Motorsport

Motorsport

Our Secretary is Steve Bowra
Phone: 0417 829 864
Email: msportssec@gmail.com


Our Assistant Secretary is Bev Waters
Phone: 0402 262 156
Email: bev.waters@bigpond.com

 

 

 

Ladies Day at Mallala

Oh dear, it’s so hard to write this report without descending into the most awful pun, but what a Joy it was to be at Mallala Motorsport Park on August 11th for our hugely successful inaugural Ladies’ Day.

All eyes were on our very own 99-year-old motorsport veteran Joy Pearson, the star of the show as she was chauffeured around the track by grand-daughter Cara (who celebrated her birthday on the day) in the immaculate red 1966 MGB which sparked Joy’s love of the marque back in the 1970s. Read the full report Click Here

Peter Cundy's Latest Reports from the UK

As you know our patron Peter Cundy is currently in the UK campaigning his NA Type in historic races and having a great time. His latest reports are from a track day at the famous Goodwood circuit and Cadwell Park a multi-purpose circuit established in 1934, the same year as the NA Type was released for sale. His full reports are available here – Goodwood and Cadwell Park. He’s also included links to video from these events: Goodwood and Cadwell Park.

Motorsport Report Mallala MSCA Super Sprint Series Round 2 - 23 Jun 2024

A bitterly cold day greeted the intrepid band of competitor’s attending round 2 of the sprinting series, and included a Come and Try event which Adrian Akhurst’s grandson took part in driving an MGF with Adrian as his instructor. (Report next magazine)

The temperature hovered around 5 degrees with a light wind at the start and stayed cold, cloudy and windy all day. The day began with Jason Edwards having to perform an axle change ably assisted by Dick, Trevor and Tyler before his sprinting could even begin. A suspected thermostat failure cut short Dicks fun for the day after the 2nd round and the ever reliable yellow MGF was retired and trailered home early. For full report Click Here

Motor Sport Social Night with Ed Ordynski & Dick Manning

Well what a night is was – a Friday night at the clubrooms late last year and full of members enjoying an entertaining evening with two past rally champions interviewing each other. First up we had Dick Manning interviewing Ed Ordynski our club Patron who talked about his early days of rallying, and like many at that time he had no funds to speak of and started with a car that cost him a few hundred dollars. Today not considered much, but back then a lot.

The pathway he had laid out to achieve his goals was discussed at length and all the things he considered to become a winner. We were told the challengers he had in damaging cars and finding sponsors to achieve his goals. We all knew that Ed ended up as a professional rally driver for many years, but the night was about his early days.

The second part of the night was Ed interviewing Dick, and we learnt about him buying his fist car at 13 or about that age, and the price was about 25 pounds. I’m sure he lost count of how many cars he owned for rallying, but there were many. We learnt about the great wins he had in the ex-taxi (Ford Falcon automatic) and how he went on to build a professional team with excellent sponsors. Ed spoke about the great car control that Dick displayed in handling a large car like the Falcon and why he achieved a state title. Both Ed and Dick have won the state rally championship.

A big thank you to them both as I know what efforts went into creating a great night with commentary and video screen shots of their exploits.

We must also thank the Ladies who provided a magnificent supper. It must have been good because the tables were cleared, well done.

Neil Williams

Image Gallery - click to view

MGF & MG TF competitors - Time to Check your boots!

On Sunday 7 May 2023, a number of MGCC SA members were competing in the Peter Hall Memorial 6-hour Regularity Relay at Mallala. Trevor Dunford was racing his MGF, when it suddenly caught fire. I subsequently lent him my MGF to him do some more laps but, a short while later, I saw smoke coming from the engine bay of my car too. I called Trevor in and we later noticed that the driver’s side drive shaft boot on my car had a small nick in it, which had resulted in grease being flung around the engine bay and landing on the exhaust. A closer inspection of Trevor’s car identified the same drive shaft boot on his car had been burnt, suggesting the fire had caught hold on the drive shaft grease.

These two incidents suggest It might be time to check the drive shaft boots on MGFs for ‘dampness’ suggestive of a damaged boot. On both occasions at Mallala, the smoke was not evident to the driver.

Submitted by John Illingworth 0497 195 055

2025 MGCC Motorsport Calendar


Date

Event

Venue

*

Feb 23rd Sun

Marque Sports Car Assoc. Picnic. Club Display competition & Presentations for 2024 Super Sprint Series

Virgara Wines. 143 Heaslip Rd, Angle Vale. 11.00am-2.30pm

**

Mar 2nd Sun

Motorkhana – State Series Rd 1. organized by MG Car Club

Mallala

**

Mar 16th Sun

MSCA Super Sprint, Rd 1 of Series

Mallala

**

Apr 6th Sun

Motorkhana – State Series Rd 2

Mallala

**

Mar 29th Sat

Hillclimb Collingrove – Club Trophy Event Rd 1

Collingrove

**/*

Apr 18-22nd

MG National Meeting

Albury/Wodonga

*

May 4th Sun

Peter Hall Memorial 6 Hour Relay event

Mallala

**

May 18th Sun

Hillclimb Collingrove – Club Trophy Event Rd 2

Collingrove

**

May 18th Sun

Motorkhana – State Series Rd 3

Mallala

**

Jun 29th Sun

Hillclimb Collingrove – Club Trophy Event Rd 3

Collingrove

**

Jun 15th Sun

Motorkhana - State Series Rd 4

Mallala

**

Jun 22nd Sun

MSCA Super Sprint Rd 2 of Series

Mallala

**

Aug 3rd Sun

MSCA Super Sprint Rd 3 of Series

Mallala

**

Sep 14th Sun

Motorkhana – State Series Rd 5

Mt Gambier Sale Yards SEAC

**

Sep 21st Sun

MSCA Super Sprint Rd 4

Mallala

**

Sep 28th Sun

Hillclimb Collingrove – Club Trophy Event Rd 4

Collingrove

**

Nov 15th Sun

MSCA Super Sprint Rd 5

Mallala

** MG Car Club Competition Championship Indicates points allocated – Best 10 results.

* */** Events Indicates a point allocated towards Club Member of the Year award whether competing, an official or spectator.

