HSCCQ Khanacross – April 2022

LCQ @ HSCCQ Khanacross and Motorkhana

By Cris Johansen.

Until late last year, I’d no idea who the HSCCQ were or what a Khanacross was compared to a motorkhana, but when, after too long a gap in my participation in any motorsport events, I saw a link to the HSSCQ event at Willowbank, I thought I’d explore what was offered by both of these unknowns. The Holden Sporting Car Club of Queensland, whilst devoid of anything remotely related to General Motors, turned out to be a great bunch of guys and gals who ran an event worth doing again if you want a taste of entry level motorsport.

The khanacross event I entered last year was close to home, inexpensive and fun, so I decided to take my nice new Elise Cup 250 along to this particular event for what must be one of the most budget friendly motorsport events on the calendar.

Unless you have been before, finding the place is a bit of a challenge as the event is held in the most remote corner of the complex, nearby the end of the drag strip, and I think I discovered every gate and carpark in the complex before finding a diverse group of petrol heads – amongst them was none other than Dick Reynolds in his Caterham. Dick was as surprised to see an Elise there as I was to see another LCQ member, and we both set about enjoying a day in the sun with the occasional short burst of adrenalin.

The event has a longer ‘khanacross’ section plus a very compact motorkhana section and, once underway, the 35 or so entrants had as much time to test their skills and car as they could possibly want on a Sunday.
The machinery varied from the nice, shiny and new (my Elise) to the downright dangerous and unreliable motorkhana ‘special’ who’s wheels literally fell off on one run and had to be manhandled onto an equally dilapidated trailer.

My own efforts we limited to having fun and embarrassing myself trying to remember some of the motorkhana courses with names such as try angles, jellyfish, etc. It was the first time I had the challenge of driving around a variety of courses denoted by 6 ‘cones’ and was impressed by just how quick Dick can steer his Caterham around such a tight course.

By early afternoon, when Dick and I had worn ourselves out and decided that we’d not be going any faster by continuing. Dick had managed to clean up in the motorkhana with a well-deserved 1st place, and was only beaten into 2nd place by a 300hp Honda Civic for the Khanacross.

Do come along next time and share the fun.