2011 National Meeting practice Motorkhana

Saturday morning was a touch overcast as the MGs started rolling through the gate at Throsby Wharf car park, ready for their chance to practice the tests that were to be run at this years MG National Meeting.

Twenty six competitors from the MG Car Clubs Hunter Region and Newcastle lined up and payed their money to hone their skills. For some, it was their first time in their respective mounts, others were old friends.

Three events were contested all up with each driver having two timed runs and then as many practices as they needed to get the pattern seared into the memory bank. 'Q Mothballs' was first test on the list and from the start Darren Hodgson set the pace in his MGF, half a second in front of the field with a 27"15 . Steve Jones found that this event was good handbrake material, going on to set the second best time (28".71) closely followed by Mike Cole (in a PRB Clubman... one of only 2 non MG's in the field).

In class 'A' Bev Jones posted a 31".84 just ahead of daughter Bronwyn (both in Bev's MG Midget). Bev took the second event (Multiple Loop) by just under 2 seconds from Bron, meaning Bron was almost 3 seconds in arrears. On their first runs at 'Gate Slalom' Bron pulled back almost 2 seconds off her mum with it all coming down to their last timed runs. Bev pulled out all stops and took 2 1/2" off her previous time while Bron didn't manage to improve. Class 'A' went to Bev (15th overall) over Bron.

Class 'C' was a mismatch in the extreme with Raymond Sheather in a 2005 MGZR up against Elliot Burns in his 1949 MGYT the second oldest car in the field in. That mismatch was obvious in the times posted, though Elliot claimed the victory by not being more than double Raymond's time. Raymond took 1st in class and 7th overall

Class 'D' saw the clash of the ZS' with Fran Hodgson taking on John Fraser. Fran pulled a 1 1/2" lead after 'Q Mothballs' and it was then up to John to chase her down. In 'Multiple Loop' John managed to claw back 3/10ths meaning he had to get another second back on 'Gate Slalom'. He did manage a quicker time than Fran but only by .11" meaning 1st in class went to Fran (9th overall). 

Class'B' was where the majority of the competitors were (20 in all) and again the fact that motorkhana classes are based on wheel base, not car models, meant another car totally out classed. Jeff Newey had brought along his 1946 MG TC and was up against a brace of MGAs, Bs & Fs (all 60's through to this century). Looking at the results, there wasn't much between the top half dozen drivers. Darren, Steve and Mike, along with Bruce Fraser in his MGA and Lyall Clark in his MGF were all within 4 seconds of each other. Just outside that group then another gaggle of class B's with Andy Peters (MGB), Peter Curry ('Team Basil' MGB) next overall closely followed by Dave Walker (MGB), Ian Ashton (MGF) and Paul Fraser (dad's A).

The Jones clan was lining their long suffering MGB up with 3 drivers. For Megan Jones and Chris Schofield it was their first competitive drive in this vehicle before the Nat Meet. Somewhat different to modern can mean a very steep learning curve. Steve had been pedaling this MGB around for over 30 years. In another dynasty, the Frasers were in attendance enmass with 3 cars and 5 drivers (the Jones' had 2 cars and 5 drivers). In the private Fraser battle, dad came out on top with Bruce taking 4th overall, Michael in 6th, John in 12th, Paul in 14th and Roechel in 25th.

In the end, 20 seconds covered the first 21 competitors.

By the time everyone had practiced the National Meeting evenst over and over, the rain had come to dampen the enthusiasm for further tests, so early in the afternoon the vote was taken and the unanimous decision was made to call it a day.

Well done to everyone that came and had a go. Good luck at the National Meeting.