SPRINTCARS

Sprintcars evolved from a division called Super Modifieds – that originated in the USA in the late 1950s. Garry Rush brought the first true Sprintcar in the late 1970s with the ex-Johnny Anderson Sprintcar. Today, Sprintcars are the fastest race cars on dirt.

Sprintcars most distinctive aspect is the massive aluminium wings mounted above the rollcage. The top wing is a maximum of 25-square-feet and the front wing a maximum of 6-square-feet.

Sprintcars are powered by purpose-built 410ci (6.6 litre) fuel-injected engines that run on methanol fuel producing up to 900 horsepower (671kW). Under full throttle, a Sprintcar can consume two litres of fuel in one lap – a lap that can take as little as 12 seconds around Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway - that’s one litre of fuel every six seconds. Other aspects that make Sprintcars distinctive are the different size rear tyres – with the left-rear tyre typically being 15 inches (38cm) smaller in circumference than the right-rear tyre. This enables the Sprintcar to drive through the tight left-hand corners at high speed.

Sprintcars also have no gearbox. The driveline mounts directly to the engine’s crankshaft, runs in between the driver’s feet to the rear differential. Any gear changes are made by the pit crew between races.
Sprintcars have a minimum weight of 1,375 pounds (623kg) including the driver, giving the Sprintcar a power-to-weight ratio equivalent to a Formula 1 car.

As many as fifty Sprintcars may enter a meeting at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway with twenty-four Sprintcars starting the A-Main – which is typically run over 30 laps.

SPEEDCARS

Speedcar racing is one of the fastest and most exciting forms of open wheel racing available! They were introduced to Australia in the mid-1930’s, when the first version of what we know today as a Speedcar. Despite Speedcars being known as ‘Midgets’ in USA and New Zealand, the name ‘Midget Speedcar’ was coined in Australia as far back as the late 1930s.

The history of this division saw the rise of some of Australia’s motor-racing legends such as Sir Jack Brabham, George Tatnell, Ray Revell and Johnny Stewart to name but a few; tearing up historic venues including the Sydney Showground, Westmead, Windsor and Liverpool before jam-packed crowds. Today these high-speed machines race from their hometrack in Sydney: Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway.

Speedcars weigh approximately 410kg with a 2.7 Litre engine capacity producing around 360 horsepower (268kW). Like Sprintcars, Speedcars utilise different size rear tyres and have the driveline running between the driver’s legs. Unlike Sprintcars though, wings or any aerodynamic advantage is banned in Speedcars. Thus, the typical driving style of a Speedcar is sideways though the corner with the rear tyres wheel-spinning as the rear tyres do more of the turning in a Speedcar through the corners than the front tyres.

Speedcar drivers are arguably the bravest drivers in speedway due to the extreme speed and volatility of the short-wheel based cars as twenty-four Speedcars typically start the A-Main – often with side-by-side racing all the way through the field.
For more information on NSW Speedcar racing visit www.NSWspeedcars.com

SUPER SEDANS

As the name implies, Super Sedans are the foremost sedan category across Australia conducting their first national title at Canberra in 1972.
Super Sedans have come a long way since their infancy which was little more than a rollcage installed into a normal passenger car. With time, an increase of speed and high-level requirement for safety, Super Sedans have become purpose-built race cars.

The bodies of a Super Sedan are made from aluminium or fibreglass representative of a sedan passenger car, however, once the bodies are removed, no part of a modern Super Sedan is derived from a road-going car. Like Australian road cars though, Super Sedan drivers must be seated on the right-hand side of the car.
Super Sedans are primarily V8-powered 366-cubic-inch (5.9 litre) engines consuming methanol fuel, although the occasional six-cylinder turbo-charged engine is used.

V8 Super Sedans have a minimum racing weight of 1100kg, measured with the driver, with 6-cylinders allowed to be 100kg lighter.
Suspension in a Super Sedan is complex with the various Australian chassis manufacturers electing to go with differing styles of suspension, some that suit the fast, hooky clay race tracks while others are more suited to dry, slick conditions.

LATE MODELS

Late Model racecars are an American born and bred speedway sedan that can be traced back to the 1960s, and was first introduced to Australia via Perth in the late 90s. Sydney became the second city in Australia to conduct Late Model racing when Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway hosted their first Late Model event in 2004. Today's current Dirt Late Models feature chrome-moly steel constructed tube frame chassis with aluminium bodies with straight, smooth sides providing a sleek appearance.

An unusual technical aspect of Late Models is the lack of cubic capacity restriction for the engines. Cars may be powered by any size V8 engine so long as there is only two-valves per cylinder and use a carburettor. Engines can be as much as 430-cubic-inch (7 litres) producing well over 800 horsepower (600kW).
A Late Model must have a minimum weight of 1000kg and the driver sits on the left-hand side of the car.

LIGHTNING SPRINTS

Lightning Sprints is one of the more unique divisions of motorsport found across Australia. Formally known as 'Litrecars' in NSW and QLD, the newly formed division has merged with V6 Sprints and Minisprints from VIC, SA and TAS.

Lightning Sprint teams are powered by motors based on a mass-produced engine from road registered vehicles. Drivers race using either a motorcycle or car engine weighing approximately 400kg. Banging wheel to wheel at lightning speeds, this division races chassis's built from chrome moly as well as front and top aluminium wings creating that extra bit of downforce.

There is profound potential for this division to grow as the leading support class and stepping stone for drivers looking to race Sprintcars and Speedcars nation wide.

