Newsletter

December 2025

As we close out an incredible year at the Motorsports Club of Tasmania, I want to take a moment to reflect on everything we’ve achieved together.

We’ve successfully completed both the Khanacross and Motorkhana series, with final placings set to be announced at our Presentation Dinner on 17 January - an event we’re all looking forward to! This year, our Khanacross events attracted bumper competition entries, a fantastic sign of the growing enthusiasm for grassroots motorsport in Tasmania.

Behind the scenes, our hardworking crew has kept the Khanacross tracks in top condition, making improvements that have elevated the experience for competitors and spectators alike. It’s also been a bumper year for our Khana X Kafe, thanks to the tireless efforts of Jo Woolley - our catering queen - who has done an amazing job keeping everyone fueled and happy.

Competitors have faced their fair share of mechanical setbacks, but the resilience and good spirits shown throughout the season have been inspiring. A special shout-out to the team who represented us at the Australian Khanacross Championship in November, featuring strongly in the results and flying the flag for Tasmania on the national stage.

We’ve welcomed new members, including many juniors, and it’s fantastic to see fresh faces joining the motorsport community. None of this would have been possible without our dedicated committee, who have worked tirelessly to bring it all together and ensure racers have the best possible experience.

Looking ahead to 2026, we’ll be reviewing our Khanacross series regulations to keep improving the competition and ensure fairness and fun for all. We’re also excited to join forces with the MG Car Club of Tasmania to present next year’s Motorkhana series, which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The provisional calendar for 2026 is now set, so be sure to read on for the full list of dates and start planning your season. It’s going to be another action-packed year!

Thank you to everyone - competitors, volunteers, committee members, and supporters - for making 2025 such a success. Here’s to an even bigger and better 2026!
See you at the Presentation Dinner!

Matt Von Bertouch
President

Events …

Tasmanian Khanacross Championship - Round 6

Dust, Heat, & High Stakes: Wrapping up the 2025 Khanacross Series

What a way to wrap up the season! Our last Khanacross event drew an 43 entries, despite a packed motorsport weekend with events in both the north-west and south competing for attention. It was fantastic to see such strong support for the final round of the series.

The day was hot and sunny, but thanks to Chris in the Dennis Cooper Water Truck, the dust was kept under control, ensuring competitors could see where they were going and spectators could enjoy the action. The bright sunshine also made for plenty of great conversations around Khana X Kafe.

On the track, the competition was fierce, but a few of the top contenders suffered mechanical issues, with some of those chasing the series title unable to finish the day. That’s motorsport - full of challenges and surprises! Despite the setbacks, the atmosphere remained upbeat, and everyone pulled together to keep the event running smoothly.

We were thrilled to welcome several new competitors to the sport, adding fresh energy and enthusiasm to the field. All in all, it was a fun, competitive, and memorable day to close out the Khanacross season.

Results

AWD Outright:
1st – Lyndon Kettle
2nd – Matt Von Bertouch
3rd – Corey Baxter

AWD Junior:
1st – Makkai Kettle
2nd – Blake Grundy
3rd – Bryce Baxter

AWD Ladies:
1st – Jenna Brozek
2nd – Jo Woolley
3rd – Amanda Ikin

2WD Outright Class:
1st - Jack Sutcliffe
2nd - Mark Stucliffe
3rd - Angus Milne

2WD Junior:
1st – Angus Milne
2nd – Zander Nickalson
3rd – Jonathan Marshall

2WD Ladies:
1st – Belinda Brock
2nd – Laura Hayes
3rd – Adine Whitcombe

Thank you to all competitors, volunteers, and supporters who made this event possible. Bring on 2026!

View the full results

Next events …

Dates for your diary

11 January - State Motorkhana Championship Round 1*
17 January - Awards Presentation and Dinner, and social drive
11 February - Annual General Meeting
14 February - MSCT Khanacross Series Round 1
14 March - State Motorkhana Championship Round 2
18 April - MSCT Khanacross Series Round 2
16 May - MSCT Khanacross Series Round 3
26 July - State Motorkhana Championship Round 3*
1 August - MSCT Driftkhana and Come & Try Day
22 August - MSCT Khanacross Series Round 4
12 September - State Motorkhana Series Round 4
31 October - Tasmanian Khanacross Championship (2-day event)
21 November - MSCT Khanacross Series Round 6

* hosted by the MG Car Club of Tasmania.

Members …

MSCT Members take on the 2025 Australian Khanacross Championship

Story by Jo Woolley

In November, six of our club members - and one very excited father acting as pit crew - set sail on the Spirit with cars in tow to compete in the Australian Khanacross Championship, held over two days in Bendigo, Victoria. Everyone set off on the Thursday before the event, packed to the hilt with spare tyres and parts, ready for whatever mishaps might occur over the coming two days of racing.

On Friday afternoon, all competitors assembled at the Bendigo Sale Yards for sign-on and scrutineering, and to get a first look at the race surface for the following day. Team Tassie was made to feel very welcome and was even given the opportunity to drop trailers and race cars just two minutes up the road behind locked gates at a local member’s property. We were grateful for this - it gave us the freedom to explore without worrying about leaving our cars unattended.

Saturday marked the first day of racing, which was more like an open Motorkhana event on tarmac around cones. Two separate tracks ran simultaneously, with six tests for the day, each completed twice. Times were close throughout, so a wrong direction wasn’t the end of your whole weekend!

Sunday was the day we all felt more at home - back on the gravel. The Bagshot Motorsport Complex, home of the Bendigo Car Club, boasts two large tracks that can be rearranged into many different layouts. With no water cart, it was pretty dusty! Their facilities were amazing: running hot water in a brand-new canteen (just a week old), mains power, posts ready for shade sails, and a proper toilet block. I was most impressed - and a little jealous - of the luxury compared to what we’re used to!

At the close of racing, when everyone was hot and covered in dust (thanks to two spectacularly sunny, windless days), the results were in:

• Lyndon Kettle – 3rd Overall

• Tony Howe – 7th Overall

• Craig Hardstaff – 12th Overall

• Makkai Kettle – 2nd Junior (18th Overall)

• Jo Woolley – 1st Lady (31st Overall)

• Chris Leonard – 36th Overall (who drove conservatively to save the car for a successful finish)

We all had an amazing experience and met some truly wonderful people from clubs around the country. It was a real privilege to represent Tasmania and showcase our skills. Thank you to everyone in our club for the support you gave us as we ventured to the big island to give it a go and gain valuable experience.

Next year looks likely to be in NSW—stay posted!

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