Speed Licence
A Speed Licence allows you to compete at pace in events such as Regularity, single and multi-car Speed Events, Drifting and Touring Road Events. It is designed for competitors – from the age of 14 – who want to explore the full potential of their vehicle and driving ability at speed and against the clock, as opposed to fellow competitors on-track.
This licence also includes what’s referred to as ‘Non-Speed’ events such as Observed Section Trials, Touring Assemblies, non-timed Road Events, Motorkhana and Khanacross. These events typically are hosted on smaller facilities, and are based on manoeuvrability and skill rather than outright pace. Participants can begin from the age of 12 onward, and will be issued with a conditional Speed Junior licence until they reach the age of 14.
Download a licence form below.
Speed Categories
The essence of hill climbing is that it is a single car on the track at a time running against the clock. The tracks used are sometimes dedicated hill climb venues, or often short sections of closed public roads that have been upgraded for the purpose. Part of the skill involved in hill climbing is learning to drive the car quickly without the opportunity to warm tyres and brakes. It therefore proves to be an invaluable training ground for drivers in all aspects of car control.
Autocross sees cars released onto the track one at a time with each vehicle racing against the clock around typically tight, twisty and challenging dirt tracks for a single lap. Autocross is a fabulous introduction for drivers to driving quickly on dirt, and a teaser for those who might wish to try their hand at Rally or Off Road events.
Sprints and Supersprints are mostly conducted at the recognised motor racing circuits around the country. Individual or small numbers of cars are released at regular intervals onto the track and generally complete several laps at a time racing against the clock, and not the other drivers out there at the time.
Whilst sprints are not actually races, they give participants a great feel for what it is like to drive at high speed competitively around a race track and provide a fabulous test for car and driver alike.
Drifting is all about controlled slides around a series of corners. Drifting is a judged and not determined by outright speed or time. Drift battles see drivers go head to head and attempt to mirror each other’s slides.
A Regularity Trial is not a race, it provides an opportunity for drivers to compete in a different style of speed event with less vigour than racing.
Regularity Trials require drivers to nominate a lap time, and to meet that time each lap. Points are deducted for going above or below the nominated times.
For Historic motorsport, the showcasing of vehicles in this form of competition is an important aspect of maintaining and demonstrating Australia’s motoring history.
Non-Speed & Auto Test Categories
Motorkhana is an enjoyable and low cost form of motorsport, often providing someone with their first taste of motorsport in their standard road car, but also catering to the most skilled and experienced of drivers in highly modified or purpose built Motorkhana specials.
Khanacross is like a giant motorkhana conducted primarily on unsealed surfaces. Similar as a test of driving skills to motorkhanas, but on a course up to 1.5km’s long, khanacross is a great opportunity to learn car control at slightly higher speeds.
Khanacross can be enjoyed in everything from a standard road car through to purpose built specials.
Observed Section Trials were introduced to Australia from England in 1950 by the late John Pryce and have since been conducted regularly by the Austin 7 Club Inc. Trials cars are built to a specific formula.
Observed Section Trials involve the cars traversing marked sections (the number depending only on the time available) of muddy or slippery surfaces, steep, or otherwise difficult terrain.
The purpose of each Competitor is to traverse the whole of each section non-stop from a standing start, without departing from the marked course or hitting any of the markers en route.
Sections, which may vary in length from 25m to 100m or more, are each divided into 10 parts, each marked by opposite pairs of pegs or markers.
Touring Assembly is defined by the National Competition Rules.
The Australian Sport & Club Development Commission has produced the following guidelines for clubs intending to run touring assemblies:
- A competition which commences with the assembling of participants at a point settled beforehand. In a Touring Assembly a specified route may have to be followed, and each participant may have to report at specified points.
- A Touring Assembly is conducted on open roads and competitors must comply with all relevant road laws.
- A Touring Assembly may include Special tests, such as:
- Manoeuvring tests including Motorkhanas
- Observation tests
- Economy tests
- Navigation
The above special tests are non-speed skill tests, for which at least the driver of the vehicle must hold a Motorsport Australia Non-Speed licence.
Timed road sections are not permitted in the competition; in such cases the event is either a Rally or Touring Road Event.
No intermediate limits of speed between start and final assembly may be laid down when travelling on open roads.
Route instructions should not be issued requiring different crews to proceed over the same route simultaneously in opposing directions unless specifically noted.
Sample Supplementary Regulations based on Definitions and relevant sections of the National Rally Code are available which should act as a guide for Clubs wishing to conduct a Touring Assembly event while comprehensive regulations for Touring Assemblies are developed.
Note: Organisers are encouraged to contact the relevant Motorsport Australia state office to obtain published guidelines for road event organisers.
Permit fees will be as prescribed in Appendix R to the NCR.
Social
Social events are a key part of why clubs exist and include; club meetings, working bees, and social gatherings – through to club runs, show and shines, and many other key social activities of clubs.
Motorsport Australia Public Liability generally covers these events as part of your affiliation fees. For a complete listing, please refer to the Gallagher Insurance Handbook.
Social events are generally categories in one of the following areas: static vehicle displays, social runs conducted under State road rules on public roads (such as lunch runs, breakfast runs or observation runs), or Car Club monthly meetings (non-vehicle).
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Motorsport Australia Insurance Handbook
For a complete listing of Motorsport Australia Public Liability, refer to the Gallagher Insurance Handbook
Speed Regulations
Click here to access regulations
Non-Speed/Auto Test Regulations
Click here to access regulations
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