A TOUGH set of tests confronted drivers in the fourth round of the South Eastern Automobile Club motorkhana series at the Glenburnie saleyards complex on Sunday.
First two layouts presented were Paddy and Reverse Garage, both reversing events.
Running against the clock, each competitor has to push to the limit, which can be their undoing when reversing quickly, resulting in hitting track markers or wrong direction penalties, of which there were a few.
Double Kidney and Dollar tests were next up and enjoyed by all, some a little too much.
Afternoon tests were variations to the popular Spiro Slalom and proved to be quite enjoyable, with only a few marker penalty or wrong directions listed.
Tony Wallis, who has been down from his Adelaide Hills base with a variety of competition vehicles over the past few years and is extremely quick in everything with wheels, turned up with his latest toy, a well put together Honda-powered FWD Special.
As is normal when he competes, Wallis proved to be the one to beat in all-but one of the tests where a pedal mix up resulted in a bit of a spin, costing him extra time and places.
Of the local group, Phil Wilson and Ken Trimnell traded places all day for second and third spots, while Bruce Hamilton showed some style in one test and was not far off the pace in many others, using a borrowed car after breaking a drive line in the first test in his Falcon.
Results – still to be verified – have Wallis well clear of the field in outright scoring with a total, including rare penalties of 407.76 seconds.
Phil Wilson, doing the normal slide job in his Toyota Soarer, applied pressure to Wallis all day but could not close the margin, finishing with a total of 481.43 seconds for second outright.
Trimnell also pushed the limits and had a couple of moments along the way with a total of 495.42 seconds for third outright.
Damien Wilson punished the Nissan Silvia at every test and totalled at 515.22 seconds for his efforts.
Rising from a long spell away from competition, Ashton Slotegraaf drove his old car with a totally different style, showing good car control to be at the pointy end through the day.
His effort for the day ended with a total time of 550.01 seconds and fifth outright spot.
With handicaps applied, Phil Wilson is moved up to first, Wallis second, Trimnell stays in third, Damian Wilson still fourth and Bruce Hamilton up to fifth.
Class placings points: Class B – Ken Trimnell; C – Damien Wilson; D – Phil Wilson; F – Tony Wallis; Junior – Ashton Slotegraaf; Ladies – Suzann Kent; M – Geoff Wilson.
The next motorkhana is set to run on November 28.
SEAC Park activity will return on Saturday, October 9 with a Rallycross in the afternoon.
Round 4 of the SEAC Super Series autocross will take place on Sunday, October 10.
