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236 - It Costs You Nothing to Make Mistakes (Cole Carson)

236 - It Costs You Nothing to Make Mistakes (Cole Carson)

Track Walking Apr 20, 2026 75 min
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About this episode

Cole Carson drops a wild mix of engineering brain and chaos gremlin energy, from Texas Mini Grand Prix crashes to a Benelli TNT135 that’s “Italian-inspired” but Chinese-built. He explains how he got hooked on tiny motorcycle racing after college Formula SAE, and how his aerospace/systems background helps him build custom solutions—pistons, cams, and even live data logging. The episode’s standout story is his dad’s public-road handlebar disaster that turned into multiple collarbone setbacks. Cole also shares Craigslist/Marketplace addiction, scooter rally mishaps, and upcoming TMGP plans like Quincy TT.

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Topic

Track Locking

"And we are Track Locking. Tonight we have Cole Carson who has a unholy affinity for Italian design combined with Chinese manufacturing."

This is basically the podcast/show branding. It signals that the conversation is about racing and track experiences.

Concept

racing tiny motorcycles

"I met Cole racing tiny motorcycles with Texas Mini Grand Prix. And probably half of what I know about Cole"

Small bikes handle differently than big bikes. Because they’re lighter and quicker, it’s easier to lose control if you make a mistake.

Topic

Texas Mini Grand Prix

"I met Cole racing tiny motorcycles with Texas Mini Grand Prix. And probably half of what I know about Cole"

This is a specific mini-bike racing event in Texas. It gives context for where the riders were competing.

Term

crash count

"And I think I've done the crash count on it recently. [120.3s] And it's somewhere like over 100 in between 100 and 120 since we got it in 2020."

A “crash count” just means how many times someone has crashed. On a track, it can be a way to measure how much you’re learning and how often mistakes happen.

Topic

TMGP

"...I asked all my TMGP friends who do you most want to hear interviewed. [140.2s] And Cole was absolutely at the top of the list... [150.5s] Oh, I've got a good TMGP story for you."

TMGP is the name of the motorcycle racing group/series they’re talking about. It sounds like there are rules for what bikes and setups are allowed.

Term

cruiser tires

"...a $600 TTR 125 that had cruiser tires mounted to both ends and enough safety wire to be rules legal."

Cruiser tires are tires made for a more relaxed, street-style bike. Using them on a small race bike means they weren’t starting with track tires, but they were trying to get it working for racing.

Topic

Denton round

"So we showed up to a Denton round. [202.8s] This is probably like 2017 or something like that."

A “Denton round” sounds like a race event held in Denton as part of a bigger series. It’s probably one stop in a season with multiple races.

Term

dirt suspension

"On said TTR on dirt suspension. I had no idea what I was doing first time out on the track."

Dirt suspension is made for rough ground—more bump absorption and better grip on uneven surfaces. That changes how the bike feels when you hit corners or land after bumps.

Company

Motor Liberty

"Actually borrowed a suit from Audrey at Motor Liberty. One of her crash ones that she had up on the wall."

Motor Liberty sounds like a local shop or community where they got the riding gear they needed. It highlights that being prepared with the right suit matters when you’re learning on track.

Topic

Ryder School

"Did Ryder School. High-sighted a borrowed Grom in Ryder School. In corner three it didn't."

“Ryder School” appears to be a structured riding/track training session where riders learn technique and lines. The speaker mentions doing it and then practicing afterward, suggesting it’s part of a progression from instruction to real track riding.

Concept

crash early

"In corner three it didn't. You know. As long as I'm crashing early. Yeah."

If you crash early, it means you’re testing what the bike can do before you go faster. The goal is to learn where you’re losing control so you can ride smarter next time.

Car

TTR 125

"Went out there and then proceeded to crash the living shit out of the TTR 125. I mean it cruised the tires on both ends."

The TTR 125 is a beginner-friendly dirt bike. It’s small and common for learning how to ride on dirt tracks, which is why it shows up when someone is practicing and making mistakes.

Term

cruised the tires

"Went out there and then proceeded to crash the living shit out of the TTR 125. I mean it cruised the tires on both ends. Thought it was super fun."

“Cruised the tires” is a rider’s way of describing tire spin or sliding—using the tires’ grip (and loss of grip) to move the bike around. It usually indicates the rider found traction limits and was having fun with controlled loss of grip.

Topic

three hours of sterling

"Thought it was super fun. Sat there and did it for three hours of sterling and his dad until we got sick of it."

This sounds like they rode for about three hours at a track/event called Sterling. More time on track usually means more practice and faster learning.

Concept

cheap vs go kart racing

"Besides it just seemed like it would be a fun thing to do and it was cheap. Oh my gosh it was so much cheaper than a go kart racing."

The speaker compares the cost of track riding to go-kart racing, emphasizing that entry-level motorsports can be much cheaper depending on equipment and venue. This is a practical concept for listeners: budget and barrier-to-entry often determine what kind of racing/training people pursue.

Concept

building formula cars

"Oh my gosh it was so much cheaper than a go kart racing. And I was building formula cars at the time and anything is cheaper than formula cars."

“Building formula cars” refers to constructing and maintaining open-wheel-style race cars, which can be expensive and time-consuming. The speaker uses it to explain why dirt-bike track riding felt like a more affordable hobby at the time.

Concept

dirt bikes are controlled at least on the farm where you only have to deal with gravity

"You can only get dirt bikes because street bikes are dangerous and dirt bikes are controlled at least on the farm where you only have to deal with gravity. So went off to college or to UTA to do aerospace engineering, picked up a major in aerospace engineering, a minor in mechanical engineering..."

They’re basically saying dirt biking feels safer because you’re not dealing with cars and traffic. On a farm you can go slower and the main challenge is controlling your speed and balance on the ground.

Term

TIG, MIG, ARC and gas welding certificates

"...a minor in metallurgy and then some TIG, MIG, ARC and gas welding certificates while I was there took me way too long to get out of college because I kept getting distracted with different things to pick up..."

Those are different ways to weld metal together. TIG, MIG, and arc welding are common shop processes, and gas welding uses a flame—each one is useful for different kinds of metal work.

Concept

building race cars during college

"[422.4s] I would say building race cars during college was the funnest thing in college. [427.1s] Just the the formula SAE stuff? Yeah so I did the UTA formula SAE. I probably did just about [434.7s] every position they had on the FSAE team."

They’re describing how building a race car in college is like a real engineering project. Students learn by doing the work—designing and building—while still taking classes.

Concept

Formula SAE

"Yep. Yeah so college sounds fun. I'm sure it was an experience. [422.4s] I would say building race cars during college was the funnest thing in college. [427.1s] Just the the formula SAE stuff? Yeah so I did the UTA formula SAE."

Formula SAE is a college competition where students build their own race car from scratch. Teams learn how to design the car, assemble it, and then test it for performance.

Term

chassis design

"[434.7s] every position they had on the FSAE team. I did let's see chassis design, suspension, engine, [445.0s] aero, composites."

Chassis design is about building the car’s main structure. In a race car, it needs to be strong and rigid so the wheels and suspension can work predictably.

