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Ep 356 Dino Mendoza Real Street Race Director

Ep 356 Dino Mendoza Real Street Race Director

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About this episode

Dino Mendoza, race director for the real street VW drag racing series, joins Bill T to cover how he got into Volkswagens, the evolution of real street, and the behind-the-scenes rules that keep the class fair. They break down real street’s pump-gas, carbureted engine limits, weight/stroke classes, fuel checks, and common “gray area” controversies (fuel cooling, driver swaps, scaling, and rule enforcement). Dino also shares his own 62 ragtop build and the season schedule (Barona dates plus a finale at Bugorama).

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

registration hard rollout for one crazy weekend

"Well, if you're paying attention to social media and you've seen [6.4s] everything, we went ahead and did a hard rollout for registration for one crazy weekend. [11.1s] That's right."

They’re limiting how many people can register for the weekend. That means you should plan early so you don’t miss out.

Concept

VW community get-along

"it's one big VW get-along, and everybody is having a great time and willing to bring people [37.0s] on with them to the strip crews, the poker and all kinds of stuff. [40.3s] It's really the place where the VW community comes to make friends and build relationships,"

They’re talking about a VW event where the main goal is meeting other people who drive the same cars. It’s more about community than just racing.

Company

Iron Fort Shifters

"So other than that, you'll also notice I put out a video this week with Iron Fort Shifters. [77.0s] So Iron Fort Shifters, Iron Fort is a machine company down in Brazil."

Iron Fort Shifters is a company that makes aftermarket shifters. People upgrade to these parts to get a better, more precise feel when shifting.

Term

SEMA show

"[83.7s] They were here for SEMA show and we kind of got together. [87.3s] We chatted a little bit and he left me with a bunch of products to try out..."

SEMA is a big car parts show in the U.S. It’s where companies and builders show off aftermarket upgrades like shifters, wheels, and other accessories.

Concept

distributing shifters

"[95.5s] And I got to tell you, it's a high quality shifter and he's asked me to start distributing the shifter. [123.4s] But if you're interested in being a distributor for Iron Fort Shifters..."

Distributing means helping a company sell its products in a new area. The host is offering to connect people so they can sell the shifters in the U.S.

Part

extended shifter

"[99.8s] So if you check out my Instagram video, you'll see the shifter. [102.0s] That's the extended shifter. [103.2s] It's got the super long handle."

An extended shifter just means the shift handle is longer than stock. That can make shifting feel different—often more comfortable or easier to place the gears.

Topic

Let's Talk Dubbs' website

"[114.9s] So look for those to be available on Let's Talk Dubbs' website. [118.8s] I was looking for somebody else to be a distributor for them..."

They’re telling you where to check for the parts and updates—on the show’s website.

Part

pedal covers

"[130.4s] I've also got pedal covers, other billet accessories that they make for the Volkswagen."

Pedal covers are extra pieces that go on top of your car’s pedals. They can make your feet grip better and they also look nicer inside.

Term

billet accessories

"[130.4s] I've also got pedal covers, other billet accessories that they make for the Volkswagen."

Billet accessories are aftermarket parts made from solid metal and machined into shape. They’re often chosen because they look high-end and can be made to fit your car’s style.

Brand

Volkswagen

"[130.4s] I've also got pedal covers, other billet accessories that they make for the Volkswagen."

Volkswagen is the car brand. Here, the host is saying these aftermarket parts are made to fit VW cars.

Company

Ross Wolf

"Also Ross Wolf, high quality aftermarket parts. Four enthusiasts buying enthusiasts, go check out today. They just came out with a new rear wheel seal..."

Ross Wolf makes aftermarket car parts. In this episode, they’re talking about a seal that’s made to fit correctly so it helps stop leaks.

Part

rear wheel seal

"They just came out with a new rear wheel seal that's ensured that you're not going to leak because of the proper sizing dimensions of the original factory."

A rear wheel seal is a rubber/metal seal that keeps fluid from leaking near the rear wheel. If the seal isn’t the right size, it may not seal properly and you’ll keep getting leaks.

Term

axle seals

"So stop all your leaking. Stop your axle seals leaking. Stop your engine leaking."

Axle seals are the seals that stop oil from leaking around the axle. If they wear out or don’t fit right, you can see leaks and mess around the rear end.

Term

Viton seals

"Stop your engine leaking. Get the Viton seals. These guys are trying to do something better for our scene."

Viton is a special rubber material used for seals. It tends to last longer in hot, oily conditions, which helps the seal keep working instead of hardening and leaking.

Company

Icon Pistons

"Icon Pistons. If you want the highest quality aftermarket piston built, pick yourself up a set of icon pistons available in 85.5, 92 and 94 millimeter."

Icon Pistons makes aftermarket pistons. The hosts are saying they’re a good upgrade option for Volkswagen engines, and they come in different sizes.

Part

aftermarket piston

"If you want the highest quality aftermarket piston built, pick yourself up a set of icon pistons available in 85.5, 92 and 94 millimeter."

An aftermarket piston is a piston made to replace the stock one, usually for performance or specific engine builds. The key point is that the piston size has to match your engine’s setup.

Concept

real street racing program

"He happens to be the race director for the real street racing program and he's been in [238.2s] charge of that for the past few years and we talk about his obviously his Volkswagen [243.0s] story in addition to that, what it was like becoming the race director and the challenges [247.6s] that lie within that position."

“Real street” is a type of drag racing where the cars are meant to be more like normal street cars, not full-on race machines. The race director helps run the event—making sure the rules are followed and everything stays organized and safe.

Topic

Barona Dragstrip

"I think they're going to have the final, my understanding is they're going to have a class [271.5s] in November at Bakersfield but for now it's April 26th, July 12th and October 31st all [281.0s] taking place at Barona Dragstrip."

They’re saying most of the races are happening at Barona Dragstrip. If you’re going to an event like this, the track location is a big deal for planning and for how the racing day runs.

Term

drag racing

"One of the things that makes it really exciting is drag racing, one of the biggest drag racing [351.1s] things that's been going on for quite a while has been the real street."

Drag racing is a straight-line motorsport where cars compete over a short distance, typically focusing on acceleration and traction. In the context of “real street,” it’s the core discipline that the program organizes around.

Term

carburetors

"here's 60 bucks go outside and go give this guy he's going to give you some carburetors and then we're going to put him on"

Carburetors are how older engines mix fuel with air before it goes into the cylinders. Changing them can make the car run better or feel different.

Term

webbers

"we're going to put him on yeah I was like all right... and there were 44 webbers we put him on"

“Webbers” are a type of carburetor brand (Weber). People upgrade to them on classic VWs because they can help the engine run smoother and be easier to tune.

Concept

easiest upgrade

"it's funny you know like like the easiest upgrade on"

They’re talking about the idea that some upgrades are “easy” and make the car feel better right away. On older VWs, simple changes like carburetors can be one of those quick wins.

Term

dual carbs

"“...a Volkswagen is go from single carbon dual carbs and just the noise...” ... “...a stinger and dual carbs you put that on a 1600...”"

Dual carbs means the engine gets fuel/air through two carburetors. That can make the engine respond quicker and pull harder, especially when you rev it.

Term

stinger

"“...the kit that'll get you addicted to racing right is a stinger and dual carbs...”"

A stinger is a louder, freer-flowing exhaust. It’s popular because it can make the car sound more aggressive and can help the engine breathe better.

Car

Volkswagen Beetle

"“...my first Volkswagen was gifted to me... they gave me a 65...” ... “...I ended up buying another bug...”"

The segment discusses multiple classic Beetles (Volkswagen Type 1) as the platform for their builds. The speaker’s first VW is a 1965 Beetle, and later they mention another Beetle build, showing how the Beetle chassis/engine combo is the foundation for street-racing-style upgrades.

Term

2276

"“...it was a 65 in 2276...”"

“2276” is how big the engine is in cubic centimeters. A bigger displacement like 2276cc usually helps the car make more torque and feel quicker.

