
THORNLEIGH CAR CLUB INC.
Since 1954


Various forms of motorsport exist and Thornleigh Car Club participates in 5 different disciplines.
Select a discipline below to learn more about them including competitor & vehicle requirements and minimum age (12 year olds can learn to drive!!!)
Motorkhana
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No vehicle modification necessary.
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Can enter as a driver from 12 years old.
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Excellent save environment to learn to drive or hone driving skills.
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A test of driver and vehicle maneuverability around flags, in a specific pattern, on either tarmac or dirt.
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Motorsport Australia Licence - Non-Speed
Khanacross
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No vehicle modification necessary though a helmet is required.
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Can enter as a driver from 14 years old
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Dirt rally style tracks up to 2km in length.
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Motorsport Australia Licence - Non-Speed
Speed
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Bring you standard road car or highly modified race car. A helmet is required.
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Can enter as a driver from 16 years old.
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Types of events include: Supersprint, Hill Climb, Track Days at a race circuit or closed road.
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Motorsport Australia Licence - Speed



Navigational Assembly
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No vehicle modification required, working trip meter necessary.
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Two person team, Driver & Navigator.
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Conducted on public roads obeying all road rules, teams decipher a series of instructions and clues to navigate a specific route.
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Three navigation levels, Master, Apprentice, Tour (social).
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Motorsport Australia Licence - Non-Speed
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Drivers licence required.
Forest Rally
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Highly modified vehicle required, (roll cage, race harness, helmets etc).
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Driver and Navigator use notes to drive high speeds along closed forest roads.
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Free spectating is encouraged from different vantage points.
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Motorsport Australia Licence - Rally
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Drivers licence required.
Officiating
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The unsung heroes of motorsport.
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Director & Secretary organise events before they start.
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Scrutineer, Time Keepers & General Officials help the events run on the day.
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No prior experience required, all training provided.
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Gain gratitude of competitors and it's FREE!!!
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Motorsport Australia Licence - Officials



Motorkhana
Motorkhanas are designed to test the acceleration, braking and general maneuverability of a car along with the skill and judgement of the driver through a course marked out by coloured flags. These events are true grassroots motorsport, cheap, cater to all levels of ability and can be entered in a standard road car or purpose built machines. Juniors as young as 12 can learn to drive and compete in these events (passengers as instructors welcomed). With multiple drivers able to enter per car, it makes a great day out to learning how your car handles and how far it can be pushed in a safe and controlled environment. Passengers are welcomed at most events and being a passenger or spectator is free.
These events require a L2NS (Level 2 Non-Speed) licence at a minimum from Motorsport Australia. Adult licence is $97 per 12 months, Junior licence is $35 per 12 months. Entry fees per event vary from $50-80 for adults and $25-40 for juniors.
With multiple entries allowed per vehicle and passengers welcomed, Motorkhana's are a fantastic way for a family to enjoy learning about motorsport. Motorkhanas are a great way for young drivers to learn the basics of car control in a safe environment before heading out onto the road with other vehicles as there is only one car on each course at a time. Vehicles don't require any modification nor do drivers need a helmet and the surfaces are such they leave minimal wear and tear on your car.
Competitors are divided up into different classes to keep competition even. These classes are based on either the vehicles wheel base or, if it is a purpose built 'Motorkhana Special' (like a home made go kart), if it is front wheel drive/rear wheel drive.
There are over 100 possible courses the organisers can choose from, each one having a different name and pattern. Some courses have the same flag layout just a different pattern to maneuver around them in.
There are usually between 8-12 different tests run in an event sometimes allowing for double runs (where the best time counts).
Events can be conducted on either dirt or tarmac (wet or dry).
Each course is timed and the winners are determined by the lowest accumulation of all test times across the day.
Competitors can incur penalties for things such as knocking down a flag on the course, not coming to a complete stop at the finish and going in the wrong direction at any point of the course. These penalties incur different values and are added onto the drivers time.
Competitors start in the green 'start garage' and must come to a complete stop in the red 'finish garage'.
Below are some examples of the tests. Drivers begin in the start garage (green), drive the course following the black lines/arrows and must come to a complete stop in the finish garage (red). The flags are colour coded to make it easier to navigate or remember what the pattern is.
For further information or to speak to someone about upcoming events, send us an email on the "Contact Us" page or drop in to one of our meetings.

Khanacross
Khanacross is a low speed event that tests the driving skills similar to a motorkhana, but takes it to the next level. These events often resemble short rally stages, conducted on mostly gravel but sometimes tarmac roads on private property. They are a great opportunity to learn car control at slightly higher speeds than a motorkhana, and children as young as 12 can compete with multiple entries per car.
These events require a L2NS (Level 2 Non-Speed) licence as a minimum from Motorsport Australia. Adult licence is $97 per 12 months, Junior licence is $35 per 12 months.
Entry fees per event vary from $50-80 for adults and $25-$40 for juniors.
A Khanacross track can be up to 2km in length and marked with arrows. They are one direction with one car at a time competing, starting and finishing from the same area. Drivers are given a reconnaissance run to familiarise themselves with the track before they drive it competitively. No passengers/navigators can be taken in these events.
Vehicles do not need to be registered to compete and no vehicle modification is required from a standard road car for these events, though drivers must wear a helmet, long nonflammable clothing, have a 1kg fire extinguisher within reach of the driver and a blue triangle on the outside bodywork indicating where the battery is located in the vehicle. Rally tyres are usually run by competitors as this helps increase the acceleration, braking and general grip level of the vehicles.
Standard road cars picked up gumtree or ebay (provided they are safe) up to heavily modified rally cars may compete in these events. All cars must undergo a scrutineering check at the start of each event to ensure they are in safe operating manner. This includes ensuring there are no loose items in the vehicle, battery is secure, seat belts function properly, no play in steering wheel, firm effective brake pedal and seat mounted properly to name a few items.
Vehicles are divided up into classes based on engine capacity or if they are four/all wheel drive.
There will usually be 8-12 different courses in an event. Courses may vary greatly, be reversed or simply move the start/finish location slightly.
For further information or to speak to someone about upcoming events, send us an email on the "Contact Us" page or drop in to one of our meetings.

