Hooked Racing
Race day essentials

Racing rules

Choose a formula to read its current construction and race-day rules.

1/8 Bangers

Hooked Racing banger construction and racing rules.

Driving Standards

Racing

  • Race in a clockwise direction.
  • There is no marshalling. Drivers must remain behind the outer barrier and may only enter the track after every car has stopped.
  • Opposite-direction driving is permitted on bends only.
  • No aggressive behaviour toward other drivers.

Construction

General construction

  • Minimum ride height is 3mm.
  • Minimum weight is 3500g and maximum weight is 4000g.
  • Each driver is allowed one chassis and one shell per meeting.
  • Shells must follow the meeting theme.

Chassis and wheelbase

  • Only the 4mm Hooked Racing chassis is permitted.
  • Lightening is permitted.
  • The chassis may only be cut behind the cage line. Narrowing anywhere else is not permitted.
  • Only Hooked Racing extension plates may be used for MWB, LWB and XLWB cars.
  • The correct extension plate must be used for the shell length; for example, an XLWB plate cannot be used for a LWB shell.
  • One 20mm nylon post may be mounted centrally behind the rear pod.
  • Fixed wheelbases are SWB 328mm, MWB 365mm, LWB 395mm and XLWB 475mm.

Running gear and top deck

  • Hooked Racing front hubs and wishbones must be used.
  • Kingpins are free.
  • One spring per corner is permitted; spring compounds are free.
  • The Hooked Racing supplied rear axle and Hooked Racing rear hubs must be used.
  • Only Mardave plastic motor pods are permitted.
  • The pod plate must be GRP with a maximum thickness of 3mm.
  • Only Hooked Racing or Kamtec top decks are permitted.
  • The top deck must be fitted centrally. Lightening is permitted, but narrowing is not.
  • The top deck must house a mechanical speed controller; electronic speed controllers are not permitted.
  • The top deck may house one resistor only.

Motors, batteries, wheels and tyres

  • Only two four-cell Sub-C battery packs are permitted, with a maximum capacity of 5000mAh.
  • Cells must be mounted in the car's original position.
  • K21, Core 21 and Satan 20T are the only motors currently permitted.
  • Any foam 1/8 stock-car wheel and tyre is permitted, but the tyre must be full width.
  • Tyre additive is not permitted and Shimizu tyres are not permitted.
  • Front and rear wheels must be in line with each other.
  • The recommended wet tyre is a JSW.

Shell mounting and steering

  • Shells may only be mounted with an H-frame, bulkhead mounts and front mounts. Shells must not be bolted directly to the chassis.
  • H-frames and front mounts must be Hooked Racing components.
  • An H-frame may use one 40mm × 40mm, 3mm-thick plate on each side to mount the shell.
  • The cage must mount through the chassis plate, not the top deck.
  • H-frames must use the original fixing position. Narrower frames may be used but must mount on the original line.
  • Bulkhead mounts must pass through the chassis plate using no more than two M4 bolts. Bulkhead plates must be no thicker than 3.2mm.
  • Shells must not be mounted lower than the chassis. Van cages do not need to pass through the roof.
  • Steering servos are free and tower-style servo savers are permitted.
  • Track-rod arms must not be strengthened.
  • Front wishbones must be bolted directly to the chassis; shimming is not permitted.

Gearing and shell construction

  • Only Hooked Racing supplied 32DP nylon Z-drive-style gears are permitted.
  • No more than three bolts may hold the spur gear to the rear hub. Pinions are free.
  • Shells must be made from aluminium no thicker than 0.5mm, using 2.4mm rivets and M3 nuts and bolts.
  • A shell must be a 1/8-scale representation of a produced full-size car.