Term

aero

"[445.0s] aero, composites. One point I was our shop foreman for a while. Did kind of just a little bit of [451.2s] everything while I was there."

Aero means how the car’s shape interacts with air. In racing, it’s used to push the car down for better grip in turns.

Term

composites

"[445.0s] aero, composites. One point I was our shop foreman for a while. Did kind of just a little bit of [451.2s] everything while I was there."

Composites are lightweight materials made from fibers and resin. Race teams use them to make parts that are strong but not heavy.

Car

Ford Bronco

"...just always been repairing things, restored a 85 Bronco while I was in high school and then one thing to ..."

The Ford Bronco is a type of SUV built for off-road driving. People often restore older Broncos and work on them themselves, so it can come up in conversations about repairs and projects. It’s known for having lots of parts and support for DIY work.

Car

Chevrolet Chevelle

"...rs when he was in high school so he rebuilt a 65 Chevelle but I mean I can do just about anything. I did a..."

The Chevrolet Chevelle is an older muscle car, and the ’65 is a well-known version. The podcast mentions rebuilding one, which means taking it apart and fixing or replacing worn parts. People talk about it a lot because it’s a popular classic to restore and work on.

Topic

Formula SE

"So you're doing Formula SE, how did you have any interest in doing like track car stuff outside Formula SE? Yeah, I actually was trying to build a lemon's car for a long time..."

Formula SE is a program that mixes engineering learning with racing. The guest says it helped steer them toward motor sports and eventually motorcycles.

Concept

lemon's car

"Yeah, I actually was trying to build a lemon's car for a long time with a bunch of the guys that I went to college with..."

A “lemon’s car” is a joke term for a race car that’s not supposed to be perfect—often cheap and a little unreliable. The fun is building something that can still race.

Topic

IndyCar

"I've got several friends that IndyCar just came to Arlington and I've got several friends on IndyCar race teams as either race engineers or various other positions..."

IndyCar is a major kind of race series in the U.S. The guest mentions friends who work on IndyCar teams in technical roles like engineering.

Company

Moto Liberty

"How did that go Aray? Because when I met you you were still working at Moto Liberty and your mom was terrified that you'd never get a real job..."

Moto Liberty is a motorcycle gear shop mentioned as the guest’s workplace. The conversation frames it as a high-quality environment for riders—especially because they stock lots of leathers and gear and employ passionate staff.

Term

circle track

"...every shop like there's a bunch of circle track shops, then there's you know a few road course shops..."

Circle track racing is racing on an oval track where the cars mostly go around in circles. Because the turns are consistent, teams set up the car to handle that kind of driving and tire wear.

Term

road course

"...then there's you know a few road course shops, but like even within those..."

A road course is a track designed with a mix of left and right turns, braking zones, and elevation changes—more like real-world driving. Cars and suspension setups are usually tuned for repeated cornering and braking rather than mostly steady oval-speed running.

Concept

one stop shop

"...It would be nice if we had like literally one stop shop."

A “one stop shop” is a place where you can get everything you need in one place. For racing gear, the hard part is making sure it fits, and returns can take time.

Term

OBD2 sensor

"...the private sector stuff was mostly a really fancy wireless OBD2 sensor that could report back vehicle diagnostic data"

OBD2 is a built-in diagnostics system in most cars that can report what the car is doing and what faults it detects. An OBD2 sensor/device reads that information so you can track vehicle health or performance.

Concept

complex system integration

"So like right now I do complex system integration. The easiest way I can describe it is imagine all the electronics in your car."

Complex system integration is making sure all the different parts of a vehicle’s electronics work together. It’s less about one single component and more about getting the whole system to behave correctly.

Term

ECU

"...imagine all the electronics in your car. They're all different electronics that have to talk to each other. So you've got your ECU, you've got your ABS modules and stuff like that."

An ECU is the car’s main computer. It controls things like engine behavior, and it also has to “talk” to other computers in the car so everything works together.

Term

ABS modules

"...So you've got your ECU, you've got your ABS modules and stuff like that. When everything's tested, they test it individually."

ABS modules are the car’s computers that help prevent wheel lockup during hard braking. They need to work with other car computers so the braking behavior matches what the sensors are saying.

Term

ABS testing

"When everything's tested, they test it individually. They're always going to do all their ABS testing but as soon as you hook that up into the real system, does it work?"

ABS testing is making sure the anti-lock brakes work properly. It’s not just about testing one part alone—it's also about making sure it works correctly with the rest of the car.

Concept

real system communication

"...but as soon as you hook that up into the real system, does it work? Is everything communicating on the right clocks? Are you getting the right data transmitted between everything? What are all your interfaces compatible with everything?"

This is about making sure all the car computers work together once they’re connected. Even if each part works alone, integration testing checks that they share the right information at the right time.

Term

interfaces

"...Are you getting the right data transmitted between everything? What are all your interfaces compatible with everything? So I do a lot of that testing for flight systems right now"

Here, “interfaces” means how different car computers connect and share information. If they aren’t compatible, they might not understand each other even if both are working.

Topic

rule books changed

"cars because everything on a race car is, oh, we thought we had this done, rule books changed."

In racing, rule changes can force teams to redesign parts or strategies on short notice to stay compliant. That’s why teams often build with flexibility and maintain processes to quickly re-engineer solutions when regulations shift.

Concept

systems engineering

"Realistically, I'm a systems engineer is how I would describe it. So like I make sure every system works together. I would say I'm a systems engineer in the true mechanical side of systems engineering versus the software side of systems engineering that's pretty popular nowadays."

Systems engineering is basically “making sure everything works together.” Instead of focusing on just one part of the car, you coordinate multiple teams so the whole race car meets the same rules and goals.

Concept

electronics and safety team

"like in a car, you'd have your suspension, your chassis team, your suspension team, your powertrain team, your electronics and your safety team to make sure that everybody is fulfilling the same requirements"

The electronics and safety team covers systems like data acquisition, control electronics, and safety-critical components that must function reliably under racing loads. Their work must match the car’s mechanical requirements and rulebook constraints to avoid conflicts between teams.

Concept

powertrain team

"like in a car, you'd have your suspension, your chassis team, your suspension team, your powertrain team, your electronics and your safety team to make sure that everybody is fulfilling the same requirements"

The powertrain team is responsible for the components that generate and deliver drive—typically the engine, transmission, and related driveline systems. In a race program, their work must align with chassis and electronics requirements so the car behaves consistently under race conditions.

Concept

mathematically and financially impossible cost benefit analysis

"Like it's just mathematically and financially impossible cost benefit analysis. You cannot have more fun on two wheels."

They’re basically saying that for the money, riding/racing motorcycles gives you more enjoyment than you’d expect. It’s their way of judging whether spending on bikes is “worth it.”

Concept

parts availability

"I challenge you to tell me that it's not better than a Grom except for there's no parts available for it."

In racing, you need parts for repairs and upgrades. The hosts are saying the Benelli may be harder to support because it’s not as easy to find replacement or upgrade parts.

Car

Honda Grom

"I challenge you to tell me that it's not better than a Grom except for there's no parts available for it. Well, except that it's worse than a Grom."

