Idiot's Guide - Section 6: Formulas

Bangers are full contact road cars with minimal armouring. All glass fittings and internals are stripped, the radiator is generally replaced by a header tank, a roll cage, internal fuel tank and lines and battery added. Certain panels are also altered or bolted/welded for safety, though armouring of cars is strictly governed.

National Bangers: Governed by ORC specification, up to a specified engine limit. (This varies according to the specification given in the regulations published by ORC, according to the preferred meeting setup by the promotion.)
Under 1400/1600/1800/2000cc Bangers: Same as National Bangers except with an engine capacity limit (actual limit depends on promotion).
Pre-68/70 Bangers: Same as National Bangers except with an age bar - must be made before a certain year, commonly 1968 (e.g. Hednesford) or 1970 (e.g. Mildenhall)
Non-Ford Bangers: Same as National Bangers except engine limit of 2000cc. No Ford cars to be used (Cortina, Granada, Sierra, Mondeo, Escort, Focus, Fiesta, Ka, Zephyr/Zodiac)
Bangerstox: Another name for domestic limited engine Bangers, similar in some ways to non-Ford or low engine capacity racing elsewhere. Trackstar coined this one.
Plastengrave (Non-Ford) Bangers: Named for sponsor of event. As non-Ford Bangers except that smaller, FWD Fords may be used (Escort, Fiesta, Ka, Focus only), PRI only.
Unlimited Bangers: Any Engine size allowed, any armouring allowed. Not necessarily governed by ORC regulations. (Often the promotion will give any specific regulations on the application form including the engine and weight limits, armouring limits and welding limits).
Van Bangers: As normal Bangers except vans used (small vans and large vans are often segregated into their own races or meetings)
Bus racing: Only one example I have ever heard of at Northampton (Brafield) in the early 1980's, where buses were used. (Since I first wrote this, I have heard that this still happens!)
Reliants (Robins): Originally raced by RDC at Mildenhall, this is not strictly a Banger formula, though it often turns into one. Now raced at a number of promotions, this is a single make formula based on the three wheel Reliant car, a low powered fibreglass car that was popular in the 1960's. Often erroneously called "Robin racing" because of the popular Robin model built in the 1970's, although the Regal is also a popular running model. Colloquially known as "Plastic Pig" racing.
Super Bangers: Domestic limited contact 3 litre formula using old PRI Banger specification, with some modifications. From 2002 season this will be a single car make formula (Mk.2 Ford Granada).
Bangerods: Domestic limited contact small car banger. Trackstar rules, no contact for first three laps, then limited (spin and go) contact for remainder of race. Union jack flag signals end of no contact segment. These rules are also used in some versions of Rookie Racing.
Pedal Bangers: Chain driven gokarts for the kiddies (PRI)
Rookie Racers: Limited version of Banger formula for drivers with little or no experience, often set up as "pay to race". Rules vary according to circuit. Versions spotted at NIR (Incarace), Spedeworth, RDC (Dover).

Stock Cars are fully armoured mixed contact cars. Specification varies.

BriSCA Formula 1: Large engined open wheeled single seater car governed by BriSCA
BriSCA Formula 2: Smaller version of F1, governed by BriSCA. Popular alternative to National Superstox.
National Superstox: Small open wheeled single seater car. Previously a National formula but some disagreement between ORC members means that this formula is now isolated mainly to Spedeworth tracks, with some drivers changing to BriSCA Formula 2. Since this happened, Spedeworth have changed some of the specifications and have dropped the "National" prefix.
Sprint Cars: Non-contact V8 single seater promoted by Vince O'Connor (ex-National Superstox). Went through a bad patch during the 1999 season due to specification changes but appears to be picking up again. Often seen at the Rolling Thunder Show from 2001.
Rebels: Reliant powered replica single-seater car.
Saloon Stox: 2 litre road car with stock bars. Preparation is similar to Bangers but stock bars added.
Legends: Replica single-seaters powered by bike engines. A more powerful formula than Rebels, this is raced around the country on a wide variety of circuits in their own championship.
1300 Saloon Stox/1300 Stock Car: 1300cc version of Saloon Stox, run domestically but with many similar variations at various tracks including TrackStar, Spedeworth, Incarace and PRI. In the 2001 season, the PRI promoted version also appeared at RDC/KAR circuits.
Ministox: Saloon Stock Cars based on the classic Mini.
Junior Ministox: 850/1000cc Ministox for 11-16 year old drivers only. Note: PRI made this non-contact at Arena Essex in 1998. A number of other tracks have followed this idea, so if you intend to race, you should enquire at your chosen track as to whether they race contact or non-contact Ministox.

Hot Rods are a non contact formula based on road cars, though many formulas replace the original interior structure with space frames and may use kevlar panels according to regulations.

National Hot Rods: National 2000cc small Hot Rod formula governed by NHRPA. Often based on Peugeot 205/206, Renault Clio or Ford Fiesta shells, though drivers have been known to experiment with many other small hatchbacks.
Lightning Rods: National 2000cc Sierra Hot Rod formula governed by ORC
2l Hot Rod: high specification 2000cc Hot Rod domestic formula, Spedeworth only.
PRI Hot Rod defunct - see Outlaw Hot Rod: low specification 2000cc Hot Rod domestic formula, PRI (based on domestic formula at Cowdenbeath Racewall, some crossovers allowed). Replaced National Hot Rods at Arena Essex in 1997. Were known as 2l Hot Rods until Spedeworth objected (see 2l Hot Rods) in 1997. Formula discontinued in favour of Outlaws as from the Festival of Speed meeting at Arena Essex in 2000.
Outlaw Hot Rod: 2000cc Hot Rod domestic formula, raced at various circuits using a variant of the National formula. Formula often allows for participation of National Hot Rods as long as they meet the agreed specification.
Super Rod: KAR legacy formula based around a high performance circuit car, also seen at TSR.
PolleyRod/Economy Rod: budget low engine Hot Rod (typically 1300cc to 1600cc) domestic formula, similar to Group A Hot Rod.
Stock Rod: Another name for a budget low engine domestic Hot Rod, this time used by Trackstar, among others. There are a lot of variations on this theme, all with a local name.
Group A Hot Rod: High specification 1300/Low specification 1600cc Hot Rod domestic formula (PRI) based on PRI Economy Rods (defunct). Dominated in 80's by Toyota Starlet, but now often Golfs, Novas and occasionally Fiestas used.

There are other formulas that are raced by many promotions that may not appear in the above list, though they tend to be variations on what is described here. These include such formulas as "V8 Rods" or "Ramp Racers". In many cases, if you stick to the idea that it is a Banger (Full contact), a Stock Car (contact to gain advantage) or a Hot Rod (no contact), you can fill in the details from there!

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