TIme Attacked! With Author Steve Schlosser

Track driving is driving on a closed circuit where you can push braking, cornering, and acceleration without public-road traffic risks. It also tends to involve extra costs like entry fees, tires, and sometimes coaching, which is why people may take breaks from it.

Canyon roads are winding routes through mountainous terrain, often with tight turns and elevation changes. Enthusiasts use them as a substitute for track time because they offer sustained cornering practice, though they come with public-road risks and limits.

The Toyota GR 86 is a compact sports coupe built for driver-focused handling and an engaging feel. It’s frequently discussed because it’s relatively affordable compared with many sports cars while still delivering a sporty driving experience. In the podcast context, it’s grouped with other performance cars to highlight variety in enthusiast favorites.

The Mazda MX-5, commonly called the Miata, is a lightweight roadster known for simple, nimble handling. It’s significant because it’s one of the most popular “driver’s car” choices for people who want fun without a huge car or complex systems. The podcast’s reference uses it as a recognizable example of a particular kind of enthusiast-friendly car.

The Shelby GT500 is a high-performance Mustang variant built by Shelby, known for its powerful performance and muscle-car character. It’s significant because it represents the top end of the Mustang lineup in terms of performance focus. The podcast uses it as an example of what a “Border Collie” might be compared to—essentially, a fast, energetic car.

NASA TT refers to NASA’s Time Trial program, a motorsports format focused on timed laps rather than wheel-to-wheel racing. The speaker says Mark Bayer wins “NASA TT stuff” in his class, indicating competition in a structured time-trial category.

Boost District is referenced as a local performance/tuning shop in Longmont. The speaker describes its owner as a go-to tuner, which frames the shop as part of the regional motorsports ecosystem.

Wine Country Motorsports is mentioned as a performance-racing dealer/shop that the speaker visited. The context suggests it supports motorsports customers and even helps with book-related authenticity.

The hosts discuss how the book’s details are grounded in real places and real people. They specifically mention adding “Easter eggs” for Colorado locals to create an “anchor” of authenticity.

RPM (revolutions per minute) is how fast the engine’s crankshaft is spinning. Mentioning “7,000 RPM” usually signals a high-rev moment—where the engine is working hard and may be near its power or sound “peak” for the driving experience.

“Casting cars” is a creative analogy: matching specific cars to specific personalities or roles, similar to how actors are cast. The point here is that the car choice should fit the “driver identity” being portrayed, not just look good.

The racing line is the ideal path through a corner that maximizes speed and stability. In driving and racing, getting the racing line “correct” affects braking points, corner entry/exit speed, and how the car’s tires are loaded.

The Porsche Cayenne is Porsche’s performance-oriented SUV, combining everyday usability with a sports-car style of driving. It’s significant because it shows how Porsche expanded beyond traditional sports cars while keeping a performance focus. In the podcast, it’s referenced as a car someone might choose alongside other high-performance models.

A hybrid vehicle uses more than one power source—typically an internal-combustion engine plus an electric motor—to move the car. In performance talk, “hybrid” often implies the electric motor helps with quicker response and can improve efficiency.

The Porsche Cayman is a mid-engine sports coupe known for balanced handling and strong performance. It’s often discussed because it’s part of Porsche’s core sports-car lineup and tends to be popular with drivers who prioritize feel and dynamics. The podcast reference to a 718 Cayman ties it to ownership and maintenance details.

Algarve blue is a specific Porsche exterior color name used in the brand’s color options. The host mentions looking it up on Porsche’s website, treating it as a distinctive, enthusiast-relevant detail.

Velocity Yellow is a named color (paint option) associated with Chevrolet’s Corvette lineup. The host says they made sure to get the correct “velocity yellow” paint code, emphasizing how enthusiasts care about exact factory color specs.

A paint code is the manufacturer’s specific identifier for a particular exterior color and formulation. Using the correct paint code helps ensure the replacement or matching paint looks right under different lighting conditions.

The Dodge Challenger is a muscle car known for its powerful engines and classic, long-hood styling. It’s often discussed in enthusiast circles because it offers strong performance options and a wide range of trims. The podcast reference to a “Hellcat” points to a high-performance version being part of the conversation.

A ceramic coating is a protective layer applied to a car’s paint to improve chemical resistance and make the surface easier to clean. During application, timing and proper curing matter—if you don’t work it quickly enough or correctly, the coating can haze (turn cloudy) instead of laying down cleanly.