Part

cylinder heads

"“...he brought some cylinder heads... and he talked my buddy into porting some heads on the 1600...”"

Cylinder heads are the top engine components that house the intake/exhaust ports and valves, and they strongly influence airflow and power. The speaker says the machinist brought cylinder heads and later had heads ported for a 1600 build, which is a major step in making a VW engine breathe better.

Part

porting some heads

"“...he talked my buddy into porting some heads on the 1600...”"

“Porting” cylinder heads means reshaping the intake/exhaust passages to improve airflow. On VW engines, good porting can increase power by reducing flow restrictions, especially when paired with the right cam/valvetrain and carb/exhaust setup.

Part

single high rev springs

"“...he ported the heads put uh single high rev springs...”"

“High rev springs” are valve springs designed to control valve float at higher RPM. The speaker says they used “single high rev springs,” implying a valvetrain setup intended to safely rev more than stock for performance driving.

Term

exhaust

"“...he ported the heads put uh single high rev springs... he told him to buy this exhaust...”"

The segment mentions being told to buy an exhaust to complement the head and valvetrain changes. Exhaust upgrades work together with carburation and porting by improving how easily spent gases exit, which can help power and RPM capability.

Term

1835s

"“...and oh that car was we were whooping on 1835s they're like dude there's no way it's a 1600...”"

“1835s” is another engine size number (about 1835cc). They’re comparing their car’s performance against other cars built around that engine size.

Term

carbon fiber parts

"top secret uh carbon fiber parts that were taking place when I kind of interrupted the two of you guys and uh and you got some pretty dope carbon fiber stuff on the car"

Carbon fiber parts are lightweight composite components used to reduce mass and improve performance and handling response. In this segment, they’re described as “top secret” and tied to a handoff, suggesting a build focused on weight savings and racing credibility.

Term

drag bug

"did you ever see the one with the loffers in that drag bug the red one yeah the red"

A “drag bug” is a Volkswagen Beetle built specifically for drag racing—typically with weight reduction, gearing changes, and traction-focused setups. Here it’s referenced as the kind of car featured on Pinks, tying the VW street scene to the drag-racing world.

Term

Fuchs

"then I had fuchs on it and a roof rack and I go to the street races and I race"

“Fuchs” are a type of aftermarket wheel design that looks like classic Porsche wheels. People put them on VWs because they look great and give the car a more classic, sporty stance.

Term

roof rack

"then I had fuchs on it and a roof rack and I go to the street races"

A roof rack is a set of bars on the roof used to carry stuff. Here it’s mentioned as part of how the car looked and how it was used in everyday life.

Car

Ford Mustang

"... to the street races and I race must I just pick mustangs I like to get five liter mustangs and then a coup..."

The Ford Mustang is a performance car made by Ford, usually with a strong V8 engine. People talk about the 5.0-liter version a lot because it’s a common choice for making more power. It’s often chosen for racing and modifications.

Concept

Fast and Furious

"[795.1s] kind of a different scene yeah in the late 90s as you know the the fast and furious comes out and [800.7s] then all of a sudden every guy grabs his mom's Honda"

They’re referencing the movie franchise as a reason more people got interested in cars and street-racing culture. It made the whole “build your car” vibe more mainstream.

Concept

primer

"[857.1s] yeah packing Freddie shop yeah vogue style they've been my buddies since back in the day I've been [862.8s] supporting vogue styles and man all the cars were primer I remember going down like with like 30 Volkswagen's"

They’re saying a lot of the cars were painted only with primer, not full paint yet. That usually means the cars were still being worked on and improved.

Concept

club scene camaraderie (trading parts/building together)

"[876.6s] yeah yeah that's the fun part is enjoying the car it's it's the coming up right like it's all the [882.2s] guys like guys helping each other build cars and trading parts and doing all the stuff"

They’re describing how the car clubs are about people helping each other. Instead of everyone working alone, they share parts and help build cars together.

Term

2332

"[927.9s] that I redid we did the whole pan primer did big 2332 by Chungwoo you know 234 so Chungwoo [936.9s] your you know you know pretty good as the buddy yours Chungwoo has been one of my buddies for"

“2332” is a common shorthand in air-cooled VW circles for an engine displacement configuration (often a 2332cc build). It indicates a specific performance-oriented stroker-style setup rather than a stock displacement.

Term

port my heads

"very long time I might have to get him on the podcast right and he uh would port my heads build my engines tune the engines all I did was drive yeah so you know not being too good you"

Porting the heads is like cleaning up and reshaping the engine’s air passages so it can breathe better. It often helps the engine make more power, but it has to be done with the rest of the engine plan in mind.

Term

tune the engines

"build my engines tune the engines all I did was drive yeah so you know not being too good you know with tuning the car and stuff you know drive the wheels to the wheels fall off right but he was"

Tuning means adjusting how the engine computer runs the engine—like how much fuel and when to spark. A good tune helps the car run strong and smoothly instead of running rough or risky.

Term

super 1600 class

"to kind of get it because what happens with and you see it happening now right in real street those cars are not cheap no you got the class killers you got the guys with the deep pockets you have the average guys right and then you have the guys it's super competitive it is super fun"

A “Super 1600” class is a displacement-based racing category (1600cc) with rules that typically limit what modifications are allowed. The conversation frames it as a class they tried to make work, but where the competition and costs can still become intense.

Term

90 millimeter NPR

"what was you know it's crazy as I'm listening to the Lyle Cherry podcast that we're talking about like all all these motors that they're building they got 90 millimeter NPR"

“90 millimeter NPR” appears to refer to a specific engine component size/spec used in these builds—most likely related to a turbo/induction hardware dimension (commonly discussed in VW/air-cooled and turbo build circles). The key takeaway is that these competitors are using very large, performance-oriented hardware to chase extremely quick times.

Term

two-liter motors

"[1091.3s] they're running 11's ... [1096.1s] talking they're ringing its neck ... [1100.3s] those cars are two liters and they're just they're just running 11 seconds"

A “two-liter” engine means the total cylinder volume is around 2.0 liters. The point here is that even with that limited size, the cars can still run very fast.

Concept

pump-gas times (running 11s / equivalent to running tens)

"[1096.1s] they're ringing its neck ... [1100.3s] those cars are two liters and they're just they're just running 11 seconds ... [1104.4s] equivalent to running tens now on pump gas"

The segment compares elapsed times (“11s,” “tens”) and emphasizes that these results are being achieved on pump gas. This is essentially a discussion of how fuel type and rule constraints affect performance and why the times are impressive.

Term

roller cams

"[1110.6s] there's rules and regulations ... [1115.9s] 86 stroke is the biggest ... [1115.9s] there's no roller cams you know it has to be a 48 IDA"

Roller cams use a rolling contact surface (instead of sliding contact) to reduce friction and allow more aggressive valve timing/lift. The rules here prohibit roller cams, which forces competitors to use more traditional cam setups and keeps performance more controlled.

Term

94 bore

"[1115.9s] 86 stroke is the biggest [1115.9s] 94 bore is the biggest you know there's no roller cams"

Bore is the width of each cylinder. Limiting bore (like “94 bore”) is a way to cap engine size so the cars stay comparable.

Term

48 IDA

"[1115.9s] there's no roller cams you know it has to be a 48 IDA"

IDA refers to a carburetor setup, and “48” is the size. The rules are basically saying you have to use a specific carb configuration so nobody can cheat with a bigger or freer-flowing setup.

Concept

real street class

"[1124.4s] there's no roller cams you know it has to be a 48 IDA ... [1213.1s] I'm for real street now let's go over some of the let's just break down the rules of the real street class so the real street class is is pump gas"

A “real street” class is a racing category where the rules are meant to keep cars more street-like. Instead of unlimited race parts, they restrict things like fuel and engine specs so everyone competes on a more even playing field.

Term

conflict of interest

"[1157.7s] he dipped out and then just became conflict of interest with David being running the class and being and racing yeah right"

A “conflict of interest” is when someone’s personal involvement could bias decisions they’re responsible for. Here, the speaker describes how running the class while also racing can create perceived or real favoritism concerns, which is why integrity and rule enforcement matter.

