Motorkhana fun this month

Motorkhana fun

EVER heard of, or seen a J-turn been executed?

It’s a motorkhana term that involves some smart driving to flick a car from one direction to the opposite in a split second – and lots of the spectacular moves can be seen at the RAC Driving Centre in Grogan Road on September 24 and 25.

That’s when the Mini Car Club of WA hosts the Australian Motorkhana Championships and spokesman Dave Elliott says about 60 vehicles, about a third from interstate, will contest seven classes.

“There’s no charge for spectators,” he said. “They are more than welcome and with four test areas running simultaneously there is something happening every second.

“Another great thing about motorkhana is that all the action is in one place.”

The classes are based on the physical size of the cars, which range from Mini Mokes to purpose-built motorkhana specials, and one category is a shoot-out between Subaru Impreza WRXs and Mitsubishi Lancer Evos.

The route around the markers is usually between 200 and 300 metres, like a 1/4 mile drag through a twisty course.

Some tests are based on slaloms, some more manoeuvring types and there’s always a bit of reversing in championship motorkhanas.

There’s a lot of camaraderie in the sport as well.

In 2011, when the nationals were last held in Perth, Canberra driver Reece McIntosh called the organisers to ask if anyone would lend him a car to drive and Kingsley’s Mike Brewer came to the rescue with his BMW M3.

McIntosh went on to win his class in the red Beemer and also came first on handicap.

Kingsley motorkhana driver Mike Brewer in action in his M3.