OTHER MOTORSPORT EVENTS OF INTEREST

Date/2025

Event

Venue

May 14-16

Australian Grand Prix

Melbourne

Apr 17

Hillclimb Collingrove – SCC Winter cup series Rd 1

Collingrove

Jun 1

Hillclimb Collingrove – SCC Winter cup series Rd 2

Collingrove

Jul 20

Hillclimb Collingrove – SCC Winter cup series Rd 3

Collingrove

Aug 17

Hillclimb Collingrove – SCC Winter cup series Rd 4

Collingrove

Oct 5

Barossa Vintage Hillclimb

Barossa

Oct 31-Nov 2

Hillclimb State Championships

Collingrove

Nov 16

Hillclimb Season Finale

Collingrove

Nov 21-23

Shannons Adelaide Rally

Adelaide

Nov 27 -30

Vailo 500 Adelaide

Adelaide

ALL DATES SUBJECT CHANGE

MG Car Clubs in Australia and worldwide have played a key part in motorsport since the beginnings of the clubs and the MG Car Club of South Australia is no exception.
Members are actively involved in all levels of the sport as competitors and officials. The MG Car Club of SA nominates a number of events each year where members can score points towards the Club Motorsport Championship.
These are mostly events run by other clubs and MGCCSA contributes officials to some of these events. The Championship also includes the National Meeting and the SA/Vic Interstate Club Challenge.

Links to Motorsport pages:

Motorsport Australia
MSCA (Marque Sports Car Association)
SCCSA (Sporting Car Club of SA)
Mallala Motorsport Park
The Bend Motorsport Park

Events generally fall into the following categories:

Motorkhana
Motorkhanas are run on a flat surface where courses are laid out to test the skill and judgement of the driver and the manoeuvrability of the car. A number of tests are set at each event and generally you have two runs at each test.

On arrival competitors are given a copy of the nominated tests, cars are inspected for general safety and compliance and a brief practice session is provided. Cars are run one at a time against the clock and the course must be completed in the correct direction before coming to a stop in the finish garage.

Cars are grouped into classes according to their wheelbase, and include classes for specials and all wheel drive cars. MGCCSA runs one of the five rounds of the SA Motorkhana Championship series each year and there is normally a Come and Try entry available for newcomers.

It’s also a great place for young drivers who can compete from twelve years of age and learn basic car control skills. It’s great fun, challenging and a very sociable day while you compete and watch others.

The Skid Pan at Mallala is the current venue being used for Motorkhanas close to Adelaide.

Hillclimb
A Hillclimb is a speed event, where one car and driver runs over a defined uphill winding course, from a standing start to a flying finish at the top of the hill, against the clock. In competition, cars are classified into categories so as to have cars of like potential performance competing against each other.

As with all motorsport events, the day starts with scrutineering of cars and a drivers’ briefing prior to competition starting.

Come and Try Hillclimb Events are also held during the year where newcomers can get a taste for the sport and test their skills in a non-competitive and fun environment.

Most Hillclimbs events in South Australia are run at Collingrove, a challenging track near Angaston, which has a long history in Australian motorsport.

The Sporting Car Club of SA run most Collingrove events and the MG Car Club use the three multi-club events each year as part of our Club Competition Championship.

Super Sprint
A Super Sprint involves a number of cars sprinting on a circuit at one time with each lap for each car individually timed. Cars are generally arranged in groups of similar performance and sent on track for either a standing or rolling start to complete a number of laps. It is not racing, as the cars are individually timed, but overtaking is permitted where safe.

It is an ideal introduction to circuit racing and can be entered with road going cars as well as modified vehicles. As with all motorsport, safety checks on vehicles are done before each event.

MGCCSA is a member club of the Marque Sports Car Association of SA (MSCA) which runs a series of Super Sprints and a Six Hour Relay each year. MSCA also run a Come and Try group at some Super Sprints to cater for newcomers where they are given classroom and in-car tuition by experienced competitors. Junior drivers can participate from the age of 14.

Mallala Motorsport Park is the most used venue by our club and ideal for club events. However as of 2018 a new Motorsport Park has been developed at Tailem Bend which is used occasionally.

Officials
Nothing happens without officials and MGCCSA members help out with these events and more. This can be as Scrutineers, Flag Marshals, Timing, Pit Marshals, Documentation, Race Control, etc.

Being an official allows you to be involved, enjoy the competition and help the sport to thrive at no cost to yourself. That involvement can develop from club level events to major events depending on your interest and available time.

Check the Club calendar, and come and have a look and get involved or contact the Motorsport Secretary or Assistant if you have any questions.

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