MG Motoring 2018 April 2018 - opt | Page 31

April 2018 Motorkhana Round 1 – 18 February MSCA Super Sprint Round 1 2018 n Sunday 18 February a small band of motorkhana enthusiasts gathered at the Mallala skidpan for round 1 of the SA Motorkhana Series. Due to some changes to rules and cost- ings for motorkhanas the CAMS Auto Test Panel had decided to make the 2018 series a state championship so there were a few regulation subtleties which had to be dealt with to get the day under way. MGCCSA was running the event so we had a lot to learn very quickly. On Sunday 11 March, Round 1 of the 2018 MSCA Super Sprint series was run at Mallala. A field of eighty nine sprinters lined up for the day with nine MGCC members among them. MGCC members entered six MGs, an MGB V8, a ZR, a TC, an MGB GTV8 and two MGFs. The other cars were a Lancer EVO8, Lotus Exige and Hyundai Excel. O A further eight MGCC members were involved in running the event with Berry as the starter, Bev in timing, Tim scruti- neering and five in the flaggy bunker helping to make the event flow. A small team was on hand to get set up including members of the Panel and other clubs but thanks to Dave, Tim, Alan Cardnell, Bev Waters, Peter Coul- son, Jason and Faye Edwards and Murray for the setup. Pack was further aided by the rest of the Edwards clan, Michelle, Tyler and Aiden. Great work. It was great to see new member John Parmiter bring out his MGF for a run and despite the odd spin he had a good time. It is understood he has done a lap or two at Mallala before, have raced Alan Cardnell back in the day. The field of twenty three drivers included four MGCCSA members and most nota- bly Faye Edwards having her debut run in the TD prior to Easter. Faye did a great job all day taking out only one flag and having a great time. Nick Micklem set out with a new set of tyres for the weekend and was quickly onto his previous best but slowed down once he started to push. Garry Bolt’s V8 didn’t want to rev but despite pulling nothing over 4,500RPM he did get under 1 minute 30 seconds. After the first two runs the clouds deliv- ered a gentle shower which persisted for the remainder of the day making for slip- pery conditions. There was a general complaint of the track being slippery, particularly after a Torana applied dust settling oil to the surface. The series may be called a State Cham- pionship but is no different to what we have run before. It’s the same people doing the same tests and having fun at the same price. Come and have a go. A great time was had by all and we look forward to the next round at Mallala on 29 April. The day was mild and very pleasant to be sitting around watching or flagging but apparently quite warm in the cars. The Manning - Stephenson rivalry con- tinued with Dick and Scott battling for times. Unfortunately the Excel was off the pace on the day but needs to be 29