Entries for the Motorsport Australia Motorkhana Championship are now open, with this year’s National Speed and Auto Test event to reach a major milestone.
 
Hosted in a joint effort by the Hills District Car Club and Thornleigh Car Club at the Nirimba Education Precinct, this year’s national motorkhana championship event will mark the 50th edition of its long and decorated history.
 
One of the most recognisable disciplines in grassroots motorsport, the Motorsport Australia Motorkhana Championship will see crews from around the country complete a range of slalom tests on bitumen, with the driver holding the lowest combined time to be deemed a national champion.
 
A maximum of 12 tests will be conducted in this year’s event with popular tests such as the Spiro Slalom, the Pentagone and the Triple Loop all to be included.
 
In addition to the competition, there will be a welcome dinner at the Quakers Hill Inn on the Saturday night ahead of the event, before a presentation awards dinner takes place on the Sunday evening, where motorsport legend Colin Bond will be the guest speaker. 
 
Interested competitors have until 22 September to enter the event and can do so via the Motorsport Australia Member Portal.
 
With both clubs having been involved in the running of national motorkhanas in previous years, the organising team is full of individuals with plenty of experience and knowledge, meaning a smooth event is on the cards.
 
One of those experienced individuals include Clerk of Course Peter Batt, who was a key member of the organising committees who held the 2009, 2013 and 2018 editions of the national championship event.
 
“We are feeling really good ahead of this year’s event as we are top of everything and it will be very much business as usual,” Batt said.
 
“The team from both clubs behind this event have quite a lot of experience and knowledge in running state and national events, because we love motorkhanas, so I have no doubt we will be efficient.  
 
“The fact we have run it multiple times, means there will be a lot of familiarity amongst competitors, which always helps, and even for us as organisers, because we know where everything needs to go.
 
“This will be the fourth time I have run the event, but the club’s organising of the national event goes back a long time, so we have it all down pat.
 
“The aim for this year will be to run 12 tests overall and three at a time. We should be able to get through four setups – which obviously depends on how many people attend. 
  
“With this all said, we are looking forward to running the championship event. We have had CAPS Australia come to the party and throw its support behind the event, which is always nice. 
 
“We also can’t wait to see Colin Bond speak at the presentation. It’s an honour having someone of his calibre involved in the event.”
 
The Motorsport Australia Motorkhana Championship takes place at the Nirimba Education Precinct on 30 September – 1 October.