Khanacross marks end of 2022 season

Mount Gambier Showgrounds host final event of the season

Closing off the competition year, the Limestone Coast Off Road Club (LCORC) hosted a round of the McPherson Mechanical Khanacross Series being part of the South Eastern Automobile Club’s 2022 year.

Round 5, the last round of the series, was setup at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds, utilising the bitumen and hot mix areas that the sideshows are normally set up for the annual show.

Director of the Day Paul (Keg) Height, set out a reasonably straight forward track to get the attention of the 19 eager competitors and it did just that.

Fastest for Test 1, Ken Trimnell got straight into action in the Black Subaru WRX to be twoseconds clear of Bruce Hamilton and Damien Wilson, with Curtis Boyd another second back followed by Josh Munn, Lindsay Beare, Dion Becker, Sarah Coates, Bruno Vadori and Kyle Johnson.

Second attempt at this layout, Damien Wilson found a better line and pulled out nearly two seconds from his first round time to edge out Josh Munn, also some three seconds quicker on this run. Ken Trimnell had to settle for 3rd spot, being four tenths slower on the second go.

Bruce Hamilton bettered his first run time as well by a second, but filled the fourth spot on this round, followed by Dion Becker also quicker by two seconds in fifth, Curtis Boyd next on a similar time with Geoff Wilson a second behind, picking up four seconds from his first attempt, Lindsay Beare eighth, Bruno Vadori ninth and David Coombe rounding out the top 10.

As is normal with khanacross, the test is run both ways before any changes are made, so reverse Layout 1 was the next test to be tackled.

Ken Trimnell took to the layout and set the pace for this run from Damien Wilson, Bruce Hamilton, Geoff Wilson, Curtis Boyd, Dion Becker, Bruno Vadori, Lindsay Beare, Justin Devlin and Sarah Coates.

With an almost identical time, Trimnell again set the pace from Damien Wilson, Joshua Munn, Dion Becker, Geoff Wilson, Curtis Boyd, Bruno Vadori, Lindsay Beare, Justin Devlin and Kyle Johnson.

Minor variation changed the layout and Trimnell again set the pace from Damien Wilson, Bruce Hamilton, Geoff Wilson, Curtis Boyd, Kyle Johnson, Lindsay Beare, Justin Devlin, Max Viitanen and Sarah Coates.

Second attempt on this layout, Joshua Munn set the pace from Damien Wilson, Dion Becker, David Coombe, Geoff Wilson, Curtis Boyd, Kyle Johnson, Max Viitanen, Bob Byham and Sarah Coates.

Reverse the direction and Ken Trimnell set the pace, again, from Damien Wilson, Bruce Hamilton, Curtis Boyd, Dion Becker, Geoff Wilson, Joshua Munn, Kyle Johnson, David Coombe and David Byham.

Same layout, second pass, Joshua Munn took the pole from Damien Wilson by less than opne tenth of a second, Curtis Boyd, Dion Becker, David Coombe, Geoff Wilson, Kyle Johnson, Lindsay Beare, Bruno Vadori and Zachary Byham rounding out the top 10.

After a lunch break, the director tightened up the course with some clever cone placements and after a drive around by all the competitors, Ken Trimnell set the pace from Damien Wilson, Joshua Munn, Curtis Boyd, Bruce Hamilton, Dion Becker, Geoff Wilson, Justin Devlin, Kyle Johnson and Lindsay Beare.

Second attempt and Trimnell again the quickest from Damien Wilson by one tenth of a second followed by Curtis Boyd, Dion Becker, Geoff Wilson, David Coombe, Justin Devlin, Kyle Johnson and David Byham 10th.

Reverse this course and Damien Wilson found the pace to get fastest time from Trimnell, Dion Becker, Joshua Munn, Bruce Hamilton, Curtis Boyd, Geoff Wilson, Lindsay Beare, Kyle Johnson and Justin Devlin.

Same test, second pass, Trimnell got the top spot from Josh Munn, Bruce Hamilton, Geoff Wilson, David Coombe, Curtis Boyd, Kyle Johnson, Lindsay Beare, Zachary Byham and Bruno Vadori.

Last test, minor changes made by the director and another drive through for the drivers to know where to go, Bruce Hamilton set the pace for this one from Damien Wilson, Dion Becker, Joshua Munn, David Coombe, Curtis Boyd, Justin Devlin, Bruno Vadori, David Byham and Lindsay Beare.

Repeat this drive and Damien Wilson found a better line to get the fastest time from Bruce Hamilton, Joshua Munn, David Coombe, Geoff Wilson, Lindsay Beare, Sarah Coates, Kyle Johnson, Bob Byham and Newby, Harrison Bliss getting home in 10th spot.

When all the scores have been listed for the day’s outings the good runs and the bad runs, where penalties for Wrong Direction (WD) not stopping in the finish garage (WD) hitting track markers – five seconds per marker – change the finishing positions somewhat.

OUTRIGHT POSITIONS:
Damien Wilson: 1st Total: 449.96
Joshua Munn: 2nd Total: 466.32
Geoffrey Wilson: 3rd Total:479.62
Curtis Boyd: 4th Total: 479.80
Dion Becker: 5th Total: 481.14
Ken Trimnell: 6th Total: 482.11
Bruce Hamilton: 7th Total: 484.64
Kyle Johnson: 8th Total: 489.76
Lindsay Beare: 9th Total: 490.38
David Coombe: 10th Total: 499.30

CLASS SCORES:
Class B: Curtis Boyd
Class C: Damien Wilson
Class E: Geoff Wilson
Class F: Ken Trimnell
Class Junior: Kyle Johnson
Class Ladies: Sarah Coates

With this event completed, the South Eastern Automobile Club activities are now complete for 2022. Presentation Dinner and awards will be at a venue to be advised, late January.

The 2023 calendar is being finalised, with the first event being the popular Twin Peaks Hill Climb at Port MacDonnell in early February.

As always, check the club website seacsa.com for details of the competition year.