 S  |
| S&R |
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Safety and Rescue. Race staff operating ambulances, crash trucks, wreckers and flat tow vehicles.
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| S.a.E. |
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Society of Automotive Engineers. A group known for publishing research papers and defining various standards of measurement.
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| Sanctioning Body |
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An organization that sets and enforces the rules for a race or racing class or series. (The act of doing so is called a "sanction".)
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| Sandbag |
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To hold back on a car's performance, during trial runs and qualifying, to mislead other drivers as to its potential.
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| Sas |
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Southern All Star Racing Series Super Late Model racing.
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| Saving the Car/Tires |
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Driving a car somewhat moderately to conserve the cars mechanical parts and lessen tire wear. This allows a driver to be more aggressive during the all-important final laps.
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| Sawing on the Wheel |
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When a driver violently turns the wheel back and forth to regain control of the race car.
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| Sc |
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Safety Car - Displayed on circuit when safety car is out.
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| Scca |
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Sports Car Club of America sanctions races of sports sedans in its Trans-Am Championship series -- the United States' longest continuously running road racing series. Support series include the Kool/Toyota Atlantic Championship, the U.S. Formula Ford 2000 National Championship and electric vehicle competitions.
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| Sccr |
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Sports Car Club of Rockford
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| Scoop |
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An air scoop forces air onto desired parts of the car. On a stock car, it could be a box sitting on the hood to force air into the engine to give it more power. On an Indycar, a scoop forces air onto the brakes to keep them cool.
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| Score Off-Road Desert Championship |
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Short Course Off-Road Enterprises. SCORE now stages and promotes Off Road Truck races and events. Season starts in Arizona each January, ending in November with the Ford Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
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| Scoring Line |
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A line on the track, where a car's scorer registers the car as having completed a lap when the car crosses that line. At larger tracks, the scoring line (or lines) is often not the start-finish line. (Of course, completion of the last lap is still scored at the start-finish line.)
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| Scra |
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Southern California Racing Association, a body that sanctions a non-winged Sprint car series, mainly in southern California and Arizona.
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| Scrubbed Tires |
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The best kind of racing tire because they've had a few laps of wear to normalize the surface. Term used in CART, IRL and F1.
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| Scrubbing |
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Breaking in new tires by running them for a couple of laps to heat them and harden them for the race. Also called "scuffing.".
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| Scrubbing or Scuffing |
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Wearing in new tires by running a few laps on the race track. This heats up the tires and has a tendancy to harden the rubber. This is done during practice sessions prior to a race.
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| Scscc |
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Salt Creek Sports Car Club
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| Scuff |
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A tire that has been used at least once and is saved for future racing. A lap or two is enough to 'scuff' it in. This heats up the tires and has a tendancy to harden the rubber. This is done during practice sessions prior to a race.
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| Scuffs |
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In general, any tires that have been used, but usually refers specifically to tires that have been run for a few laps, removed from the car, cooled with a water spray or other means, and then put aside for later use. Scuffing changes the physical characteristics of the rubber, generally making it more durable and less sticky.
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| Sealed Beam |
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A one-piece, hermetically sealed headlight in which the filament is an integral part of the unit, and the lens itself is the bulb.
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| Seat Time |
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The ammount of time a driver has spent behing the wheel of a racecar either during practice or during a race.
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| Security Deposit |
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May be required in some lease contracts. It is similar to a security deposit on an apartment. This money is held to cover any payments that might be missed. This deposit may or may not be refundable. It is usually equivalent to one month's lease payment.
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| Sedan |
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A two- or four-door car that can hold four to six people. Includes a trunk in the rear.
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| Selective Transmission |
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The conventional manual transmission of today in which any gear may be selected at will as opposed to the very early progressive transmission in which the gears had to be selected in order.
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| Sensor Algorithm |
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An algorithm is a mathematical formula or series of formulas used by an on-board computer or processor to make a decision. In an airbag system, a crash-sensor algorithm determines whether the change in velocity indicates an impact of great enough force to require airbag deployment, based on pre-programmed parameters. If the change in velocity is great enough, the processor sends a signal to the device that inflates the airbag.
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| Sequential Fuel Injection |
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Similar to multi-port fuel injection, but the injectors spray fuel into the individual intake ports exactly at the beginning of each cylinder's intake cycle. The precise fuel control provides better engine performance.
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| Sequential Shift |
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A type of semi-automatic transmission where the driver can select the next highest or lowest gear by just moving a lever or pressing a button.
