How Does A Barn-Built Miata Take On Million-Dollar Teams at Pike's Peak?
In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show
In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show Jun 4, 2026
How Does A Barn-Built Miata Take On Million-Dollar Teams at Pike's Peak?

How Does A Barn-Built Miata Take On Million-Dollar Teams at Pike's Peak?

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How Does A Barn-Built Miata Take On Million-Dollar Teams at Pike's Peak?
Land Rover Range Rover
Car

Land Rover Range Rover

The Land Rover Range Rover is a fancy SUV that’s also built to handle rough roads. Here, the hosts are basically saying they didn’t really look inside the one they’re talking about.

Corvette
Car

Corvette

A Corvette is a famous American sports car from Chevrolet. Here, they’re talking about one that looks really good—especially the paint.

Term

full-time residence

“Full-time residence” just means that’s where someone lives most of the time. Here, it’s used to suggest the person actually stays there, not just visits.

Term

paint type

“Paint type” means what kind of paint system is on the car. Some products work better on certain paint finishes, so you want the right match.

Term

clearcoat

Clearcoat is the shiny, transparent layer on top of a car’s paint. It helps protect the paint underneath and keeps the finish looking glossy for longer.

Term

directions

“Directions” are the instructions from the product maker. Following them helps you apply it the right way so you don’t mess up the finish.

Topic

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak is a well-known race up a mountain in Colorado. Cars have to work hard the whole way, so problems like engine or fuel issues can show up quickly.

68 Roadrunner
Car

68 Roadrunner

The 1968 Road Runner is a famous older muscle car from Plymouth. In this segment, they’re talking about their Road Runner and the problems it already has before the race.

Term

transmission

The transmission is the part that helps the engine’s power get to the wheels. If it “puked,” it likely broke and can’t shift or transfer power correctly anymore.

Term

carburetor

A carburetor is an older-style part that mixes fuel and air so the engine can run. If it’s having problems, the engine may run rough or not make full power.

Miata
Car

Miata

A Miata is a Mazda roadster that people often turn into track cars. Here, they’re saying this one isn’t a normal street Miata—it’s been built for racing.

Term

suspension

Suspension is what connects the wheels to the car and helps it stay stable over bumps and in turns. They’re saying this car still uses Miata suspension parts.

Term

wheelbase

Wheelbase is how far apart the front and rear wheels are. It affects how stable the car feels, and they’re saying they kept the Miata’s dimensions.

Term

track

Track is how wide the car is from left wheel to right wheel. It influences how the car grips in corners, and they’re saying this build keeps the Miata’s track width.

Term

steering rack

The steering rack is the part that turns your steering wheel input into the wheels actually turning. They’re saying they kept the Miata’s steering rack.

Term

LS7

An LS7 is a powerful Chevrolet V8 engine. They’re saying this Miata isn’t stock—it uses an LS7 swap for much more power than a normal Miata.

Term

tubbed

“Tubbed” means the car’s body has been reshaped around the wheels to fit wider tires. They’re saying the wheels/tires are set up for racing, even if you can’t easily see the usual body bulge.

Term

floorandtunnels

This is about shaping the bottom of the car to control airflow. Better airflow under the car can help it stick to the road more at speed.

Term

traction control

Traction control helps prevent the tires from spinning when you hit the gas. It can reduce wheel spin so the car keeps moving forward more effectively.

Term

ABS

ABS is a safety feature that helps your brakes not lock up. That way, you can still steer while braking hard.

Term

bigdog class

They’re talking about a higher competition group. The idea is that cars are sorted into categories so they’re judged against similar rules and specs.

Term

weight to hdisplacement

It’s a rule that compares how heavy the car is to how big the engine is. The goal is to keep cars with bigger engines from having an unfair advantage.

Term

NASCAR motor

“NASCAR motor” here refers to an engine package associated with NASCAR competition. The hosts are using it to explain that the car has a 2015-era NASCAR engine, which changes the drivetrain demands and why racing components like transmissions matter.

Term

four-speed

A four-speed just means the car has four forward gears. The hosts are using it to describe the kind of simple, race-focused gearbox they’re running.

Term

clutch

A clutch is what you press to change gears in a normal manual car. They’re saying their setup doesn’t need the usual clutch-pedal approach.

Term

dogbox

A dogbox is a race transmission. It shifts fast and is built for hard driving, but it’s less forgiving than a normal street gearbox.

Term

downshift

A downshift means you shift into a lower gear. Drivers do it to get the car to respond better and to control speed more precisely.

Term

time attack

Time attack is racing against the clock. Instead of battling other cars side-by-side, you’re trying to set the fastest time you can.

Term

stock

“Stock” means the car is mostly as it came from the factory, not heavily modified. Race classes sometimes use that to keep competition more even.

Concept

power to weight ratio

Power-to-weight ratio is how strong the engine is compared to how heavy the car is. A higher number usually means quicker acceleration.

Term

Sevenseats

“Seven seats” means the SUV can carry up to seven people. It usually has a third row for extra passengers when you need it.

Term

body on frame

Body-on-frame means the car’s body sits on a separate metal frame underneath. The host is saying this Range Rover isn’t built that way, which can change how it drives and rides.

Term

inlinesix-cylinder

An inline-six is an engine with six cylinders lined up in a row. It’s often described as smooth because the engine’s power pulses are more even.

Term

turbocharger

A turbocharger is a way to make an engine feel stronger. It uses the car’s exhaust to push extra air into the engine so it can burn more fuel and make more power.

Term

torque

Torque is the engine’s pulling strength. It’s what helps the car feel like it accelerates strongly, especially when you’re not already at high speed.

Term

miles per gallon

MPG tells you how far the car can go on one gallon of gas. Better MPG usually means you’ll need fewer fill-ups.

Term

curb weight

Curb weight is basically how heavy the car is when it’s ready to drive, without people or extra stuff. A heavier car can feel slower or less nimble.

Term

start and stop

Start-and-stop turns the engine off when you’re stopped and turns it back on when you go. It’s meant to save fuel, but some people dislike how it feels in traffic.

Lexus LX600
Car

Lexus LX600

The Lexus LX600 is a large, luxury SUV. It’s being mentioned here mainly because it’s in a similar price neighborhood as the other vehicles being compared.

Cadillac Escalade
Car

Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade is a large luxury SUV. In this part of the conversation, it’s mentioned because it costs less than some of the other luxury SUVs being compared.

Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS
Car

Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS

The Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS is a very expensive, top-tier luxury SUV. They’re mentioning it to show how the pricing stacks up against other big luxury SUVs.

Term

startstop

Start-stop is a system that turns the engine off when you’re stopped and turns it back on when you’re ready to go. They’re discussing whether it feels smooth or obvious in a luxury car.

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