Concept

minimum weight vs engine configuration (stroke)

"hundred dollars a hundred pounds difference yeah so 1725 would be with a 2276 yes and then 1825 would be with a 2332 yeah ... but he has to weigh the minimum weight 1738 with an 80 stroke"

This segment describes a class-balancing approach where competitors with different engine setups (like different stroke lengths) must meet different minimum vehicle weights. The goal is to equalize performance so no single combination dominates, which is common in “real street” style racing classes with rule-based handicapping.

Car

stock Volkswagen

"and a stock Volkswagen weighs what around 1900 pounds 1800 pounds yeah a full dress see so we have uh light we'll call it lightweight is 1738"

They’re using a stock Volkswagen as a reference point for weight. The point is to show how race cars can be much lighter or heavier than a normal, unmodified car.

Term

82 stroke

"we have uh light we'll call it lightweight is 1738 okay it's an 82 stroke then we have a medium 1775 pounds 84 stroke"

“82 stroke” means the engine’s piston travel is set to a specific stroke size (82 mm). In their rules, that number changes what minimum weight the car has to run.

Term

84 stroke

"then we have a medium 1775 pounds 84 stroke and 1825 pounds is an 86 stroke"

“84 stroke” is another specific piston travel measurement (84 mm). In this racing class, that choice comes with a different minimum car weight.

Term

86 stroke

"and 1825 pounds is an 86 stroke so you got 82 84 and 86 stroke yeah"

“86 stroke” is a longer piston travel setting (86 mm). In their rules, longer stroke builds are assigned a higher minimum weight.

Car

turbo notch

"I was amazed to find out when I was interviewing um uh Ron um Loomis in his turbo notch was a I think it was a 64 stroke it was like a de stroke motor with a huge piston yeah and and and I was blown away by that"

They’re talking about a Volkswagen Notchback that has a turbo added. The point is that some racers don’t just build huge engines—they use smaller internal dimensions to spin faster and make power.

Concept

real street race class evolution / super competitive

"the evolution of the class has been going on and and the tough part now is as the class finally starts getting like super competitive you guys lose all the races you know like all the races kind of like because buggin loses their stuff right"

They discuss how the class has evolved into a more competitive environment, which can lead to fewer races or interruptions when teams “lose their stuff” (likely meaning parts, cars, or sponsorship/availability). This is a common reality in grassroots motorsports where rule changes and escalating budgets affect participation.

Topic

Bakersfield

"they're supposed to be coming back in Bakersfield right they're going to they're we've gone to Bakersfield with Steve Sherman okay the local you know promoter"

They’re talking about races coming back in Bakersfield. It’s just the event location for this racing class.

Concept

turbo class

"[1406.8s] community because you know it's I'm only running real street I can't run in a turbo class or a trophy [1414.5s] class and unfortunately the best racing right now is real street right the most the most the"

A “turbo class” is a racing category for cars that use a turbocharger. They’re grouped separately because turbos change how the car accelerates compared to cars without turbos.

Topic

Doug Bergs Memorial

"[1423.3s] the most well known because there's a lot of guys that have you know and that's that's the thing you [1428.6s] know I'm supposed to get Joel Moore in the podcast because I ran into him recently at Doug [1433.2s] Bergs Memorial and we started talking about the different racing he's doing and that's just straight"

They mention “Doug Bergs Memorial” as a real event people go to. The conversation about racing classes and rules comes from what they talked about there.

Concept

time index

"[1438.3s] up run for times it's wide open whoever you get the closest to this time and I don't even know if [1444.5s] there's I don't I'm not even sure if there's weight limitations or anything on it but it's like [1448.3s] they're you know they're just going for time index yeah index and just making it more [1453.6s] more fun more competitive because you can run a turbo car against an NA car stuff like that"

“Time index” is when the race is based on hitting a target time, not just being the quickest. People tune their cars and driving to land close to that target.

Concept

weight limitations

"[1438.3s] up run for times it's wide open whoever you get the closest to this time and I don't even know if [1444.5s] there's I don't I'm not even sure if there's weight limitations or anything on it but it's like [1448.3s] they're you know they're just going for time index yeah index and just making it more"

“Weight limitations” means the rules may require cars to be within a certain weight range. That helps keep one car from having an unfair advantage just because it’s heavier or lighter.

Concept

NA car

"[1453.6s] more fun more competitive because you can run a turbo car against an NA car stuff like that and [1457.5s] it's always interesting to watch those two cars run because you know they've got two different [1461.3s] characteristics going down the track right like one one's top in heavy yeah and the other one's just"

“NA” means the engine doesn’t use a turbocharger. Those cars usually feel different when you launch and accelerate compared to turbo cars.

Term

fuel cooling

"I remember some of the stuff I caught wind of back in the day when it was maybe about five six years ago there was something going on with fuel cooling or something like that going on people were chilling their fuel"

Fuel cooling means racers try to make the fuel colder before it goes into the engine. Colder fuel can help the engine run more safely and sometimes make more power.

Concept

rule book

"whenever you look at any racing of any type right rules everybody there's two ways look at a rule book right you look at rule book is what what you can't do then you can because it doesn't say you can't do that"

A “rule book” in motorsports isn’t just about safety—it defines what’s allowed, what’s prohibited, and how tech is policed. Teams often build their cars around both the explicit rules and how officials interpret them during scrutineering/inspection.

Concept

gray area

"because it doesn't say you can't do that there's that gray area definitely and that's always forever in racing forever if it doesn't say you can't people will try"

Racing rules can have loopholes. If something isn’t clearly banned, some teams try to use that gap to get an advantage.

Term

nitrous lines

"they're like oh yeah for guys that would do stuff they would have you know nitrous lines under the tin yeah going into the manifolds or whatever"

Nitrous lines are the tubes that carry nitrous oxide from the bottle to the engine. When it’s injected, it can give the engine a temporary power boost.

Term

manifolds

"they would have you know nitrous lines under the tin yeah going into the manifolds or whatever like yeah there's all kinds of ways that everybody's trying to get a leg up on whatever"

A manifold is a set of passages that routes gases to the engine’s cylinders. If nitrous is used, it’s often aimed at the intake side so it mixes with the air going into the cylinders.

Term

cars get scaled

"do they all does every car get waited every race before every way before every pass the cars get scaled oh really and that's before we go on a cruise"

“Scaled” here means the cars are weighed on a scale before runs. In many racing classes, weight affects eligibility and performance comparisons, so scaling is part of the technical inspection process.

Concept

real street competition

"and so every car gets weighed at the beat so let's say it's Saturday it's gonna be a real street competition today in the morning all the cars get weighed we go on the cruise"

This is a kind of racing where the cars are handled more like normal street cars. The organizers do rules and checks before racing so everyone is competing on a level playing field.

Topic

cruise back to the track

"okay and then we cruise back to the track so hold on so you gotta calculate how much fuel you're gonna need to drive back to the track and make your rounds yeah ... the cruise is only 20 miles but up in Barona we're kind of adjusting"

They do a cruise as part of the event before racing. Because the cruise distance is limited, teams have to plan fuel carefully for the drive back and the races.

Concept

fuel check and seal the tank

"we go on the cruise we do we do the cruise first now do the fuel check and seal the tank okay and then we cruise back to the track so hold on so you gotta calculate how much fuel you're gonna need to drive back to the track"

They check the fuel and then seal the tank so nobody can change it after inspection. It also forces teams to plan how much gas they’ll need so they don’t run out mid-event.

Concept

calculate how much fuel you're gonna need

"so hold on so you gotta calculate how much fuel you're gonna need to drive back to the track and make your rounds yeah and predict you know you're gonna go without and everybody's trying to save every eight pounds for each gallon"

Teams figure out how much gas they’ll need for the whole event. Using less fuel can help because it weighs more, but you still have to make it without running out.

Concept

save every eight pounds for each gallon

"and predict you know you're gonna go without and everybody's trying to save every eight pounds for each gallon but here's the thing too though"

Gas weighs a lot, so carrying less can make the car faster. But you can’t bring too little or you might run out before the end.

