Vocations and avocations generate verbal shortcuts and code names that sometimes confuse newcomers. Car racing is no different. Here are some of the terms and their meanings. Additions to this list are solicited. Or if you run into a confusing term that's not listed, let us know and we'll try to decipher it for you.

Apex - The point the car should touch on the inside of a turn when following a proper line. See early apex, geometric apex, late apex.

Armco - Tradename often used generically for horizontal steel barriers used to line the edge of the track.

AX, Autocross - Single car competition against the clock. Best time for 1 lap wins..

Bridge - Starters' stand, often extending out over track at the start-finish line. Often used to describe entire race officials' area.

Carousel - Sweeping turn of more than 90 degrees, usually of large radius.

Chief Steward - Final operating authority at a race.

Corner station - Race staff station at or near corners. Usually raised and/or protected.

Decreasing radius turn - Turn that tightens up as you progress through it.

DNF - Did not finish the race. In Autocross this may mean that the run does not count due to too many wheels off-track or other technicality, even if they completed their run.

DNS - Did not start the race.

DQ, DISQ - Disqualify or disqualified for some rule infraction.

Driver School - On-track training and testing session where licenses are earned.

Early Apex - A point on the inside of a turn before the geometric apex. See geometric apex.

F&C - Flagging and Communications, aka corner workers. Flaggers, communicators, safety staff at the corners of a track.

False Grid - Area where cars form up before going out for practice or races.

Flags - Used by race officials to signal drivers during practice and races. See the GCR.

Full Competition License - Awarded after satisfactory completion of 1 year of racing, 6 races minimum and corner staffing requirement.

GCR - General Competition Regulations.

Geometric Apex - A point on the inside of the track at a point that bisects the angle of the entering straight and the exit straight. The geometric center of the turn.

Grid - Track area where cars assemble just prior to parade lap and start. Also, the sheet showing the formation of cars for a race.

Hand signals - Used by drivers to communicate with each other and race officials. See GCR. Also by race staff to communicate with drivers and other staff.

Impound - Area where top 3 cars in each class must report immediately upon coming off track after a race, for weighing and inspection. Also, Impound staff.

Increasing radius turn - Turn that opens up as you progress through it.

Kink - Bend in track of considerably less than 90 degrees.

Late Apex - A point on the inside of a turn after the geometric apex. See geometric apex.

Line - The combination of braking, turn-in point, acceleration, apex and track-out point through a turn. Also, through a series of turns or around a whole track.

Marbles - Bits of gravel and rubber that make the off-line portion of the track slippery.

Paddock - Parking area for race cars. At club races, the entire track property is usually considered paddock.

Pits, Pit Lane - Area adjacent to track where cars stop during races or practice for repairs, fueling, etc.

Registration - Required sign-in point before you enter the track property. Also, registration staff.

S&R - Safety and Rescue. Race staff operating ambulances, crash trucks, wreckers and flat tow vehicles.

Starters - Communicate with drivers using flags and signal devices, from the start-finish line.

Straight - Part of track connecting two turns.

T&S - Timing and Scoring staff. They take and record laptimes and produce race results.

Tech, Technical Inspection - Location where cars are inspected for safety before they are allowed to race. Also, Technical Inspection staff.

Tower - Elevated (usually) structure housing Timing & Scoring, race officials and starters.

Trail braking - Balanced braking and turning at the same time, an advanced driving technique.

Threshold braking - Braking hard, but just short of locking up the wheels.

Turn-in Point - Point before and usually on the outside edge of a turn where braking is completed, the car is turned into the turn, and acceleration begins.

Track-out Point - Point at the end of a turn where car is usually at the outside edge of the track, stabilized and accelerating down the straight following the turn.

W2W or W/W - Wheel to wheel racing. Traditional sports car racing with group starts, unlimited passing.

V/H - Vintage/Historic racing. Races for cars built and prepared to pre-1975 specs.