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| Setup |
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Slang term for the tuning and adjustments made to a race car's suspension before and during a race. Short Track - Racetracks that are less than a mile in length. Currently, the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division holds nine events on seven short tracks: Bristol Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Memphis Motorsports Park, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Nashville Speedway USA, Richmond International Raceway, and South Boston Speedway.
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| Setup (Chassis) |
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The configuration of the chassis in order to achieve the desired handling. Generally this consists of a selection of springs and shocks with the needed force and damping characteristics, plus adjustments like wedge and stagger.
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| Setup Sheets |
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Documents with recorded setups from different tracks under varying weather conditions. Teams use this baseline to adjust setups when they arrive at a track.
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| Shakedown |
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First test with a brand-new car or engine.
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| Shift Interlock |
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On a vehicle with automatic transmission, a safety device that prevents the driver from shifting out of park unless the brake pedal is depressed.
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| Shift Points |
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The best engine r.p.m. at which to shift gears. Some production and race cars have lights to indicate when a driver should shift gears.
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| Shock Absorber |
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A term used for what are really dampers. Fittings used to absorb the energy that the wheels convey to the springs. The dampers keep the springs from continuously rebounding. The majority of shock absorbers are hydraulic.
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| Shock Absorbers |
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Suspension device near each wheel that dampens the up-and-down movement of the vehicle. Inside a shock absorber, a piston rides up and down in a cylinder filled with thick fluid or compressed gas. The shock absorber counteracts the up-and-down movement allowed by the springs.
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| Shoe |
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The Driver - pressing his shoe to the gas pedal. Also heard sometimes "Give it some shoe."
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| Shoot Out |
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After a caution when all the cars are bunched together behind the pace car and there are only a few laps remaining when the race is restarted. Drivers will try and "shoot out" to the lead.
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| Shoot-Out |
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When all cars are bunched together, usually because of a caution, and there are only a few laps remaining when the race is restarted.
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| Shoot-Out Finish |
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A race that has had a caution but is going under green for the last few laps, when all the cars are bunched together and really race for the checkered flag.
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| Short Block |
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A block with crankshaft, rods, and pistons (but no cylinder heads or valvetrain), to "long block", which is a complete engine less carb, manifolds, ignition, and accessories.
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| Short-Term Policy |
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A policy written for a period of time that is shorter than usual for that type of coverage.
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| Show Room Stock |
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A racing series where new production cars are raced with very few or no modifications.
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| Shuffle Stearing |
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A more accurate and less dramatic method of wheel-handling. For example, for a left turn, the left hand moves to the top of the steering wheel and pulls the wheel a full half-turn to the bottom, while the right hand slides downward to meet the left hand at the bottom. The right hand then pulls up on the wheel, while the left hand mirrors the movement until both hands meet at the top. This takes some getting used to, but is very efficient.
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| Shunt |
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A collision; British.
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| Shut Down |
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Turning a car off to avoid mechanical damage or an accident. Often times, drivers shut down so a mechanical problem doesn't lead to more severe and expensive consequences. Drag racers often shut their cars down when they get out of control.
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| Shut-Off |
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A point at which a driver has to begin slowing down in order to negotiate a turn.
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| Side Airbag |
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An inflatable cushion that fills the space between the door and the occupant to prevent head, torso and pelvis injuries when a vehicle is hit from the side. Side airbags may be stored in the door-trim panel or the outboard side of the seat; they may protect the hip and torso only or also protect the head. A new design, called an inflatable tubular restraint, is stored in the edge of the roof headliner and attached at the base of the A-pillar at the front end and above the doors along the roofline at the other. The device inflates into a somewhat stiff tube that prevents the occupant's head from hitting the side pillar or the window.
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| Side Pod |
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Bodywork on the side of the car covering the radiators and engine exhaust. Aids in engine cooling, car aerodynamics and driver protection in the event of a side impact.
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| Side-Impact |
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Federal safety regulations require that vehicles absorb a certain amount of force when hit from the side. To meet side-impact standards, automakers have stiffened side-impact beams, which resist intrusion into the passenger compartment, and added safety devices such as side airbags and extra padding, which are designed to push the occupant toward the interior of the vehicle and away from the point of intrusion.
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| Silly Season |
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Slang for the period that begins during the latter part of the current season, wherein some teams announce driver, crew, and/or sponsor changes for the following year.
