Ben Sale's white 1990 NA6

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Wed May 11, 2011 3:34 am

I love motorkhanas, though all bar one of the motorkhanas I've done have been tarmac. Great fun factor with a minimal cost and risk factor.

Unfortunately, in recent years we've struggled to actually find venues around Newcastle willing to host them.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Wed May 11, 2011 1:58 pm

I'd like to try one on tarmac, there is one coming up I can hopefully enter... I have a spare pair of wheels with dead semis perfect for it too =) Although the amount of car control you have to have on the slippery surfaces (especially with a rwd) appeals to me as it's something I'd like to improve. Apparently it's a lot more violent and hard on the car to do it properly on tarmac too...

Can't see how it would be too hard to find a venue if you were happy to run on dirt/grass. The one I went to was in the middle of a field. There was a dead cow in the paddock next to where the 'pits' were..!

surok · Postby **surok** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:05 pm

AWESOME MUM IS AWESOME!
How did the pug take it? rip the front lip off?

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:23 pm

Lol..! Her and the Pug did great, her times were really good too, especially considering she's never done any motorsport! The Pug seemed to be better suited to Motorkhana than the MX-5 actually, and it looked the part too! I kind of wan't to use it next time... But oversteer is addictive fun..! Didn't realise how close that lip is to the ground though!

By the 3rd test she was even doing handbrake turns! I was so proud..!

surok · Postby **surok** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:26 pm

i think kathleens front lip is even bigger.
ben . show your mum this. tell her you need to borrow 10k and her car for a week.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:31 pm

Hmm, I wonder why they have it there...

She's actually home now, I just showed her this and she laughed and smiled... Perhaps some potential =P

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Wed May 11, 2011 5:45 pm

bensale wrote:Can't see how it would be too hard to find a venue if you were happy to run on dirt/grass. The one I went to was in the middle of a field. There was a dead cow in the paddock next to where the 'pits' were..!

These are MG owners we're talking about here. Can't get the thing dirty! Especially the underside of the car, since so much time as an owner is spent under there.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Wed May 11, 2011 6:02 pm

Lol..! Pity that is the case, you should see if other clubs run them around Newcastle. Surely someone would.

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:57 pm

The Newcastle (as opposed to Hunter Region... long story) MGCC is hoping to develop a tarmac motorkhana venue on our own land some time soon. We have had some grass/dirt motorkhanas up there, but I don't think the team owner (AKA father) is too keen on the idea.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Thu May 12, 2011 1:18 am

Sounds complicated... Fair enough, I can understand where he would be coming from... I've had chunks of dirt coming off my car since Sunday, even today when I hit bumps you could hear dirt dislodging! When you have your own NA I guess you can get involved then (yet another incentive) and also go and do some track time down at Wakefield..!

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Thu May 12, 2011 1:38 am

Haha, people driving behind you must get a bit confused. :lol:

That is a good point. Track days would be a whole lot of fun and a great learning experience, though I would be a bit worried about the possibility of getting it wrong and putting my daily drive into a wall or something. I don't think many insurance companies would be too willing to cover that...

I don't know. We'll see.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Thu May 12, 2011 1:53 am

I've always figured that the track is only as dangerous as you make it... If you drive within your own abilities and those of the car you'll be fine =)

I've had a few spins at my last few track days, but thats only been because I've been trying to extract every possible bit of performance out of myself and the car... The events before that I drove within my limits, was slower but didn't have any offs. My attitude is to push as hard as possible on corners where I know there is nothing to hit and try to leave a little more in reserve on corners where you can hit something. Yes it's never going to be completely safe, or even as safe as a motorkhana, but I think I'm probably more likely to damage the car driving to uni tomorrow morning... From what I understand about Wakefield there aren't really that many places you're going to hit anything anyway...

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Thu May 12, 2011 8:14 am

Except the tyre wall exiting turn 10. I've hit that twice. :oops:

But in both cases I was "having a bit of fun" by deliberately letting the car get into a big drift and trying to chase it with throttle. Stupid thing to do, I know, but at the time it was a split-second decision and I uncharacteristically chose the wrong option. So the message is -- always treat that turn with respect, never chase a big slide there, and you're fine. Hopefully there won't be another next time for me! :lol:

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:50 am

Hmm... I did read that, my condolences are with you there... I can't imagine the feeling =( The message is a good one though! When I finally sample Wakefield sometime this year I'll be sure to remember to treat turn 10 with a lot of respect..!

Also Guran, I had a read of the NSW club mag at the Vic committee meeting last night, great job you've done improving that..! Looks great!

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Fri May 27, 2011 7:13 pm

I went to drive off from uni to garage cafe last night and noticed my mirror was sitting at a weird angle... So I got out and had a look and saw this...

Awesome... Not very happy, but at the end of the day nothing I could do... I had a crack at polishing it out today and got all but one scratch out. However, the two dents in the guard and the marks at the front of the door aren't going anywhere... It isn't really noticeable, just annoying =(

The 16s are going back on the car soon, i picked up a pair of Federal 595ss' off Wazman today for practically nothing which should be good for street use and will mean I stop wearing out the Dunlop's on the street.