Concept

resurfaced track

"it's a good track over there they just resurfaced it they just did the water box they just paved"

“Resurfaced track” means the track surface was redone or repaired. That can make the surface grip better and make races more consistent.

Concept

water box

"they just resurfaced it they just did the water box they just paved the whole track"

A “water box” is a spot on the drag strip where they spray water before you launch. It helps the tires get traction so the car can get moving without spinning its wheels as much.

Topic

pro eliminator

"they're running a trophy class pro eliminator and real street but there's no class for like the triple guys"

“Pro Eliminator” is a type of drag race where you race another car directly, and if you lose you’re out. The cars are grouped by rules so everyone is competing in a similar category.

Topic

trophy class

"they're running a trophy class pro eliminator and real street but there's no class for like the triple guys"

A “trophy class” is a racing category where people compete for trophies. It usually has its own rules, and you get recognized based on how you place in that group.

Concept

race of champions

"it was looking kind of promising when you had the race of champions over here right that they were doing over here but that only that it's only popped off one year"

“Race of champions” is usually a special event where strong drivers or winners get invited. In this case, they say it only ran one year before being canceled.

Topic

West Coast Hot Rod Association

"and I've got a friend that was running a west coast hot rod association and I try to say like hey man can we do something on that"

They mention a regional hot-rod racing group on the West Coast. It’s the kind of organization that helps organize events and get people involved.

Concept

barrier to entry

"but the the barrier to entry is the cost right I think it's like $30,000 for a day"

“Barrier to entry” just means what makes it hard for regular people to join in. In racing, it’s usually money and rules—like track fees and getting your car ready.

Topic

test and tune

"I thought how cool would that be if we did like a Friday night drags because we could we could they do test and tune every Friday my only thing is I don't know if they do test and tune"

“Test and tune” sessions are practice runs where drivers can dial in their setup—tires, suspension, and tire pressures—before racing. They’re common at drag strips and road courses because they reduce uncertainty and help teams learn what the car is doing.

Topic

midnight mayhem

"it's midnight mayhem they call it and it's put on by summit and so anybody's legal uh registered car could come out here and run"

“Midnight Mayhem” sounds like a special late-night racing event. The important part is that regular street-legal cars can show up and run.

Topic

NASCAR

"but I think because NASCAR is coming up just close to that they're not doing it"

They mention NASCAR because big events can take over a venue’s schedule. When NASCAR is near, the track may pause other activities.

Company

Summit

"it's midnight mayhem they call it and it's put on by summit and so anybody's legal registered car could come out here and run"

“Summit” here is the group putting on the event. Promoters usually decide who can enter and what the rules are for the night.

Topic

street outlaws

"yeah and they used to have a thing I heard they did the street outlaws there was a little track out here they called it by the power plant"

They’re talking about “Street Outlaws,” which is a street-racing show. The idea is that when the show comes around, it can bring racing to a specific area.

Concept

race trailers

"because the buddy was oh yeah they're gonna be out there testing I went out there and dudes are out there race trailers bro they bring race trailers out there and they're prepping their cars"

Race trailers are like mobile garages. They help teams bring everything they need to get the car ready and keep it running during an event.

Topic

track cost and event economics

"the problem here is the cost of the track and and that's what you got to give it up to like the guys from Buggerama they spend so much money to to try to get the for so many years"

They’re talking about how expensive it is to rent a race track and put on an event. Even if people want to go, the math can be tough if the entry fees don’t cover the track and staffing costs.

Concept

piggybacking on another event

"if you can piggyback on to another event where something else is already going you guys can dedicate a lane and some runtime for it it's good but you know"

They’re saying it can be cheaper to run your event as part of someone else’s bigger event. That way you share the track time and setup instead of paying for everything alone.

Brand

Irwindale

"we have Irwindale shut down yeah that was did they did they clear out the lot yet they started"

Irwindale is a motorsports venue/location in California. When it shuts down, it reduces the places where people can go race.

Concept

track shut down / facility closure

"we have Irwindale shut down yeah that was did they did they clear out the lot yet they started no they cleared out like the the circle track it seemed like so the drag strips still sitting there"

They’re describing how race tracks get shut down or sold off, so it becomes harder to find places to race. When tracks disappear, organizers have fewer options and events get more expensive or less frequent.

Term

circle track

"they cleared out like the the circle track it seemed like so the drag strips still sitting there"

A circle track is an oval-style track where cars race around and around, turning through corners. They’re comparing it to drag racing, which is straight-line.

Term

drag strips

"they cleared out like the the circle track it seemed like so the drag strips still sitting there yeah it's like it's bad it's terrible you know"

A drag strip is the straight track used for drag racing—cars line up and race down the strip to see who’s fastest. They’re noting that even if some parts are gone, drag racing infrastructure may still be there.

Brand

Fontana

"the new were more latest greatest thing out there was what was the one in Riverside called well Fontana Fontana and they got rid of Fontana too right"

Fontana is a place in California that used to have a major racing venue. They’re saying the track was removed, likely because the land became too valuable.

Car

62 rag tops

"so let's talk about your car for a bit so so you you got your 62 rag tops it's a pretty it's a nice car and tell me about the build on that car"

They’re talking about a 1962 VW convertible. It’s built to be driven on the street, but also set up to race in “real street” events.

Concept

real street spec

"it was built with intentions of someday racing real street yeah but and it's built real street spec right now"

“Real street spec” means the car is built to race, but it’s still meant to be a normal street car. The event usually has rules so it can’t be a full-on race-only machine.

Term

weight races

"so so that car so these weight races here that you these weight class you gave me here that's with driver in the car yeah yeah okay because that makes a difference"

They’re talking about race classes where the car’s weight matters. Sometimes they even count the driver’s weight so heavier cars aren’t automatically at a disadvantage.

Topic

Las Vegas Motor Speedway strip cruise

"I'm gonna look on the counter right now see if the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has uh something going on one crazy weekend um I'm bringing my car this year yeah because because I mean how cool is that strip cruise"

They’re talking about an event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that includes cruising/showing off cars. It’s a fun car-culture weekend, not just racing.

Term

five-speed

"and then now it has a five-speed so man it'll it'll cruise the streets and it'll yeah"

They’re saying the car has a manual 5-speed. That helps it drive smoothly on the street while still being usable for racing.

Topic

NHRA bracket finals

"and the problem is the Sunday October 4th is the NASCAR is the NASCAR event October 8th is NHRA uh bracket finals is October 8th my event is uh yeah so they do NASCAR stuff so that the"

NHRA is a major drag racing organization. “Bracket finals” are races where you’re judged by your timing and how close you are to your planned run time, not just raw speed.

Term

bull ring

"[2412.3s] they have uh bull ring which is the round roundy round track and then they do uh they don't do [2418.1s] anything until the next weekend so yeah be uh it would just be the problem the other problem with"

A “bull ring” is a small race track, usually with tight turns. Cars often need good traction and a setup that keeps speed through the corners.

Term

compression

"[2443.6s] your motor um who built your motor Sean Gears built my motor Sean Gears built your motor 2386 [2449.9s] 2386 and what kind of compression is that motor runs over like 14 no no that's a pump gas so what's [2455.7s] the max people have been pulling off the pump gas I want to say like 11 to 1 or so right around that [2460.4s] ballpark and what what kind of tricks have people been trying to do to get more to get more compression"

Compression is how tightly the engine squeezes the air-fuel mixture before it ignites. More compression can make more power, but if you go too high on regular gas the engine can start knocking.

Term

octane booster

"[2475.3s] to try to push that compression but everything everyone too don't want to give all the [2475.3s] the hats out of the bag you know so are you allowed in the real street class to run any [2480.4s] octane booster no it's 91 pump gas so everybody so you guys just pay a gas station everybody [2486.2s] goes and everybody has to put gas everybody puts gas I show the tank yeah"

An octane booster is a chemical you mix into gas to make it more resistant to knocking. If a racing class bans it, everyone has to rely on the octane level of the gas they buy.