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| Silver Crown |
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A type of car defined by USAC, and the USAC series that runs these cars. Silver Crown cars are basically Sprint cars on steroids; they're longer, heavier, and have more powerful engines, but are otherwise similar. Silver Crown is sort of the successor to the old front-engined Championship roadster cars that used to run Indy until the rear-engined cars took over.
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| Simple Interest |
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Interest paid or computed only on the original principal of a loan.
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| Single Overhead Cam (Sohc) |
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An engine with a single overhead cam generally has one intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder; the single cam opens and closes both valves. See also Overhead Cam and Dual Overhead Cam.
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| Single Pay Advantage |
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The lessee pays the entire lease amount in one payment in exchange for a lower money factor. Single-pay advantage was designed to overcome cash customers' objections to monthly payments. Unlike an actual cash purchase, however, the lessee still pays the financing cost.
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| Sixty Foot Time |
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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, which in most cases determines how quick the rest of the run will be. (Drag racing)
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| Sixty-Foot Time |
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In drag racing, 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, which in most cases determines how quick the rest of the run will be.
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| Slalom |
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A type of gymkhana in which drivers maneuver through a course marked by pylons.
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| Sledgehammer |
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America's Fastest Road Car, built by Callaway on a Corvette ZR1 platform, which reached speeds of 254.76 mph at the TRC track in Ohio; b., precision instrument used to make adjustments in sheet metal.
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| Sleeve Valve |
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Consists of metal sleeves located between the piston and cylinder wall. When moved up and down, holes in the sleeves coincide with inlet and exhaust parts to provide passage for the gases at the right time.
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| Slick |
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A track condition where, for a number of reasons, it's hard for a car's tires to adhere to the surface or get a good "bite." A slick racetrack is not necessarily wet or slippery because of oil, water, etc.
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| Slick Track |
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Usually an oval track with an unusual amount of oil and other fluids on it making it diffcult to drive.
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| Slicks |
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Racing tires having no tread, in order to get the maximum amount of rubber in contact with the pavement. Nearly all racing on paved ovals since the late '60s has been done using slicks, except when rules require use of DoT tires.
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| Slide Job |
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A passing technique seen at dirt tracks. It involves diving into the bottom of a corner, under the car to be passed, at a speed far too high to maintain that line. As soon as the passer is clear of the car being passed, he allows the car to drift up the track in front of the car being passed and then slows to regain control.
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| Slider Clutch |
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A multi-disc clutch designed to slip until a predetermined rpm is reached. Decreases shock load to the drive wheels.
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| Slideways |
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Going around a corner with all wheels in slide without wrecking.
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| Sling Shot |
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Prior to the restrictor plate rule being imposed by NASCAR a car running behind another car at a superspeedway had the advantage because of the "draft". The car behind would be able to pull out of the wake of the car in front and would still have accelleration left allowing him to pass theleading car.
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| Slingshot |
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A maneuver in which a car following the leader in a draft suddenly steers around it, breaking the vacuum; this provides an extra burst of speed that allows the second car to take the lead.
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| Slingshotting |
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Passing a car by first drafting to conserve power, then suddenly moving out of the slipstream and using the reserve power.
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| Slip Stream |
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The cavity of low-pressure area created by a moving object. In racing, drivers use this slip stream to draft another vehicle.
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| Small Block |
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Usually refers to a small-block Chevy engine.
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| Smart Airbag |
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Smart airbags don't exist yet, but NHTSA expects automakers and their suppliers to have them perfected sometime after the year 2000. There are many designs, but each contains similar elements including a system of sensors and mathematical algorithms to detect the presence or absence of an occupant in the seat; to determine the size, weight and nature of any occupant (including whether it is a rear-facing infant and determine whether the occupant is an adult, a dog, a bag of groceries or a rear-facing infant seat); and to determine whether the occupant is too close to the airbag door for safe deployment. A smart system will use that information to decide whether to inflate the airbag in an impact. Later generations of smart airbags will adjust the rate of inflation based on force of impact and size of the occupant.
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| Smiley |
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Semi-circular black mark appearing on a race car's bodywork after contact with another car's tire, also known as a donut.
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| Sohc |
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Acronym for single overhead cam (see Overhead Cam)
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| Soil Sampling |
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A driver has gone off track into the dirt and grass.
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| Solo I |
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A racing event sponsored by the SCCA, focused on Time Trial and Hill Climbs.
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| Solo Ii |
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Autocross racing event sponsored by the SCCA.
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| Spacer |
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The object placed in a car to fill the gap from steering wheel to the rollbar. Ask any mechanic; Also see "driver".