The Honda Grom is one of the most common mini bikes for racing. In this segment, it’s the comparison point for speed and—especially—how easy it is to find parts.

Term

hotter motors

"there's only two Groms faster than us and they have hotter motors than we do."

“Hotter motors” means the engine is set up to make more power. That can help lap times, but it may also run hotter and stress the bike more.

Car

Benelli TNT135

"So you ride the Benelli TNT135. Benelli is an Italian company that is responsible for the design of the bike. Is that right?"

The Benelli TNT135 is a small motorcycle the host is racing. They’re talking about whether it’s a good choice for the rules and how it stacks up against other popular mini bikes.

Brand

Aprilia

"So it's got a lot of the, what can I call it, Ducati and Aprilia if you squint aesthetics, but kind of the same Chinese designs..."

Aprilia is another brand used as a visual comparison. The hosts are saying the bike’s styling looks inspired by European sport bikes.

Brand

Ducati

"So it's got a lot of the, what can I call it, Ducati and Aprilia if you squint aesthetics, but kind of the same Chinese designs..."

Ducati is used here as a reference for what the bike “looks like” design-wise. The point is that the styling reminds people of European sport bikes.

Concept

frame similar to something else but heavier

"where they'll do a frame that's very similar to something else, but it'll be about 20% heavier than anything on the market"

The hosts describe a common pattern in some budget motorcycles: a frame design that looks similar to other models, but with different (often heavier) mass. Weight affects acceleration, braking, and handling, so being ~20% heavier can change lap times and tire wear.

Term

clubman bars

"from like an 85 or something like that on it right now to a set of clubman bars from a cafe eraser and try and emulate clip-ons"

Clubman bars are handlebars used on café-racer-style motorcycles. They change your riding position and how you can brace during braking, and in this story that setup didn’t work out safely.

Term

clip-ons

"try and emulate clip-ons because lower is better, right? It was not. Sure. The problem with those clip-on or those that style of bars"

Clip-ons are a type of handlebar setup that puts the bars closer to the bike and usually lower. That can make the bike feel more “sporty,” but it can also make it harder to hold on or brace if something goes wrong.

Car

Benelli

"whenever you hit the brakes on the Benelli, you have to use the bars to brace because I took the tank off and there's nothing for you to grab onto on the frame"

Benelli makes motorcycles. Here, the speaker is saying that on their Benelli, the way the handlebars were set up made braking feel unstable and unsafe.

Concept

bracing during hard braking

"whenever you hit the brakes on the Benelli, you have to use the bars to brace because I took the tank off and there's nothing for you to grab onto on the frame"

Bracing during hard braking is about where the rider can safely grab and support their body when decelerating aggressively. This segment explains that removing the tank and using low bars removed the rider’s ability to brace effectively, increasing the chance of being thrown forward.

Concept

run-off area

"goes into a drainage ditch and then essentially broke his fall with his collarbone meeting the driveway and drainage ditch that was in the run-off area of the road"

The run-off area is the space next to the road that’s supposed to help if you go off the lane. Here, it wasn’t fully safe because there was a drainage ditch in it.

Concept

self-ejecting bike

"So he hits the ground. You built a self-ejecting bike that you're dead on on road. Which is why every time anybody asks me how I felt about those bars"

“Self-ejecting” is a dramatic way of saying the bike can throw you off by itself when you brake hard or crash. In this case, the handlebar setup made it easier for the rider to get pitched forward.

Term

no plates, no insurance

"track bike, no plates, no insurance, no anything. And the lady also apparently didn't have the best insurance in the world."

That phrase means the bike wasn’t street-legal and didn’t have insurance. If there’s an accident, it can make everything harder for the rider and the other party.

Term

side stand

"but it doesn't have a side stand on it because we cut that off about a year before this, and then immediately trips"

A side stand is the little leg that you flip down so the bike can stand on its own. In this story, removing it meant the rider couldn’t park safely and ended up tripping right after the crash.

Concept

vibration loosening fasteners

"my dad's version of do whatever you want is go operate a bunch of heavy machinery that has a bunch of vibrations, so it backed out a few of the screws and the plates..."

If something is bolted together and it gets lots of shaking, the bolts can gradually loosen. Once they loosen, the body may not heal properly and problems can happen.

Term

Loctite

"Fuck that noise, do they not use Loctite or something? What are these people doing?"

Loctite is a sticky chemical that’s put on screw threads so they don’t loosen over time. It’s meant to resist vibration, which is exactly what can make screws slowly back out.

Term

safety wire

"here. You motorcycle guys love safety wiring everything. Oh my gosh, I have so much safety wire on everything. That's what I'm saying, like just, I don't know, attach a ligament to it."

Safety wire is a thin wire that’s twisted through holes in bolts so the bolt can’t loosen. It’s popular in racing because it helps keep important parts tight even when the car or bike vibrates a lot.

Concept

external fixation

"Don't you usually get external fixation of the wire so then they can Yeah, because it was where I broke my hand was in a really awkward spot because I split the joint in half and there wasn't really a lot of area to get a screw in if I needed a screw in."

External fixation is when doctors put pins into the bone and connect them to a frame outside the body to keep the bone in the right position. It’s used when there isn’t an easy way to hold the break internally with screws.

Term

external pins

"Yeah, because it was where I broke my hand was in a really awkward spot because I split the joint in half and there wasn't really a lot of area to get a screw in if I needed a screw in. So they were either going to have to put two screws in on other sides of my thumb and then a net that pulled the piece back or external pins to pull the like the tension to get that corner of the joint that I broke off back into place."

External pins are small metal pins put into the bone, then held by supports outside the body. They help keep a broken piece lined up while it heals.

Concept

motorcycle racing

"So you're an adult now and have an adult job and you're getting back in a motorcycle racing. Well, yeah, but we're in the past. We're not going to talk about right now."

Motorcycle racing is tough on parts because everything shakes and loads up hard. That’s why racers use extra ways to make sure bolts and fasteners don’t loosen.

Car

F4i

"So I got a F4i as a parking solution while I was in college because it was about two miles to walk from the parking lot... First car people, an F4i is a CBR 600 of what vintage?"

They’re talking about a Honda sport motorcycle called the CBR600F4i. It’s a 600cc bike from the early 2000s that the host says is reliable and easy to live with.

Car

CBR 600

"First car people, an F4i is a CBR 600 of what vintage? It's 2001 to 2004, I believe... Okay, widely considered to be one of the best 600s made."

The host compares the Honda CBR600F4i to the broader CBR 600 family, specifically noting the era and that it’s “widely considered” among the best 600cc sportbikes. This is part of why they chose it as a dependable track/dyno platform.

Concept

fuel injection

"It's 2001 to 2004, I believe, because it's the same thing as the CBR F4 just with fuel injection."

Fuel injection is how the bike delivers fuel to the engine using sensors and electronics. Compared to older carburetors, it usually makes the bike start easier and run more consistently.

Car

CBR F4

"It's 2001 to 2004, I believe, because it's the same thing as the CBR F4 just with fuel injection."

The speaker says the CBR600F4i is essentially the CBR F4 “just with fuel injection,” explaining the key difference between carbureted and fuel-injected versions. Fuel injection generally improves cold starts and throttle response consistency, which matters for track use.

