Khanacross

The beauty of khanacross is that it’s basically a slow event (this doesn’t mean that it’s not very challenging … plus you have to remember which way to go!).

You drive around a marked course, weaving between witches’ hats and around bollards as you negotiate a challenging course that tests and improves your driving skills. It’s doubtful that many cars get out of 2nd gear.

You only have to be as serious as you want to be, because you are only competing against yourself. Beginners are allowed to have an instructor in the car.

The Club’s Eastern Victoria Chapter hosts an annual Club Khanacross Championship at the Gippsland Car Club’s hillclimb course at Bryant Park, near Moe, with around eight rounds each year. All MX-5 Club members are welcome to come along and test their skills on these days (subject to capacity), so make sure your keep an eye on the Club calendar.

Khanacross is also great for learning car control, and a BIG focus for us is to try to get more kids involved … why not consider getting your kids or grand-kids to come along to a khanacross event and learn some driving skills at low speeds? Kids over 12 years of age can drive in khanacross events, with an instructor in the car with them.

For more information, please email our Khanacross organiser, Life member Peter “Ferg” Ferguson.

What is it?

Khanacross is a low-level motorsport event where single cars at a time, run around a course at relatively low speed (most cars don’t get out of second gear) but through a series of witches’ hats.

The course is challenging as you are competing against a stop watch, trying to beat your own times and, if you wish, others as well.

Our Club joins in with the Gippsland Car Club (GCC) when they run events at the Bryant Park Hillclimb track at Bill Schultz Drive, Newborough (near Moe, in Gippsland).

Bryant Park can be hot, cold, windy and wet – often on the same day!

That said, it is a superb track that you’ll fall in love with and may end up wanting to do some hillclimbs there as well. The GCC runs a very well organised but still “laid back” event, making it a very enjoyable day.

Who can compete?

Anyone over 12 years of age can get a Motorsport Australia (MSA) licence and compete.

There is NO BETTER way of ensuring your kids will know what they are doing when they go on the road than to have competed in Khanacross (or Motorkhana) as the events are all about fine car control at low speeds and sometimes in wet weather conditions.

The chances of car damage are extremely low, and entirely in line with how hard you, or your kids want to go.

If you have an MX-5, wouldn’t you love to see how it, and you (and your kids!) perform?

Car prep

Providing the car is basically roadworthy, the ONLY prep required is to fit a fire extinguisher. You need to purchase a fire extinguisher with a metal holding frame rather than plastic and these are cheaply obtained from places such as Supercheap Auto, Repco etc.

There is no need for bonnet restraints, tow eyes, roll bars etc, and standard road tyres and pressures are a good place to start. A well-driven standard MX-5 can be highly competitive, so put your efforts into your personal development before spending money on car modifications.

Personal prep

To compete, you need to wear a compliant helmet. You do not need a HANS device or a high-cost helmet if you have no intention of doing more serious motorsport. An open-face helmet is fine and can be obtained at motorcycle shops for around $70 to $80 (remember – it’s your head you’re protecting, so don’t skimp … as the saying goes, if you only have a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet!).

You need to wear shoes, not thongs or sandals. In the hot weather, shorts are fine. You do NOT need a driving suit unless you wish to wear one. Pick shoes that are narrow-soled to give you the best feel of the pedals without getting caught up.

What to do to get started

First, you need to be a member of an MSA-affiliated club, which the Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria & Tasmania is! If you have an MX-5, why would you not join our Club and benefit from all the aspects of Club membership?

If you have friends who wish to compete, but don’t (yet!) have an MX-5, they are probably best to join GCC, which owns Bryant Park, andorganise these events, and to compete in their own car.

Once you are a member of an affiliated car club, you can visit the MSA website and, in the member’s portal [see links below], set up your own log-in.

Once you have a log-in you can obtain an MSA “Speed” licence and then enter events such as khanacross. There is NO alternative way to enter.

Take note that the MSA website, while gradually improving, is not hugely user-friendly. Don’t wait till the last minute to put in an entry.

The GCC close off entries for khanacross the Wednesday before each event, which are usually held on a Sunday. Again, it’s wise to not leave an entry until the last minute.

What does it cost?

Entry fees at present are $30 for an adult or $10 for kids, per event.

It is ridiculously cheap motorsport.

A typical day

A typical day recently has seen a field of around 40 cars, with MX-5s comprising 50-60% of these.

For most days, the field is split into two groups, with concurrent runs using different parts of the track.

We generally get seven to eight runs a day and each run is “new” – ie, we don’t repeat runs on the day, so there is plenty of variety.

The track is all bitumen, as is the car park which is also used. Cars are allowed to have “instructors” travel with the driver so it’s great for kids starting out as Mum/Dad/Grandpa etc can show them the way.

Usually, we:

• have scrutineering (a fairly relaxed car check) from about 9.15am and a drivers’ briefing about 9.45am. Competition starts around 10am.
• finish 2.30-3pm, and most of the MX-5 folk then gather at Moe Macca’s for a de-brief, coffee and pit stop as many then drive back to Melbourne. We often have unchecked results available so that the “heroes” can be suitably congratulated!

We are a friendly and helpful bunch and you’ll be made very welcome.

Helpers

We are always looking for folk to come along to help run the day. No experience is required and the work is not hard: just observing, marshalling cars or sometimes, helping on the stopwatch. So even if you don’t (yet) want to compete, please come along and help out … OR just come and spectate to see what it’s all about.

Championship

There are usually seven to eight khanacross events each year. We generally pick seven of these to be part of our Khanacross Championship and competitors’ best six results count for the Championship.

Trophies are given for adults, Juniors over 16 and Juniors under 16.