly chosen car, because of an unequal number of cars in the round.
Christmas Tree: see "Tree"
Clutch Can: The bell-shaped housing, or bellhousing, used to encase the clutch and flywheel.
Clutch Lockup: The progression of clutch-disc engagement controlled by an air-timer management system.
Deep stage: to roll a few inches farther into the beams after staging, which causes the pre-stage lights to go out. In that position, a driver is closer to the finish line but dangerously close to a foul start.
Dial-in: Also called an "Index". Your "Dial-in" time is the absolute best (fastest) time you think your car can run. This is based on your qualifying runs. This "Dial-in" is used during bracket racing, which allows cars of very different performance to compete against each other.
Dial under: when drivers in Super Stock and Stock (handicap categories) select an elapsed time quicker than the national index. Drivers select a dial-under, or e.t., that they think their cars will run based on previous performance. The breakout rule is in effect.
Diaper: an absorbent blanket made from ballistic material, often Kevlar, that surrounds the oil pan to contain oil and parts in case of an engine explosion; required for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster, and Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Dropped cylinder: when a cylinder runs too rich (too much fuel in the air/fuel mixture) and prevents the spark plug(s) from firing.
Elapsed time: the time it takes a vehicle to travel from the starting line to the finish line. Also called e.t.
Eliminations: After qualifying, vehicles race two at a time, resulting in one winner from each pair. Winners continue in tournament-style competition until one remains.
Foul start: indicated by a red light on the Christmas Tree when a car has left the starting line before the green light, or starting signal.
Full Tree: used in Competition, Super Stock, and Stock, for which a handicap starting system is used to equalize competition. The three amber bulbs on the Christmas Tree flash consecutively five-tenths of a second apart, followed five-tenths later by the green starting light. A perfect reaction time on a full Tree is .500.
Header(s): a fine-tuned exhaust system that routes exhaust from the engine; replaces conventional exhaust manifolds.
Heads-Up: Heads-ups racing is what we all grew up with. This is when two vehicles line up and both vehicles leave at the same time. The first vehicle to cover the distance is the winner.
Hemi: A Hemi engine has a hemispherical shaped cylinder-head combustion chamber, like a ball cut in half.
Holeshot: when a driver reacts quicker to the Christmas Tree to win a race against an opponent with a quicker e.t.
Hydraulic Lock: or Hydrolock, when a cylinder fills with too much fuel, thus prohibiting compression by the cylinder and causing a mechanical malfunction, usually an explosive one.
Index: the expected performance for vehicles in a class as assigned by NHRA. It allows various classes of cars in the same category to race together competitively.
Interval timers: part of a secondary timing system that records elapsed times, primarily for the racers’ benefit, at 60, 330, 660, and 1,000 feet.
Methanol: pure methyl alcohol produced by synthesis; used in Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars.
Nitromethane: Produced specifically as a fuel for drag racing, it is the result of a chemical reaction between nitric acid and propane.
Pre-stage: to position the front wheels about seven inches behind the starting line so the small yellow lights atop that driver’s side of the Christmas Tree are glowing. The next step is to stage and be ready to race.
Pro Tree: used in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street, which feature heads-up competition. All three large amber lights on the Christmas Tree flash simultaneously, followed four-tenths of a second later by the green starting light.
Reaction time: the time it takes a driver to react to the green starting light on the Christmas Tree, measured in thousandths of a second. The reaction-time counter begins when the last amber light flashes on the Tree and stops when the vehicle clears the stage beam (.500 seconds is a perfect reaction time because that is the time between each of the lights on the tree).
Red Light: Another form of disqualification is a foul start (or "red light"). This happens when the driver reacts to the "Christmas Tree" too quickly and drives his car away from the starting line before the green "go" signal. When dual infactions occur, say a red light and then a break out, the red light takes precedent over the break-out.
Return Road: Road that leads from shutdown area back to the pits or staging lanes.
Shutdown Area: Area located after finish line for racing cars to slowdown.
Sixty-foot time: the time it takes a vehicle to cover the first 60 feet of the racetrack. It is the most accurate measure of the launch from the starting line and in most cases determines how quick the rest of the run will be.
Slider clutch: a multi-disc clutch designed to slip until a predetermined rpm is reached; decreases shock load to the drive wheels.
Speed trap: the final 66 feet to the finish line where speed is recorded.
Staging: There are two sets of staging lights on the starting tree. When staging, you move your vehicle up to the first (pre-stage) light beam. When you are pre-staged the first light at the top of the starting tree will light. After you and your opponent have pre-staged, you then move your vehicle ahead another 8 inches. This runs you through the second light beam at the starting line, which lights the second Staging light, and you are now staged.
Staging Deep: or Deep Staging is done by pulling forward about 2 more inches or until the Pre-Stage light goes off. By doing this it puts your vehicle closer to the finish line which may give you a lower ET but it also results in a lower trap speed. The main reason for deep staging is to get a lower reaction time.
Staging Lanes: This is the area were competitors take their vehicles so they can be matched up for the upcoming round of competition.
Staging Director: The person who directs the flow of traffic from the staging lanes to the race lanes.
Starting Line: The point of the starting area were both sets of pre-staging lights are lit for your line.
Starting Light: see "Tree"
Supercharger: a crank-driven air/fuel-mixture compressor, also called a blower. It increases atmospheric pressure in the engine to produce more horsepower.
Tech Inspection: Upon entering the pit area you will need to have a track official inspect your car. They will check tires, steering, brakes or anything that might pose a safety hazard. After your car is inspected you will be give a number on your window. You are now ready to have some fun.
Tree: Also called the "Christmas Tree", it is the noticeable electronic starting device between the lanes on the starting line. It displays a calibrated-light countdown for each driver. On each side of the Tree are seven lights: two small amber lights at the top of the fixture, followed in descending order by three larger LED lights, a green bulb, and a red bulb.
Time Slip: A printed record of your run, given to you as you return to the pit area after you run. Usually it is given to you on the return road.
Trap Speed: Trap speed is the average speed of your vehicle through the last 66 feet of track.
Turbocharger: an exhaust-driven intake air compressor (see supercharger).
Wedge: an engine with a combustion chamber resembling a wedge in shape.
Weight transfer: critical to traction. Vehicles are set up to provide a desired weight transfer to the rear wheels. Upon acceleration, the front wheels lift and the weight shifts to the rear wheels, which makes them less likely to spin.
Wheelie: when the vehilce lifts the front tires off the pavement.
Wheelie bar(s): used to prevent excessive front-wheel lift.

Please drive safely.
Don't street race, take it to the track instead, where it's safe and legal.

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