Highsiding happens when the back wheel of a motorcycle gets out of line with the front wheel, for instance, when the back wheel fishtails during a skid. When the two wheels are out of line, if the back wheel gains traction, it immediately snaps in line with the front wheel. The result is a very violent action where the rider ... Read More »
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Ignition System
The electrical system that produces a spark to ignite the fuel/air mixture in a gasoline engine. Read More »
Limited Slip Differential
A mechanism that limits the speed and torque differences between the two wheels on an axle (or front and rear axles in the case of 4WD/AWD). Limited slip ensures that some power is always applied to each of the wheels, even when one is on a slippery surface. This is the essential element to avoid getting a vehicle stuck in ... Read More »
No-Fault Insurance
Covers you and the car you are driving in the event of an accident. In an accident in a state that requires No-Fault insurance, your insurance company will pay for the damage to the car you are driving and the passengers in your car. The driver of the other car will be covered by her own insurance. Your insurance company ... Read More »
Parade Laps
The first few laps before a race where cars warm up their tires. Read More »
Alain Prost
Alain Prost of France is a four-time World Driving Champion. He is the only French Grand Prix driver to win the World Championship in the modern era (1951 through the present). He has won more races than any other driver in Grand Prix racing history. And his 51 wins are a record that will likely stand well into the next ... Read More »
Restrictor Plate
A plate attached to the carburetor that limits the amount of airflow entering the combustion chamber. It decreases horsepower. Read More »
Saddlebags
Similar to those used on a horse, saddlebags hang on either side of the passenger seat. Bulky items may be stored here, as long as the weight capacity of the bag is not exceeded. Some motorcycles are equipped with a hard set of bags (plastic or fiberglass). Soft saddlebags — leather or canvas — may be purchased to fit just ... Read More »
Speedometer
The panel instrument that measures your roadspeed in miles or kilometers per hour. Read More »
Seat Belt Tensioners
Devices that pull the seatbelts tight in the event of a collision, taking up extra slack and reducing the force with which the occupant’s body hits the belt. They are sometimes referred to as “pretensioner,” though this implies that they deploy when a crash is imminent, which is misleading. Tensioners are generally tied into the same sensors that trigger the ... Read More »
