NASCAR language and jargon for the new NASCAR fan

You might have seen a large convoy of extra large trucks pull into a NASCAR track before the race, often it will have NASCAR’s that are viewable as it enters the track. These vehicles are transporters for each of the race teams’ two cars, a main and a backup, incase of problems. In addition, these vehicles are the storage garage for parts and tools to repair an entire NASCAR, and a place for the team to unwind.

Racers must change their driving techniques to work in combination with their race cars, which usually changes as a race progress, making their cars either tight or loose. Tight cars are hard to turn and the driver will have to ease-off the accelerator while turning, to slow the car and allow him to steer easier. Teams and drivers usually adjust things like the tire pressure, spring stiffness and chassis weight distribution in order to correct this problem. A race car that is loose, turns too easily, which can tend to make a race car fishtail. Once again, teams will make adjustments to the chassis, tires and springs to correct this problem and give the driver more control and thus greater speed. Confidence breeds speed in NASCAR and a driver who is comfortable with their car is going to run faster and be more successful.

Variables like track temperature and tire wear play important roles in how a NASCAR reacts to the driver during a race and the control a driver has over their ride. Small factors, like the amount of tape over a NASCAR’s grill can change the way a race car handles during a race. Juggling all the factors involved in a fast race car is what the best drivers and racers in NASCAR do better than others, and is often the difference between a champion and runner-up.

The next time you hear any of these words you will have a better idea of their significance in the race you’re watching and this knowledge should increase the entertainment you receive from watching NASCAR. See you at the track!

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

NASCAR Language Revealed

NASCAR language

Back Marker: Back marker is a term that refers to a car running off-the-pace at the back of the field, which is not a desirable position for any driver and team.

Balance: If a car goes around a race track like it’s on train tracks and doesn’t tend to over-steer or under-steer, then it’s referred to as being in balance.

Camber: Camber is a word that refers to the angle at which a tire makes contact with the surface it’s running on. “Positive camber” means the angle of the tire is leaning away from the centerline while “negative camber” would mean the angle is tilted toward the centerline.

Camshaft: A word referring to a rotating shaft inside the powerplant that opens and closes an engines intake and exhaust valves.

Chassis: This word refers to the floorboard, interior, and roll cage of a race car, which together are referred too as the Chassis.

Chassis Roll: When a race car goes around a banked corner at high speed, the forces exerted on the car are greater on the part of the car on the outside part of the track. This results in an upward and downward motion of the car as it moves around the corner at high speed which is called Chassis Roll.

Dirty Air: The lead car in a race uses air and then throws it away; air like this is referred too as dirty air.

Downforce: Air traveling over the surface of a race car as it travels down the track exerts a downward force upon the surface of the car, this force is called downforce. Designers try to increase this downward force to increase tire grip and thus allow a car to travel faster through the corner.

These quick definitions should make watching NASCAR a lot more fun and the next time you read or hear these NASCAR words you should have a better idea of their significance and the subject being discussed.

“Image: Zuma Press”

Post from: EveryJoe

NASCAR Language and Terminology

Now, EA is putting their spin on this tried and true money maker with their Brain Training for Dummies.

The game, set for release on March 13th, promises to “boost your brain power” and ” help increase your reaction time and improve your memory”.

There are over 350 puzzles and 6 skill sets-math, language, spatial, logic, reflexes and memory-so I doubt that you’ll get bored.

If you have to waste your time, why not make yourself a little smarter in the process?

Image Source: EA

Post from: EveryJoe

Brain Training for Dummies for PC