Motorkhanas - The Basics

By Graeme Adams

The Motorkhana, Autokhana, and the like provides the club member with their base level of motor sport (CAMS non-speed licence required) at minimum cost and risk to themselves and their cars. This is the first level of level of motor sport at the “grass roots” level and is ideally suited to MG sports cars. While there are no speed restrictions while competing, the car velocity is limited by the restrictive layout of the events.

Motorkhanas require learnt and developed skills. It may be that most do not take the time and effort to develop the necessary skills, as there do not appear to be many drivers at the top level. This is one form of motor sport in which the driver is more critical than the car. Indeed any vehicle with an overdeveloped engine (i.e. lacking low down torque) is going to be disadvantaged.

In my order of merit, the needs are:

  • driver skill
  • car wheel-base
  • traction (traction is in part controlled by where the engine is in relation to the driven wheels)
  • car balance (oversteer / understeer)

While the principles remain the same, the technique may change for different cars. A front wheel drive car requires a different technique than a read drive car. Tyre pressures are important as consideration needs to be given to grip and car “balance” so this will be an important part of the learning curve.

Motorkhanas can be run on all types of surfaces from grass/dirt to hard/bitumen. Most who have run for some time prefer a hard surface as it is cleaner (for the car and driver) and less variable (i.e. there is little or no advantage in running early or late in the field unless it rains!)

Remember that a motorkhana is to test the skill of the driver and the manoeuverability of the car.

Basics – Tests fall into three groups

  1. Slaloms
  2. Manoeuvering
  3. Gates and Garages

Notes on the start and finish garage, which are important:

  • You should always start and finish a test in the forward direction.
  • The start garage always has green flags, the finish has red flags.
  • You must come to a complete stop in the finish garage.

The aim is to complete the test in the least time. Penalties are added to your time for not completing the test correctly or displacing a flag. The largest penalty is the slowest time (of all other competitors) plus 5 seconds for going the wrong way, commonly called a WD (wrong direction). A 5-second penalty is added for displacing a flag, this being the smallest penalty.

The aim is to run penalty free, but early penalties are part of the learning curve. The plan should be – learn from each mistake and try not to repeat it.

By taking the following simple steps you will be well on your way. If the events (tests) are available before the event then it is worthwhile going over the layouts in detail. Bear in mind that what you are looking at is the plan view; but when you drive them you will be at ground level looking at a sea of flags; so you need to bring your view down to eye level. You should walk each event before your run. I think you are best walking the lines that you are planning to drive; live the test in your mind. Feel yourself driving around the flags as you walk. You need to be 2 flags ahead at all times as that determines that the position of the car is correct for the next part of the event.

At the At the MG Car Club the standard is high which will leave you in good shape when an open event comes along, like the National MG Meeting each year. If you want to know more, there are a number in the Club who can help you. Find someone who has a car like yours and is quick.

You will notice that some do what is called a **handbrake turn while others drive the lines. It may be best to ‘follow’ a quick non-hand brake turn driver until you have come to terms with the basics. In driving the line you need to understand that it is critical to allow as much turn in room coming into a marker (flag) as leaving if otherwise you will not stay “on time” and the event will tighten up on you.

For most, the first few events are fun because of their newness, but in time the result will become more important. After every event I compare my times with the fastest times to see where I am losing time. Of most interest is the fastest car that is the ‘same’ as mine. These results will also tell you which cars to watch at the next event. What are they doing that you are not?

Setting up your car

The best bit is that the power of the car is not critical as the events are done in low gear where you have all the power you need. Car ‘set up’ however is important.

If I had to make just 2 changes to a standard MGB it would be to stop the excessive body roll (larger diameter front anti-roll bar) and upgrade the tyres. I feel that 60 profile tyres is the way to go, but overall gearing can be a problem if your B is not fitted with overdrive.

It was drilled into me in my young days that the brakes stop the wheel and the tyres stop the car. While I understand that this not quite the case, good tyres are vital when the situation becomes critical be it on the road or race track.

Now you have the basics, its up to you.

Motorkhanas are a lot of fun at minimum cost, but you need to spend a little time learning the basics – it will make you a better driver.

**HANDBRAKE TURNS (HBT):

There are very quick drivers who never use a HBT but it can be a real advantage. If conditions are very slippery then the HBT will kill the cars momentum and it can be difficult to regain speed. In reasonable conditions if the car is to turn through 180 plus degrees, then a HBT needs to be considered. To complete a HBT the hand brake has to lock the back wheel on that surface; the car has to have enough momentum and be turning into the marker before the HBT is executed. In a rear wheel dive the clutch has to be engaged as the hand brake is pulled on (the hand brake locking ratchet has to be disengaged so the hand brake can “fly off”). The length of time the HBT is held on is dependent on the circumstances and will become apparent with experience. As soon as the hand brake is dropped so is the clutch. If everything goes to plan the steering wheel is just used to correct the shortcomings of the HBT and you are off to the next marker (flag). If the event has a number of HBT’s it will get very busy in the car and car position becomes even more critical.

Graeme Adams - 8/18

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