Mark Kidd; NorthWest Hall of Famer

IHRA stands for International Hot Rod Association. It’s a drag racing sanctioning body that organizes and governs events, rules, and competition formats for drag racers.

In drag racing, a tiebreaker is an extra determination run (or rule-based method) used when competitors are otherwise tied in results. It’s used to decide who advances or wins when standard runs don’t separate them.

Hot rod is a broad term for a modified street or race car, often built from an older platform and upgraded for speed and handling. In drag contexts, it usually implies a car that’s been heavily modified to compete.

The pits are the service area at a race event where teams work on cars between runs. It’s where mechanics make adjustments, repairs, and tuning changes to keep the car running.

660 feet refers to the length of the drag strip used in many IHRA-style drag racing events. It’s the distance racers run to determine winners, and it strongly influences how teams tune launches and acceleration.

Firebird Raceway is a drag racing venue in the Payette River Valley that the speaker describes as a big part of their childhood. In drag racing culture, local tracks like this are where fans hear and watch “big cars” run and build lifelong connections to the sport.

The Pontiac Firebird is a performance-focused muscle car from Pontiac, closely associated with the same era of American drag racing and track culture as other popular models of its time. The podcast’s reference to “Firebird Raceway” suggests the conversation is tying the car to a specific local racing setting. That kind of connection often comes up because the Firebird name is part of the history of how people raced and built cars for competition.

Lyons Dragstrip is referenced as the drag strip the speaker visited around 1969 with their dad. Dragstrips are purpose-built for straight-line acceleration runs, and early exposure to them is often how racers and fans get “hooked.”

NHRA division races are regional events run under the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) umbrella. They’re a stepping stone for racers to build results and reputations before moving up to higher-level national competition.

“Stock eliminator” is a drag-racing class where cars are expected to stay closer to factory specifications than in more heavily modified categories. The speaker is emphasizing that, despite the name, it’s not necessarily an “entry-level” class anymore.

“Super Pro” is a drag-racing class level typically above “Pro” and often associated with more powerful, more competitive cars than lower brackets. The speaker discusses how allowing “Pro and Super Pro” to run together at divisional events helps broaden access and exposure.

“Divisional type events” refers to regional or division-based drag-racing events where competitors from a specific area race under that organization’s structure. The speaker argues that letting higher classes like Pro and Super Pro run there increases opportunity and exposure.

“Super Street” is another drag-racing class designation, typically used to describe a specific ruleset for street-leaning cars that are still competitive. The speaker is asking about which car they drove to win in that class, showing it’s a distinct category from Super Gas.

“Super Gas” is a drag-racing class name used in bracket-style competition. It’s a category with specific rules that determine what kinds of cars and modifications are allowed, and the speaker says their 1990 car competed in it.

“Igniter” appears to be the name of a specific drag-racing event the speaker attended as their first race. Event names like this are important in drag racing because they mark particular rounds, venues, or series stops.

“Indie” is likely a shortened reference to a specific racing venue or event (possibly “Indy”), but the transcript doesn’t provide enough context to confirm. It’s mentioned alongside finals and Super Street/Super Gas footage, suggesting it’s tied to a major competition.

“All Star Final” refers to a championship-style final round within a drag-racing series or event format. The speaker is unsure whether the video they saw was from the All Star Final or a different National Event Final.

“National Event Final” indicates a final round tied to a national-level event or series. The speaker contrasts it with the “All Star Final,” implying multiple end-of-season or end-of-event formats exist.

Bracket racing is a drag-racing format where competitors try to hit a pre-set target elapsed time (ET). Because everyone is racing the clock, not just each other, small differences in reaction time and consistency matter a lot.

The NHRA circuit refers to the National Hot Rod Association’s organized drag-racing series and events. It’s where classes, rules, and points are standardized across multiple tracks.

Super Stock is a drag-racing class that typically emphasizes production-based components and rules that limit how much the car can be modified. The goal is to keep competition closer to “real cars,” even though they’re still heavily prepared for racing.

Wheelies are when a drag car’s front wheels lift off the ground during hard acceleration. They’re usually a sign of strong traction management and power delivery, but they can also be risky for control and consistency.

This segment frames the track’s “evolution” as a long-running development story—how facilities, surfaces, and event infrastructure change over decades. It’s used to highlight how Firebird’s identity became “iconic” through those upgrades.

Staging lanes are the pre-start areas at a drag strip where cars line up and prepare to launch. The speaker notes that, historically, Firebird’s staging lanes looked like a dirt road before the track was modernized.

Being on the National Historic Registry (i.e., a national historic listing) means the site is recognized for historical significance and typically faces restrictions on alterations. The speaker discusses how that designation adds rules about what can and can’t be changed while preserving the facility’s longevity.