Car

Fiat 600

"...n. Okay, widely considered to be one of the best 600s made. They are the most indestructible motorcycl..."

The Fiat 600 is a small older car. In the podcast, they’re saying it’s known for being very tough and reliable compared to many other vintage cars. That reputation is part of why people still talk about and restore them.

Concept

indestructible motorcycle

"They are the most indestructible motorcycle on the planet. You could not kill one of those if you tried."

The host claims the Honda CBR600F4i engine is “indestructible,” emphasizing durability under extreme conditions. They support it with examples like long operation without oil and continued running afterward, framing it as a track/dyno-friendly powerplant.

Concept

oiling system

"The oiling system that bike is awesome. It's actually one of the most common motors we used in the formula cars..."

The oiling system is how the engine gets oil to all the moving parts. On a track, the bike can experience oil starvation if the system isn’t good, so a strong oiling setup helps prevent engine damage.

Concept

oil starvation

"I think our record is 13 minutes without oil and it was fine. Motor still runs..."

The host mentions their record of running “13 minutes without oil,” which is essentially oil starvation. Oil starvation can quickly damage engines, so the claim underscores why they consider this motor unusually tolerant of abuse.

Concept

rod knock

"And no rod knock, no crazy clearances. When we put oil in it and then changed the oil..."

Rod knock is a scary-sounding engine noise that usually means internal wear. If there’s no rod knock, it suggests the engine isn’t suffering from major internal damage.

Concept

odometer

"The bike I bought was D&D's dyno and track bike that had... 3,500 miles on the original odometer, which may or may not have been the original odometer."

The speaker discusses the motorcycle’s mileage (“3,500 miles on the original odometer”) and questions whether it was truly original. Mileage matters for buying and assessing wear, especially for track bikes where components can be stressed even at low indicated miles.

Concept

wheelie

"...it's the stunner bike of choice. You can leave them at a 12 o'clock wheelie almost all day where"

A wheelie is when you accelerate and the front wheel comes up. They’re saying this bike is easy to keep in that lifted position for a long time.

Term

oil pickups

"the oil pickups at and not blow the motor. They absolutely love them. They take a beating like nobody's business."

Oil pickups are the parts inside the engine that help pull oil from the bottom up to where it needs to go. If they don’t work right, the engine may not get enough oil and can get damaged.

Term

timing chain

"Can't be the only thing wrong with them is they have a bad timing chain every now and then and you just put the manual adjuster in and that's it."

The timing chain keeps the engine’s moving parts lined up. If it goes bad, the engine timing can get off and cause major problems.

Term

manual adjuster

"and you just put the manual adjuster in and that's it. So how did you go from what is like a reasonable sport bike"

A manual adjuster is a way to tighten or set the timing chain correctly. It can help fix timing-chain slack without replacing everything.

Term

first street bike

"So I got the F4i, rode it exactly four times, realized that was probably the stupidest motorcycle I could have bought as my first street bike"

Choosing a first street bike is about matching power delivery, weight, and ergonomics to your experience. Dirt-bike riders often expect different throttle response and traction behavior, so the “right” first bike depends on how you’ll actually ride.

Term

DMV

"showed up to the DMV with all my paperwork and they went off. There's no way you can title this bike."

The DMV is where you go to make a vehicle legal on the road. They check paperwork and decide if it can be titled and registered.

Term

safety inspection

"There's no way you'll get a safety inspection that will pass. And I went, well, cool. Here's my passing safety inspection."

A safety inspection is a check to make sure the bike is safe to drive. If it doesn’t pass, you may not be able to register or insure it.

Term

temporary plates

"they were like, no, no temporary plates, no anything. Turns out that had been an insurance fraud"

Temporary plates are a short-term way to make a vehicle legal while you finish paperwork. In the story, they couldn’t get them, so the bike couldn’t be driven legally.

Term

insurance fraud

"Turns out that had been an insurance fraud and was registered as a crushed and repairable cube of metal due to them paying somebody out."

Insurance fraud is when someone lies or manipulates an insurance claim. It can cause a vehicle to get labeled as wrecked, which then makes it hard or impossible to get a clean title.

Concept

untitled

"Still untitled at this point? Oh, yes. Stolded to some stunner in Houston, actually. Drove all the way up"

Untitled means the bike doesn’t have the legal paperwork that proves ownership. Without that, you can’t easily register or insure it, and selling it later can be a headache.

Concept

title issues

"going to get this registered. It's got every title issue in the book. It's a great track bike. I've got all the track bearings on and it's kind of been converted into a street fighter, but you're kind of SOL on the title."

A “title issue” is a paperwork problem with who legally owns the bike. The bike can be fun to ride, but you might not be able to register it normally or sell it easily.

Term

street fighter

"It's a great track bike. I've got all the track bearings on and it's kind of been converted into a street fighter, but you're kind of SOL on the title."

A “street fighter” is a motorcycle that’s been modified to look tough and minimal, often by removing the bulky fairings. It’s usually done for style and a more direct riding feel.

Part

track bearings

"It's a great track bike. I've got all the track bearings on and it's kind of been converted into a street fighter, but you're kind of SOL on the title."

Bearings are the parts that let wheels and steering move smoothly. “Track bearings” usually means bearings chosen for better performance and feel when riding hard.

Term

track bike

"going to get this registered. It's got every title issue in the book. It's a great track bike. I've got all the track bearings on and it's kind of been converted into a street fighter, but you're kind of SOL on the title."

A track bike is built to be ridden hard on a race track. It usually has setup changes that make it handle better and stop better than a normal street bike.

Car

Suzuki Katana 750

"So I went from that to I got a Katana 750 that I totaled, what, three times, maybe four times? Then a Buol Blast that I still have actually just sold the Katana this year with a hole in the motor for exactly what I paid for it."

The Suzuki Katana 750 is a well-known motorcycle model from Suzuki. Here it’s being used as an example of a bike that got crashed repeatedly, showing how rough real riding can be.

Car

BMW R 1200 GS

"Then got a R 1200 GS for I traded a Ram X for it and a like when I was working at Moto Liberty. ... And then our 1200 GS is the big BMW touring bike, right? Oh, yeah, it's got. Oh, got it. Had 100,000 miles on it when I got it."

The BMW R 1200 GS is a long-distance adventure motorcycle. It’s known for being comfortable and capable, and the speaker is basically saying it’s a great “do-everything” bike even with lots of miles.

Concept

beater bikes

"It is honestly one of the best beater bikes I've ever gotten. So why do you, this is a dumb question me asking you this. If you have a really good bike, why do you need to buy every other bike that you can buy on Craigslist?"

A “beater” bike is one you use without worrying too much about keeping it perfect. It’s meant to be ridden and enjoyed, not protected like a collectible.

Topic

buying multiple bikes (Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace)

"It is honestly one of the best beater bikes I've ever gotten. So why do you, this is a dumb question me asking you this. If you have a really good bike, why do you need to buy every other bike that you can buy on Craigslist? Because there's always more bikes to ride and there's always cool stuff."

