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Gymkhana

The racing career starts here!



What does the autoslalom or the motoslalom mean?

This is one of the most popular and accessible motorsport discipline worldwide. In some countries such as Japan and America this type is also classified as "autocross" (solo!) or "auto slalom" or "car slalom" when it comes to competitions or even included in "automotive all-around" (motocross and moto slalom respectively in Moto Gymkhana). The goal is simple: take turns completing a winding course without making mistakes and no charges, faster than all other rivals.

What is the secret to these races' popularity? It's difficult to explain but it's easy to see once than to read about it a hundred times. And even better try it yourself and take a part.. Gymkhana for cars and bikes are conceptually similar.

The essence of maneuvering competition consists of participants' attempts of racing challenge on a track that consists of figure elements. Sometimes for the sake of spectacle or to save time, two or more identical or mirrored "tracks" are set up, which can be used in parallel for simultaneous pilot runs. Sometimes drivers must run several separate "tracks" within a single competition.

Tracks are often difficult to execute and to remember. They are artificially created and defined by typical elements: turns at acute and obtuse angles, 180- and 360-degree turns, "snakes," "figure eights," "courtyards," and limited special sections — some of which are intended for switching to reverse gear. Special traffic cones and concrete blocks are usually used to mark the boundaries.

What does it take to become a real gymkhana racer and a motorsportsman in general or a race car driver in Belarus and abroad?

This kind of racing has the lowest entry barrier unlike to another motorsport disciplines. If you have no plan to become a professional racer yet or just starting your trials or just enjoy having a good time with like-minded people in a competitive time spending, the list of necessary equipment is short:

  1. car or bike
  2. a lot of fuel or charge
  3. appropriate driving license



Main factors

driver, car | moto, training, support

The pilot


As in any kind of sport the main key to victory is the participant himself: racing pilot. Effective driving requires complete concentration: controlling the car and knowing it's peculiarities and understanding the trajectory features and general attention. All of this occupies maximum mental activity, especially when the adrenaline is pumping. Moreover it's not enough to know track topology and race it quickly — it must be done with no errors and penalties. Accelerating, steering and braking are not the only skills a race car driver has to master. These abilities must be honed and updeted through regular trainings. The gymkhana has it's own specific driving technics but it also depnds on track configurations.

there is a telegram channel about gymkhana (and not only) in Belarus where training sessions, competitions, and similar activities are announcing

The vehicle

(a car or a motorcycle)

As it was mentioned above, basic vehicle doesn't require any special technical preparation for maneuvering competitions unless specifically required by the regulations for the event. A standard, balanced, and properly functioning vehicle is sufficient. A small, lightweight, front-wheel-drive car is often the racer's choice. However, it's important to understand that the factory specifications may not be sufficient to achieve a significant advantage. When modifying the car, special attention should be paid to the suspension, steering, and braking systems, ensuring rigidity while simultaneously reducing weight. A hydraulic parking brake will facilitate the execution of figure maneuvers.

if you are talented to ruin a car by serious damage: the high-quality complex body repair is available


The other factors


Before and after each attempt inspect your car or bike thoroughly. Be asured of it's technical condition. Assemble a support group and like-minded fans. Form your racing team with a staff of assistants (mechanic, electrician, bodywork specialist, manager, promoter), it will help to distribute preparations effectively and devote more attention to training.
After some successful race parties try to find partners, patrons and sponsors. Especially if you plan to build a professional racing career, competing in Russia, Europe, Asia, and the US, an access to a solid facilities, infrastructure and extra parts will contribute to success. It's important for a driver to unwind from technical and organizational details and concentrate during training and competitions.

proper tires are essential for successful results

Classic rules

conditions, requirements, specs, classes

Gymkhana on car (motorkhana, autocross, autotesting)


According to the automobile gymkhana rules and standarts, competing groups are divided depending on types of equipment they compete in:

• stock class (factory defaults)

Gymkhana on cars (motorkhana, autocross, autotesting)

According to the standard automobile gymkhana rules, competitors are divided into groups depending on the types of vehicles they drive:

  • Stock Class (factory defaults)
    • A1 – Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), front-engine, displacement under 1.8 liters
    • A2 – Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), front-engine, displacement over 1.8 liters
    • B1 – Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), front or rear-engine, displacement under 2.5 liters
    • B2 – Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), front or rear-engine, displacement over 2.5 liters
    • C1 – All-Wheel Drive (AWD), displacement under 2.5 liters
    • C2 – All-Wheel Drive (AWD), displacement over 2.5 liters

    The classification displacement multiplier for turbocharged engines is +1.8. At the same time, strict restrictions apply: engine, suspension, and chassis must be completely stock. You are allowed to modify: wheels, differential (LSD), air filter (up to cold air intake/drop-in), brake pads, shock absorbers springs, clutch disc, and exhaust (individual sections).

  • Tuning Class (modified)
    • M1 – Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles
    • M2 – Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), front-engine configuration
    • M3 – Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), rear-engine configuration
    • M4 – All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles

    You can modify only 2 parameters of your choice: swap the fuel injection system, replace windows, body panels, brakes, suspension, or exhaust system, add an acceleration system (e.g., nitrous oxide), or lighten the chassis / add a roll cage.

In street gymkhana, as a rule, all participants compete in a single class – U (unlimited).

In such cases, vehicle restrictions are virtually non-existent, though stricter safety requirements apply since these races are held in open public areas.

Moto Gymkhana (bike gymkhana)

Basic rules: 2 wheels, valid registration, street tires with good tread, exhaust volume limit of 100 dB, and no sharp edges on protruding parts (handlebars, levers, pegs, etc.). Any tuning is allowed, including replacing mechanical components, weight reduction, and so on.