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| Spark Plug |
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A device inserted into the combustion chamber of a cylinder on an internal-combustion engine that provides the electrical gap across which the high-tension voltage jumps. This creates a spark that ignites the compressed fuel-air mixture.
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| Spec |
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A type of rule that specifies a legal and required part by brand name or model, as opposed to a technical outline that leaves the choice of parts and brands up to the individual teams. Spec rules (tires are a common example) are often used by tracks to contain costs (it's impossible to spend more money on a part if everyone is required to run the same part), and to make enforcement easier. A "spec series" is one that requires all teams to use the same model of car, engine, or both.
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| Speed Trap |
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An area at the end of a drag strip where electric eyes are used to measure a vehicle's speed at the end of its run.
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| Speedy Dry |
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A trade name for a granular mix of sand, cement, and resin used to soak up spilled oil, water, etc., from a race track.
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| Spin |
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To lose control so that the car revolves around its vertical axis. Also "spin out."
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| Spin and Win |
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When a driver spins the car during the race and proceeds to win the race.
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| Spinout |
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When a race car that spins around due to being tapped, racing too close to another car, or clipping another while attempting a pass.
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| Splash'n'go |
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A quick pit stop that involves nothing more than refueling the race car with the amount of fuel necessary to finish the race.
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| Splash-and-go |
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A very short pit stop in which a small amount of fuel is added to the car (and no tires are changed).
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| Spoiler |
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A metal strip that helps control airflow, downforce and drag. The front spoiler or 'air dam' is underneath the car's front end near the axle; the rear spoiler is attached to the trunk lid. "Adding more spoiler" refers to increasing the rear spoiler's angle in relation to the rear window and generally aids a car's cornering ability. "Less spoiler" - decreasing its angle - aids straightaway speed.
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| Sponsor |
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An individual or business establishment that financially supports a race driver, team, race, or series of races in return for advertising and marketing benefits. Usually, the sponsor's name, colors, and corporate or product logo are adorned on the race car for high visibility and product identification.
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| Spool |
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A one-piece ring gear carrier providing equal rotational drive to both rear axles.
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| Sport Utility Vehicle (Suv) |
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Refers to a style of truck which has a square passenger cabin and hatchback, and may be equipped with two- or four-wheel drive.
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| Sports Car |
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An agile vehicle that is easily maneuverable, accelerates briskly, brakes positively, handles well and steers precisely. It is tightly sprung and does not wallow and heave as does a conventional passenger car and is therefore not as comfortable.
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| Sportsman |
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A type of stock car with a light body and engine modified in certain limited ways.
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| Spotter |
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Found in series where drivers are permitted to use radios. A spotter is someone who sits in a high place (typically on top of a grandstand roof) and watches their car, and the track ahead of their car. The spotter advises the driver when there is a car to their inside or outside, and when it is "clear" to pull into a lower or higher lane. When an accident occurs ahead of their car, the spotter warns the driver, and tells the driver which way to go to avoid the accident.
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| Spring Rate |
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Amount of bounce a tires sidewall has when inflated to a certain level. One factor in deciding and determining how a car will be set up on any given weekend.
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| Spring Rubber |
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A circular rubber device added to the front springs of a stock car to stiffin the spring ratio and make the car handle better. Often these are added or removed during pit stops.
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| Sprint Car |
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Two types of sprint cars exist, the first is the USAC open-wheel cars that feature a upright roll cage. The second is a similar car that has a large wing mounted to the top for stability; this is used by the World of Outlaws.
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| Spyder or Spider |
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In the early 1900s, a light two-seater car. In the 1950s the word was revived by some Italian manufacturers for an open two seater sports car.
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| Staged |
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[1] When cars are lined up in starting position prior to going onto the speedway for the race.
[2] A driver is staged when the front wheels of the car are right on the starting line and the small yellow light below the prestaged light on his or her side of the Christmas Tree is glowing. Once a driver is staged, the calibrated countdown (see Christmas Tree) may begin at any time. (Drag racing)
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| Stagger |
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The difference in size between the tires on the left and right sides of a car. Because of a tire's makeup, slight variations in circumference result. Stagger between right-side and left-side tires may range from less than a half inch to more than an inch. Stagger applies to only bias-ply tires and not to radials.
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| Stagger (Closed Wheel) |
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The amount of flex in the side wall of a tire in racing. Race teams can use the stagger of the tire to stiffen the spring ratio of the car by adding air to the tire and thereby change how the car handles.
