Class 1 & Junior Saloons

This is the ideal class for beginners in the sport, those racing to a low budget and is also the only saloon class where 12-16 year olds are able to race in. It's also a class that people with previous racing experience are keen to join.

A complete family often participate in this class with the same car - Dad racing in the Mens category, Mum in the Ladies and their Son / Daughter racing in the Junior category.

There are no special tuning modifications allowed in this class, the engine / gearbox must remain basically standard within strictly enforced maximum and minimum tolerances. This helps to ensure that costs are kept within affordable limits and that there is very close racing both at Club and National level.

Once more, to ensure that the field is kept as level as possible, there are a limited amount of vehicles that can be used. At this time, this includes: the Classic Mini Saloon, Citroen AX, Toyota Yaris or Nissan Micra. The engine and gearbox must be from the same car and using an engine no more than 1000cc capacity.

 

Class 2

This class is another great one for beginners to the sport and for starting their Autograss career; those racing on a low budget and those who wish to race either front or rear wheel drive vehicles, although the front wheel drive cars have become the far more dominant over the years.

There are limited modifications allowed in class two, the engine and gearbox must remain basically standard within strictly enforced measurements. All the fuel-air mixture must pass through a single 32mm diameter restricter.

These measurements help to ensure that costs are kept well within affordable limits and that close racing remains at both Club and National level.

Cars that may be used in this class may either be of front or rear wheel drive saloons; estates; hatchbacks or front wheel drive saloons or hatchbacks.

The engine must be of a maximum capacity of 1300cc. To limit the use of 'odd' or 'specialist' cars, the type of vehicle make and model are restricted to those listed in the original 'Palgrave' or 'Glasses Guide Technical Services Data Manual'.

At present, there are over 200 types of vehicle permitted to race in this class.

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Class 3

This class is ideal for those who want to put a 'big' engine in the place of the original. This is a very popular class with a lot of sideways action.

The class three cars resemble stadium 'hot rods' as they used to be and to a certain degree, still are now.

The car used must be a saloon or hatchback and be rear wheel driver. Any front engined, front wheel drive saloon with a wheel base of 2400mm or more may be converted to front engine - rear wheel drive vehicles.

The engine must be of a minimum of 1421cc capacity. There are unlimited tuning modifications allowed; the engine / gearbox need not be original.

At present, there are many popular choices of car used for this class, ranging from modern to classic vehicles.

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Class 4

This is the smallest capacity modified engine class, ideal for those who want to squeeze more power than anyone else from a small engine.

This class is often used as as 'stepping stone' from class one into the larger, more powerful classes as you can - with relative ease - convert a class one into a class four.

The car used must be of a front or rear wheel drive saloon; hatchback or pickup.

The engine must be of a maximum 1130cc capacity, be of the type originally fitted to the car and must remain in its original position. There are unlimited tuning modifications allowed.

This is a popular class and consists of mainly classic Minis with a few Imps and Fiats, however the class is beginning to expand with many different models of car entering the class.

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Class 5

This is the smallest 'any engine in any car' class, ideal for those who want to experiment with various engines, gearboxes and body shell combinations. Any body shell ie saloon; hatchback or pickup may be used to produce a front or rear wheel drive vehicle. The use of spaceframing is widespread.

The engine must be of a minimum capacity of 1131cc and a maximum of 1420cc and have two valves per cylinder. Multi-valve engines are not permitted.

There are almost unlimited tuning modifications allowed; the engine / gearbox / transaxle / axle need not be original or fitted in its original position.

This is a popular class consisting of Minis; Fiestas; Peugeot 106s; Citroen AXs; Imps and many more. The engine and gearboxes aren't necessarily being of the type originally fitted or even in the position the original vehicle manufacturer intended or even imagined.

 

Class 6

This is a front wheel drive, any engine in any vehicle and modified class, ideal for those who want to experiment with various engine and body shell combinations. Any body shell ie saloon; hatchback or pickup may be used to produce a front wheel drive vehicle.

The engine must be a minimum of 1421cc and is of an unlimited maximum capacity, making it the most powerful class for sole front wheel drive vehicles.

There are unlimited tuning modifications allowed, the engine / gearbox / transaxle need not be original or fitted in its original position.

There are a multitude of body shell types currently used with 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 / 2.0 SOHC & DOHC engines fitted in Minis; Fiestas; Novas; Corsas and many more, not necessarily being of the type originally fitted or even in the position the original manufacturer intended.

 

Class 7

This is the 'super saloon' any engine, any vehicle class. It's ideal for those who want to experiment with various engine and body shell combinations. If you want, you can even fit two engines! Any body shell ie saloon; hatchback or pickup may be used to produce a rear wheel drive vehicle.

The engine(s) must be of a minimum capacity of 1421cc and have no maximum with multi-valve engines being allowed in this class.

With the size of the engines and the unlimited modifications permitted, this is the most powerful saloon class in the sport. The engine / gearbox / transaxle / axle need not be original or fitted in its original position.

Class seven cars consist of a multitude of engine types with 1.8 / 2.0 SOHC & DOHC / V6 / V8 engines mainly mid mounted or twin 1.0 / 1.1 / 1.2 motorbike engines and gearbox unit chains or gear driven onto a common mounted shaft.

This class is widely regarded as the most spectacular of the saloon classes, for both driver and spectator for its action packed, sideways racing.

Body shells are often used include Peugeots / Novas / Fiestas / Clios or even old / new style Minis with the engine(s) and gearbox not necessarily being of the type originally fitted or even in the position the original manufacturer intended or imagined.

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The 'Specials' Class 8, 9 & 10 

These vehicles with a steel tube spaceframed chassis, either home constructed or professionally built are divided into three classes by the application of an engine capacity and / or engine type limit.

These 'specials' are specifically designed to be strongly built enough to withstand a collision or roll over, but are not fitted with bumper bars as deliberate contact is definitely not allowed.

There are unlimited modifications allowed, the engine / gearbox / transaxle / axle are free according to each class cc limit and specification. Specials are fitted with a multitude of engine types with 1.0 / 1.1 / 1.3 / motorcycle / 1.3 / 1.4 DOHC engines / 1.8 / 2.0 SOHC &smp; DOHSC engines / 2.1 / 2.5 DOHC engines / 2.8 / 3.0 / V6 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 5.0 and V8 engines, mainly mid or rear mounted to Hewland / Renault / VW gearboxes or direct drive.

All of the specials classes are very popular with both spectators and drivers alike as many are geared to achieve in excess of 100mph! Now that, on a 400m track isn't slow!

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Junior Specials

These are a junior version of the adults specials classes, with a full spaceframed chassis. Some are made from 'used' adult specials.

All vehicles must use a Vauxhall Corsa 1200cc engine, plus specified Vauxhall gearboxes, original style struts and driveshafts. No engine or gearbox modifications are allowed, apart from some basic reconditioning.

With cheap donor cars plentiful and older chassis' easy and cheap to come by, this can be a very economic option for the children to enter the sport. The engines and frames are often seen to last an entire five year career!

Professionally constructed cars are also available ready built or in kit form. Drivers of these cars must be between the ages of 12 and 16 years, although adults may drive these cars at single day Club meetings, often in specific 'dads' or 'mums' races.