In the context of ceramic coating, “haze” refers to a cloudy or whitish film that forms when the coating isn’t buffed or worked correctly during its application window. It’s a sign the product has started to set in a way that prevents a clean, glossy finish.

This describes race driving as an ongoing decision-making process rather than just chasing speed. Drivers must adapt to changing grip, traffic, track conditions, and surprises, and they need to do it both decisively and with control of their emotions to avoid mistakes.

The Jaguar XJS is a grand touring (GT) coupe known for its long-hood, V12-powered character in many versions. In this segment, the host highlights the “big V12,” which is a key reason steam-cleaning the engine could go wrong—V12-era engine bays can be sensitive to water intrusion and electrical/ignition components.

“Steam clean” refers to using high-temperature steam to remove grease and grime from an engine bay. While it can look effective, steam and water can wick into wiring, sensors, and ignition components, leading to corrosion or electrical faults—especially on older cars.

Time attack racing is a motorsport format where the goal is to set the fastest lap time during timed runs, usually with multiple practice/qualifying-style sessions. Unlike wheel-to-wheel racing, it’s typically about optimizing traction, braking, and setup for each run to shave seconds off the clock.

“Grid life” is motorsport slang for what happens around the starting grid and in the paddock—team routines, car prep, and the day-to-day culture of race weekends. It often includes how crews manage tires, pressures, fueling, and trackside logistics between sessions.

Road Atlanta is a well-known road course in the U.S. that’s frequently used for sports car and time-attack-style events. Its mix of corners and elevation changes makes it a good venue for testing aero and traction setups.

The speaker describes a highly modified Camaro in an “unlimited class” making around 2,000 horsepower. That level of power is typical of extreme time-attack builds where traction, cooling, and aero are engineered to survive repeated hard laps.

“Super arrowed out” appears to refer to aggressive aerodynamic shaping—adding or reshaping bodywork to improve downforce. In time attack, aero changes like spoilers and front-end modifications can help the car stick harder in corners, improving lap times.

A spoiler is an aerodynamic device mounted to the body to create downforce (or reduce lift) at speed. On a time-attack car, changing spoiler shape or placement can significantly affect cornering grip and stability.

In time-attack coverage, “timing” refers to measured lap times and sector times used to evaluate performance. Looking at timing data helps identify where a driver gains or loses time and guides setup changes like tire choice, aero, and braking.

The Honda Civic is a compact car that’s often used as a performance platform because it has a huge aftermarket and many factory performance variants. In this segment, the hosts talk about a front-wheel-drive Civic being able to stay very close to a much more powerful Camaro through corners, which highlights how driver skill and chassis setup can matter as much as raw power.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) means the engine sends power to the front wheels. That layout affects how the car accelerates and how it behaves in corners, often emphasizing traction at the front but requiring good setup to avoid understeer when pushing hard.

The Honda Civic Type R is a hot hatch built for front-wheel-drive performance, known for its turbocharged engine and track-focused tuning. When someone says they “did a couple of mods,” they’re usually talking about changes that improve sound and throttle response while keeping it streetable.

In car talk, “exhaust” usually means the exhaust system components (like the muffler/cat-back) that affect sound and sometimes airflow. A “little exhaust” mod typically aims for a louder, sportier tone rather than major power gains.

“Ferraris” refers to cars from Ferrari, an Italian brand best known for high-performance supercars. In a conversation like this, it’s typically used to broaden the discussion beyond one marque (like Porsche) for audience/SEO reasons.

“BMWs” is a shorthand reference to vehicles from BMW. In this context it’s used as another brand example to broaden the show’s keyword coverage, not to discuss a specific BMW model or technical detail.

SEO (search engine optimization) is the practice of shaping content so it ranks better in search results. Here, the hosts are saying that mentioning more car brands helps listeners find the podcast when searching for those keywords.

DCT stands for dual-clutch transmission, a gearbox that uses two clutches to pre-select the next gear. That design helps deliver fast, smooth shifts—especially noticeable in track driving.

“AP brakes” refers to AP Racing brake components, typically used for track-focused stopping power. Upgrading the front brakes can improve braking consistency and reduce fade when you’re repeatedly slowing for corners.

Sway bars (also called anti-roll bars) connect the left and right sides of the suspension. They resist body roll during cornering, which can make the car feel more stable and improve lap-to-lap consistency.

SCR Performance is referenced as a shop/company that helped with the car’s sway bars. In enthusiast circles, vendors like this typically supply or install suspension parts and advise on fitment and setup.