“Indy” is shorthand for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway area, a major venue for motorsport in the U.S. Mentioning “Indy in 97” signals a high-profile racing trip rather than a local track day.

The Chevrolet Chevy II is a classic early-1960s compact that’s popular in hot-rod and drag-racing circles. In this segment, the host is talking about a specific body detail—the rocker panel being very low—so the car needs ground clearance work to avoid scraping.

A rocker panel is the body’s lower side structure that runs along the bottom edge of the doors. On a lowered or modified car, its height relative to the ground determines whether you’ll scrape on ramps, driveways, or during aggressive launches.

In drag racing, “door cars” are cars with conventional bodywork and doors (as opposed to open-wheel dragsters). They’re often preferred by enthusiasts for their look and familiarity, but they can be harder to access and tune compared with a dragster’s layout.

An LS refers to GM’s LS-series V8 engine family, known for making strong power with relatively compact packaging. “Carbureted” means it uses a carburetor instead of fuel injection, which changes how fuel is metered and tuned for performance.

Valve covers are the housings that sit on top of the cylinder head and protect the valvetrain components. In performance engines, removing valve covers is a way to inspect internal parts and verify clearances, wear, or whether anything is failing under repeated runs.

Cylinder heads are the castings that sit on top of the engine block and contain the combustion chambers, valves, and ports. Removing them is a major step in performance work because it directly affects compression, airflow, and combustion characteristics.

In engine tuning, “compression” refers to increasing the engine’s compression ratio, which generally improves thermal efficiency and can increase power. Here, they remove the cylinder heads and “shave” them and use a thinner gasket to raise compression for more output.

“Shaving” in engine building usually means machining material off a component surface (often the cylinder head) to change clearances and compression. It’s a common performance technique, but it can affect valve-to-piston clearance and overall engine durability if not engineered correctly.

A gasket is a sealing layer between engine components; in this context, a head gasket seals the cylinder head to the engine block. Using a thinner gasket can increase compression by reducing the distance between the head and block, but it must be done carefully to avoid overheating or sealing issues.

“LS” refers to GM’s LS-series small-block V8 engine family. It’s a modern, widely supported platform in hot-rodding and racing because it’s compact, makes good power, and has lots of aftermarket parts.

A “hydraulic roller” camshaft uses roller lifters with hydraulic lash adjustment. That design reduces the need for frequent valve-lash adjustments compared with solid lifters, while still supporting aggressive cam profiles.

A “solid lifter” is a valve lifter that does not use hydraulic lash adjustment. Because of that, solid-lifter setups typically require periodic valve-lash checks/adjustments to keep valve timing and clearances correct.

A “cam grind” is a specific camshaft profile (lift, duration, and timing) that’s ground to match a target engine behavior. Changing the cam grind can strongly affect idle quality, powerband, and how the engine responds under load.

“427” refers to a 427 cubic-inch V8 displacement class (commonly associated with Ford’s 427 big-block era). In racing builds, the 427 size is often chosen for its strong displacement and torque potential.

“Bore size” is the cylinder diameter inside the engine block. Increasing bore size can raise displacement (more swept volume), which often increases potential power—assuming the rest of the build (pistons, clearances, cooling) supports it.

Pistons are the moving parts inside each cylinder that transfer combustion pressure into mechanical motion through the connecting rods. In rebuild stories like this, replacing or inspecting pistons is a key step to restore compression and prevent damage from wear or detonation.

Valve lifters (cam followers) sit between the camshaft and the rest of the valvetrain. In an engine rebuild, replacing lifters can restore correct valve operation—especially if lifter wear or failure contributed to the problem.

The Chevrolet Chevelle is a classic American muscle car, and the “64 Chevelle” refers to the 1964 model year. In drag racing, cars like this are often built for specific classes and can be run with purpose-built engines and tuning to chase quarter-mile results.

Union Grove, Wisconsin is referenced as the stop where the team went to get the car “tune up” before continuing to the races. In drag racing, these kinds of track-adjacent prep stops are common because teams need to dial in the car for conditions like humidity and track grip.

Oil pressure is the measured pressure of engine oil circulating through the engine’s lubrication system. If oil pressure drops too low, bearings and other internal parts can be starved of lubrication, which can quickly lead to catastrophic engine failure—exactly what the speaker describes.

“Fox” appears to be a track or event name in the speaker’s drag-racing story. It’s mentioned as the place where the engine “blew it up,” so it functions as a contextual reference for when the failure occurred.

“Quarter finals” is a tournament round in bracket-style drag racing where the field is narrowed to the last eight cars/entries. It’s part of the elimination ladder, so each round is do-or-die for advancing and earning money.

A “red” refers to a red-light start, meaning the driver triggered the start system too early. In bracket racing, red lights can decide races even if the car is otherwise fast, because the rules penalize early launches.

