Evo Street Racers: Official Illegal Street Racing Dictionary

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The Official Illegal Street Racing Dictionary - Words, Phrases, Terms, Lexicon

Source: Evo Street Racers Studies & Research Department
Release Date: February 23, 2009
Update / Revision: March 10, 2009: Additional terms added to the dictionary.

Illegal Street Racing terms are often misused by media, government, and law enforcement in an attempt to identify the activity. The resultant verbiage used to identify illegal street racing further convolutes the subject and is often slanderous towards many other forms of legitimate motorsports and automotive subcultures. As the central authority on alternatives to i llegal street racing Evo Street Racers is proud to release the first dictionary in the world that accurately depicts the activity.

Unless the specific country is noted the below terminology reflects United States Illegal Street Racing.

The below terms reflect dialogue associated with illegal street racing; however, many terms can also apply to legitimate motorsports ie: prepping, nitrous, blower, etc.

Similar to a standard dictionary the below terms are constantly evolving. Recommendations - Additions - Modifications? Please contact Evo.

Aftermarket (High Performance): Automotive parts installed after the original sale of a vehicle for the purpose of increasing the performance or aesthetic value of a vehicle. Aftermarket parts can adversely affect the emissions and noise of a vehicle resulting in no longer meeting street legal standards. See "Street Legal"

Automobile: A vehicle with typically four tires/tracks that transports one or more people utilizing a motor over a solid surface (Asphalt, Dirt, Snow, etc.).

Blown: An engine with a supercharger. Supercharger's are installed on an automobile to increase the output of engine resulting in a faster vehicle. A Supercharge increasing the mass of air entering an engine thereby increase horsepower and torque.

Break (The): See "The Hit"

Boost: Has two meanings: 1: To steal a vehicle or component from a vehicle 2: The increased pressure that is the result of a turbocharger or supercharger. Higher boost results in a more powerful engine.

Cannonball Run: An illegal point to point road rally (illegal street race) that runs the entire length of a country involving many participants. The winner is determined by the fastest time.

\Canyon Race: See "Canyon Running."

Canyon Running: The United States version of Touge (See Touge).

CARB: An acronym meaning California Air Resources Board. CARB is responsible for creating and implementing a set of rules and regulations on air pollution and quality. CARB closely regulates aftermarket devices on street legal vehicles. CARB is considered amongst the strictest vehicle standard in the world and infringements to its regulations are often a method utilized by California law enforcement to fine and/or impound a vehicle believed to be involved in illegal street racing.

Centipede: A rarely used term to identify a group of people driving in a convoy darting through traffic in an aggressive manner at high speeds to "follow the leader."

Chavved Up: The British version of a "Rice Burner." See "Rice Burner."

Chi-Town: Identifies the city of Chicago Illinois. Chicago is considered as having a high incidence of illegal street racing.

Crotch Rocket: Is a Super Sport, Super Bike, or a Hyper Sport motorcycle of Japanese production (Largely - but not exclusive). The Crotch Rocket name is derived from the way the rider sits on the vehicle and the rapid acceleration that it is capable of. Crotch Rockets are often profiled by law enforcement and the media as Illegal Street Racers do to there generally aggressive driving techniques.

Dig (A): An illegal street race where two or more vehicles align their front bumper and race to a predetermined point. The driver that reaches the predetermined point first wins (Distances can range - usually a quarter mile).

Drag Race: A drag race is a motorsports competition where two vehicles compete in a straight line to be the first across a predetermined line. The competition occurs in a safe and controlled environment with a set of rules. The term drag race is often incorrectly used to categorize an illegal street race. See Illegal Street Racing for more info.

Drifting: A driving technique where the competitor intentionally causing the vehicle to lose traction resulting in the vehicle entering a controlled slide through a turn. The act of drifting can be a motorsports should it be a sanctioned race in a safe environment with rules or it can be an illegal street race should it occur on the open public road.

Flagger: The person responsible for starting a Dig (illegal street race) where two or more vehicles begin at a standstill and race to a predetermined point (usually a quarter mile). The flagger will assume a position between the vehicles at a distance of five to ten feet from there hood and through hand and head signals verifies each driver is ready and initiates the race.

Hat Race: In Canada illegal street racers will pay an entrance fee that is collected and sent to an undiclosed location where a phone call is made alerting the competitors to the location thereby inianating the race. The first person to reach the location wins the money. A Hat Race is similar to a Cannonball Run.

H-Town: Identifies the city of Houston Texas. Houston is considered as having a high incidence of illegal street racing.

Hashiriya: A Japanese word that means illegal street racer.

Header: A performance enhanced exhaust manifold. The installation of a header results in increase horsepower/torque at the expense of increased noise and emissions. In California CARB regulates which headers are street legal.

Hit (The): A handicap which allows one driver to leave first in an illegal street race. No flagger is utilized rather the race begins once the driver leaves the starting line and ends at a predetermined point. A Hit is determined through a negotiation between competitors and is most often used in illegal street racing.

Highway Running: An illegal street race, generally unplanned, where two or more cars encounter each other on the highway and race until one of the drivers gives up.

Hoon: As a noun it identifies an illegal street racer in New Zealand or Australia. As a verb (To Hoon) it describes the dangers associated with illegal street racing.

Hot Rods: A vehicle that has been modified with a large engine and special chassis resulting in increased straight line speed. The Hot Rod subculture is often profiled as illegal street racers as the modifications of the vehicle may not be street legal and appear "fast." The Hot Rodders of the late 1940's were responsible for taking racing off the street and onto the track (Officially 1951).

