Cars 151: What you need to know
We here at TCB use some pretty big words (dual overhead camshaft engine with centrifugal supercharger, direct injection, and coil on pack ignition, lol). I thought it would be appropriate that we break it down a little for some of the newer readers and those beginning their journey as car hoons and nerds.
-Turbocharger- A set of fans set on a common axis and rotating via exhaust gas to spin the opposing blade. This blade sucks in and compresses air to shove in the engine. Increased air means more oxygen content in each ignition stroke, which means more power from a given displacement.
-Supercharger- Several different configurations are possible. They all use the engine’s drive system (belts or shaft) to drive a compressor that pushes air in the engine. This uses energy from the motor, but has virtually no lag compared to a turbocharger. Basically similar in principle to a turbocharger but mechanically or directly driven rather than indirectly driven by exhaust gasses.
-Heel and Toe- Used during sporty driving, this technique involves pushing the brakes with your toes and sliding the heel of your foot on the gas to let you rev match gear changes. Definite proof of manhood.
-The “Line”- The path around the track that usually nets the best time. Usually known as in-out-in to some. Most lines involve using the entire width of the track. Varies by track, weather, time of day, and type of car driven.
-Drift- This driving method involves using skill to cause the rear tires (or all tires sometimes) to lose traction on the road. Using oversteer, late braking, e-brake, and Scandinavian flick to initiate. The trick of drifting is not so much to get the rear tires to lose grip, but to keep the car perfectly balanced when it is already past the edge of adhesion through intricate and high-speed manipulation.
-Understeer- Occurs when the front tires lose grip with the road. Usually found on front wheel drive and most street cars. This event means that a driver can no longer steer or stop effectively. While it is safer than oversteer, it is boring and frustrating for those of us that can actually drive.
-Oversteer- This happens when the rear tires lose traction. Also a means of hooning and is very entertaining (see: drifting). Usually happens with modified cars and rear wheel drive cars.
-Hoon- Also used as a verb: hooning. This is the act most commonly associated with automotive enthusiasts. It involves oversteer, destruction of tires, and usually breaking laws.
-Scandinavian Flick- A driving technique that is used for cars with strong understeer or to initiate oversteer/drifting. It involves feinting towards the opposite direction of the turn, then turning in hard toward the turn. This results in the rear tires loosing traction as the weight transfers toward the outside and overwhelms the tire’s grip.
-Downforce- Used most commonly on track cars, this force holds the car to the track/road. This prevents the car from understeering or oversteering and lets the driver corner much harder, especially at speed.
-Lift- The force that causes aerodynamic lift on a vehicle. It results in cars loosing grip with the road. The Audi TT had a particular problem when introduced as it was shaped very much like a wing. The faster air over the canopy’s roof and slower air under the flat bottom of the car. It resulted in oversteer at speed and was fixed with mandatory rear spoilers and revised suspension.
~Have fun!