Drag Racing slang (1966); Library Extensions

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LIBRARY EXTENSIONS

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY--I was told that its library will be open two
more weeks before it closes for renovations.

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY--The exhibit "New York Eats Out" was to close this
past week, but it's been extended until July 12th.

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DRAG RACING SLANG

   I was asked yesterday about "drag racing."  OED has 1954 (from AMERICAN
SPEECH), and, of course, that's not the earliest.  Merriam-Webster has 1949.
I noticed that HOT ROD magazine has "Racing Jargon" in its November 1948
issue, but I ran out of time to copy it and it'll have to wait until
Saturday.  "Drag racing" was popular in California and normally I'd wait
until the LOS ANGELES TIMES digitization gets done in a few months for our
best answer.
   This book was interesting:

DRAG RACING: YESTERDAY AND TODAY
THE STORY OF THE FASTEST SPORT IN THE WORLD
by Wally Parks
President, National Hot Rod Association
New York: Trident Press
1966

Pg. 223:
"A" or A-BONE--Model "A" Ford.
ALKY--Alcohol, used as a racing fuel and usually mixed with nitromethane.
ALTERED...
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...
Pg. 224:
CAN--Nutromethane racing fuel. ...
CARBS--Carburetors.
CAROLINA STOCKER--A stock car runninhg 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 electroniuc 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 race car 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.
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.
Pg. 225:
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 competiting in either Gas Coupe/Sedan )d_ or SUpercharged Gas
Coupe/Sedan (G/s) class. ...
GLASS
GUTTED
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 fueld injection system.
INJECTORS...
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.
LIGHTS...
LUNCH AN ENGINE--An extreme engine failure.  To completely destroy an engine
during a run.
MAG--A magneto. ...
Pg. 226:
MAGS--Custom made magnesium wheels.
MoPar--Chrysler Corporation product.
NITRO--Nitromethane...
OUT TO LUNCH--A real nobody.  A nothing.
PERCENTAGE...
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.
Pg. 227:
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.
TOP TIME...
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. ...