WHAT IS AUTOGRASS!!

 

CLASS 1 & JUNIOR SALOONS

This class is ideal for beginners to the sport, those racing to a low budget and is also the only saloon class in which 12 - 16 year olds (Juniors) may race.   There are no special tuning modifications allowed, the engine/gearbox must remain basically standard within strictly enforced maximum and minimum tolerances.  This ensures that costs are kept within affordable limits and that there is very close racing in this class. The engine and gearbox must be from the same car of a maximum of 1000cc capacity.

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CLASS 2

This class is ideal for beginners to the sport, those racing to a low budget and those who wish to race either a Rear Wheel Drive or Front Wheel Drive vehicle, although nowadays, front wheel drive cars dominate.  There are limited special tuning modifications allowed, the engine gearbox must remain basically standard within strictly enforced measurements. All the fuel-air mixture must pass through a single 32mm diameter restrictor.  This ensures that costs are kept within affordable limits and that there is very close racing in-this class. The car used may be of either Rear Wheel Drive, either a saloon, estate or hatchback, or Front Wheel Drive either a saloon or hatchback.  The engine must be of a maximum of 1300cc capacity. To limit the use of "odd' or "specialist" cars the types of vehicle make and model are restricted to those that are listed in the original Palgrave and now Glasses Guide Technical Services Data Manuals.

 

At present there are over 200 different types of car makes & models eligible for this class. e.g, Ford Fiesta, Escort, Orion, Toyota Starlet/Corolla, Mazda 323, Hillman Imp (875cc only), Suzuki SCIOO, Skoda 120, 130, & 135/6, Vauxhall Nova, Astra, Cavalier, VW Polo, Golf, Rover Maestro, Montego, Nissan Micra, Fiat Uno, Strada, Peugeot 205, Renault Clio, Seat Ibiza, etc.

 

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CLASS 3

This class is ideal for those who want to put a 'big' engine in place of the original engine. This is a popular class with very close fast sideways racing.  The cars resemble stadium 'Hot Rods' as they used to be and to a certain degree, as they are now.  The car used must be a saloon or hatchback and have Rear Wheel Drive. Any front engined, front wheel drive saloons with a wheelbase of 2400mm or more may be converted to front engine rear wheel drive.   The engine must be of a minimum of 1421 cc capacity. There are unlimited tuning modifications allowed, the engine/gearbox/axle need not be original.

 

At present there are many popular combinations of body shell & engines. e.g. RWD Ford Escort Mk I & 2, Sierra, Toyota Starlets, Talbot Sunbeam, converted FWD Peugeot 206 & 309, all fitted with one of the following engines: Ford 2.1 & 2.5 Pinto / Vauxhall 2.0 VW 1.9 Rover V8 / Ford V6 / Renault V6 etc. 16 valve engines are now allowed in the class.

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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 out of a small engine.  The car used must be a Front or Rear Wheel Drive saloon, hatchback, van or pick up. The engine must be of a maximum of 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 Mini's with a few Imps and Fiats, however this class is beginning to see many of the latest generation of under 1130cc cars such as the Citroen Visa, AX, VW Polo, Vauxhall Nova, Nissan Micra, Peugeot 106 & 205 Fiat Uno 60, Strada 60 and Rover 111.

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CLASS 5

This is the smallest "any engine in any vehicle" class, ideal for those who want to experiment with various engine, gearbox & body shell combinations. Any body shell i.e. saloon, hatchback, van or pick up, 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 of 1131 and a maximum of 1420 cubic capacity and have 2 valves per cylinder, multi-valve engines are not allowed. 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 and consists of mainly Mini's, Nova's, Fiesta's Peugeot 106's Citroen AX's and Imp's, with the engine and gearboxes not necessarily being of the type originally fitted or even in the position the original vehicle manufacturer intended or imagined. This class is ideal for the latest generation of under 1420cc cars such as the Citroen AX, Peugeot 106 and 205, Vauxhall Astra, Nova and Corsa.

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CLASS 6

This is the Front Wheel Drive any engine in any vehicle 1421 cc capacity and above modified engine class, ideal for those who want to experiment with various engine & body shell combinations. Any body shell i.e. saloon, hatchback, van or pick up, may be used to produce a Front Wheel Drive vehicle.  The engine must be of a minimum of 1421 cc and of an unlimited maximum capacity, multi-valve engines are allowed and this class is ideal for the latest generation of 1421 cc and over cars such as the Citroen AX, Ford Escort, VW Golf, Vauxhall Astra, Nova & Corsa, Nissan Micra and Peugeot 106, 205 & 306. There are unlimited tuning modifications allowed, the engine / gearbox / transaxle axle 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 Mini's, Fiesta's, Nova's Corsa's etc; not necessarily being of the type originally fitted or even in the position the original vehicle manufacturer intended.

 

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CLASS 8, 9 & 10

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

 

The specials are strongly built to withstand a collision or roll over, but are not fitted with bumper bars as deliberate contact is definitely not allowed.

 

There are unlimited tuning modifications allowed, the engine / gearbox / transaxle / axle types 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 SOHC & DOHC engines or 1.8, 2.0 SOHC & DOHC engines or 2.1, 2.5 DOHC / 2.8, 3.0 V6 / 3.5, 4.0 & 5.Oltr V8 engines, mainly being mid or rear mounted to a Hewland / Renault VW gearbox or direct drive.

 

All of the special classes are very popular with the spectators. Many are geared to achieve speeds of 100 Mph!

CLASS 7

This is the "super saloon" any engine in any vehicle class, ideal for those who want to experiment with various engine & body shell combinations. If you want you can even fit 2 engines! Any body shell - i.e. saloon, hatchback, van or pick up, may be used to produce a Rear Wheel Drive vehicle.  The engine or engines must be of a minimum or combined cc of 1421 and of a free maximum cc capacity, multi-valve engines are allowed. There are unlimited tuning modifications allowed, the engine / gearbox / transaxle / axle need not be original or fitted in its original position.   Class 7 cars consist of a multitude of body shell types with 1.8, 2.O SOHC & DOHC/V6/V8 engines mainly midmounted or twin 1.0 / 1. I / 1.2 motorbike engine & gearbox units chain or gear driven onto a common drive shaft.  This is the most spectacular of the saloon classes and is very popular with the spectators for its action packed racing. Bodushells used can be Peugeots Novas, Fiestas Renault Clios or even old or new-style Minis with the engines and gearboxes not necessarily being of the type originally fitted or even in the position the original vehicle manufacturer intended or imagined.

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JUNIOR SPECIALS

These are a junior version of the adult specials, with a full space frame chassis, some made from "used" adult cars, but ALL cars must use the 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. The engines and frames can last an entire four year racing 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 can drive these cars at single day club meetings.