A radiator mod means changing or upgrading the cooling system’s radiator to move more heat out of the engine bay. The speaker links the change to lower coolant/engine temperatures and reduced timing pull, which can help preserve performance during hot laps.

GM (General Motors) is mentioned as the manufacturer that ships certain cars with additional cooling hardware for hotter climates. The speaker claims that markets like Abu Dhabi get extra radiators that aren’t provided in the U.S.

Oil temps are the temperature of the engine oil as it circulates through the engine. Hotter oil can thin out and lose some lubrication effectiveness, so tracking oil temperature is important for sustained driving and performance use.

Coolant temperature is how hot the engine’s liquid cooling system gets. When coolant gets too hot, the engine control unit may reduce power by adjusting ignition timing to protect the engine.

Lap times are the measured time to complete one circuit of a track. In performance tuning, changes like better cooling can show up as faster lap times because the car maintains power and stability lap after lap.

Five-point harnesses are racing seat belts that secure the driver with straps over the shoulders, across the hips, and between the legs. They reduce forward movement in a crash and help keep the driver positioned during aggressive cornering.

A harness bar is a structural mounting point used to attach multi-point seat harnesses. It’s important because harness loads are high in a crash, so the bar needs to be properly installed to the vehicle’s structure.

The hosts discuss which cars they use for track driving and how those choices feel during sessions.

“Mid-engine” describes cars where the engine sits between the front and rear axles, typically behind the driver. That layout helps balance weight distribution and can make the car feel more agile and predictable at the limit on track.

The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, built by BMW’s performance division. It’s significant because it’s one of the most recognizable “driver’s performance” cars, often discussed for its balance of power and handling. The podcast brings it up as part of a lineup of enthusiast cars someone owns.

The BMW X3 is BMW’s compact luxury SUV, and the 2007 model is notable here because it’s described as a manual. A manual gearbox changes how the driver manages acceleration and engine speed compared with the more common automatic setup.

The Honda Fit EV is an electric version of the Honda Fit, designed to bring the Fit’s compact practicality into an all-electric package. It’s significant because it’s a smaller EV option compared with many larger electric vehicles. The podcast mentions it as a topic worth discussing, likely because it’s an EV that doesn’t get as much attention as bigger models.

A “stage two transmission swap” is an enthusiast term for upgrading a car’s transmission beyond a basic replacement—typically involving additional parts and labor to make the new transmission work correctly. In this case, it’s specifically described as turning the Honda Fit into a manual.

A manual transmission is a gearbox where the driver selects gears using a clutch pedal and gear lever. It can feel very direct and engaging in traffic, but it also means the driver is constantly managing gear choice on hills.

Third gear is a mid-range gear in a manual transmission, often used when you need steady pull without going to the lowest gear. On steep grades, being stuck in a higher gear can force the engine to work harder to maintain speed.

A turbocharger (often shortened to “turbo”) forces more air into the engine, which can increase power without needing a larger engine. The speaker mentions getting a turbo after struggling on mountain climbs, implying the added boost helped with hill performance.

The hosts discuss how different cars can change your mindset on track—especially the “excuse” factor when you’re getting passed versus when you’re doing the passing. They compare a Honda Fit to a GT3 RS to illustrate the social/psychological side of track traffic and relative pace.

GT3 RS refers to Porsche’s 911 GT3 RS track-focused variant, built for high grip and fast lap performance. The hosts use it as a comparison point for track behavior: if you’re passing a GT3 RS, it’s a big deal; if you’re being passed by one, you should expect to be outclassed.

Honda CBR 1000 refers to a liter-class sport motorcycle in the CBR lineup, typically built around a high-revving inline-four engine and track-focused ergonomics. It’s a common “big bike” choice for riders moving up from smaller motorcycles because it has strong power and stability at speed.

Track racing refers to motorsport conducted on closed circuits where vehicles are driven for speed and lap times. In the transcript, it’s used to describe the landlord’s interest and the kind of environment that led to the rider getting track coaching and gear.

SoCal Superman is described as a San Diego company that provides track-time experiences for riders. In this context, it’s positioned as a low-cost way to learn track basics before taking a larger bike onto a real track.

Go-kart tracks are smaller, tighter circuits compared with full-size motorcycle tracks, with shorter straights and more frequent turns. They’re often used for beginner track sessions because the pace is lower and the learning environment is more forgiving.

Stiffer suspension means the bike’s springs and damping are tuned to resist body movement more than a softer setup. On track, that typically helps keep the tires in better contact with the pavement during hard cornering and braking.