Term

91 pump gas

"[2480.4s] octane booster no it's 91 pump gas so everybody so you guys just pay a gas station everybody [2486.2s] goes and everybody has to put gas everybody puts gas I show the tank yeah"

91 pump gas is regular gas from a station with an octane rating of 91. Higher octane helps prevent engine knocking, but it still isn’t as forgiving as race fuel.

Term

main shaft

"[2497.2s] amount of horsepower but I mean I guess and and I don't know if that's just for that fourth gear [2503.1s] the way that main shaft is built I think it's a main shaft but mine it has a widow main shaft [2508.2s] not a modified vw oh really yeah and who built your trans uh rancho ranch of the trans yeah"

The main shaft is the transmission’s main rotating part that the gears mount to. If it’s upgraded or built stronger, it can handle more stress from higher power.

Company

Rancho

"[2508.2s] not a modified vw oh really yeah and who built your trans uh rancho ranch of the trans yeah [2515.5s] nice so you got full aftermarket main shaft and all that stuff so and what do you got"

They’re crediting a transmission shop/builder named Rancho. Transmission builders can set up gearboxes to handle more power and shift reliably.

Term

gear ratios

"[2521.2s] close ratio first to fourth yeah and then 425 254 171 132 or something like that I know what's [2531.9s] your fourth uh 82 oh 82 cruise 80 miles an hour on the freeway at 2800 3 grand yeah yeah it's"

Gear ratios tell you how many times the engine spins for each rotation of the wheels. Different ratios change whether the car feels punchy or relaxed at highway speed.

Term

close ratio

"[2521.2s] close ratio first to fourth yeah and then 425 254 171 132 or something like that I know what's [2531.9s] your fourth uh 82 oh 82 cruise 80 miles an hour on the freeway at 2800 3 grand yeah yeah it's"

Close ratio means the gears are spaced closer together. That helps the engine stay near the RPM where it makes power, so you feel quicker acceleration.

Term

4th gear

"2.6 liter it's gonna go north but I don't even go into fourth till 60 you know I mean third gear ... takes me all the way to 60 because I also got 17s with big tall tires on the back"

Gears change how hard the engine works at a given speed. If 4th gear is set up to be “tall,” the car may feel like it takes longer to build speed, even though it’s good for cruising.

Term

089 fourth

"...it was weird being a fourth gear because fourth gear felt like it wasn't going that fast because it was a typical 089 fourth"

That “089” is basically a label for a specific transmission/gear setup. Different gear setups make 4th gear feel either punchy or more like a relaxed cruising gear.

Concept

trans axle

"...so now when I redo that trans axle when that car comes back out for one crazy weekend it'll have the it'll have the tall gear"

On some cars, the gearbox and the rear differential are built together. When you change that setup, the car can feel like it accelerates differently and cruises at different RPMs.

Term

narrowed beam

"...walk me through on your car what you did to lighten your 62 so I ran uh I did a a narrowed beam ... how narrowed for a four inch four inch narrow beam"

It’s a front suspension part that’s been modified so the wheels sit closer together. People do it to fit certain wheel/tire setups and to get the look/stance they want.

Company

Strange brakes

"...I did a strange brakes aluminum beam no no no because people used to run those jt beams right yeah ... so you got a narrowed beam narrowed beam ... Strange I got the strange brakes spindle mount"

Strange makes upgraded brake parts for performance builds. Here, they’re using their components to improve braking on a custom front suspension setup.

Term

spindle mount

"...Strange I got the strange brakes spindle mount so spin them off front wheels yeah wow they're actually out"

Instead of mounting the brake caliper on the suspension beam, it mounts at the spindle near the wheel. It’s a common trick on modified cars to fit everything cleanly.

Term

back brakes only

"...and then you got strange brakes strange brakes strange how does it how does it feel with just back brakes only"

Brakes aren’t all the same—if you only have rear brakes, the car can feel sketchy or less stable when you stop hard. They’re explaining how their setup avoids that by adding front braking.

Term

floating caliper

"...I do have strange front I have a floating caliper in the front so how does it how does it feel with just back brakes only"

A floating caliper is a brake type where the caliper can move slightly to line up with the rotor. That helps the pads clamp evenly so braking feels more consistent.

Term

hydraulic

"little motorcycle caliper e-brake really yeah just manual like hydraulic no factory cable really yeah that's pretty slick yeah so you got a lot of trick stuff on the car yeah your car your"

Hydraulic means it uses fluid pressure to move the brake parts. It usually involves lines and fittings, so it needs to be installed correctly to work reliably.

Term

no factory cable

"little motorcycle caliper e-brake really yeah just manual like hydraulic no factory cable really yeah that's pretty slick yeah so you got a lot of trick stuff on the car yeah your car your"

They’re saying they didn’t use the car’s original parking-brake cable. Instead, they changed the system so the parking brake works with the custom setup they installed.

Company

Carbon Joe

"it came out pretty cool you know I had carbon joe you know I met carbon joe buying some running boards and then I asked him like can you do some like one-off stuff like teabars ... joe did some my door panels he did my my teabars uh my sun visor carbon fiber"

Carbon Joe sounds like the person who makes the custom carbon parts for the car. The important part is that he’s doing custom work, not just off-the-shelf pieces.

Term

ram air

"he just made some uh some side uh ducts for the buses like some ram air oh yeah yeah like the scoops carbon fiber I just got a set they're gonna put them on the carbon cab"

Ram air is when the car uses the wind while driving to push more air into a system. It’s often done with scoops/ducts to help cooling or intake performance.

Concept

full carbon fiber shell bus

"with that carbon fiber technology I found a guy here in town that's building a full carbon fiber shell bus oh yeah you know that that's just like that's wicked out of nowhere right go to this guy's shop and it's full corvette chassis under this thing and he's gonna do electric and all the stuff"

They’re talking about making a bus body out of carbon fiber instead of heavier material. The big idea is saving a lot of weight, which can make the vehicle feel quicker and handle better.

Concept

electric conversion

"go to this guy's shop and it's full corvette chassis under this thing and he's gonna do electric and all the stuff and I'm thinking it's wild how the body weighs 70 pounds versus 700"

They’re saying the car is going electric. That usually means replacing the gas powertrain with an electric motor and adding a battery system, which is a lot more than just swapping a motor.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"go to this guy's shop and it's full corvette chassis under this thing and he's gonna do electric and all the stuff and I'm thinking it's wild how the body weighs 70 pounds versus 700"

They’re saying the bus is getting a Corvette chassis underneath. That’s a big swap because the chassis controls things like suspension and how the car is put together.

Concept

weight reduction (70 pounds vs 700)

"and I'm thinking it's wild how the body weighs 70 pounds versus 700 yeah it's you know what I mean it's crazy but you know that that technology we live in a time where with Volkswagen's the technology is so far out ahead of everything else"

The “70 pounds versus 700” comparison is used to illustrate how drastic weight reduction can be when switching to lightweight materials like carbon fiber. Less mass can improve acceleration, braking distances, and how the suspension responds.

Term

scatter manifold

"you're running your tall manifolds like uh scatter manifold no actually I got uh"

A manifold is the part that routes gases through the engine bay. Different manifold designs can help the engine breathe better, which can add power.

Company

Gears Engineering

"gears engineering billet manifolds no okay yeah so gears engineering manifolds what kind of heads"

Gears Engineering makes aftermarket performance parts. In this conversation they’re being used for engine hardware like manifolds and oil system parts.

Term

street fighters

"what kind of heads uh street fighters street fighters who makes the street fighters uh cb such as it's a"

They’re talking about special cylinder heads. Heads are a big deal because they control how air and fuel enter the engine and how exhaust leaves.

Company

Jeff Denham

"and it's been massaged by by jeff denham yeah and who's and jeff denham's a guy who's a bit he was one of the the originals from the real street"

Jeff Denham is a person tied to the early “real street” racing community. They’re crediting him with helping develop or refine the parts used in these builds.