Shell plates, washers and bonnets

  • Door bars may be made from GRP, carbon or aluminium composite up to 3mm thick, 40mm high and 200mm long, or 220mm for MWB and longer cars. A door bar may be fitted on one side and secured with bolts up to M4.
  • Passenger-side plates may be no larger than 40mm × 40mm and 3mm thick. A maximum of two is permitted, secured with bolts up to M4.
  • A roof plate may be made from GRP, carbon or aluminium composite up to 3mm thick. It must not protrude outside the roof line and may extend no more than 10mm behind the cage bolts. Bolts up to M4 may be used.
  • Water tanks are permitted but must not extend farther forward than the front wheels. They may be GRP, carbon or aluminium composite up to 3mm thick.
  • A washer should use one bolt and fall away when that bolt is removed.
  • Washers may be no larger than 25mm × 25mm and 3mm thick, made from GRP, carbon, steel or aluminium composite.
  • A bonnet may use no more than four fixings and should be removable. Bonnets under 90mm long may be riveted on and non-removable. No shortening of your bonnet to under 90mm.
  • Bonnet crush tubes may be no larger than 20mm × 20mm and no higher than 40mm. Bonnet bolts may be no larger than M4.

Repairs, strengthening and roof fins

  • Repairs must use flat 0.5mm aluminium plate, must not change the car's silhouette and must not take the car over 4000g.
  • Repairs may be fitted with 2.4mm rivets or M3 bolts. Bonding materials and chemicals are not permitted.
  • Strengthening must use flat 0.5mm aluminium plate. It may be folded or rolled, but its 0.5mm thickness must remain verifiable.
  • Strengthening may be fitted with 2.4mm rivets or M3 bolts. Bonding materials and chemicals are not permitted.
  • Roof-fin plates may be no higher than 60mm above the roof line. Novelty fins must follow the same limit.
  • Roof-fin plates may be no thicker than 0.5mm alloy or ABS. Only ABS roof fins are permitted when racing indoors on carpet.
  • Roof grades must be run and cover the full profile of the roof.
  • Any added weight must consist only of wheel weights securely fastened inside the car.

Other

Scrutineering and meeting requirements

  • Cars must be scrutineered at the start of every meeting and may be checked randomly throughout the meeting.
  • All efforts must be made to correct an illegal car. If not possible, it must not return to the next meeting until rectified.
Saloon Stocks

Graded contact racing and construction rules.

Driving Standards

Racing

  • This is a graded formula. The roof must carry the driver's correct grade colour, and cars line up in graded order around the track.
  • Race in a clockwise direction. Opposite-direction driving is not permitted.
  • After being spun, a car must be turned around and continue in the correct direction immediately.
  • There is no marshalling. Drivers must remain behind the outer barrier and may only enter the track after every car has stopped.
  • This is a contact formula. Spinning cars and forceful fencing are permitted. Deliberate head-ons, roof shots and deliberately hitting stationary cars are not permitted.
  • A car touching the inside wall is deemed to be in the shale or safety area and must not be hit deliberately.
  • No aggressive behaviour toward other drivers.

Construction

General construction

  • Only Hooked Racing cars may be raced in the series so that all cars are equal.
  • Cars may only be altered through the driver's choice of springs, gearing and tyre compound.
  • The maximum car weight is 4000g and the minimum is 2800g at any point during the meeting.
  • If a modification is not allowed by these rules, do not assume it is permitted.

Chassis and running gear

  • Only a Hooked Racing chassis is permitted.
  • Bumpers and nerf rails must be supplied by Hooked Racing.
  • Chassis lightening is not permitted.
  • Front and rear wheels must be in line with each other.
  • Alloy front beams are not permitted.
  • The front beam, front hubs and drive hubs must be Hooked Racing parts. Hooked Racing alloy upgraded front hubs are permitted as an upgrade.
  • Side rails may be made from GRP, carbon or aluminium composite up to 3mm thick and must not cover the wheels.
  • Ride height must be above 3mm.
  • One spring per corner is permitted; spring compounds are free.
  • Hooked Racing components must be used.

Motor, battery, wheels and tyres

  • Use one six-cell NiMH battery pack with a maximum capacity of 5000mAh.
  • The permitted power system is a Surpass 2600KU motor with a 60A ESC.
  • Only full-width 1/8-scale contact stock-car tyres are permitted.
  • Any foam 1/8 stock-car wheel and tyre may be used. The recommended wet tyre is a JSW.
  • Wheels are tires are supplied by Schumacher RC
  • Tyre additive and Shimizu tyres are not permitted.

Body

  • The body shell must use four mounting points and be made from 0.5mm alloy.
  • The shell must represent one of the following, with estate versions excluded: Ford Sierra or Sapphire; Ford Mondeo Mk1–Mk4 in four- or five-door form; Lexus IS200 Mk1 four-door (1998–2005); BMW E36 or E46 3 Series four-door, excluding Compacts; Audi A4 Mk1–Mk2; or Volkswagen Passat Mk1–Mk2.