They talk about why someone would keep buying more bikes instead of just sticking with one. The idea is that there are always new rides to find and try.

Term

premix

"Put gas in it, mix up the premix, started it up. Man, this thing just doesn't want to start. ... he melted the piston because he didn't put any oil in the pre or in the two stroke when he ran it last."

Premix means you mix oil into the gas before you pour it into the tank. Two-strokes need that oil for lubrication, so getting it wrong can destroy the engine.

Term

carburetor

"I bought it from David at the shop with the, it ran great last time I ran it and then I just don't know how to tune a carburetor. ... got up there and left all my carburetor jets at home like I usually do."

A carburetor is how an older engine mixes fuel and air. If it’s not tuned right, the bike can be hard to start or run poorly.

Part

piston

"Well, turns out he melted the piston because he didn't put any oil in the pre or in the two stroke when he ran it last."

The piston is the part inside the engine that moves up and down to make power. If it overheats or isn’t lubricated, it can get damaged—like melting.

Term

two-stroke

"Well, turns out he melted the piston because he didn't put any oil in the pre or in the two stroke when he ran it last."

A two-stroke engine needs oil mixed in with the fuel (or added separately) to lubricate it. If you forget the oil, the engine can overheat and get damaged quickly.

Term

top end

"$43 later off Amazon, turns out you can get an entire top in for one of these. Although at the time, I didn't realize that had a race kit in it."

The top end is the upper part of the engine that includes the cylinder and piston. Replacing it can get a damaged two-stroke back running, especially after something like piston failure.

Term

race kit

"Although at the time, I didn't realize that had a race kit in it. And I put a factory top end in a super built motor."

A race kit is a performance upgrade for a small engine. It usually changes parts like the cylinder/piston to make more power, but it can also require careful setup to run right.

Car

1982 CR80 piston

"If you stick the 1982 CR80 piston specifically into one of these and then overbore it a little bit, you get a screaming race motor..."

They’re using a piston from a Honda CR80 (from 1982) as part of the scooter’s engine build. That piston choice helps the engine make more power when combined with other cylinder changes.

Term

overbore

"...and then overbore it a little bit, you get a screaming race motor... plus you get, I don't know, almost 10 cc's of bore. So it ends up being a 90 cc big bore kit."

Overbore means enlarging the inside of the cylinder so the engine can move more air/fuel. That usually increases power, but it also changes how the engine needs to be tuned.

Term

big bore kit

"...it ends up being a 90 cc big bore kit. Ripped all that stuff out with its super fancy custom race pipe and then put the factory exhaust on it..."

A big bore kit is an upgrade that makes the engine’s cylinder bigger. Bigger displacement often means more power, but it can require different tuning.

Part

race pipe

"Ripped all that stuff out with its super fancy custom race pipe and then put the factory exhaust on it..."

A race pipe is a performance exhaust. On a two-stroke, exhaust shape can affect how the engine breathes, so changing it usually means you may need to retune the carb.

Car

Toyota A90

"a little bit higher compression, plus you get, I don't know, almost 10 cc's of bore. So it ends up being a 90 cc big bore kit. Ripped all that stuff out with its super fancy custom race pipe and then put the factory exhaust on it and took it up to the Moto Liberty once every two-year"

The Toyota Supra is a sports car made for fast driving. In the podcast, they talk about changing the engine and exhaust to make it perform differently. That’s something many Supra owners do when building a track-focused car.

Term

softlocked

"whatever I had on me and whatever jokes I could scrounge from everybody else. I think I softlocked the motor four or five times before I kind of got it running rich enough to not softlock after"

“Softlocked” here means the bike gets stuck in a bad running state where it won’t behave right. The speaker says changing the fuel/air situation (running rich) helped it start behaving again.

Term

running rich

"I think I softlocked the motor four or five times before I kind of got it running rich enough to not softlock after 10 minutes or not 10 minutes, probably about four minutes of sustained wide open throttle."

Running rich means the engine is getting more fuel than ideal relative to air, which can change combustion behavior and sometimes prevent stalling or misfire. On small engines, mixture issues can be caused by carburetor settings, throttle position, or environmental factors, and “rich enough” can be a temporary fix to keep it running.

Concept

wide open throttle

"10 minutes or not 10 minutes, probably about four minutes of sustained wide open throttle. We were trying to do one of the mountain roads and hardlocked the motor on the mountain road."

Wide open throttle just means you’re giving the engine the most gas it can take. Doing that for a while can make problems show up faster—like the engine running too rich or too hot.

Concept

hardlocked the motor

"We were trying to do one of the mountain roads and hardlocked the motor on the mountain road. However, you can kind of hear it coming on a two-stroke and right on a scooter,"

“Hardlocked” here sounds like the bike suddenly got stuck or stopped behaving normally in a serious way. The speaker connects it to what the engine was doing right before the problem got worse.

Term

scooter

"However, you can kind of hear it coming on a two-stroke and right on a scooter, you have to not do what your first reaction on a regular motorcycle is, which is, oh my god, my motor's about to explode."

A scooter is a smaller, step-through style vehicle with its own control setup. The speaker is saying you can’t always use the same instincts you’d use on a regular motorcycle.

Term

rear brake

"Let me go grab the clutch because if you grab the clutch, it's your rear brake. And I proceeded to pull the rear brake all the way to the lever going."

The rear brake is the brake you press with your foot. If the bike is already unstable, using it at the wrong time can make the back end slide more.

Concept

fishtailed it

"I'm about to blow this motor and then fishtailed it at about 45 miles an hour. It stepped out at a pretty good amount on both directions."

Fishtailing means the back of the bike starts sliding left and right instead of going straight. It usually happens when the tires lose grip, and it can get dangerous quickly.

Term

exhaust pipe snaps in half

"I'm going to say it was two miles, but it was really probably closer to five miles away from our campsite and the exhaust pipe snaps in half. So I mean, I am at this point, I don't have a welder."

When the exhaust pipe breaks, it means the metal couldn’t handle the stress anymore. It can make the bike run worse and it can also be unsafe because exhaust parts get extremely hot.

Concept

walk back to camp

"Leave it on the side of the road and because this had been acting up the whole day, I had my emergency beer in the glove box for when I'm inevitably going to have to walk back to wherever I'm walking."

This is what happens when the bike breaks and you can’t fix it right there. Instead of trying to force it, you have to get back safely and plan ahead for emergencies.

Term

glove box

"Leave it on the side of the road and because this had been acting up the whole day, I had my emergency beer in the glove box for when I'm inevitably going to have to walk back to wherever I'm walking."

The glove box is a small storage compartment inside the vehicle. Here, it’s being used to keep an emergency item so it’s easy to grab if the ride goes wrong.

Term

sheriff

"And I'm going, you know, it's going to be really funny when the sheriff crests the hill walking towards me. So I probably should finish this beer real quick. So drink a little bit more of the beer sticking to my helmet just so I'm not walking with an open container because I have no idea what the laws are in Oklahoma."

The sheriff is the local law enforcement officer who stops the speaker while they’re walking after the bike breaks. It’s a reminder that breakdowns can turn into legal/safety situations, not just mechanical ones.

