1600 Hot Rods
Unique to Tipperary and a great training ground for future National drivers. Resembling externally National Hot Rod with a steel/semi-space frame body, power comes from a control 1600 8V GM/Opel engine with one control camshaft for all. Racing suspension is allowed, as are National specification wheels & tyres. Exciting racing for up-and-coming drivers.

2 Litre Rods
Originally the Lightning Rods (at Grimley), but now open to any original rear wheel drive saloon fitted with the Ford 2 Litre Pinto engine and gearbox.

Barford Hot Rods
Any Saloon or hatch back type car of steel monologue construction, of which the overall length and width of the unmodified car does not exceed 13ft 7in by 5ft 6in.Cars may be front or rear engine and front or rear wheel drive and may be converted between front wheel drive and rear wheel drive. Four wheel drive is NOT permitted. Any production engine which in standard form does not exceed 2000cc may be used in any eligible body shell. Suspension is restricted and must remain fitted to the original car mounting. Wheel camber is limited, all four wheels on the car must be perpendicular (vertical). Racing slicks are allowed with a maximum with of ten inches, standard roads tyres may be used. Bodies must retain the basic vehicle silhouette. Aero foils and spoilers are permitted. Full Rules

Formula 1400
Derived from Stock Rods. This class races at Swaffham.

Group 2 Lightning Rods
Entry-level formula racing at Ballymena. Cars are virtually standard to keep preparation costs at a minimum, safety regulations such as roll cages, etc are compulsory. Maximum engine capacity of 1600cc.

GT Hot Rods
GT Hot Rod Racing sees the fastest drivers who start at the very back of the grid have to hone their racing skills and it is an instant decision and split second timing which will see drivers overtake and move up the grid. GT Hot Rods run using up to 1600cc engines, with very limited tuning. All the cars are front wheel drive, arched and skirted and all run on controlled re-mould tyres. Vauxhall Novas mix it with Fiestas, Citroen AX's and VW Golf's and the like, to provide a good blend of available cars. The low cost of this formula has encouraged drivers to join and the wide bends and fast smooth surface of Skegness is ideal for this formula and a real challenge to drivers of all ability to join this growing Hot Rod formula. This season the formula visited Buxton Raceway for the first time.

Hot 1600 Rods
Originally the Hot Rod formula (at Grimley), open to any front wheel drive saloon up to 1600cc.

Hot Fords
Buxton: One step up from RookiRods is the Hot Fords, these are front wheel drive Fords. Race mainly at Buxton but have a few away days.

Incarace: A budget style formula using only Ford's. The formula is designed primarily for those drivers who wish to compete in Oval Racing without the substantial financial investment or high level of commitment of other formulas.

Any front wheel drive FORD Fiesta, Escort or Orion. The only engines allowed are up to 1600cc OHV or CVH in any of these three vehicles. In addition you may use the Ford KA, however, you must use the standard type manufacturers engine to that model. Estate cars and vans are not allowed, nor are turbo's or superchargers. All panels must remain as standard Ford. Any standard Ford spring (or non-competition after-market eg Monroe) from Fiesta, Escort or Orion, they may be cut or heated to lower. Nearly all the car should remain standard, to keep costs down and make the class competitive. Incarace may reject a prospective driver if they are too experienced. Full Rules

Hot Saloons
Low budget Crimond based formula.

Incarods
Incarace based formula, a budget style formula using non-Ford cars up to 1600cc maximum engine size with 2 valves per cylinder, no competition type cars allowed like Mini Cooper. Engine type must remain standard to the car, no transplants. No Toyota Starlets in any format allowed. Full Rules

Junior Classes
Ballymena: A class for young drivers aged 10 to 16 year old. The cars are virtually standard machines up to 1000cc capacity. The most popular model is the Nissan Micra, although the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Nova models are also widely used.

Skegness: The Junior Rod formula allows the younger generation to cut their teeth in motor racing. This is a fine formula for boys and girls to attempt to emulate their heroes or in some cases "Dad". Boys between the ages of 11 and 16 and girls between the ages of 11 and 17 can take part. You may be thinking that these are expensive machines, fear not, the cars are completely standard 1000cc Novas or Fiestas. The cars carry sufficient protection for the driver to prevent the youngsters from coming to any harm due to over-enthusiasm in this non contact class. The racing is quite similar to the GT Hot Rods. They drive in a clockwise direction unlike some of the 'senior' formulae whose direction is clockwise. Once old enough the youngsters can enter the 'senior' formulas where they can really stretch their legs! The racing from the Junior Rods is always exciting and very rarely dull!

Junior Classes also race at Ringwood, Rolling Thunder and SEGTO. Some junior classes are known as Mini Rods, due to the class being only Mini based.

Mini Rods
Grimley: Any steel bodied two wheel drive up to and including 1000cc mini saloon in standard form as listed in classes guide may be used and must be complete with all doors, wings, boot, and bonnet. A non contact formula with modified suspension.