Other

Formula status and scrutineering

  • This formula remains under development, so the rules are under review and may change.
  • All cars are scrutineered at booking-in and the scrutineer's decision is final.
Historics

Hooked Racing Historic Stockcar racing and construction rules.

Driving Standards

Racing

  • This is a graded formula. The roof must carry the driver's correct grade colour, and cars line up in graded order around the track.
  • Race in a clockwise direction. Opposite-direction driving is not permitted.
  • After being spun, a car must be turned around and continue in the correct direction immediately.
  • There is no marshalling. Drivers must remain behind the outer barrier and may only enter the track after every car has stopped.
  • This is a contact formula. Spinning cars and forceful fencing are permitted. Deliberate head-ons, roof shots and deliberately hitting stationary cars are not permitted.
  • A car touching the inside wall is deemed to be in the shale or safety area and must not be hit deliberately.
  • No aggressive behaviour toward other drivers.

Construction

Appearance and weight

  • Shells must be cut correctly to represent a historic stock car. Retro paint styles are encouraged.
  • Cars must weigh between 2600g and 2800g.

Chassis and running gear

  • Only the Hooked Racing chassis and Hooked Racing bumpers are permitted.
  • Rear bumpers may be mounted on an extension plate.
  • Front hubs, wishbones and stub axles must be Hooked Racing parts.
  • Springs and servos are free.
  • Only the Hooked Racing rear pod, rear bearings and rear hubs are permitted.
  • Gearing is fixed at 13/56.
  • Tyre compounds and rear springs are free.

Electrics

  • The Hobbywing 1080 80A ESC is the only permitted speed controller (part number HW30112750).
  • The Zee 2S 6000ah 80C battery is the only permitted LiPo battery.
  • The Etronix Sport Tuned Brushed Motor 550 21T is the only permitted motor.

Body

  • The body must be a 2mm ABS 1/8-scale shell from the Kamtec range: Starlet, Escort, Anglea or Capri. All windows must be cut out correctly.
  • The body must use four body posts.
  • Body-post position is free; boot or roof mounting is the driver's choice.
1/12 ABS

Normal indoor carpet racing rules apply.

1/12 Alloys

Normal indoor carpet racing rules apply.

Construction

Chassis and top deck

  • The chassis must be the standard 3mm countersunk alloy chassis. Any limousine entered must represent a full-size counterpart.
  • GRP, carbon, front-extension and winged chassis are not permitted.
  • Material must not be added along the chassis to prevent it bending.
  • The original Mardave alloy top plate or a GRP top plate may be used.
  • A top plate must not extend farther forward than the steering servo saver, must not extend wider than the wheel centre line and may be no thicker than 3mm.
  • Strengthening or bracing the top deck is not permitted.

Battery and speed controller

  • Only four-cell Sub-C NiCad or NiMH cells are permitted, with a maximum capacity of 5000mAh.
  • Mechanical and resistor-type speed controllers are permitted.
  • An electronic speed controller with a recommended retail price up to £40 is permitted.

Gears, motor pod and axle

  • Only 32DP pinion gears and standard slip-on spur gears are permitted. Gear sleeves or clips are allowed on the gear arms.
  • Standard axles may be used. Ball races may only be used on the rear axle.
  • Only the standard plastic motor pod is permitted. GRP and alloy rear pods are not permitted.

Wishbones, steering and motors

  • Steering arms may be standard or modified to use a ball-and-link arrangement.
  • Wishbones must be standard and unmodified, with all holes in their original positions. Wishbone protectors and other strengthening are not permitted.
  • Front springs must be fitted to every vehicle length.
  • Only standard, hardened or stainless-steel kingpins are permitted. Strut braces are not permitted.
  • Permitted motors are the Kamtec Satan 20T, Kamtec 21T and Core 21. Heat sinks may be fitted.

Tyres and wheels

  • Tyres must be commercially available foam tyres.
  • Tyre additive is not permitted.
  • Ball-raced front wheels are not permitted.
  • Cut-down wheels that allow shells to be slammed are not permitted.

