Welcome to the Quarter Midget Terms Glossary. Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, this comprehensive list of terms will help you understand the language used in quarter midget, kart, and micro sprint racing. Click on the first letter of the term you're looking for to jump to that section.
A
- A-Main
- The feature event or main race of the evening. Typically the last and most important race for each class.
- Air Density
- A measure of the air's density, affected by temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Affects engine performance and jetting.
- Animal
- A popular four-stroke racing engine manufactured by Briggs & Stratton, commonly used in quarter midgets and karts.
- Apex
- The point on the inside of a turn where the car comes closest to the inside edge. Also known as the clipping point.
- Axle
- The shaft that connects the left and right rear wheels. Can be solid or split, and is available in different diameters and materials.
B
- B-Main
- A consolation race that transfers finishers into the A-Main.
- Banking
- The angle of the track surface from the inside to the outside edge. Higher banking allows higher corner speeds.
- Base Line
- A starting point for chassis setup. A known configuration that works and can be adjusted from.
- Bite
- The amount of traction or grip available. "Good bite" means the car hooks up well.
- Bleed Holes
- Small holes in tires that allow air to escape slowly, used to adjust tire pressure and stagger.
- Blue Rookie
- A quarter midget class for younger or beginner drivers, typically ages 5-8, using Honda 120 engines.
- Bump
- To advance to the next race (e.g., "bumping up" from the B-Main to the A-Main). Also refers to a shock adjustment.
C
- Camber
- The angle of the tire relative to vertical. Negative camber means the top of the tire leans inward; positive means it leans outward.
- Caster
- The angle of the steering pivot relative to vertical. Affects steering effort and camber gain in corners.
- Chassis
- The frame of the race car. In quarter midgets, typically made of chromoly or mild steel tubing.
- Circle Track
- An oval-shaped race track, typically turning left only.
- Clipping Point
- See Apex.
- Cross Weight (Wedge)
- The percentage of total vehicle weight on the right front and left rear tires. A primary handling adjustment.
D
- Dash
- A short, typically 4-6 lap race to determine starting positions for a feature, or a trophy race.
- Drafting
- Following closely behind another car to reduce aerodynamic drag and gain speed.
- Drive Line
- The system that transfers power from the engine to the rear axle, including clutch, chain, and sprockets.
- Droop
- The amount a suspension corner can extend downward. Measured with the shock removed or by limiting straps.
- Dyno
- Dynamometer - a machine used to measure engine power output (horsepower and torque).
E
- Endo
- Slang for a flip or rollover where the car goes end-over-end.
- Entry
- The phase of the corner where the driver turns into the turn.
- Exit
- The phase of the corner where the driver accelerates off the turn onto the straightaway.
F
- Feature
- The main race of the evening for a given class. See also A-Main.
- Flat Track
- A track with little or no banking.
- Four-Bar
- A type of rear suspension using parallel bars or links.
- Four-Stroke
- An engine type that completes the four cycles (intake, compression, power, exhaust) in four piston strokes. Most quarter midget engines are four-stroke.
- Front Clip
- The front section of the chassis, including the front suspension mounting points.
G
- Gear Ratio
- The relationship between the number of teeth on the clutch (driver) and the axle sprocket (driven). Calculated as driven/driver.
- Gooseneck
- A type of trailer hitch. Also refers to a curved tube in some chassis designs.
- G-Out
- When the suspension bottoms out under high G-force.
- Green Flag
- The signal to start the race.
- Grip
- The amount of traction available. See Bite.
H
- Heat Race
- A qualifying race used to determine starting positions for the feature.
- Heim Joint
- A spherical rod end bearing used in suspension linkages.
- Honda 120 / 160
- Popular Honda GX series engines used in quarter midget classes. 120cc and 160cc variants.
- Hooking Up
- When the car accelerates well without spinning the tires.
- Horsepower
- A unit of measurement for engine power.
I
- Inside Groove
- The racing line closest to the inside edge of the track.
- Inspection
- The process of checking cars for compliance with rules before or after a race.
- Invert
- Reversing the order of finishers from a heat race to determine the feature starting lineup.
J
- Jet / Jetting
- The metering device in a carburetor that controls fuel flow. Adjusting the jet changes the air/fuel mixture.
- JR Honda / JR Animal
- Junior classes for younger drivers using Honda or Animal engines.
