Small motorkhana field

Tight racing in final round of the 2022 series

A small field of just 10 drivers fronted the starter for the last round of the 2022 Motorkhana Series late last month.

Jason Sims and Bev Shute put together a very interesting set of tests to keep the small field entertained for the day and were lucky enough to get some sunshine for the day’s competition.

Test 1 layout, “Double Bone”, got things under way on a dry surface, so plenty of grip for those “serious” competitors. Damien Wilson found enough grip to get fastest time in the first attempt, clear of Jason Sims by 1.1 seconds with Ken Trimnell another four tenths behind sims. Phil Wilson next home again four tenths the gap to him and Will Argoon throwing the big Wagon around between the markers a credible 5th place.

Second attack and Damien Wilson pulled another 1.3 seconds off the previous time to get another 1st spot from Phil Wilson, finding a better line and six tenths behind his brother and the same margin in front of Jason Sims, also a second quicker than his first attempt with Ken Trimnell holding on for fourth spot and Ashton Slotegraaf just 0.011 seconds behind Sims in fifth.

Next test layout, “Gables”, saw Damien Wilson, Phil Wilson, Jason Sims and Ken Trimnell finish 1, 2, 3 and 4 in both runs. Ashton Slotegraaf got home in fifth on the first run, Will Argoon fifth in the second run.

Triple Loop had been chosen for the next test layout and Damien Wilson enjoyed this one to the MAX, from Jason Sims, Ken Trimnell, Phil Wilson, Ashton Slotegraaf and Will Argoon for the first run.

Jason Sims got the spot in the second go from Ken Trimnell, Phil Wilson, Damien Wilson in fourth (after collecting a flag on the way) and Ashton Slotegraaf again 5th.

Next setup, called “Gable Slalom” saw the same group 1-5 with Damien Wilson first, Jason Sims second, Ken Trimnell third, Phil Wilson fourth and Ashton Slotegraaf fifth in both attempts.

“Manoeuvring” was the next layout to be run, with Damien Wilson continuing to set Fastest time for the first run, from Jason Sims, Phil Wilson, Ken Trimnell and Will Argoon with the gap from first to fifth only 5.5 seconds.

Second pass and Jason Sims scored the top spot from Phil Wilson, Ken Trimnell and Damien Wilson (with another marker penalty) heading Ashton

Slotegraaf in fifth the gap across the top five only four seconds this time.

“Bandit” layout was the next test to be tackled and again Damien Wilson found speed and set the pace from Ken Trimnell, Jason Sims, Phil Wilson and Ashton Slotegraaf for the first attempt, the gap from one to five only 3.5 seconds.

Run 2 and Damien bettered his first run by two tenths and set fastest time on this layout from Jason Sims, Phil Wilson and Ken Trimnell, with Geoff Wilson getting fifth spot in the second run.

After a lunch break, “Mothballs” layout had been set up. First run saw D Wilson from J Sims, P Wilson, K Trimnell and A Slotegraaf.

Second pass and the finishing order for one to four was the same with “Junior”, Henry Sims making it home in fifth spot in the family Celica.

“Corridor” is the name given to the next test and Damien Wilson scored the first points from Jason Sims, Ken Trimnell, Phil Wilson and Geoff Wilson all about one second apart.

Sims Senior got home in 1st spot in the second run from Phil Wilson, Ken Trimnell, Ashton Slotegraaf and Geoff Wilson in 5th spot.

A crowd favourite, “Try Angles” had been the Director’s next choice and Ken Trimnell agreed with this, setting the pace in the first attempt to beat Damien Wilson by two hundredths of a second (28.04 to 28.06) from Jason Sims, Phil Wilson and Ashton Slotegraaf getting home in fifth spot.

Second pass, Damien Wilson led the way home from Ken Trimnell, Jason Sims, Phil Wilson and Ashton Slotegraaf.

Next layout, “Double Loop”, is a quick test and Damien Wilson made another fastest time from Jason Sims, Ken Trimnell, Phil Wilson and Geoff Wilson with the gap from first to fifth less than three seconds.

Second attack saw Jason Sims make it to the top spot by 1/100th of a second from Damien Wilson (27.02 to 27.03) from Ken Trimnell a half a second behind (27.54) from Ashton Slotegraaf and Phil Wilson fifth.

Still enjoying a dry surface and keeping an eye on the approaching weather, the Director set up “Square Slalom” as the next test to be run.

Damien Wilson made it home

from Jason

Sims, Phil Wilson, Ken Trimnell and Lindsay Beare in fifth spot.

Jason Sims tidied up his run and set the pace in the second run

to head off Phil Wilson, Damien Wilson, all on 23 seconds (23.05,

23.72 and 23.82) with Ken Trimnell 4th and Lindsay Beare again in fifth spot.

Last change to the test for the day, “Accordion” was the choice and – no surprises, Damien Wilson headed the pack home with Jason Sims, Phil Wilson, Ken Trimnell, Ashton Slotegraaf in the first go, Sims getting a better run in the second pass to top the sheets from Phil Wilson, Damien Wilson, Ken Trimnell and Ashton Slotegraaf fifth.

Both club Juniors Henry Sims and Max Viitanen were right up with the more seasoned campaigners and will feature in the top runners in the not-too-distant future.

Placings for the final round of the 2022 series will be influential in the count for the year, as the top 5 spots were quite close at the end of Round 4.

Outright positions for Round 5: Damien Wilson (pictured below left) 1st with a total time of 750.00 seconds (including 3 x 5 second penalties along the way)

Jason Sims 2nd with a total time of

753.39 seconds

Phil Wilson 3rd with a total time of

775.59 seconds

Ken Trimnell 4th with a total time of

784.98 seconds

Ashton Slotegraaf (pictured above) 5th with a total time of

849.49 seconds

Geoff Wilson 6th with a total time of 918.86 seconds

Lindsay Beare 7th with a total time of 935.58 seconds

Henry Sims 8th with a total time of

939.21 seconds