Alloy shells

  • Alloy may be no thicker than 0.5mm. Internal and external bumpers are not permitted.
  • Cars may only be mounted with an H-frame, front cradle and bulkhead mount. These may use nuts and bolts up to M4.
  • The front cradle must not attach to the shell higher than the inner wings and must not extend up and over the wings.
  • Bulkhead mounts and the H-frame may be fixed to the chassis or top deck.
  • Door bars and side plates may be made from GRP, alloy, steel or ABS up to 3mm thick and may use nuts and bolts no larger than M3.
  • Fixings behind the motor pod are not permitted. Rivets must be 2.4mm.
  • A bonnet may use no more than four bolts.
  • Double-skinning the shell is not permitted.
  • Water tanks must not extend farther forward than the front-wheel axle line.
  • Please keep washers to scale and overbuilding to a minimum.

Other

Formula status

  • *NOTE:* These rules are continuously evolving and will be reviewed at each meeting.
Hot Rods

Non-contact graded racing. *NOTE:* This formula is under review, and new cars are being tested.

Driving Standards

Racing

  • This formula is graded. The roof must carry the driver's correct grade colour, and cars line up in graded order around the track.
  • Racing is clockwise.
  • There is no marshalling. Drivers must remain behind the outer barrier and may only enter the track after every car has stopped.
  • This is a non-contact formula. Deliberate contact is not permitted.
  • Opposite-direction driving is not permitted. After being spun, a car must be turned around and continue in the correct direction immediately.
  • A driver shown a black flag must move immediately to the centre or safety area. Continuing to race after a black flag results in being loaded for the rest of the meeting.
  • At the red flag, cars must stop immediately. Continuing to race after the red flag removes all points scored in that race and results in the driver being loaded.

Conduct

  • Racing is for fun and drivers and mechanics are expected to help and support each other.
  • Abusive behaviour towards staff or another participant is not tolerated and results in no further bookings, with no second chance.

Construction

General construction

  • Only Hooked Racing cars may be raced in the series.
  • If a modification is not allowed by these rules, do not assume it is permitted.
  • Only the shortened-wheelbase Hooked Racing chassis is permitted.
  • The maximum weight is 4000g. There is no minimum weight.
  • Chassis lightening is not permitted.
  • Ride height must be above 3mm; ride-height shims are permitted.
  • Front and rear wheels must be in line with each other.
  • Gearing and camber are free.
  • One spring per corner is permitted; spring compounds are free.
  • Nerf rails may protect the rear axle from the wall. They must bolt directly to the chassis and must not protrude beyond the body-shell width.
  • A front splitter may protrude no more than 5mm beyond the body shell. It is intended to preserve the shell and is not a contact bumper.
  • Only Hooked Racing suspension and drive parts are permitted.

Motor, batteries, wheels and tyres

  • Use two LiPo 3300 batteries.
  • The only permitted brushless motor and ESC combination is the Absima Brushless Combo Set Thurst BL ECO 1-8.
  • Only full-width 1/8-scale contact stock-car tyres are permitted, and tyres must be within 5mm of each other.
  • Any foam 1/8 stock-car wheel and tyre may be used. The recommended wet tyre is a JSW.
  • Wheels are tires are supplied by Schumacher RC
  • Tyre additive and Shimizu tyres are not permitted.

Body

  • Body shells must be ABS, with all windows marked out correctly.
  • Rear-wing height is free.

Other

Scrutineering

  • Cars are scrutineered at booking-in and the scrutineer's decision is final.

Formula status

  • These rules remain under review and may be altered.
Visiting Formulas

Race-day guidance for invited formulas using their own construction rules.

Driving Standards

Racing

  • Race in a clockwise direction.
  • There is no marshalling. Drivers must remain behind the outer barrier and may only enter the track after every car has stopped.
  • Opposite-direction driving is permitted on bends only.
  • No aggressive behaviour toward other drivers.

Construction

Construction requirements

  • Visiting formulas should be built to Guildford RC or KCO guidelines.
  • In 1/12th Alloys, particular attention is paid to overbuilding and excessive repairs. A car deemed overbuilt will not be permitted to race.

Other

Eligibility and meeting information

  • Other formulas may be invited and may have their own Tarmac Championship races.
  • The 1/12th alloy and 1/12th ABS bangers join the 1/8-scale formulas for their own Tarmac World Finals.