Competition cars covered by the CAMS 5th Category regulations are classified according to vehicle type, age and technological development into some 20 different groups to facilitate competition between similar vehicles. Some of these groups are further divided into sub-groups.
The 5th Category is made up of 20 different groups of vehicles, some of which are further divided into sub-groups.
Group A – Touring Cars
This group caters for vehicles with a competition history established in Australia and elsewhere in the period 1 January 1984 to 31 December 1992 in events run to regulations promulgated by FISA and or as adopted by CAMS for Group A Touring Cars.
Group C – Touring Cars
This group caters for vehicles with a competition history established in the period 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1984, in events run to regulations promulgated by CAMS for Group C Touring Cars in the period.
Group F – Formula Ford Racing Cars
This group is intended to cater for Formula Ford racing cars powered by the 1600 “Kent” engine, within the various sub groups set put below.
Fa
Vehicles with a competition history established prior to 31 December 1977.
Fb
Vehicles with a competition history established between 1 January 1978 and 31 December 1983 but excluding the Swift DB1.
Fc
Vehicles with a competition history established between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1989.
Formula 5000
This group caters for Formula 5000 racing cars, being factory cars which must have been constructed before 31st October 1977 or, if an Australian built car constructed specifically for F5000 and raced in F5000 events, must have been raced before 31st December, 1977.
Group J – Vintage Cars
This group is intended to depict early racing design and development to include the important field of significant excellence in design and workmanship defined as the “vintage period”. Vehicles eligible are racing and sports cars with a competition history established before 31st December 1930. One-off special type vehicles constructed at any time using major components manufactured prior to the end of 1930 are catered for in Group Jb
Group K – Post Vintage Thoroughbred Cars
This group is intended to cater for the pre and early post World War 2 period, including classically engineered factory constructed cars, local specials constructed on a one-off basis using production car components from the pre-war period, and some factory constructed cars which were modified during the group period, and fitted with engines from pre-war production cars.
Vehicles eligible will be racing and sports cars with a competition history established between 1st January 1931 and 31st December 1949, using major components manufactured prior to 31st December 1940. One-off special type vehicles constructed at any time using major components manufactured prior to the end of 1940 are catered for in Group Kb
Group L – Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars
This group caters for cars with a competition history established between 1st January 1941 and the 31st December 1960.
It is divided into two sub-groups viz:
Lb – Racing Cars and Sports Cars
This group caters basically for cars built for competition, either factory built or “one-off” specials.
Lc – Square Riggers
This group caters for “square rigger” sports cars (primarily MG TC) where it was common practice to remove the windscreen, mudguards and headlights and run as a racing car, at the whim of the owner. One-off special type vehicles constructed at any time after 1 January 1940 but prior to the end of 1960 are also catered for in this group.
Group M – Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars
This group is intended to cater for racing, sports racing and clubman sports cars with a competition history established between 1st January 1961 and 31st December 1965.
Group N – Touring Cars
This group caters for production touring and touring cars built before 31st December 1972. The group is divided into three time periods defined as Na, Nb and Nc, and is unique in that individual cars are not required to have a competition history in order to be eligible.
Na
Group Na is for production touring cars as recognised by CAMS and commercially available in Australia prior to 31st December 1957, with the inclusion of certain run-on models.
Nb
Group Nb is for series production type touring cars manufactured prior to 31st December 1964 of which 100 of the particular model must have been produced (also known as Appendix J). This group is open to cars which were built and established a competition history either in Australia or overseas, provided the make and model was homologated with the FIA.
Nc
Group Nc is for touring cars of a make and model which competed in Australia between 1st January 1965 and 31st December 1972 in either the Australian Touring Car Championship or in races specifically for the 3rd Category Group C Improved Touring Cars.
Group O – Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars
This group is intended to cater for racing and sports racing cars with a competition history established between 1st January 1966 and 31st December 1969, but specifically excluding cars fitted with the early forms of aerodynamic devices which appeared towards the end of this period.
Group P – Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars
This group caters for racing and sports racing cars with a competition history established between 1 Jan 1968 and 31 December 1972, which competed with the combination of early aerodynamic devices and treaded racing tyres.
Group Q – Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars
This group caters for racing and sports racing cars with a competition history established between 1st January 1970 and 31st December 1977, and for cars excluded from classification in earlier historic groups because of the nature of the aerodynamic devices with which they are fitted.
Group R – Historic Racing and Sports Racing Cars
This group caters for racing, sports racing, and clubman sports cars complying with period rules for specific racing formulae, with a competition history established between 1st January 1978 and the various end dates as detailed in the CAMS Manual.
Group S – Production Sports Cars
This group caters for production sports cars which were manufactured between 1st January 1941 and 31st December 1977. The group is divided into three time periods defined as Sa, Sb and Sc.
Sa
Group Sa is for production sports cars, as recognised by CAMS, manufactured between 1st January 1941 and 31st December 1960 with the inclusion of certain run-on models (e.g. Mk1 Austin Healey Sprite).
Sb
Group Sb is for production sports cars generally manufactured between 1st January 1961 and 31st December 1969 with the inclusion of model run-ons.
Sc
Group Sc is for non-turbo charged production sports cars generally manufactured and available in Australia between 1st January 1970 and 31st December 1977 with the inclusion of model run-ons.
Group T – Production Sports Cars
This group caters for production sports cars with a competition history established after 1 January 1941 and before 31 December 1981 and for factory competition variants either built, or with a competition history established between 1st January 1941 and 31st December 1977.
Group U – Sports Sedans
This group caters for vehicles with a competition history established in the period pre-1986 in events run to regulations promulgated by CAMS for Sports Sedans – Group B (including Sports Racing Car Closed and GT Performance Cars – Group D).
Group V – Formula Vee Racing Cars
This group is intended to cater for Formula Vee 1200 racing cars within the two sub groups set out below.
Va
This group is intended to cater for Formula Vee racing cars with a competition history established in the period between 1 January 1965 and 31 December 1974.
Vb
This group is intended to cater for Formula Vee racing cars with a competition histoy established between 1 January 1975 and 31 December 1985.