As one of the biggest clubs in Australia, the MG Car Club of Victoria hopes to continue to run as many events as they can for as long as they can this year, starting with this weekend’s motorkhana at the METEC Driver Training facility in Melbourne’s east.

 

The motorkhana is part of an 18-round club challenge, which features a range of different speed and non-speed events, including supersprints, hill climbs, motorkhanas and an observed sectional trial on a muddy paddock later on in the year.

 

More than 60 competitors are expected to compete in the series’ fifth round of the season, which will see them complete six different track routines as they battle for outright points in the series’ already tight title race.

 

In light of the ongoing fluid COVID-19 situation, Club Captain Ric Collett believes the club should be able to continue with a majority of events like this weekend’s motorkhana, with appropriate precautions in place.

 

“It’s part of the club’s annual series and the fifth event on the calendar,” Collett said.

 

“We had a successful supersprint and regularity at Phillip Island last weekend and we would love to continue building on that.

 

“A lot of people that I have spoken to are really happy that we’re going ahead, otherwise they would be going crazy if they had to stay at home, so we’re glad we can offer them this.”

 

The event will be taking place outside and the club will be making a number of changes to make sure it complies with the restrictions currently in place for all events around Australia.

 

From encouraging members to pay for entry via contactless payments such bank transfers, to all officials being provided with a separately packed lunch to avoid cross contamination, Collett believes they are doing everything in their power to make sure their events for their loyal members continue.

 

“We had to cancel a few other major events coming up shortly, including our national meeting, which funnily enough this weekend’s motorkhana was meant to be the practice for,” Collett added.

 

“We have to work within the limitations we are given, so we’re encouraging people to stay home if they’re feeling ill and we’re developing ways to keep people at the appropriate social distance of one and half metres.

 

“I would feel very bad if I was not running the event this weekend. We want to keep the club activities going as we want to give our members value of their membership, and by holding this motorkhana, they get their cars out there and use them.

 

“I just hope the rain away so we can have a nice and positive event.”

 

The MG Car Club of Victoria’s fifth club championship of the year takes place at METEC in Bayswater, Melbourne on 22 March.