Illegal Street Racing: An unsanctioned contest of speed involving one or more vehicles on an open public road. Illegal Street Racing transcends age, color, creed, gender, and economic status as it attracts a wide variety of participants; however, there does exist trends of participants when researching the topic. For example it is well documented that illegal street racing largely, but not exclusively, are composed of participants with an age between 15 to 24.

Imports Scene: An automotive subculture that modifies imported cars, largely Japanese and European vehicles, for the purpose of performance and aesthetic value. The Import Scene is often profiled as illegal street racers as the vehicle's modifications may not be street legal and there visual cues can be aggressive.

Juice: See "Nitrous"

Jump: To leave the starting line prior to the illegal street race starting.

Kamikaze: See "Hat Race"

Kick (The): See "The Hit"

Kousoku Battle: A Japanese word that means to illegal street race on highways, freeways, or expressways.

Leave (The): See "The Hit"

Lowrider: A vehicle with a modified suspension that results in the lowest possible ground clearance. The Lowrider Subculture is often profiled as illegal street racers as their modified suspension may not be street legal and the vehicles are often found cruising/meeting in parking lots.

Mat Rempit: A Malaysian word that identifies an illegal street racer. Often Mat Rempit identifies an illegal street racer on a motorcycle but can also apply to anyone illegally street racing.

Motorcycle: A vehicle with typically two tires (Can include 3 tires) that transports one or more people utilizing a motor over a solid surface (Asphalt, Dirt, Snow, etc.).

Muscle Car: A vehicle bought from the factory with a large displacement engine in a small frame at an inexpensive purchase price. The Muscle Car subculture is predominately composed of American and Australian vehicles, were produced in the 1960's and ended in the early 70's do to the OPEC Oil embargo. Currently there is a new automobile subculture called "Modern Day Muscle Cars" which follows the same concept as the original muscle car with modern day production and engineering. American Muscle Cars include the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Pontiac GTO (Considered by many as the first Muscle Car), Chevrolet Chevelle, and the Dodge Charger. Muscle Cars in Australia include the Holden Monaro, Ford Falcon, and Chrysler Charger. The Chevrolet Corvette although a very capable sports car is not considered a Muscle Car do to its high price tag.

Nitrous: An abbreviated term to identify a nitrous oxide injection system. Nitrous oxide injection systems are installed on a vehicle to increase horsepower via increasing the amount of air fuel mixture delivered to the engine. Nitrous Oxide is NOT a fuel rather an oxidizing agent.

NOS: A term often incorrectly used to identify Nitrous Oxide is actually an acronym for Nitrous Oxide Systems; the largest manufacturer of automotive nitrous oxide injection systems in America.

P-Platers: A term used in Australia to identify the people that drive a vehicle with a P-plate. A P-Plate driver is a person that obtains a provisional licence at the age of 17 years or older after holding a learner licence for 6 months and either completes a logbook or passes a driving test. Provisional drivers must display red on white 'P Plates' on there vehicle for a temporary period. P-Platers are often identified in Australian media as participants of illegal street racing.

Prepping: To treat/prepare a public road with chemicals and heat additives to enhance traction. Prepping is most often done in the burn-out area and a short distance beyond the starting line resulting in the vehicles posting higher speeds. Prepping is rarely done in illegal street racing.

Q-Car: The British term to identify a "Sleeper car." See "Sleeper."

Racing for Pink Slips: Although a rare occurrence illegal street racers may wager their pink slip, the vehicle's title, on a race. The winner receives the pink slip and ownership of the competitors car.

Rice Burner: A derogatory term used to identify a vehicle, largely an import, that is focused on external customization that has no affect on performance.

Roll (A): An illegal street race with the vehicles already in motion and begins with a series of three honks (similar to countdown). Generally the race is over when a driver gives up (instead of racing to a predetermined point).

Roulette-zoku: A Japanese word that means to illegal street race on a circular style expressway.

Set out lengths: See "A Spot"

Sleeper: A vehicle with a factory stock appearance with high performance internal modifications. The unassuming exterior is designed to deter car thieves, the attention of law enforcement, and to fool an opponent to underestimate the cars performance to win a wager.

Spot (A): An illegal street race involving two or more vehicles that starts without a flagger where a handicap is offered to the slower car in the form of a distance (Usually in car lengths). A Spot is determined through negotiations between the competitors.

Sports Compact Car (SCC): A high performance version of a compact car that may be either a factory tuned car or an aftermarket customized vehicle of ranging years and production location. Sports Compact Cars are often profiled by law enforcement and the media do to there external modifications.

Spray: See Nitrous

Squeeze: See Nitrous

Stage (The): A public road which the illegal street race occurs on.

Street Legal: A automobile that meets government standards for motor vehicle safety and emissions.

Street Race: A term often incorrectly used to identify the act of illegal street racing. A street race is a legal sanctioned race on a public road which is temporarily closed off with safety barriers installed. For example the Grandprix of Long Beach and Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a street race for the Indy Racing League (IRL). See Illegal Street Racing for more information.

Touge: A Japanese word that identifies the act of illegally street racing in the mountains/canyons on winding and narrow roads. Generally involves one vehicles at a time but can involve multiple vehicles at one time.

Wangan: A Japanese words that identifies an illegal street race that takes place in Tokyo on an expressway late at night.

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