A track day is an organized event where riders drive or ride their own vehicles on a closed circuit for practice and fun, usually with coaching and safety rules. It’s different from racing because the focus is learning lines, braking points, and improving lap-to-lap consistency.

“CVR 1000” sounds like a specific motorcycle model name/variant, likely a sportbike in the 1000cc class. In this context, the speaker is describing doing repeated laps/tries (“for a bunch of times”) on that bike.

Supermoto (often spelled “super moto”) is a motorcycle discipline that mixes street riding with off-road sections, typically using smaller wheels and tires that give better grip on pavement and dirt. The speaker highlights the format: street time plus a dirt section between track sections.

Motocross is off-road motorcycle racing on a closed dirt track with jumps, berms, and varying traction. It’s distinct from street riding and is usually more about handling bumps and launching over obstacles.

Enduro is long-distance off-road motorcycle riding/racing that emphasizes endurance and navigating varied terrain over extended stages. Compared with motocross, enduro typically involves more time on mixed trails and less focus on short, jump-heavy laps.

The Corvette is Chevrolet’s performance sports car, known for its strong power and track-capable chassis. In this segment, the speaker contrasts it with a different “platform” that didn’t fit their goal of short, repeatable track sessions.

The Pontiac Firebird is a classic American muscle car, especially associated with the late-1960s and 1970s era. It’s significant both historically and culturally, and it’s often referenced in car conversations because it’s a recognizable performance icon. The podcast mentions the “Smokey and the Bandit” 1978 Firebird as a way to connect the car to its popular image.

“Cars and coffee” is a casual car meet format where enthusiasts gather—often in the morning—to show their cars, talk about builds, and network. It’s typically informal, with lots of variety from daily drivers to enthusiast projects.

The Mercedes-Benz 190E is a compact executive car from Mercedes-Benz, with performance variants that became notable among enthusiasts. The podcast specifically mentions a 190E Cosworth, which is a high-performance version that stands out for its racing-inspired engineering. It’s brought up as a cool, collectible performance Mercedes.

In car talk, “exotics” usually means high-end, limited-production sports cars and supercars—often with expensive parts and performance-focused engineering. The speaker contrasts that with Colorado’s mix, implying Colorado has more off-road and modified builds rather than only showroom-level supercars.

“Broncos” refers to Ford’s Bronco line, which is especially associated with off-road use and enthusiast communities. In this context, the speaker is saying Colorado has more off-road-oriented vehicles than places like California or Miami.

A “Land Cruiser” is Toyota’s rugged, off-road-focused SUV platform, and an “LS3 Land Cruiser” means it’s been swapped with a Chevrolet LS3 V8. The LS3 is a modern GM small-block V8 known for strong power and aftermarket support, so this kind of swap is a common way to make a Land Cruiser faster and more street-capable.

“Super modified” describes a vehicle that’s been heavily customized beyond typical bolt-on upgrades—often including major mechanical changes like engine swaps, suspension changes, and other fabrication. Here it’s used to emphasize that the LS3 Land Cruiser is an extreme build compared with more stock or lightly modified examples.

A CD player is the in-car unit that reads audio from compact discs. In this segment, they’re contrasting the era when CDs were common with later systems that moved away from physical discs.

“Ripping” a CD means copying the audio tracks from the disc into the vehicle’s storage. Once the music is stored in internal memory, the disc can be removed and playback continues without needing the physical CD in the player.

Kenwood is an audio electronics brand, known for aftermarket and consumer car audio gear. Here, it’s mentioned in the context of early portable disc players (like a Discman) when CD audio was new and exciting.

A tape deck is the in-car mechanism that plays audio from magnetic cassette tapes. The speaker contrasts it with CDs by describing how their music playback could fail—skipping—when the system couldn’t handle motion or handling.

The speaker describes CD skipping and compensating by holding the disc, which reflects how older optical audio systems could be sensitive to vibration and movement. It’s an example of how in-car entertainment reliability used to depend heavily on physical stability.

A five-disc changer is an in-car CD system that stores multiple CDs in a magazine and automatically loads them one at a time. The speaker notes it was in the trunk, which made changing discs inconvenient compared to systems where you can swap media more easily.

The speaker references “the G80 and three,” which appears to be a shorthand for BMW’s newer 3 Series generation (G80) and the 3 Series line more generally. In context, they’re framing it as a “love letter” to that generation’s era of the car.