This round of the Motorkhana series started a lot nicer than most track days have for AWDCC this year – the skies were all but clear, the sun shone through and it was warm! It was short-lived though, as after lunch it was like the deaths of winter again. Me being optimistic, I didn't even pack a jumper so by the end of the day my nipples could cut tempered glass.
Once again we were meant to be out at the Villa Grove Jindera site, but rain and conditions made the club change back to the DECA site at Barnawartha. This meant that the last dirt Motorkhana held by AWDCC was very early this year, and talks about scheduling for next year are already being held.
The top of the table for this round looked a little different – with Rod Shaw’s grey/white roof Mini incapacitated with some mechanical issues, he jumped in his white Mini, setting him down the order and not fighting for first or second as normal.
Rod really loves these little things! He competes yearly at Hay, NSW for the Mini Nationals (where he also does quite well on the score card).
The healthy rivalry between he and Simon (pictured) was alive and well, but this round was all Simon's for the Motorkhana, 1st outright in that event for the day.
Matt Grice normally drives his turbo LPG powered LS VK Commodore around but chose to join his father in his R31. The big change between the cars saw Matt pull up short on getting around some of the cones throughout the early part of the day, but he soon got the hang of it.
Arguably the best sounding car of the day was David's Toyota Soarer. A raspy note escaped the exhaust as he powered though the tests, wide open throttle. The quad cam 1UZ loves sitting near the red line.
Annabel in her daily driven MX-5 attacked every track layout in an exceptionally smooth manner, this time netting a 3rd outright in the Motorkhana and 5th in the Khanacross. The little Mazda sporting a set of BC coilovers to keep it even more rigid though the corners as well as a race seat, appropriate Nardi wood grain steering wheel, shift knob and handbrake handle to match the peanut butter colored interior.
These days are normally split into two different competitions. The morning for Motorkana on the skid pan, the afternoon utilizing the Deca track for a Khanacross on this occasion. This time the layout was the main circuit in reverse direction, chicanes placed as obstacles to keep speed down, ending on the skid pad with cones to work your way around until you find yourself screeching to a stop in the “garage”.
Jake Lucus took out the Khanacross at possibly the cost of the poor Excel’s engine for the second time in two races when it decided it no longer needed all its oil and pushed it back out though his home-made breather/catch can.
Jake also came runner-up behind Simon in the morning’s Motorkhana.
Feedback from this I hear was pretty good and I'd be surprised if this didn't happen at a few more ‘Khana days!
For Full results follow the link though to AWDCC Website below
http://www.awdcc.com.au/
Written by Luke Hunter
Edited by Ligh Rizzato
