Orrcon Racing explain some racing terms
2/7/2004 19:14 (Press Release) -
When watching the V8 Supercar Championship some people could be mistaken for thinking that the commentators and teams sometimes have a language of their own, and this could be correct.
Motor Racing has their own language when referring to such words as “B - Pillar”, “Camber”, “CTP”, “oversteer” just to name a few.
Orrcon Racing would like to translate this motor racing talk into plain English to give everyone a better understanding when watching this weekend’s sixth round of the V8 Supercar Championship at Queensland Raceway.
AIR PRESSURE
The amount of air in the tyres. Changing air pressure in the tyres is used as setup tool. Higher air pressure will create temperature in the tyres faster than a lower tyre pressure.
B-PILLAR
The section between the front and rear door. In a passing manoeuvre if a car is deemed to have been past this point entering a corner and there is contact generally the car in front of the b-pillar is in the right of way.
BALANCED
When a car doesn't tend to oversteer or understeer, but goes around the racetrack as if its on rails, it's said to be in well balanced.
CAMBER
Camber addresses the angle at which a front tyre makes contact with the track surface. "Positive camber" indicates the angle of the tyre is tilted away from the vehicle's centerline while "negative camber" indicates the tyre is tilted toward the centerline.
CHASSIS ROLL
The up-and-down movement caused when a car travels around corners at high speeds. The side of the car on the inside of the turn becomes lighter while the extra weight goes toward the outside of the turn.
CTP
Abbreviation for Compulsory Pit Stop. The majority of races in the Championship include at least one compulsory stop for a new set of tyres with many also including a compulsory pit stop for fuel in the pit area.
DOWNFORCE
The air pressure traveling over the surfaces of a race vehicle creates "downforce" or weight on that area. In order to increase corner speeds teams strive to create downforce that increases tire grip. The tradeoff for increased corner speeds derived from greater downforce is increased drag that slows straight line speeds.
HANDLING
Generally, a race car's performance while racing, qualifying or practicing. How a car "Handles" is determined by its tyres, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and other factors.
MARBLES
(Also referred to as "loose stuff.") Bits of rubber that have been shaved off tyres and dirt and gravel blown to the outside of a corner by passing vehicles. This loose rubber, dirt and gravel causes a severe loss of traction and sometimes forces the driver to lose control.
OVERSTEER
(Also referred to as "loose".) A condition created when the back end of the vehicle wants to overtake the front end when it is either entering or exiting a turn.
PIT LANE
The area where pit crews service the cars. Located along the front straight of a track.
PIT BAY
The area along pit road that is designated for a particular team's use during pit stops. Each car stops in the team’s bay before being serviced during a pit stop.
PIT BOOM
The pole that comes out from the pit area to ensure that the hoses for the air pressured wheel changing guns out of the way.
POLE POSITION
(Also referred to as “P1”) Abbreviation for the foremost position on the starting grid, awarded to the fastest qualifier.
REAR QUARTER PANEL
The sheet metal on both sides of the car from the C-post to the rear bumper below the deck lid and above the wheel well.
REAR SPOILER
Sometimes called “the rear wing” The spoiler is the piece of material that stretches across the rear of the car above the boot. It is designed to create down force on the rear of the vehicle, thereby increasing traction. However, the tradeoff is that more down force equals more aerodynamic drag and less speed on the straight.
SETUP
Slang term for the tuning and adjustments made to a car's suspension before a race.
SPLIT TIME
Every track is separated into generally three sections for timing purposes with a magnetic strip in the circuit to record the amount of time it takes for a car to pass each section. This highlights what part of the circuit that one car may be faster than the other.
STOP 'N' GO (BLACK FLAGGED)
A penalty usually assessed for exceeding the pit lane speed limit or being the cause of an accident. Once having the black flag waived at him the driver must undertake a penalty by driving through pit lane without exceeding 40 kmph
SWAY BAR
Sometimes called an "antiroll bar." Bar used to resist or counteract the rolling force of the car body through the turns.
TOE
Looking at the car from the front, the amount the tyres are turned in or out. If you imagine your feet to be the two front tyres of a race car, standing with your toes together would represent toe-in. Standing with your heels together would represent toe-out.
UNDERSTEER
(Also referred to as "push.") Understeer is a condition that occurs when the front tyres of a vehicle will not turn crisply in a corner. When this condition occurs, the driver must get out of the throttle until the front tyres grip the race track again.
ROUND 6 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday 3 July
10:35am – 11:10am - Practice 2
1:35pm - 1:55pm - Qualifying (Lower 50%)
2:00am - 2:20pm - Qualifying (Upper 50%)
4:15pm - 4:45pm - Top 10 Shoot Out
Sunday 4 July
10:00am – 10:20am Warm Up
1:45pm - Race (90 laps)
TV TELECAST - Network Ten
Sunday
2:30pm - 5:00pm
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