Concept

squad car

"However, I got put into a single cell occupant squad car with about four go pros facing me and an open beer in my helmet."

A squad car is just a police patrol car. Here, it matters because the speaker is stuck in a cramped setup and has to deal with their gear while riding to the event.

Term

carbs

"And they're trying to fix some super old super broken triumph that's having one of the several issues that every triumph that comes has probably carbs, probably just decided it doesn't want to run on a Saturday."

“Carbs” are carburetors, which are the parts that help the engine get the right fuel-air mixture. On older bikes, they can get clogged or go out of tune, so the bike may refuse to start or run well.

Term

19,000 RPM

"...250cc four cylinder ... read to about 19,000 RPM. The thing is insane. It sounds like a formula one car. ... found out that at 19,000 RPM, you can hit that restrictor flow perfectly..."

RPM is a measure of how fast the engine is spinning. 19,000 RPM means the engine is revving at a very extreme level, like a purpose-built race motor. At that speed, small changes in airflow and timing matter a lot.

Term

geared cams

"Your pistons are the size of shot glasses. Absolutely wild. It's got geared cams, right? Oh, yeah."

“Geared cams” means the camshafts are timed using gears instead of a simpler setup. That can make timing more precise, which matters a lot on race engines. When an engine revs extremely high, small timing errors can cause big problems.

Concept

windowed a few of them

"Oh, yeah. It is a wild motor and I've definitely windowed a few of them. So what we used to do is we have to run a 20 millimeter restrictor for FC..."

“Windowing” an engine typically means internal failure where a connecting rod breaks through the engine block, creating a visible “window” in the casting. The hosts mention they’ve windowed a few of these high-revving motors, which signals how extreme the operating conditions were. It also ties into why they later discuss careful engineering changes (restrictors, turbo, fuel choice, cooling).

Concept

restrictor flow matching

"...we did a whole bunch of restrictor math and found out that at 19,000 RPM, you can hit that restrictor flow perfectly..."

This is about making sure the “air limiter” (the restrictor) lets through the right amount of air at the engine’s target revs. If it’s too tight, the engine can’t breathe; if it’s too loose, it won’t do its job. They calculated it so the engine still makes power at very high RPM.

Term

20 millimeter restrictor

"So what we used to do is we have to run a 20 millimeter restrictor for FC and we did a whole bunch of restrictor math and found out that at 19,000 RPM, you can hit that restrictor flow perfectly..."

A restrictor is a rules-driven airflow limitation used in some racing classes to cap power by limiting how much air the engine can ingest. The hosts mention doing “restrictor math” to ensure the restrictor flow matches what the engine needs at their target RPM. This is a key example of engineering around racing regulations.

Term

turbo

"...we decided that the answer for more air is a turbo. So we shoved the turbo on it, switch from regular pump gas to methanol..."

A turbo is a device that uses exhaust to spin a compressor and push extra air into the engine. More air generally means more power potential. They added it because the restrictor limited airflow, so boosting helped them get back the air they needed.

Term

methanol

"So we shoved the turbo on it, switch from regular pump gas to methanol and then put a fuel injector in the restrictor..."

Methanol is a racing fuel. It can help the engine run cooler and tolerate more aggressive setups than regular gasoline. In this story, it’s part of how they safely made more power with a turbo.

Term

fuel injector in the restrictor

"...and then put a fuel injector in the restrictor so you could pre cool the restrictor and kind of ice it up and get denser air through it..."

Injecting fuel directly into or near the restrictor is used to cool the intake charge and increase air density, effectively improving the mass of air entering the engine. The hosts describe pre-cooling the restrictor and “icing it up” to get denser air through the restriction. This is a nuanced technique for extracting performance within a fixed airflow limit.

Concept

lightest possible chassis

"Yeah, that's why the rods like to go through the block to and then throw those into the lightest possible chassis we could. I think the one of the heavier cars would have been riding about like 415 pounds..."

They’re saying they tried to build the car as light as possible. A lighter car usually accelerates and handles better because there’s less weight to move around. It also helps the whole package feel more responsive on track.

Concept

power band

"You just got to hold them in the power band. So the only way you're making power is between 15 and 19,000 just trying to keep it down in an autocross course."

Your engine makes its best pull only in certain RPMs. In autocross, you try to keep the engine spinning in that sweet spot so the car accelerates strongly out of turns.

Concept

autocross course

"So the only way you're making power is between 15 and 19,000 just trying to keep it down in an autocross course. The launches and those."

Autocross is a race on a cone course where you’re judged by time. It’s less about going fast in a straight line and more about quick turns and getting back on the throttle smoothly.

Car

1998 Legacy car

"Oh yeah. Let's see. Which ones did I drive? I drove some of our super single cars. I did drive that car because that was the 98 Legacy car that I actually did the whole restoration on before they took it up to Silverstone..."

They’re talking about a 1998 Subaru Legacy they restored. It wasn’t just a normal car—it was prepared and raced, so it likely had major upgrades beyond what you’d see on the road.

Topic

Silverstone

"...before they took it up to Silverstone to do because in 1998 the UTA went to the UK FCE competition which was hosted at Silverstone..."

Silverstone is a well-known race track in the UK. Mentioning it usually means the cars were being tested or raced on a real circuit, not just a local cone course.

Concept

3.3 g's

"...most we got on one was 3.3 g's or something like that. Oh yeah it's insane. It's 60 miles an hour they'll hold themselves on the roof."

“G’s” tells you how hard the car is pulling in a turn compared to gravity. Higher numbers mean the car is cornering extremely hard.

Topic

AMOD cars

"Aren't Formula SE cars the fastest autocross cars now? Aren't they faster than AMOD cars sometimes? We actually built an AMOD."

They mention “AMOD cars” as another category of race cars. They’re basically asking whether that class is sometimes faster than the Formula SE cars.

Company

SCCA

"...When COVID happened they stopped doing competitions and of course they didn't want to stop doing the internal program at UTA so... SCCA hasn't shut down so we'll just"

SCCA is a big organization that runs and organizes car racing events in the U.S. They’re saying that even when some competitions stopped, SCCA kept going.

Term

booster motor

"they built an AMOD with a booster motor because I think the AMODs have a thousand pound minimum weight"

A booster motor is an extra motor used to help the car accelerate or make more usable power. In racing, teams sometimes add extra power sources to meet performance goals while still staying within class rules. It’s basically “extra push” for the car.

Concept

minimum weight rule / adding ballast

"they built a 500 pound car and then shoved about or 500 pounds of lead in the under tray to get it to hit the minimum weight"

Racing rules often require cars to weigh at least a certain amount. If your car is too light, you add weight (ballast) to make it legal. Where you put that weight matters because it changes how the car handles.

Concept

run as equipped to the rulebook

"if you run them in SCCA you have to run them as equipped to the rulebook that year so like if you've got a 2016 car it's got to meet the FSE 2016 rulebook so you can't mix and match rules"

In some racing classes, you have to build and run the car exactly according to the rules for that year. You can’t swap in parts from other years or use loopholes to get extra performance. The goal is to keep the competition fair.

