...............with a drag racing bent. Found this while doing some other research and thought it interesting;



"A" or A-BONE: Model "A" Ford.

ALKY: Alcohol, used as a racing fuel and usually mixed with nitromethane.

BANZAI: An all-out run. Bringing the engine to absolute peak performance.

BENT STOVEBOLT: A Chevrolet V8 engine.

BIG END: The end of the quarter-mile distance. ...

BITE: Traction on the asphalt race course.

BLACKY CARBON: Gasoline.

BLOW: An engine failure.

BLOWER: A supercharger. Also known as a huffer, pump, stuffer, or windmill.

BORE: The diameter of the cylinder.

BOSS: The ultimate in perfection. Top quality.

BOX: Transmission.

BROKE: Out of competition due to mechanical failure.

BUCKS UP: Plenty of money.

BUG CATCHER: The scoop or hood around the injector system used on supercharged engines.

BUMP STICK: An engine camshaft. The term comes from the lobes on the cam.

BUTTONS: Chrysler Corporation stock cars equipped with pushbutton-operated automatic transmissions.

BYE: A single run made during eliminations.

CAN: Nitromethane racing fuel. [As in tip in the whole can - Ed]

CARBS: Carburetors.

CAROLINA STOCKER: A stock car running illegal equipment or engine size.

CHEATER SLICKS: Special tires made of racing-rubber compounds, but with tread

design to simulate regular street tires.

CHEVY: Chevrolet engine.

CHIZLER: Chrysler engine.

CHRISTMAS TREE: The electronic countdown starter.

CHRONDEKS: The electronic timing system used in drag racing.

CHUTE: Safety drag chute used to stop the high-speed racers.

COUGH AN ENGINE: An extreme engine failure.

CUT: To eliminate another car.

DEUCE: A 1932 Ford. One of the real pioneers of the hot rod movement.

DRAG: A quarter-mile acceleration race between two cars.

DRAGSTER: A specially designed racecar for quarter-mile acceleration events. The most popular design locates the driver behind the rear wheels for maximum traction, but there are no restrictions in this area.

DRAW: The methods of drawing opponents...

D-RING: The ring or handle the driver pulls at the end of the run to open the safety chute.

DROP THE HAMMER: The rapid engagement of the clutch at the start of a race.

E.T.: Elapsed Time.

ELIMINATED: Beaten in a race.

EYES: The light beams that start and stop the electronic timers.

FACTORY EXPERIMENTALS: A limited production stock car.

FIRE SUIT: The aluminized fireproof driver's uniform worn by drag racers in

open cars.

FLAME SUIT: Same as Fire Suit.

FLATHEAD: An early model Ford engine with the valves located in the block.

FoMoCo: Ford Motor Company.

FOUR BANGER: A four-cylinder engine, usually an early model Ford or Chevrolet.

GASSER: A car competition in either Gas Coupe/Sedan or Supercharged Gas

Coupe/Sedan (G/S) class.

HANDLER: Driver of a drag-racing car.

HAULER: An exceptionally fast car.

HEADERS: The start of the exhaust system which permits an uninterrupted expulsion of the burned gasses from the engine.

HEMI: An engine equipped with hemispherical combustion chamber heads.

HENRY: A Ford Motor Company product.

HONKER: An exceptionally fast or quick car, generally referring to a stock car.

HUFFER: A supercharger.

INJECTED: An engine equipped with a fuel injection system.

IN THE CHUTE: A car positioned in the staging area and ready to race.

JIMMY: A GMC truck engine modified for racing.

JUICE: Special racing fuels.

JUMP: To leave the starting line before the green light. This is a foul and the driver is eliminated.

LUNCH AN ENGINE: An extreme engine failure. To completely destroy an engine

during a run.

MAG: A magneto.

MAGS: Custom made magnesium wheels.

MoPar: Chrysler Corporation product.

NITRO: Nitromethane.

OUT TO LUNCH: A real nobody. A nothing.

PUT IT TO THE WOOD: Open the throttle to its maximum.

PUT IN THE CAN: Operate the race car on the largest possible percentage of fuel.

PUSH CAR: A regular car used to start a race car not equipped with a starter.

RAIL: A dragster.

RATCHET JAW: A person who talks a great deal without saying too much.

RAUNCHY: A poorly painted or appearing car.

ROLL BAR: A safety cage that protects the driver in case of accident.

ROLLER: A roller camshaft.

SANDBAGGER: A driver who holds back in the staging area in an effort to select his opponents during eliminations.

SLICKS: Wide, flat tires...

SLINGSHOT: A dragster design where the driver sits behind the rear wheels for

maximum weight distribution and traction.

SLUSH PUMP: Automatic transmission.

SOLO: A single run.

SOUTHERN STOCKER: See CAROLINA STOCKER.

STICK: A car equipped with a standard transmission.

STOCKER: A stock production automobile.

STOVEBOLT: A Chevrolet. See BENT STOVEBOLT.

STROKE: The distance the piston travels vertically in the cylinder.

STROKER: An engine with an increased stroke displacement over the original measurement.

STROKE IT: To take it easy.

STUFFER: Supercharger.

TACH: A tachometer, a device which shows the engine rpm.

T.E.: Top Eliminator, the major winner at a drag race.

TECH: Technical inspection.

TOP: Top Eliminator.

TOP END: The second half of the quarter-mile distance.

TOUGH: Something that is extra nice.

TOY: A race car.

TRAPS: A three-light system...

TROPHY RUN: The final run for a class or eliminator victory.

TUBE STEAK: A hot dog, the main staple of a drag racer's meal.

UNREAL: An exceptional car or performance.

WHEELIE: A Wheelstand. When the front wheels of a race car clear the asphalt

coming off the starting line.

ZOOMIES: Upswept exhaust headers on dragsters.


– Mike Bumbeck