K
- Kart
- A small, four-wheeled racing vehicle, similar to a quarter midget but often with different chassis and engine rules.
- Kingpin
- The pivot point for the steering spindle.
L
- Left Turn
- The only direction on most oval tracks.
- Loose (Oversteer)
- A handling condition where the rear of the car wants to slide out, causing the car to turn more than the driver intends.
- LT / LT-160
- Light class designations (e.g., LT-160 - Light 160 class).
M
- Main
- See A-Main or Feature.
- Methanol (Alky)
- A type of racing fuel, often used in modified classes.
- Micro Sprint
- A smaller version of a sprint car, often with a 600cc or 1000cc motorcycle engine. RPN builds engines for these as well.
- Modified
- An engine class with fewer restrictions, allowing performance modifications beyond stock.
- Momentum
- Carrying speed through the corner without braking or accelerating hard.
N
- Nose
- The front bodywork of the car.
- Nose Weight
- The amount of weight on the front tires, or ballast added to the front of the car.
O
- Off-Camber
- A turn that slopes away from the direction of the turn (opposite of banking). Makes the car handle tighter.
- Outside Groove
- The racing line closest to the outside wall or edge of the track.
- Oversteer
- See Loose.
P
- Panhard Bar
- A lateral locating bar that connects the rear axle to the chassis, controlling side-to-side movement.
- Pit Board
- A sign board used to communicate with a driver during a race.
- Pit Stop
- A stop in the pits for adjustments, fuel, or repairs.
- Preload
- Initial tension or compression applied to a spring before the car's weight is on it.
- Push (Understeer)
- A handling condition where the front of the car doesn't want to turn, causing the car to go straight when the driver turns the wheel.
Q
- QM / Quarter Midget
- A small race car, approximately 1/4 the size of a full-size midget, for young drivers ages 5-16.
- Qualifying
- A timed session to determine starting positions.
R
- Red Rookie
- A beginner class for younger drivers, typically using Honda 120 engines.
- Right Front
- The right front tire. Often the hardest-working tire on an oval track car.
- Roll Center
- The imaginary point around which the chassis rolls in corners.
- Roll Speed
- The speed at which a car rolls through the center of a corner.
- RPM
- Revolutions Per Minute - a measure of engine speed.
S
- Setup
- The configuration of the chassis, including ride heights, camber, caster, toe, and spring rates.
- Shock
- A damping device that controls spring movement.
- Skid Pad
- A metal plate on the bottom of the car to protect the chassis if it bottoms out.
- Sliders
- Protective pads worn by drivers, or small springs used in clutches.
- Spec
- A class with strict rules requiring all engines or parts to be identical or "spec" (e.g., Spec Animal).
- Spindle
- The part that the front wheel mounts to and pivots on.
- Sprocket
- The toothed wheel on the rear axle that the chain drives.
- Stagger
- The difference in circumference between the left and right rear tires. Helps the car turn.
- Stuffer
- A plate used in the intake manifold to reduce volume and improve torque on some engines.
T
- Tech (Technical Inspection)
- The process of checking cars for compliance with class rules.
- Three-Link
- A type of rear suspension using three locating bars.
- Tight (Understeer)
- See Push.
- Toe
- The difference in distance between the front and rear of the front tires. Can be toe-in or toe-out.
- Torque
- Twisting force produced by the engine. Related to acceleration.
- Track Bar
- See Panhard Bar.
- Transponder
- A electronic device used for scoring and lap timing.
U
- Understeer
- See Push.
- Upright
- The assembly that holds the wheel bearings and mounts the spindle or axle.
V
- Valve Float
- A condition at high RPM where the valve springs cannot keep the valves in contact with the camshaft.
- Victory Lane
- The area where the winner parks for photos and celebration.
W
- Wedge
- See Cross Weight.
- Wheelbase
- The distance between the front and rear axles.
- World Formula
- A popular pure racing engine used in quarter midgets and karts, manufactured by Briggs & Stratton.
- Wraparound
- A style of nerf bar or bodywork that wraps around the side of the car.
X
- X-Factor
- A term sometimes used for cross weight percentage.
Y
- Yoke
- A part of the axle or driveshaft assembly.
Z
- Z-Bar
- A type of suspension linkage, similar to a Panhard bar but mounted in a "Z" configuration.
If there's a term you don't see here, or if you have questions about any of these definitions, please contact us and we'll be happy to help.