Concept

displacement

"that's the thing is is displacement you know there's a guy here last year uh for one crazy weekend he might have been here for the show"

Displacement is how big the engine is—basically how much space the cylinders have. Bigger displacement usually means the engine can move more fuel/air, which can make more power.

Term

aftermarket case

"displacement's interesting with the type ones because you can get to a certain point like 2,400 is probably like the biggest you can get before going to like an aftermarket case"

When you build an engine bigger than stock, the factory engine block/case may not be thick or shaped right for the changes. An aftermarket case is a stronger replacement that lets you safely build for bigger displacement.

Car

Toyota A90

"is probably like the biggest you can get before going to like an aftermarket case or i don't know if you got to go aftermarket case with 2,400 no you could still use that that's like a 90 millimeter 90 94 yeah so you got those heads 48s and then what are you running for rockers rockers or just"

The Toyota Supra is a sports car designed to go fast and handle well. People modify them with upgraded parts to make more power. When someone talks about “sizes” and parts, they’re usually referring to the performance upgrades used to increase output.

Term

CMI rockers

"what are you running for rockers rockers or just rockers are uh cmi rockers okay"

Rockers help open and close the engine’s valves. Using upgraded rockers from a company like CMI can help the valve train survive and perform better when the engine is built for more power.

Term

deep sump

"as far as oil capacity on your car you just run you run a deep sump on that thing yeah gears engineering some uh aluminum sump"

A deep sump is a bigger oil pan. It holds more oil and helps prevent oil starvation when you’re driving hard or turning aggressively.

Company

aluminum sump

"gears engineering some uh aluminum sump what is it uh like a five quart i think the car holds uh like almost 10 quarts of oil"

This is a special oil pan made from aluminum. It’s used to hold more oil and manage oil better during performance driving.

Term

external fan

"what is it uh like a five quart i think the car holds uh like almost 10 quarts of oil and you got external fan yeah and in your uh your cooling system on the car is a is uh"

An external fan in the cooling system indicates additional airflow management beyond the stock setup. For high-output engines, extra cooling helps maintain oil and engine temperatures under load.

Term

oil pumps

"and in your uh your cooling system on the car is a is uh my oil pumps a daily"

The oil pump moves oil around the engine so parts don’t run dry. When an engine is built for more power, the oil system often needs to be upgraded too.

Car

Porsche 911

"...ne like a 36 horse shroud yeah you're not running 911 style setup no no anybody running that in real s..."

The Porsche 911 is a sports car made by Porsche that’s known for its unique shape and performance. People often talk about it in terms of how it’s set up for speed and racing. When someone mentions “911-style,” they mean a configuration that matches how 911s are typically built or tuned.

Term

fan shroud

"like pull the the whole uh fan shroud off that's not street you know like i know fan belt is not street but it's going to give you a few you know right five five five seven horsepower"

On an air-cooled VW, the fan shroud helps push cooling air where it needs to go. Taking it off might make a little power, but it can also make the engine run hotter.

Term

porous shroud

"there's a i think somebody's going to come out with uh like uh porous shroud now real street can you take the fan belt off if you want yeah"

They’re talking about a special cooling shroud design that lets air move differently than a normal one. The idea is to get better cooling or performance while still meeting the event’s rules.

Term

fan belt

"like i know fan belt is not street but it's going to give you a few you know right five five five seven horsepower"

They’re talking about the belt that runs certain engine-driven accessories. Removing it can reduce drag and maybe free up a little power, but it’s not something you’d typically do for a street car.

Term

alternator

"you take off a 30 pound alternator also yeah now you're you know now you're come on"

The alternator is what keeps the battery charged and powers the car’s electrical stuff. Removing it can save weight and reduce load on the engine, but it can also create electrical problems if you’re trying to run the car like a normal street vehicle.

Term

dyno

"have your monitored fuel yeah that was and i and i'm wondering on the dyno what a difference would that make"

A dyno (dynamometer) measures engine output under controlled conditions by loading the engine and recording power and torque. The hosts reference dyno testing to quantify whether changes like chilled fuel produce measurable results. This is a key tool for separating “seat-of-the-pants” ideas from real performance changes.

Term

fuel gate

"...so you had the fuel you had fuel gate yeah fuel the chiller gate and then what happened what's something i'm just out of curiosity..."

“Fuel gate” is basically a drama about the race rules for fuel. People argue about how fuel should be stored or brought to the event, because it can feel like someone has an advantage.

Term

chiller gate

"...so you had the fuel you had fuel gate yeah fuel the chiller gate and then what happened what's something i'm just out of curiosity..."

“Chiller gate” sounds like an argument about a device used to cool something for the race—probably fuel. If cooling affects performance, the group may add rules to keep it fair.

Concept

driver swap

"...like a driver swap so somebody drove somebody's car because somebody couldn't make a race so we voted on it all the guys all the participants..."

A “driver swap” is when one person drives another competitor’s car, usually because of scheduling conflicts. In points-based championships, allowing driver swaps can become controversial when the substitute driver is more competitive, potentially affecting who earns points.

Term

points were all tallied up

"...later six months later when it came down to the points and you know the championship up for grabs then it became a big deal again..."

This is about how racers earn points over the season. If the championship is close, then rule changes or exceptions can suddenly become a big deal.

Term

sealing the tanks

"...you had to start sealing the tanks because yeah every every rule is comes from someone..."

“Sealing the tanks” means applying a tamper-evident seal to fuel tanks to ensure competitors can’t alter fuel quantity or configuration after inspection. This is a common enforcement method in racing rulebooks to maintain parity and prevent cheating.

Concept

degree of difficulty / attention to detail scoring

"[3319.0s] the full billet machine and he said he took the rule book for how they judge a class and built the car [3324.3s] to the rule book so so it was like degree of difficulty attention to detail and how much you [3330.1s] know all the stuff and so that's why he just destroyed everything in class because he built it"

In some racing classes, you’re not only judged on performance. The rules can reward how hard the build is and how carefully everything is done, so doing things “right” can matter as much as going fast.

Concept

driver gate

"[3346.8s] we had a fuel gate we had uh we had a driver gate you know we had a guy a major contender pull out his motor [3356.4s] and fix yes it was like a main seal or something but the rule states to get a fellow racer and"

“Driver gate” sounds like another official checkpoint related to the driver or driver rules. The idea is to make sure the event follows the rules consistently.

Term

main seal

"[3356.4s] and fix yes it was like a main seal or something but the rule states to get a fellow racer and [3362.2s] the race director you can just take it upon yourself just to pull your motor right it doesn't"

A “main seal” is a gasket-like part that keeps oil or other fluids from leaking out. If it fails, the car may need a repair before it can run again.

Concept

race director approval for rule compliance

"[3362.2s] the race director you can just take it upon yourself just to pull your motor right it doesn't [3366.7s] matter who you are right a rule is a rule yeah okay so we had that this is a one certain event and [3373.7s] then the same guy didn't scale this car and ran a killer pass"

They’re saying the rules aren’t just about what you can do—they’re also about getting permission when you need to do it. If you don’t follow the process, it can change what’s allowed and how results are handled.

Concept

killer pass

"[3373.7s] then the same guy didn't scale this car and ran a killer pass I had to throw it out so [3385.4s] where I screwed up and I'll admit it"

A “killer pass” is just a really impressive run where the car performs well. It usually means the driver got a strong result on that attempt.

Concept

De-queued (disqualified) for not scaling your car

"you're dequeued end of story yeah you make a pass without scaling your car you're dequeued so this guy made a killer pass didn't scale his car so he got dequeued so and then everybody's upset with you"

They’re talking about a rule where your car has to be checked/adjusted to match the class rules. If you don’t follow that requirement, you can get removed from the results or the event, and everyone gets mad because it feels unfair.

Concept

Rule enforcement for fairness (same rules for everybody)

"and then everybody's upset with you but the problem is the rules have to be the same for everybody because because then it's like it's like kids once you let one kid do something now all the kids are doing they're gonna all want the favor and then you're the bad guy"

They’re emphasizing that race rules have to be enforced the same way for everyone. If one person gets special treatment, everyone else will expect it too, and the class loses credibility.