In drag racing, “staged” means positioning the car at the start line so the timing system can detect when the car is ready to launch. Staging timing matters because it affects reaction time and the chance of a false start or red-light.

A “machine shop” is a workshop that performs precision metalworking and engine component services. In this story, they use it to repair and measure parts like heads, bearings, and the crankshaft so the engine can be rebuilt to spec.

Micrometers are precision measuring tools used to check component dimensions in thousandths of an inch (or similar metric equivalents). In an engine rebuild, they’re used to verify clearances and tolerances so parts like bearings and pistons fit correctly.

A “ring filer” is a tool used to adjust piston ring end gaps by filing the rings to the correct size. Correct ring gap helps control compression and oil consumption, and it’s especially important when engines are rebuilt for racing use.

“Grind the crank” means machining the crankshaft journals to restore correct surface finish and dimensions. This is often done after wear or damage so the bearings can seat properly and maintain the oil clearances needed for reliable operation.

Bearings are the precision surfaces that allow rotating parts (like the crankshaft) to spin with controlled clearances. In a racing rebuild, bearing condition and fit are critical because improper clearances can cause oil starvation or rapid wear.

“Columbus” is referenced as the location where the racing run happened (“That was at Columbus”). In bracket racing, the venue matters because track prep and conditions can change traction and how a tuned engine performs.

“Derana Speedway” is mentioned as the speedway associated with the Columbus event. Speedway venues are important in drag racing because track surface and preparation affect traction and can influence tuning decisions.

Phoenix refers to a drag racing event held in the Phoenix area. In this context, it’s where he says he won a national event (“national advantage”) despite major issues.

The starting line is the launch point on a drag strip where the car must stage and then accelerate when the tree signals. In bracket racing, failing to “leave the starting line” usually means the car didn’t launch cleanly or the timing/fueling wasn’t right.

A fuel system problem means something in the car’s fuel delivery—like the pump, lines, filter, or carb/injection supply—was preventing consistent operation. In drag racing, even a small fuel issue can cause the car to stall early or shut off after a short distance.

The eighth mile is a drag racing distance (half of a quarter-mile) commonly used in shorter-track formats. Saying the car “went to eighth mile and then quit” pinpoints where the failure occurred during the run.

In drag racing, “990” is shorthand for a reaction-time number shown by the timing system (often in thousandths of a second). He’s describing how perfectly timed his launch was in the elimination rounds.

“Belt buckle” is drag-racing slang for a specific staging/launch timing reference point—essentially how far the car is from the starting line when the driver reacts. In bracket racing talk, pairing it with a reaction-time number suggests he launched cleanly without fouling.

“Double O” on the tree refers to an extremely fast, near-perfect reaction-time result shown by the drag strip’s timing system. He’s emphasizing that he could “dial it in” so his launch timing matched what he wanted.

“Windlight” here refers to the starting-light system used in drag racing, commonly called the “Christmas tree” or “tree.” The host is talking about needing a certain “18 total or better” to be able to activate it, which implies a rules-based eligibility or class requirement.

“Let go 40” sounds like shorthand for a launch or shift point—how the driver “lets go” (releases the car from the line) around a target number. In drag racing talk, these numbers often refer to engine RPM, vehicle speed, or a dial-in/ET-related strategy, but the exact meaning isn’t fully specified in the transcript.

“Put a five above” is likely shorthand for choosing a dial-in or target elapsed time (ET) that’s “five” higher than something—common in bracket racing where cars are assigned target times and the winner is the one closest without going under. The transcript doesn’t provide the full rule context, so the exact reference point is ambiguous.

The Chevrolet Camaro is a long-running American muscle car known for its V8 options and drag-racing-friendly straight-line performance. In this segment, the host mentions a “white Camaro” as a specific car involved in the story, but without a year or trim it’s not possible to pin down the exact generation.

In bracket racing, a “split” refers to the time difference strategy between two cars—how the dial-in targets translate into who should win based on reaction and elapsed time. The host says they can often predict from the computer display whether the split will work, which is typical of how racers use track software to plan.

Woodburn is a drag-racing venue the host references as the location where the bracket-racing event took place. For listeners, it anchors the story in a real track environment where cars are staged, warmed up, and run.

In a drag car build, the transmission is the drivetrain component that selects gear ratios and transfers engine power to the wheels. The host notes it wasn’t installed yet, which would prevent the car from being able to make passes at the track.

In drag racing, “the track” refers to the prepared racing surface and staging/run area where cars line up and make timed passes. The host’s mention emphasizes that the car wasn’t ready until it was brought to the track and made it through the early prep steps.

A burnout is when the driver spins the tires briefly before a drag run to heat them up and improve traction. In drag racing, doing a “proper” burnout helps the car hook better off the line, which can be critical for consistent bracket-racing performance.

