Compact Speedcar General Overview

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. TQs ran at tracks along the east coast racing regularly with the full size 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 Assoc sanction and prior to that under either state or club control.

At present Compact Speedcars race in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Queensland drivers race mainly at Maryborough, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Lismore and Grafton.

New South Wales are to be found racing at Nowra, Goulburn, Canberra and Cullen Bullen.

Victoria has a wide array of tracks they visit including Wangaratta, Nyora, Heartland, Rushworth, Rosedale, Horsham and Bordertown.
The idea of the class has always been to offer an economical open wheel section with certain restrictions to equalize competition.

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 power to weight ratio of the cars means they are very quick and manage to lap within a second or so of most of the V8 powered sections like Sprintcars and V8 Dirt Modifieds.

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.

A controlled right hand rear tyre size of 78” circumference and 10” wide helps to keep tyre expenses down.

As with all classes there are a wide variety of cars from Australian chassis builders, imported cars from America even through to some home built cars. Prices can vary depending on how much input you have into the car but second hand cars can be purchased from as low as $5000 through to $20,000 for a car capable of running up front on a national level.

Most clubs run their race meetings with all cars racing together but within this have A and B graded drivers who run for their respective pointscores.

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.

Compact Speedcars are also popular with competitors because of their economical running costs and the fact that you are able to tow them behind your average sedan, 4wd or utility without the need for trucks or transporters.

Due to their size and weight large numbers of pitcrew are not required and the average working man can store and work on the car in his garage.
In summary whether you’re sixteen or sixty and irrespective of your budget you can probably find a niche in Compact Speedcars.