Can't erase hard drive and reinstall Snow Leopard (SuperDrive)..

Running OS X 10.6.8
2.13 GHz Intel 2
2 GB 1067 MHz DDR3
I have the original "gray discs" with Snow Leopard on them, and a SuperDrive. I would like to completely wipe the computer, and start over with just Snow Leopard. When I tried to do this yesterday following this tutorial, the whole process sort of froze at Part One, Step Three.
For the lazy non-link-clickers, here's the instructions I followed:
1. Turn on the computer.
2. Insert the Mac OS X Install DVD into the optical drive.
3. Press and hold the "C" key while the computer starts up. The computer will start up using the Install media.
....And that's as far as I got. The machine turned on, the DVD whirled and clicked, and the screen glowed gray for about 10 seconds. Then, it went black, and the DVD stopped whirring. Then that cycle repeated. Over and over and over and over. For over 24 hours.
So, what is going on, here?

Well, Kappy, you were right: my 2009 MBA came with Leopard, so those Snow Leopard gray discs I was using did not come with my machine.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find the Leopard gray discs that must have come with the computer.
So, I found a retail copy. And then I:
1) Inserted the retail OS X 10.5 disc into the SuperDrive.
2) Double-clicked "Install Mac OS X.app" in the DVD contents pop-up
3) Clicked "Restart" when prompted by the installer.
....And that's as far as I got. Again, the machine turned off and then back on, the DVD whirled and clicked, and the screen glowed gray for about 10 seconds. Then, it went black again, and the DVD stopped whirring. Then that cycle repeated. Over and over and over and over... Again.
Sigh. What is the deal.

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