Term

Pit

"what was interesting is you know I was looking at Adam and those guys when they were in their pit and then they had they were the way they were cooling their engine down"

The pit is the area where the car is serviced during the event. It’s where teams can make quick changes and help the car stay within safe operating temperatures.

Term

Cooling fans cooling their motor

"and then everybody starts getting up in arms because the way they're cooling their motor was like didn't say you can't other guys have fans cooling fans they're just is a more direct you know right right more efficient coolings"

They’re talking about how to keep the engine from overheating. Using fans can cool the engine faster or more directly than other methods, especially between runs.

Brand

VW world

"he's always talking about bro the vw world needs to look at like the the real racers the real the"

“VW world” refers to the Volkswagen enthusiast and racing community. The host is suggesting that this community should pay attention to the “real racers” and how they approach competition, which ties into how rules, preparation, and enforcement shape the scene.

Concept

top fuelers

"top fuelers all that stuff because if you're looking in that direction..."

Top Fuel is the fastest, most extreme kind of drag racing. The cars are built to make huge power and accelerate hard, so people use them as a benchmark for performance.

Concept

VW's

"...if you're looking in that direction and you're applying it to vw's then like it's then you would see the bar raised..."

“VW’s” just means Volkswagen cars. They’re talking about how performance and racing setup ideas can help Volkswagen cars do better at the track.

Concept

traction

"...there's been that hiccup with the tracks and hopefully you will gain some traction you can see some of that stuff..."

Traction just means how much grip the tires get from the track. If there’s not enough grip, the tires spin and the car can’t put power down as well.

Company

v-dubs unlimited

"...they're all buddies from volksworks uh or the v-dubs v-dubs unlimited or v-dubs limited was the name of the the club..."

This is the name of a VW club. Clubs like this help organize events and bring people together around the same cars.

Company

Volksworks

"steve had a shop volksworks and a lot of the guys like that was all the cars came out of that shop"

Volksworks is mentioned as a shop where many of the cars in the group originated. For enthusiasts, a builder/shop name matters because it can point to the car’s provenance, fabrication style, and how the build was supported over time.

Topic

Famosa

"because i'm going to these magazines the 80s and the famosa was on the map back in day used to be used to be a pretty good thing"

They mention “Famosa” as a place that was important for racing back in the day. The point is that it helped put the area on the map for car culture.

Term

trap

"you when you hear these go through the trap and the those you know the time's come up man people you hear them like if it's a upset"

In drag racing, the “trap” is where the track measures the car—usually its speed—right as it passes a specific point. It’s a key moment because it’s part of how the race results are determined.

Term

7-second street car

"they're street cars and they're freaking fast i mean if those cars a seven second like a 7-0 running through the lights is equivalent to how fast in the 7-0 is like like what like a"

When people say a “7-second” car, they mean it can cover the quarter-mile in about seven seconds. It’s a drag-racing way to measure how quick the car is, not just how fast it feels on the street.

Term

10-second street car

"that's crazy it's not it's nuts yeah it's when we could they've come a long way all the but all those cars they're big money cars and i think um you know i have this conversation with adam"

A “10-second” car is basically a quarter-mile time benchmark—about ten seconds from start to finish in a drag strip. It’s a quick shorthand for how fast the car is.

Term

naturally aspirated

"that's a 10 second street car on pump gas naturally aspirated naturally aspirated that's crazy it's not it's nuts yeah"

Naturally aspirated means the engine doesn’t use a turbo or supercharger to force air in. The engine has to make power through its normal breathing and tuning.

Concept

Dragon Drive

"because steve dalton's done a bunch of the dragon drive stuff yeah that's cool and that car is like i saw that car at the dkp"

“Dragon Drive” appears to refer to a specific drag-racing event or series the guest has worked on, where cars are tuned and prepared for consistent performance. The discussion focuses on building a car that can run fast repeatedly rather than chasing the absolute fastest single pass.

Term

quarter mile

"and it went through the phases it was you know aspirated fuel injected and that car's always that car is a monster i think he i think he's running nines in the quarter yeah"

In drag racing, the quarter mile is the classic race distance. When someone says “in the quarter,” they mean the car’s time for that quarter-mile run.

Term

nines in the quarter

"and that car's always that car is a monster i think he i think he's running nines in the quarter yeah i think like dragon dragon drive"

“Nines in the quarter” means the car can do the quarter-mile in the 9-second range. It’s a big deal in drag racing because it usually takes a lot of power and good setup.

Concept

detune for consistency

"even if you had when they just ran like a car that's capable of running because i my my mind goes to like if you've got a nine-second car and you dial it back to running low 11s high tens it's probably going to be a little more last a lot longer"

They’re talking about turning the car down a bit so it runs reliably every time. Instead of chasing the absolute fastest number, you aim for a time range you can repeat without breaking or falling off.

Term

fiberglass front end

"it's got um it's just ghetto bird uh you know fiberglass front end steel body 64 sunroof car nice"

Fiberglass front ends are lighter than steel body parts. Racers use them to help the car accelerate and handle better.

Term

butchered

"and uh butchered uh 64 the small window steel sunroof car i might put a steel front end back on it"

“Butchered” means the car has been changed in a rough or irreversible way. It can make the car less valuable and sometimes harder to fix properly later.

Term

turbo car

"my thought was like i said dude i'm i just like to make a like over build a turbo car and just have a nice turbo car that i could just go out"

A turbo car uses a turbocharger to make more power by forcing extra air into the engine. They’re hoping a stronger turbo setup will be easier to run at the track without constant repairs.

Car

bus transys

"maybe we just got to do a bus transys and he goes man i run a bug trans all that's because it's so"

They’re considering swapping to a Volkswagen Bus transmission because it’s built to handle more abuse. The idea is that it might last longer when the car is making power and launching hard.

Term

type one boxes

"there's a bunch of type one boxes there's probably you know a handful of the type two type two bus boxes"

They’re talking about different versions of the Volkswagen transaxle/transmission housings (“boxes”). Some versions are tougher for racing, and others may wear out faster.

Term

type two bus boxes

"but the type two the type two is a heavier box but it's also heavy duty too yeah it's doubtful that that thing will last you the season"

They mean the Volkswagen Bus-style transmission parts. The claim is that these are built stronger than the Beetle versions, but hard racing can still wear them out.

Term

300 m axles

"[4118.0s] new 300 chuck's supposed to get on the podcast bro i've been on chuck for a while 300 m axles [4123.1s] yeah i have his new 300 on my car yeah my five speed do those they're fucking stout"

They’re referring to upgraded axles—parts that transmit power from the drivetrain to the wheels. In racing, axles take a beating, so better ones can survive longer and handle harder launches.

Concept

second chance race

"[4150.3s] and getting a little more people behind kind of knowing who's out there [4154.7s] who's racing and what their setup is in the small guys too you know that's why i came up with the [4154.7s] second chance race so if you go out first round now you fall into the second chance bracket"

They’re describing a race format where if you lose in the first round, you’re not completely out. You get another shot through a separate bracket, so the competition stays intense.

Term

practice runs

"[4186.5s] with the craziest part about racing is anything can happen you can screw up your first pass and [4191.3s] because these guys don't get practice runs we get three qualifiers but and and those are points"

Practice runs are trial attempts before the “real” passes. If you don’t get them, it’s easier to mess up because you haven’t tested your launch and setup yet.

Term

qualifiers

"[4191.3s] because these guys don't get practice runs we get three qualifiers but and and those are points [4197.0s] also as well yeah so let's say somebody has to work on their car and miss around hey you know like"

Qualifiers are the preliminary timed runs that set you up for the rest of the event. Better qualifying usually means a better position in the bracket and more points.

Concept

points system

"[4211.0s] get your 10 points because come end of the year right it'll it'll come haunt you yeah yeah so how [4218.8s] does that point system work what's how many points do these car get per pass and there's been a work [4223.3s] where they're placed it depends where you qualify so every pass is worth 10 points"

They’re using a season-long scoring system. You earn points for each run, and you can earn extra points for doing well in rounds and for having the fastest time of the day.