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| Stagger (Open Wheel) |
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On ovals, teams may use a different size tire (or stagger) on the outside wheel to improve the car's handling ability.
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| Staging Lanes |
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In drag racing, area of race facility which leads to the racing surface, where cars are lined up and/or paired before making a run.
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| Standing Start |
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In Formula One racing, the field starts from a gridded standstill (standing) start unlike rolling starts in most other types of racing.
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| Start/Finish Line |
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A line on the track where the race officially begins and ends. The flagman's stand is at the start-finish line.
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| Starter |
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An electric motor powered by the battery that turns the crankshaft before the pistons begin operating.
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| Starters |
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Communicate with drivers using flags and signal devices, from the start-finish line.
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| Station Wagon |
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A two- or four-door passenger car with a cargo area that extends all the way to the rear bumper.
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| Steering Ratio |
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The ratio of the different steering gears. Usually a lower gear means a faster response.
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| Steering, Power |
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Assist provided by the engine to reduce steering effort. Power steering is essential to make large, heavy vehicles manageable. Small vehicles often do not require power steering.
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| Steering, Rack and Pinion |
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A common steering type. The steering wheel is connected to a pinion gear that meshes with a rack, or linear gear. As the pinion rotates, the rack moves side to side, this moves the steering linkage, causing the wheels to pivot left or right.
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| Sti |
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Subaru Technica International - Subaru's motorsport division.
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| Stick |
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Slang term for tire traction, as in "the car's sticking to the track." Stickers. Slang term for new tires. The name is derived from the manufacturer's stickers that are affixed to each new tire's contact surface.
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| Sticker |
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A new tire. Term comes from the manufacturer's stick-on label denoting the type of tire, price, etc..
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| Sticker Price |
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The price of a vehicle found on the sticker attached to one of its windows. Generally, the MSRP.
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| Sticker Tires |
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Tires that have never been run on a car, and still have the manufacturer's sticker on them
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| Stickers |
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Brand-new tires with the manufacturer's label (or sticker) still on the surface. Teams generally use sticker tires during qualifying, then use scrubbed tires in a race. See scuffs or scrubbed tires.
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| Stock |
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An unmodified car, almost exactly as produced by the manufacturer.
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| Stock Block Engine |
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The definition of this term is rather vague. In most usages, it generally refers to an engine that is based on a production engine block design (specifically, that certain essential measurements of the block such as the cylinder-to-cylinder spacing or deck height are the same as on the production engine).
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| Stock Car Racing |
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Started by NASCAR's founder, Bill France, in the 1940s. Initially meant track cars equipped with showroom parts. Today, few cars use stock parts. Most are built from custom parts, made especially for these race cars, that look like those in showrooms.
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| Stock Cars |
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Cars based on the body and (sometimes) chassis of mass-produced street cars. Stock cars can range from no-modifications-allowed Showroom Stock and Hobby/Bomber classes, to the Winston Cup cars which run with stock body shapes and stock-block engines, but are otherwise purpose-built racing cars. Stock cars are mostly raced on ovals.
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| Stones |
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Old hard race tires that have long since lost their grip.
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| Stop & go Penalty |
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A type of penalty, which calls for the driver to drive the car to the pits, stop, and then immediately leave again.
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| Stop'n'go |
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A penalty, usually assessed for speeding on pit road or for unsafe driving. The car must be brought onto pit road at the appropriate speed and stopped for one full second in the team's pit stall before returning to the track.
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| Stop-and-go Penalty |
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A penalty which requires a driver to stop at their team's pit for a timed penalty before reentering the race. This penalty can be assessed for anything from speeding in the pits to contact with an opponent.
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| Straight |
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Part of track connecting two turns.
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| Straightaway |
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Just as it sounds; the long straight stretch of a race course. Typically where the highest speed is attained.
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| Street Circuit |
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A road course made up partly or wholly of partitioned-off city streets.
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| Street Equipment |
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Equipment generally required by law or needed for legal street operation: license plates, windshield wipers, horns, lights, etc.
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| Stringing |
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A procedure for checking the toe of the front wheels. Basically, it consists of running a string down the side of the car; with the steering wheel pointed straight ahead, the distance between the front edge of the wheel and the string, and the rear edge of the wheel and the string, is then measured; the difference between the two distances gives the toe angle.
