Gymkhana is usually associated with horse handling. Here's an impressive display of car handling skills in a different type of gymkhana. The following quote is from the Ken Block Gymkhana Practice 4.5 minute video (link below):

"Gymkhana: (him-kah-nuh) An automotive sport that takes place on an open field or parking lot and requires drivers to skillfully maneuver their cars around a series of cones, slaloms, 180 degree turns, 360 degree turns, figure eight turns or other obstacles using extreme acceleration, braking, and drifting.

Similar to "autocross", Gymkhana courses are ofter very complex and memorizing the course is a significant part of achieving a fast time.

Ken wanted to take this concept further and on a larger scale for his practice and testing, and this is the result..."

http://video.kenblockracing.com/flas...FFF&autoplay=0

 

Sweet Video!! Looks like Chuck on his way to work.

 

It is amusing to watch, but like the motorsport known as drifting, I just don't get it. I'm an old fart, apparently.

Plus, it's got to be horribly rough on your car!

 

We do a lower-speed, lower stress version of this near Pittsburgh every fall for Minis, call it GyMINIkhana... TONS of fun!

(yes, that's an egg. Yes, my daughter's putting it on the cone. Yes, we.. OK, "I"... knocked it off on the reverse run!)

 

Silly rabbit - I drive a MINI.

 

I think we have enough MINI5280 drivers to come up with our own version of "GyMINIkhana" (if we can borrow the name) by next summer. Things like cones, eggs, paper cups, balloons, stuffed toys, etc can be set up and used to test our backup, maneuvering, turning and other slow speed skills. We'll leave autocross for the experts (our friends at Rocky Mtn Chapter BMW CCA). Why not? All we need is a parking lot and lots of imagination.

BTW. The RMC BMW CCA is hosting their annual Ice Gymkhana (driving on a frozen lake) Jan. 25, 2009 at Georgetown Lake (I-70). Test your skills or watch others drive around cones on ice and snow. Registration is wait-listed, but it will be fun to watch! See their website (above), for more info.
-Rick

 

I'd be happy to share some of the event planning "stuff" with you guys, it's pretty simple really, but to make a really full day of it we also run a concurrent autocross school and driving school, and rent a go-kart track to drive the Minis on (a pro go-kart track, with rental karts that go 50+, not those metal-lined 12MPH jobbies).

This year we had Motorer's education in braking, "performance" driving, handling, safety, and competed in the egg slalom, threshold braking, lane change, blind driving, THREE autocross circuits, and kart track driving - in both Minis and "real" karts.

We were tired.

The other thing we do is cooperate with the local dealer (Mini of Pittsburgh) so this counts as their Motor-Tober event... works great for all concerned!

Of course, we'd be happy to have you come to our event this Fall - it's only a short drive from CO to PA... and I'll have to check with the PittStopMINI Club if we can let you use the GyMINIkhana name!

 

In 2 past lives I have had experience in:

Gymkhana racing Jeeps including, Blind-fold race, balloon race, egg race & off-road course racing.

Ice Racing 2 seasons at GeorgeTown in the Pro Street Division (Jeeps w/ Studded Farm Implement Tires). http://www.ourgangiceracing.com/Index.html