In motorcycle maneuvering, there are no restrictions on engine placement. Also, there is no strict separation by motorcycle types (glide, cruiser, tourist, street, enduro, sport, super-sport, scooter), though formal group-class divisions are often applied.

Rider's protective gear is mandatory: helmet, gloves, elbow, knee, and back protection, and sometimes neck braces.

Event Organizers

The official "inventor" of gymkhana as a sports discipline is considered to be the Japanese branch of the "Federation Internationale de l'Automobile" – JAF. The representative of the FIA in Belarus is the Belarusian Automobile Federation (BAF); there is active cooperation with the motorsport division of Voluntary Society for Assistance to the Army, Aviation, and Navy (Army, Aviation and Navy Support NGO — DOSAAF).

There are several traditional maneuvering competition organizers in the Republic of Belarus. The Belarusian Auto Slalom Championship is held annually in multiple stages across cities in different regions. Some event results count towards the global racer rankings, and permanent venues even feature all-time participant leaderboards.

In fact, besides general rules, private regulations are prepared separately for each event, yet they try to stick to certain standards.

Car and motorcycle racing is an expensive hobby. Many auto clubs and companies host private and grassroots maneuvering training sessions on specialized grounds and proving factories for the effective preparation of amateurs, athletes, and teams. Regular drills sharpen driving skills and allow checking and tuning the car or motorcycle before and during the racing season.

Some facts about gymkhana

  • GYMKHANA has a number of associative popular names: figure maneuvering, sport maneuvering, cones, garages, and others. Many often confuse it with "speed maneuvering" (the so-called TIME ATTACK, TIME TRIAL, or SPRINT) – these are entirely different disciplines.
  • Despite similar victory conditions, gymkhana is the complete ideological opposite of time attack | time trial | sprint. Topologies include many tight bottlenecks, with the average speed rarely exceeding 40 km/h; long sweeping turns and straight sections are extremely rare. The track configuration almost never loops, though exceptions occur in practice.
  • Maneuvering layouts are small, usually completed in first or second gear (and reverse gear if required by the task). In theory, course designers try to target a regulated completion time – mostly from one to one and a half minutes. In reality, configurations can range from under 30 seconds to over 2 minutes, especially in street gymkhana.
  • Good practical skills from a drift school (drift racing) will help you avoid many errors in driving techniques.
  • And the reverse effect: maneuvering develops basic skills useful in other disciplines – drifting, rally sprint, and circuit racing (time attack).

Street gymkhana

city grid (urban style racing)

Street style slalom

Gymkhana in a city – The most spectacular style. It is characterized by distinctive to other motorsports venues: tracks are established directly on city sites and among closed or abandoned industrial enterprises – factories, construction yards, etc.

The configuration is set up taking into account natural city landscape; barrels, tires, containers, boxes, overturned cars and other attributes of forsaken urban streets atmosphere are used to mark the elements. The outer boundary is usually fenced with curbs, heavy blocks, and barriers.

One of the characteristics of such events: increased difficulty and danger of the course – "street" does not forgive mistakes even for renowned racers, because the topology does not initially provide the possibility to secure the space adequately for such use. However, there are proven ways to mitigate potential risks.

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CONTINUE

Gymkhana-rally

on variable coverage surfaces

Sliding gymkhana

Rally-style slalom is called due to the driving techniques used as primary control abilities - its aggravated by the factor of reduced friction coefficient on the surface where it can be uneven and unstable.

However, the rules and principles remain the same: it is the slalom precisely in a small location with a limited perimeter and the task has a strict order of elements executing. Gymkhana rally should not be confused with the classic motorsport discipline "rally," which has completely different rules and requirements.

By the way, entry threshold to begin is generally less stringent: due to the low G-forces, almost any daily car without special modofications is suitable.

autorkhana minsk belaru



GOT IT

Practical trainings

for amateurs and professionals

Possibilities


If you don't plan to go in for professional motorsports but consider active vehicle control exercises as a hobby for driving skills improving and some extent of entertainment everything becomes much easier. There are a lot of amateur training series and competitions where the general requirements are rather casual.

Involvement occurs gradually as your abilities are improved and the factory capabilities of a particular vehicle. It allows to test your skills without significant investment and to determine if you really want to continue get this abilities. The goal is achieved more quickly and clearly under the right conditions.

A modern vehicle in perfect working state is already prepared for participation in such activities. And if everything is done correctly, the mastering the elements of figure maneuvering will go avoiding unnecessary overloads, increased depreciation is not required, as for "counter-accident driving."

Meaning senses


The primary and fundamental goal of such training is to get a vibe of your car or motorcycle and feel it's control masterly, study its kinematics and improve control. Most importantly it helps avoid unpleasant situations by understanding the limits of its current capabilities without resorting to extreme techniques the vast majority of which are in principle inapplicable on public roads for safety reasons and legal reasons. It means that all of that could be practiced in much more calm conditions.

With reasonable regular training in addition to the conscious test drives needed to understand the vehicle's physics and practice skills, a pleasant bonus is the absence of exorbitant fees, formal procedures, licensing and vehicle upgrades to meet formal additional requirements— since there are none. Common sense is the priority.

Down the road, as you progress beyond the factory specs of your machine, you can shift to mastering racing techniques and think about buying or building a purpose-built race car or bike.



Motorsports career

How to participate racing events and test drives in Minsk this season in Belarus? Stay updated on gymkhana club and related communities.

What it the best way to start getting your racing achievements in the Republic of Belarus? Everyone has their own paths. Some are born into racing, while others come from the streets, legitimizing their passion step-by-step. You can register in a global social network of like-minded people and participate in real events, meet new enthusiasts, comunicate and explore! If you're already listed in a private global racing ladder, just log in and choose a race or party that suits your taste:


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