Concept

power-to-weight and handling differences

"when you're doing the cars that are that lightweight it's just a little bit different how you can take a lot of the corners like you can point and shoot a whole lot more in a car that weighs 375 pounds and you can in a car that weighs 2,800 pounds it's making the same horsepower"

Even if two cars have the same horsepower, a lighter car usually feels easier to drive fast. It can turn in and change direction more quickly. That’s why a 375-pound car can be driven very differently than a 2,800-pound car.

Term

super singles

"though the super singles when you do three G's in a corner you get bruises on the inside of your leg from the steering column just pressing up against your leg in a skid pad drill or something"

“Super singles” are big, grippy race tires. They help the car go around corners faster, but that also means the driver feels stronger sideways forces.

Concept

three G's in a corner

"though the super singles when you do three G's in a corner you get bruises on the inside of your leg from the steering column just pressing up against your leg in a skid pad drill or something"

“G’s” tell you how hard the car is accelerating compared to gravity. In a hard corner, the sideways forces can be so strong that your body gets pushed into the steering wheel and seat area.

Term

skid pad

"from the steering column just pressing up against your leg in a skid pad drill or something [3119.6s] like that."

A skid pad is a flat test area where you can practice hard cornering. It helps you see how much grip the tires have before the car starts to slide.

Part

rib protectors

"I believe it I mean that's that's why carters wear the the rib protectors and everything [3128.1s] it's gravity hurts when it's sideways."

Rib protectors are padding you wear to protect your ribs in racing. They’re especially useful when the car’s sideways forces push you hard against the seat and belts.

Concept

gravity hurts when it's sideways

"[3128.1s] it's gravity hurts when it's sideways. I would have loved some of those rib protectors because [3134.5s] our headers are running so close to that seat back any rivet or bolt in the seat back you would just"

In a hard turn, the car pushes you sideways. Your body has to fight that force, so you can end up bruised where the seat, belts, or steering wheel press into you.

Part

headers

"I would have loved some of those rib protectors because [3134.5s] our headers are running so close to that seat back any rivet or bolt in the seat back you would just feel after about 10 minutes."

Headers are part of the exhaust system near the engine. If they’re close to the seat, they can create heat and make the cockpit feel uncomfortable during a race.

Concept

finish first, you must first finish

"It's a finish first you must first finish. This is true so what do you have in either in your racing life or your personal life of insanity what what do you have coming up"

It’s basically saying: don’t focus only on going fast—focus on making it to the end. In racing, if something breaks, you can’t win even if you were quick earlier.

Topic

Quincy TT

"Uh let's see I think I'm going to try and do the Quincy TT this year... So the Quincy TT is the only TT style road race that I know of for mini bikes in the U.S. they shut down a public park in Quincy..."

Quincy TT is a mini-bike race event. It’s like a road-race format where they close off a park and run a course through it for bikes and sometimes go-karts.

Concept

TT style road race

"So the Quincy TT is the only TT style road race that I know of for mini bikes in the U.S. they shut down a public park in Quincy I'm going to go with Indiana..."

“TT” usually means a race where you’re timed on a course. Instead of just battling side-by-side, the goal is to be fast and consistent over the track.

Concept

public park road racing

"...they shut down a public park in Quincy... they do a kind of one and done course throughout the entire park and they've been doing it for I think 25 years almost consecutively..."

Instead of a dedicated race track, the event uses a public park. That means they have to set up the course and manage safety around real-world obstacles.

Concept

hybrid go-kart and mini motorcycle race

"they shut down a public park in Quincy... and they do a hybrid go-kart and then mini motorcycle race in the public park kind of mini isle of man style..."

They run races with both go-karts and mini motorcycles. Different vehicles handle differently, so the track setup and driving style have to work for both.

Concept

mini Isle of Man style

"...mini motorcycle race in the public park kind of mini isle of man style you got curbs trees park benches and everything else to compete with..."

They’re comparing it to the Isle of Man vibe—racing on roads or road-like areas where there isn’t much space for mistakes. In this case, the park setting has obstacles close to the track.

Concept

property damage

"...I think because about $30,000 in property damage due to the fact that it rained the day before they let us do the Barbie Jeep races down the most"

They’re talking about how much stuff got damaged during an earlier event. When damage is high, organizers often tighten rules or approvals before letting the event continue.

Company

Barber Motorsports Museum

"...thing at the barber motorsports museum I usually went for the the track stuff they did so they turned the proving grounds course into a mini endurance..."

Barber Motorsports Museum is a racing facility that hosts lots of motorcycle events. The hosts are saying they used to run a special small-bike event there, and the course gets turned into a mini endurance setup.

Concept

mini endurance

"...they turned the proving grounds course into a mini endurance it's a two hour endurance race..."

“Mini endurance” means a race that’s still about lasting and staying consistent, but it’s shorter than a full endurance race. In this case, they’re talking about a two-hour event where you can’t just sprint the whole time.

Topic

hill climb

"...they do a hill climb a rhythm challenge kind of a motocross style course bike shows drag races..."

A hill climb is racing up a steep hill. It’s mostly about keeping traction and momentum so you don’t bog down or lose control.

Term

hay bales

"...hay bales on the trees oh my god I mean if you've never hit a hay bill before are you really living and there's like fencing directly on the inside..."

Hay bales are what you sometimes see along a track to help cushion crashes. They’re not magic, but they’re meant to reduce the impact when someone goes off the course.

Term

hay bill

"...oh my god I mean if you've never hit a hay bill before are you really living and there's like fencing directly on the inside..."

This is almost certainly “hay bale,” which is the crash-cushion barrier made of stacked hay. The speaker is joking that you haven’t really experienced the track until you’ve hit one.

Topic

Barber Smallbore

"[3594.9s] a 190 as well and I was like come on guys you'll have the dry session yeah it always the races at [3602.8s] Barber Smallbore always seemed odd"

They’re talking about a small-bike racing event at Barber. The key point is that the track setup and conditions can make the racing feel very different.

Concept

reconfigurable racetrack

"[3610.9s] come back because it's a reconfigurable racetrack okay they'll switch directions and they'll switch [3620.0s] how the course kind of weaves through it"

Some tracks can be rearranged into different layouts. That changes where the turns are and how you have to drive, so it’s not always about top speed.

Concept

figure eights

"[3620.0s] how the course kind of weaves through it it's essentially I think it's what two or three [3625.0s] figure eights and then a big bank corner section"

A “figure eight” layout makes you turn back and forth a lot. That usually means you need good handling and smooth driving, not just a fast engine.

Topic

MotoGP

"[3703.0s] be honest I get the single best sleep in my life at the racetrack Audrey has made this joke for years [3707.3s] that I will always be asleep at every MotoGP um because when I was working at Moto Liberty we"

MotoGP is top-level motorcycle racing. They’re saying that when they’re at MotoGP events, the sound and routine can be so steady it makes them doze off between sessions.

Topic

mini bikes and racing engineering

"...what does racing mini bikes do for you oh it hits all sides of that..."

They talk about how mini bike racing becomes an engineering project. The idea is that you learn by building and improving parts for racing.

Part

cam profile

"...trying to make my own high compression piston and a new cam profile because nobody else makes it..."

