Group 5U Historic Sports Sedans
Aside from Historic Sports Sedans specifics, historic racing in general is administered by Motorsport Australia under their Historic Appendix and the 5th Category of vehicles, which covers a range of requirements such as safety standards, the running of historic vehicle competitions, and the technical specifications of vehicles representing an in-period vehicle.
5th Cat. Group U in general
For Historic Sports Sedans they fall under Group U of the 5th Category. Vehicles in Group U must be an original vehicle from the period, not a reproduction. The cut-off date for the group is 31st December 1985, with vehicles competing after this date able to be retro-restored back to an in-period specification prior to the cut-off date, while vehicles built after this date are not eligible at all.
If a car was built during the historic period, it is not forced into historic competition, but if continuing in contemporary Sports Sedans competitions those cars must keep up to spec with Group 3D Sports Sedans, there's no picking and choosing between the historic and the contemporary rules.
5th Category Logbooks and C.o.D.
Once a car is prepared to Group U specification, a new logbook is required for the 5th Category. There is an application process involved as the logbook will become more than just a tracking document for scrutineers to communicate from one event to the next event, it becomes part of verifying the vehicle’s heritage.
Original vehicles from the period will also need to prepare for the issue of a Certificate of Description, or C.o.D., which will set out which event in the past has been chosen for the restored vehicle to represent, and what specification the vehicle was in at that event.
5th Cat. Group U in State Championship racing
Having a 5th Category logbook doesn't by itself stop Group U vehicles from joining in State Championship Sports Sedans racing, however, there are some relaxations allowed for 5th Category cars in historic-only events that wouldn't apply.
If you own a Group U vehicle and want to race in State Championship events, contact the QRDA for further details and check lists for what would be allowed in historic-only events that would need to be prepared to contemporary standards instead.
5th Cat. Group U in other events
In modern times many Group U cars have ceased competative circuit racing, and are now used in Speed Events such as Sprints and Hillclimbs. Though the QRDA doesn't have club competitons for these events like it does for the State Championship, it is still great to see these cars out on track in whatever event they attend.