For further information, please visit www.lightningsprints.net

COMPACT SPEDCARS

Compact Speedcars have been a mainstay of Australian Speedway since the 1950s when they first arrived on the scene with the original speedway sections of Solos and Midgets. Commonly known as TQs at that time, the TQ was an abbreviation for Three Quarter Midgets.

A name change to Junior Speedcars ensued and with the gradual evolution of the section eventually legendary Liverpool Speedway promoter Mike Raymond coined the name Compact Speedcars. Australian Championship meetings have been held since 1978 under Australian Compact Speedcar Association sanction and prior to that under either state or club control.

The basic concept of Compact Speedcars engine rules see’s them restricted to a maximum 1.4lt production type car engine or a 1.1lt motorcycle engine. The engine power drives the rear wheels via a direct drive torque tube, driveshaft to a quickchange differential. Chain drive to a rear axle with a sprocket is also allowed. Cars with motorbike engines can use the original gearbox and clutch and be self starting and able to be driven like a normal car with no push starting required.

Compact Speedcars have a wide range of competitors from teenagers just getting involved in speedway, to drivers looking at the section as a stepping stone on to sections like Sprintcars and Speedcars. Over the years many go kart racers have stepped into Compact Speedcars with great success. At the other end of the spectrum Compact Speedcars offer a class which some drivers have found has satisfied their racing desires for many years and will do so until they retire.

WINGLESS SPRINTS

The Wingless Sprint division as sanctioned by the SCCA (Sprintcar Control Council of Australia) first competed at Tyrepower PCR in 2008. Originating from country Victoria the division has exploded in popularity since 2000 when a fundamental change in direction was adopted.
Since 2000, the division has solely used Sprintcar chassis and components to form the running gear of the cars and using the Holden 3.8L V6 engine. Aside from the absence of wings and the engine, there is very little difference between a Wingless Sprint and a Sprintcar.
Wingless Sprints have been found to be a very affordable entry-level division to Speedway. In only a few years at Tyrepower PCR, large numbers of cars have been in attendance competing at race meetings.

AMCA NATIONALS

AMCA Nationals are a cross between a sedan and open-wheel race car. They have a Super Sedan-style body with an open-wheel configuration. AMCA’s (as they are commonly known) are a low-cost entry-level division powered by the Holden V8 253 engine. AMCA’s are highly regulated as rules are enforced in the car construction and operation to keep costs to a minimum. The AMCA competitors typically attend race meetings at Tyrepower PCR en masse.

STREET STOCKS

The Sydney Street Stock Club was formed a decade ago to introduce sedan racing at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway at an economical level for the competitor. Primarily the domain of Ford Falcon vs the Holden Commodore, occasionally you will see the odd Cortina pop up.
To find out more about the Sydney Street Stock Club visit their official website: www.sydneystreetstocks.com

FENDER BENDERS

If Sprintcars are at the serious end of the speedway spectrum, Fender Benders would be in the chaos corner. A division that has been fostered at Parramatta City Raceway for three decades, Fender Benders take the Holden or Ford that has been around the block once or twice, weld in a pretty fierce rollcage, and then goes out to crash, bash and cause as much mayhem as possible.

JUNIOR SEDANS

The Junior Sedan class has been established to cater for teenagers aged between 14 and 17 years of age who would like to pursue a career in Speedway racing. Under NSW Government regulations they are required to enter a full training program where they are educated in all aspects of safety, rules and regulations, and good driving practices.

The vehicles that they race are your average four cylinder sedan with an engine capacity of no more than 1.6ltr. The most popular models chosen are the Toyota Corolla, Honda and Ford Laser. These cars are not permitted any modifications to the engine or suspension other than the replacement of worn parts. They are a stock standard family sedan.

The following is a summary of the Junior Sedan cars specifications:

• 4 door or 2 door sedan only. Not more than 25 years old
• Engine: 1.6ltr max. (injector or carburettor)
• Tyres: Road tyres only (no racing rubber)
• Seat: Aluminium or steel full containment race seat
• Belts: Full 5 or 6 point racing harness
• Fuel Tank: Approved racing tank up to 30ltrs
• Gloves, Balaclava, Underwear, Boots, Neckbrace, Helmet.
• The Junior Sedans are fully prepared race cars, painted and sign written, and with all the safety requirements seen in the senior sedan divisions.

For more information visit www.sydneyspeedwaysedans.com

SOLOS

Speedway bikes, technically known as Solos, are the world’s very first Speedway division, founded in Maitland, NSW, in the 1920s. Solos typically have 4-lap races from a standing start. The start utilises a starting procedure called Speedway Tapes that an official triggers to lift vertically. Should a rider touch the tapes, the race will be stopped and the offending rider shall be automatically excluded from the re-run. The bikes weigh 80kg and are powered by 500cc single-cylinder engines fuelled by methanol.
There is one poignant different between Solos and just about any other form of motor racing – Solos have no brakes. It goes without saying; Solo riders are among the world’s bravest sportsmen.

SIDECARS

Sidecars are a unique form of motorcycle racing. For one, the sidecars have three wheels, with the third wheel, typically mounted at a vast angle to assist cornering.

Secondly, Sidecars are the only form of motorsport in NSW that race in a clockwise direction (as opposed to anti-clockwise for every other division of Speedway).

Third, Sidecars race with the rider and the passenger. The passenger typically leans over the bike, hanging off the right-hand side to assist the rider as he corners through the right-hand corners.

Sidecars utilise a 1000cc engine fuelled by methanol.