A cam profile describes the shape of the camshaft lobes, which controls valve opening timing and lift. Changing the cam profile is a common way to tailor how an engine makes power across the RPM range.

Company

Racebox IMU

"...is I've got the racebox imu and if you email them they'll give you their api..."

An IMU is a sensor that measures motion—like acceleration and turning forces. It helps you see what the car is doing during a lap so you can learn from it.

Concept

API

"...if you email them they'll give you their api and then I've got one of the eraser ecu's..."

An API is like a set of instructions that lets one program talk to another. It’s what makes it possible to pull sensor data into an app you build.

Concept

metallurgy

"...every bit of metallurgy I've done along the way is cam profiles and pistons or the rings or cylinder geometry..."

Metallurgy is about how metal behaves. For racing, it matters because the right materials can handle heat, friction, and wear better over time.

Part

cylinder geometry

"...cam profiles and pistons or the rings or cylinder geometry all the engineering for struts and beams..."

Cylinder geometry is basically the cylinder’s internal shape and measurements. It matters because it affects how well the piston and rings seal and how much friction and heat the engine creates.

Concept

frame design

"...just regular force application that I learned in college that's frame design..."

Frame design is how the bike’s structure is built to handle forces. A good frame helps the bike stay stable and predictable when you brake, turn, and accelerate.

Concept

building a motorcycle from scratch

"...talked about talked for several years about just building up a motorcycle from scratch picking an engine that I like..."

Building from scratch means you start with parts and create the whole bike around them. It can be very custom, but you have to get the fit and structure right so everything works safely.

Concept

jig table

"...picking some points on a jig table and building a frame around it..."

A jig table is like a work platform that keeps parts lined up correctly while you build. It helps you avoid crooked alignment when you’re welding or assembling the frame.

Concept

weld it together

"...if I can find the time I'll weld it together but find the time is the problem..."

Welding joins the metal pieces together. On a frame, the quality of the weld matters a lot for safety and long-term strength.

Car

Shelby Daytona

"all right then make you know make a suit that's like a long tail like cut that cut that oh yeah get a comment back on it or something like that like the um Shelby Daytona poops yeah oh my gosh"

The Shelby Daytona is a well-known race car. Here it’s being used as an example of a long, streamlined shape—basically the kind of body design people use to help the car/bike cut through air better.

Term

0.05 (mocked 0.05)

"our race is mocked 0.05 which was originally a speed racer joke because mocked 5 speed racers car it's the fast car mocked 0.05 because it's mini bikes and we're tiny and we're slow"

This is basically a funny team nickname for their speed level. It’s not a real car spec—more like a way to talk about how fast they are compared to expectations.

Term

braking zone

"we're getting to either 59 to 63 in the braking zone that's I mean I don't think we're gonna get any faster than that"

The braking zone is where you slow down before a turn. Braking later or harder can make you faster overall, but only if the tires and brakes can handle it safely.

Concept

terminal speed at the end of the straight

"no that's horrifying because we're going about the same speed as you on the 70 right now our terminal speed at the end of the straight is pretty close to yours"

Terminal speed is the fastest speed you hit right before you have to slow down for the next corner. If two racers have similar terminal speed, it usually means they’re producing similar speed potential on the straight.

Concept

terminal speed vs weight difference

"our terminal speed at the end of the straight is pretty close to yours well y'all are also about 130 pounds lighter than we are too right right"

They’re saying the lighter team has an advantage. Being lighter usually helps you speed up and slow down more easily, even if top speed on a straight is similar.

Concept

engineered our way into our particular box

"I mean yeah you know how that works so we we also engine we also engineered our way into our particular box so I mean"

They mean they didn’t just end up with their setup by chance—they worked to build a car/bike that fits their racing category and performs well within the rules.

Term

cart moto

"yeah I took a one of my friends out to cart moto here not too long ago and he's got a 600 a 400 and getting into mini bike racing"

It sounds like a track or event where people go to ride and race small bikes. The host is using it as an example of where his friend started getting into mini bike racing.

Term

mini bike racing

"and he's got a 600 a 400 and getting into mini bike racing and rode the Cobra"

Mini bike racing is racing with small motorcycles. They’re great for learning because they’re easier to handle, but you still have to ride carefully and be precise.

Term

thrash it

"I was like man it's running great today you just got to go out there and thrash it it'll be fine"

“Thrash it” just means ride it hard and aggressively. On a track, it’s basically testing whether the bike feels good when you push it.

Term

out lap

"he came back in did the out lap and then pulled into the pits before he'd even completed one lap"

An out lap is the first lap out of the pits. Riders use it to warm up and make sure everything feels right before going faster.

Term

pit lane

"last year I broke my right hand pulling into pit lane in about 10 miles an hour when I clipped the curb while hitting the brakes"

Pit lane is the track area where riders come in and out of the pits. It’s usually slower and more controlled, but you can still crash when you’re braking or changing direction.

Term

curb

"last year I broke my right hand pulling into pit lane in about 10 miles an hour when I clipped the curb while hitting the brakes"

Hitting a curb on track can upset the bike’s suspension geometry and traction, especially while braking or turning. Even at relatively low speed, curbs can cause a sudden change in grip that leads to loss of control.

Term

high-sided

"yeah because Michael high-sided I swear we all crashed in almost the same corner too because Michael just high-sided it into the left hander right in front of the pits"

A high-side is when the bike suddenly catches traction again after sliding, and the rider gets thrown off the bike. It’s one of the more violent motorcycle crash types.

Term

brake lever

"it was that was a dramatic weekend actually it was a weekend we broke our first brake lever too I which is crazy yeah we crashed the bike a hundred times and broke one brake lever"

A brake lever is the hand control that actuates the front or rear brake master cylinder on a motorcycle. In a crash, it can bend or break, which is why the team tracking “broke our first brake lever” matters for whether the bike can be ridden safely.

Concept

paddock

"I love having you guys in paddock like just you and whoever you bring along on your crazy adventure it's always a good random collection too"

The paddock is the area at a race event where teams park, work on bikes/cars, and prepare between sessions. It’s also a social hub—where riders and crew talk strategy, swap parts, and manage logistics.

Concept

moto camping trip from Christmas to New Year's

"we took a week off to do a moto camping trip from Christmas to New Year's and just kind of went all around and decided I mean we changed our plan 15 times"

A “moto camping trip” is a motorcycle-focused road trip where riders camp overnight, often requiring extra planning for cold weather, gear, and route flexibility. The segment emphasizes they changed plans multiple times and stayed flexible, which is a key skill for long rides.

Concept

flexible route planning

"just kind of went all around and decided I mean we changed our plan 15 times after we had set the original plan and just stayed flexible"

The guest highlights changing the plan “15 times” after setting an original route, which points to flexible route planning. For riders, this often means adapting to weather, road conditions, group pace, and where camping is available.

Concept

cold-weather camping

"it is definitely cold though I think we were camping in like the high of 22 at one point good lord maybe I'll be able to ride out from Colorado"

Camping in very cold temperatures (they mention highs around 22°F) is a practical challenge for motorcycle riders. It affects battery performance, rider comfort, and how well gear (gloves, sleeping system, layers) works overnight.

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