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| Stroke |
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The up-and-down distance the piston travels within the cylinder. On a traditional internal combustion engine, the piston makes four strokes during the combustion cycle, only one of which is a power stroke. On the power stroke, the piston is near the top of the cylinder, and it has compressed the air and fuel mixture. The spark plug ignites the mixture, and the force of the explosion pushes the piston down into the cylinder, producing the force that turns the crankshaft. The piston returns to the top of the cylinder to expel the exhaust gases on the second, or exhaust, stroke. It slides down to the bottom of the cylinder during the intake stroke, when the valves open to let in air and fuel. The piston rises to the top of the cylinder on the compression stroke to begin the cycle anew. This process repeats hundreds or thousands of times a minute, resulting in the number of crankshaft revolutions per minute at which the crankshaft is rotating.
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| Stroke it |
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To drive below maximum speed, usually to conserve the car when it has a safe lead near the end of a race.
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| Stroking |
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[1] Driving conservatively so as to preserve the equipment and stay out of accidents.
[2] Changing the piston stroke of an engine in order to increase or decrease its displacement, effectively making it a larger or smaller engine. This is done by changing the crankshaft with one that has the rod journals farther from or closer to the crank's rotation axis.
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| Subcompact |
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The car size class one step up from the minicar.
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| Subframe |
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Used in construction of unibody vehicles when a full front-to-rear frame is not used.
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| Subvented Lease |
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A special lease, subsidized by an auto manufacturer, that features a low money factor rate or high residual value, making the monthly payments extremely attractive. Automakers increasingly are using subvented-lease specials instead of rebates to boost sales of particular models.
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| Sunday Afternoon Rally |
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One day rallies, usually run by a local car club. These may be run on public access roads.
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| Sunroof |
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A window-type opening in the roof of the vehicle that can tilt or slide open.
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| Supercharged, Supercharger |
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Serves the same function as a turbocharger but avoids lag time because it runs off an engine-driven pump. Both turbochargers and superchargers are used to produce more power without increasing engine displacement, but neither are particularly fuel efficient and both can require costly maintenance as vehicles age.
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| Supercharger |
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An air compressor fitted to an internal combustion engine to force the fuel-air mixture into the cylinders at a pressure greater than that of the atmosphere. Boosts the power of the engine.
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| Supermodified |
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An extreme form of Modifieds, easily distinguished from them by the fact that Supermodifieds are open-cockpit. Supermods (as the name is often shortened to) feature grossly offset chassis and engines, and often use an open formula with few restrictions.
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| Superspeedway |
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A racetrack of a mile or more in distance. Road courses are included. Racers refer to three types of oval tracks. Short tracks are under a mile, intermediate tracks are at least a mile but under two miles, and speedways are two miles and longer. The NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division currently races on fourteen intermediate tracks, four speedways (California Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Michigan Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway), and one road course (Watkins Glen International).
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| Supplementary Payments |
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The agreement or policy that an agency will pay defense costs, premiums, and interests.
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| Surface Plate |
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A large flat metal surface used as a dimensionally stable and level platform for the construction or alignment of a chassis.
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| Suspension |
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The assembly of springs, shock absorbers, torsion bars, joints, arms, etc., that cushions the shock of bumps on the road and serves to keep the wheels in constant contact with the road, thereby improving control and traction.
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| Suspension & Wheel Energy Management System (Swems) |
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Wheel-restraint system using multiple restraints attached at multiple points to a car’s chassis and suspension designed to minimize the possibilities of wheel assemblies becoming detached during high-speed accidents. The restraints are made of FIA-approved Zylon. This material, with its high-tensile properties and its wound construction (opposed to woven), has a breaking strength of 5 tons. The Indy Racing League introduced SWEMS in May 1999.
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| Swap Paint |
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To make contact with another car. Also "rub".
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| Swapping Paint |
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Making light contact with another car. Also known as rubbing or trading paint.
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| Sway Bar |
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Sometimes called an ,, antiroll bar." Bar used to resist or counteract the rolling force of the car body through the turns.
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| Sweeper |
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A large sweeping corner on a road or street course.
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| Swervin' Irvan |
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Nickname awarded to Winston Cup driver Ernie Irvan after what could be called "agressive driving," capped off by a multi-car pile up at Talladega.
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| Swing Axle |
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Type of independent rear suspension using half shafts that have universal joints only at their inboard ends on both sides of the differential. This causes a camber angle change of the wheel with up-and-down wheel movements.
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| Synthetic Oil |
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Engine lubricant not derived from raw petroleum. It has superior engine-protection properties but costs as much as five times more than petroleum oil.
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