Mendips: From the age of 10 years old, youngsters can experience the thrill of racing in a MiniRod car at Mendip Hills. The cars are standard 1000cc Mini saloons, stripped out but mechanically standard in all respects. A rollcage is fitted, along with a good safe racing seat and full safety harness to ensure that the young drivers come to no harm Drivers have to retuire at their sixteenth birthday and transfer to adult formulae.

Mondeo Rods
New formula for 2008 that runs at the Shawn Mason promoted Swaffham circuit. 1.6/ 1.8/ 2.0 silver top engines only in standard form and no competition parts allowed. All cars are front wheel drive Mondeo's that allow negative camber as an allowable modification. Full Rules

Productions
Smaller brother to the Lightning Rods, similar rules, engine capacity controls ensure this class is populated by Fiat 127s, Unos, VW Polos and the like. Race only at Tipperary.

RDC Super Rods
Only race at Dover with cars up to 2 litre rear wheel drive. The most popular cars are the Mk1 and Mk2 Ford Escort and Ford Sierras. Cars are faster and the racing very close and exciting. All drivers in the formula must have previous racing experience before being granted a license.

Rolling Thunder
The Rolling Thunder Show is made up of 8 formulas, the meeting usually has one guest formula. Meetings are held the second and last Saturday night of the month at Arena Essex from March to October. For 2007 RTS have joined the ORCi meaning visiting drivers are now welcome to race.
Pick Ups: Converted Ford Sierra estate based formula, racing solely at RTS, 2.0lt pinto powered on Yokohama tyres. Saloons can be converted also.
RTS Hot Rods: 2 litre pinto powered, with a single carb, fully-space framed cars, using a controlled tyre. Previously known as Thunder Cars, that class allowed any hot rod up 3.5 litre with 2 valves per cylinders.
Stock Rods: Up to 1400cc cars built to the nationally recognised specifications, using Yokohama tyres. Stock Rod Page.
Although part of the ORCi and drivers were welcome RTS had no representatives in major championship, for 2008 they will be allowed.
Junior Hot Rods: Non-contact racing for children aged 10-16 yrs, providing the opportunity for parents with limited knowledge of mechanics to go racing with their children. Up to 1000cc engines, using road legal tyres (No Yokohamas).
Euro Rods: Cheap entry level into motorsport. Cars are upto 1400cc, standard engine and suspension, on road legal tyres, with a 4 post roll-cage.

Rookie Rods
Buxton: RookiRods Budget hot rods using any car carburettered car up to 1600cc. Entry level formula, top drivers move into Hot Fords class.

Spedeworth Low budget formula consisting of only Vauxhall Nova's and Ford Fiesta's. Introduced to bring new drivers onto the track racing cheaper cars than Stock Rods and Lightning Rods which had become increasingly expensive over the past few years.

The first Spedeworth Rookie Rod was a banger class and renamed Rookie Bangers, the current class was introduced in 2000 at Great Yarmouth only that year. Gradually it spread to all the Spedeworth tracks, and merged with the Ringwood style Hodge/ Ford Rods in 2006.

SEGTO
Juniors: Racing for the juniors aged 10 to 16. Cars limited to 1000cc limit
Production A: Up to 1000cc FWD and 1100 RWD, OHC and OHV
Production B: Up to 1300cc FWD or RWD, single OHC and OHV. Minimum modifications
Modified Saloons: Up to 1600cc FWD or RWD, single OHC and OHV. Some modifications
1450 Hot Rods: Front engine FWD, Rear Engine RWD, modified saloon/pick up. Multi valve, multi point injection permitted
Super Saloons: Any modified saloon of any drive configuration up to 3528cc. Up to 1700cc Turbo. Fuel injection is permitted
All SEGTO classes race at Horndean and Tongham.

Special Rods
Mendips Special Rods: Based on the humdrum Ford Sierra, these non contact racing cars are carefully put together examples of road cars stripped out for racing, and tuned for the best performance within a very strict set of preparation rules and regulations. The formula finds favour with those who cannot quite afford the Hot Rods, and yet wish to race a purist formula that is non contact and still close racing , without the bash and crash approach of the Bangers. It is a popular starter adult formula for young drivers leaving the Mini Rods. Special Rods have also returned for this year at Ringwood.

Super Stock Rods
1400cc front or rear wheel drive saloons. Similar spec to Stock Rods. Only race at Grimley.

Thunder Rods
Swaffham formula, like Lightning Rods but with Kingpin tyres. The rules are different to the Ringwood Thunder Rods.

Waterford Hot Rods
Class 1: up to 1 litre 16 valve limited modifications
Class 2: up to 1250cc 16 valve limited modifications
Class 3: up to 1310cc 16 valve limited modifications
Class 4: up to 1400cc multivalve limited modifications
Class 5: up to 1650cc fully modified spaceframed (including turbo, supercharged)
Class 6: up to 3500cc fully modified spaceframed (including turbo, supercharged) including nationals
All 6 classes race at all meeting at Waterford.