Term

lowest et of the day

"[4229.7s] where you finish and then there's bonus points for the top three guys of each round and then there's [4237.6s] a bonus point for the lowest et of the day so if you if you're in a top three you hit every race [4244.8s] and you got low ct you're gonna be points ahead everybody"

“ET” means elapsed time, basically how fast you run the track. Getting the lowest ET of the day earns extra points because it shows you’re the quickest that day.

Concept

hole shot

"hole shot man there's been so many hole shot wins and yeah because they're that close man do it's"

A “hole shot” means you get off the line faster than everyone else. In drag racing, that early advantage can help you win even if the cars are similar.

Term

LS

"it's not like just throwing ls in it see it's really easy to get sidetracked"

“LS” is a type of Chevy V8 engine people swap into other cars. The point here is that it’s tempting to change the whole plan instead of building the VW the way you intended.

Car

Volvo 780

"...ywhere that thing weighed 2200 pounds and it ran 780s all day at urlindale really took it up to sacrame..."

The Volvo 780 is a Volvo car model that’s less common than many other Volvos. In the conversation, it’s being talked about like a race car because someone is measuring its speed and track performance. The key point is that it’s a heavier-looking car that was set up to run very fast times.

Term

first gen cb heads

"pump gas 2332 first gen cb heads motor built by jung woo with all the gears tricks"

“CB heads” are aftermarket cylinder heads for air-cooled VWs made by CB Performance. “First gen” means an earlier version of that head design, and different versions can perform differently.

Company

CB Performance

"first gen cb heads motor built by jung woo with all the gears tricks"

CB Performance makes aftermarket parts for air-cooled Volkswagen engines. Here, they’re talking about the cylinder heads from CB Performance that were used in a race-built motor.

Term

t bars

"i took off the bumpers put t bars i pulled out the interior put aluminum door panels"

“T bars” are suspension parts that help control how the car sits and how it handles. Changing them can help the car launch and stick better for racing.

Term

type one conversion beam

"it had a type one conversion beam on it how big how how big a difference to the like the wheels make"

This is a front-end conversion that changes the suspension “beam” to use Beetle (Type 1) style components. People do it to get better fitment, adjustability, or easier performance tuning.

Term

rotating mass

"[4424.7s] rotating mass i mean so so we got that car to weigh uh 2200 pounds wow 2200 pounds for a notch"

Rotating mass is the “stuff that spins” in the car. If there’s a lot of it, the car feels slower to speed up and can feel less responsive. Cutting rotating mass can make the car feel quicker even if the total weight isn’t dramatically lower.

Topic

Cars and coffee

"[4496.5s] pancake what you know 40 ideas on that word on the street is he wants to build another one [4502.6s] well i got one bro i got the 64 over here ready for action brown guy but you know that you've seen [4507.4s] that 2.6 over there yeah uh listen last week i'm over two weeks i want cars and coffee guy rolls in"

“Cars and coffee” is a casual car meet where people bring their cars and talk about them. It’s often where you’ll see modified cars and hear what’s been done to them.

Term

2.6

"[4530.3s] because you ain't seen the whole estate oh type 34 hiding in the backyard yeah i thought i take that [4535.7s] put that big 2.6 leader in there put a little touch of the squeeze on there and game over bro"

When they say “2.6,” they’re talking about an engine size around 2.6 liters. Bigger engines often make more pulling power, which helps when you’re trying to go fast off the line.

Term

touch of the squeeze

"[4535.7s] put that big 2.6 leader in there put a little touch of the squeeze on there and game over bro [4542.0s] game over but then then it's like you know it's one more project i don't have time for yeah"

“Touch of the squeeze” means turning up the engine’s “compression” a little to make more power. It’s a common hot-rod phrase, but it has to be done carefully so the engine doesn’t knock.

Term

48 ideas

"that was a chung wu bill 2332 uh made like 235 horse wow yeah 86c with the 48 ideas uh but that was you"

“48 ideas” likely refers to 48mm carburetors (common on performance air-cooled VW builds). Carb size matters because larger carbs can flow more air/fuel at higher RPM, which supports bigger horsepower numbers. The guest mentions it in the same breath as the 2332 engine build, implying the carb setup was part of the power package.

Term

regular doghouse cooler

"i didn't even have an external oil cooler no no you just had a regular doghouse cooler in it yeah really"

On air-cooled VWs, the oil cooler helps keep engine oil from overheating. A “doghouse” cooler is a better airflow design than the older style. Here, they’re saying they didn’t add an extra external cooler—just the normal doghouse setup.

Term

external oil cooler

"i didn't even have an external oil cooler no no you just had a regular doghouse cooler in it"

An external oil cooler is an extra radiator-like device that helps cool the engine oil. People add them when they’re driving hard and want to keep oil temperatures under control. Here, they’re saying their car didn’t need that extra setup.

Concept

10 to 1 thing

"yeah really 10 to 1 thing rip man that's wild dude i was launching that thing at 7500"

“10 to 1” is the engine’s compression ratio—how tightly it squeezes the air/fuel mixture. Higher compression usually helps the engine make more power, but it can require better fuel to avoid knocking. They’re highlighting that their setup had pretty high compression for a street car.

Concept

not cut it up / too nice of a car to cut up

"i wanted to go faster i wanted something lighter and i didn't want to cut it up it was too nice of a car to cut up yeah i i so you sold it as is like that like running and driving"

This is about the build philosophy of preserving a classic car versus doing irreversible modifications. In the VW scene, some builds involve cutting for fitment, tubs, or major chassis changes for drag/track use. The guest says they wanted to go faster but didn’t want to cut the car up, which is a common tension between performance and originality/condition.

Term

push button sunroof

"he offered me 800 bucks for that car i don't do get out of here 800 bucks you offered for dude i sold it for what he's out for five five or six grand yeah 64 push button sunroof"

A “push button sunroof” describes a factory-style sunroof control method, often associated with certain classic VW options. It’s mentioned as a detail that makes the car feel more “complete” or desirable, which can affect how collectors value the car. In this segment it’s part of the regret/nostalgia about selling the car.

Term

turbo motor

"it's got a it's all laid out looking good big old monster turbo motor sticking out of the back like up above the the whole thing's almost up above those"

A turbo is a device that helps the engine make more power by packing more air into it. More air usually means more fuel can burn, so the car can accelerate harder.

Term

track construction

"this race is going to be on a sunday because uh we had to get a new day because uh of the track construction so this race is a sunday race usually it's a saturday"

If there’s track construction, the event schedule can shift. That means teams have to adjust their plans for when they can race and practice.

Topic

Barona/Lakeside drag event (April 26)

"and barona barona lakeside california barona and lakeside and this is all this this event is of volt wagon so it's all classes are running at this one yes but just there's no there's no room for a car show or swamp meet it's just drag racing"

They’re talking about a specific drag race weekend in California. The date and schedule changed because of track construction.

Car

Chevrolet Volt

"...nd lakeside and this is all this this event is of volt wagon so it's all classes are running at this on..."

The Chevrolet Volt is a car that uses electricity, and it can also switch to another power source to help you go farther. In events, it may be grouped with other similar vehicles so they can race under the same rules. That’s why it shows up in class-based discussions.

Concept

real street racing series

"...we'll for sure get you back in anything anything with real street coming up by all means man reach out to me... and uh maybe maybe we'll throw up some sponsor money for you for uh for your final race this year..."

“Real street” is basically street racing that’s organized like a series. It’s not the same as a pro race on a track—more like a community event with real cars and real people.

Concept

street bomber

"...i didn't know about the notch earlier bro because the notch the notch i like the notch man down in dirty man just just just a street bomber bro yeah it was it was it was well cool brother i"

“Street bomber” is slang for a street-focused performance car. It’s the kind of car people build to drive hard and make an impression, not just to look pretty.

9 cars featured

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