A line lock is a device that temporarily locks the front or rear brake circuit so the driver can hold the car stationary while revving. Drag racers use it to stage and perform controlled burnouts without needing to keep the brake pedal held.

Power breaks are a drag-racing technique where the driver holds the car with the brakes while applying throttle to heat the tires before a run. It’s closely related to burnouts, but the emphasis is on using the brakes to control wheel slip and tire temperature.

A “stall converter” refers to a torque converter with a specific stall speed. Stall speed is the RPM where the converter multiplies torque most effectively, so it strongly affects launch feel and how well the car stays in its power band.

“Power combination” is shorthand for the overall engine/drivetrain setup working together—things like cam, heads, intake/exhaust, converter, and gearing. If the converter stall or gearing doesn’t match the engine’s power characteristics, the car may not shift/launch the way the driver expects.

RPM (revolutions per minute) is how fast the engine crankshaft spins. In racing, RPM matters because torque and horsepower vary with RPM, so shifting too early or too late can cost ET and trap speed.

Shifting at a specific RPM (here, 7,200) is a tuning choice that aims to keep the engine in its power band. The “right” shift RPM depends on the engine’s torque curve, the transmission ratios, and how the torque converter couples the engine to the drivetrain.

“Big block” is a performance engine category typically referring to large-displacement V8s (commonly associated with Chevrolet’s big-block era). In drag racing talk, it usually implies strong low-to-midrange torque and a different power/shift strategy than smaller engines.

Hoosier is a tire brand strongly associated with drag racing and track use, especially for performance and racing tires. Mentioning a “Hoosier tire” signals the car is using purpose-built racing rubber rather than typical street tires.

A shift light is an RPM indicator that tells the driver when to change gears. Drag racers often use it to keep the engine near the optimal RPM range for power and to avoid over-revving.

ABS stands for anti-lock braking system. It prevents the wheels from locking up during hard braking by modulating brake pressure, which helps you keep steering control. The host is describing a situation where the brakes wouldn’t lock up, so someone suggested disabling ABS to test or force lockup behavior.

In this context, the speaker is describing how the car’s systems were wired/controlled so that the ABS operation was tied to the air conditioning running. That’s a reminder that older or modified cars sometimes have non-obvious electrical dependencies.

A rear wheel emergency brake (parking brake) is meant to hold the car stationary, typically by applying braking force to the rear wheels. Using it on a front-wheel-drive car in motion can create an imbalance—rear traction breaks loose while the front wheels are still driving—leading to dramatic sliding and tire damage.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) means the engine sends power to the front wheels. In a stunt or emergency-brake scenario, locking or dragging the rear wheels while the front wheels are driving can upset balance and traction, making the car rotate or slide.

Brainerd, Minnesota is the location where the speaker’s late-1990s Pontiac emergency-brake story took place. It provides real-world context for the kind of trackside or event driving where these “what you can get away with” stories happen.

Flat spotting is tire damage where the tread develops a flat area after being dragged or locked in one position. When the tire rotates again, that flat section can cause vibration and poor grip until the tire is replaced or the damage is otherwise addressed.

“World championships” here refers to a season-long motorsport points competition where drivers/teams accumulate results across multiple races. The host is using it to frame why the team cared about what happened after each event.

A “55 Chevy” refers to the 1955 Chevrolet, a classic American car that became a popular platform for drag racing and street/strip builds. In this story, the host is describing driving that car at a National Event Super Street, highlighting how the car’s setup and handling mattered for competition.

A “throttle stop” is a physical or adjustable limiter that restricts how far the throttle can open. In racing, it’s used to control engine response and traction by limiting peak airflow/engine load, especially during launch or specific runs.

The Chevrolet Malibu is a mainstream midsize sedan from Chevrolet, but in this context it’s being used as a temporary ride while the speaker’s dragster is out of action. It highlights how racers may borrow a street car to get to events when their race car is down.

“G body shuffle” refers to swapping between cars in the GM G-body family (a common drag-racing platform) rather than staying in one dedicated race car. In drag racing, that often means using a different chassis/vehicle while the primary car is being repaired.

“Six 80 cap” refers to a bracket-racing dial-in “cap” around 6.80 seconds, meaning the racer targets (or limits) their elapsed time. In bracket racing, the goal is often to be close to the dial-in rather than just win outright with raw speed.

“Seven 60s” is shorthand for running in the 7.60-second range in the quarter-mile (a common drag-racing benchmark). Drag racers often talk in elapsed time (ET) numbers because it directly reflects how quickly the car accelerates over the measured distance.

The Oldsmobile Omega is a late-1970s/early-1980s GM coupe/sedan that’s being used here as a drag-racing car. In bracket racing, older GM models like this are often chosen because they’re relatively straightforward to modify and can be made competitive.