AMTRA.com.au

DONT STRESS, you didnt get the wrong date! As im such a nice bloke, i thought i would head out there today on my RDO and check a couple of tracks and their condition. Armed with a chain saw. Well, i also managed to start on the memories for this years ride this morning too?

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_05_10_12_4_07_41.jpg)
This pick was taken, once i had used my high lift jack to winch some tension on the light side of the car, by pulling it back up from laying down.

Yes, the Cruzier is laying on its side.
Yes, the drivers side wheels are no longer on the ground.
Yes, getting in and out was a little awkward.
Yes, getting the recovery gear from the low side of the car was fun.
Yes, it was quite out there today, all by myself.
Yes, Im an idiot and shouldn't trust myself to play nice.
Yes, you b$%tards better enjoy the loops for this ride!!!

No, i did not enjoy the hour and a bit winching it back on its wheels.
No, i did not enjoy digging like a chinese gold miner to roller it back over.
No, i did not enjoy been stuck in the ruts down the hill for another hour and a half.
No, i did not enjoy cutting log after log, to fill ruts whilst waiting for the winch to cool down enough the solnoids would work again.

Have a laugh, i did. Eventually.
Al

you ,my friend , are an absolute legend ;D ;D
nice one ,cant wait only 8 sleeps to go 8)

Thats why I ride bike through that stuff easier to pick up when they get tired ;D

Looks good see you next Sat

Should have gone on your bike Al no need for a winch

Seano.
Im an absolute  ???????

Al, Will
Those thoughts crossed my mind a lot today. But the old crusier does drag trees out the way easier. And the fridge in the backs a nice touch when your playing in the sun.

Al

Thats brilliant...a lesser man would have walked away...im with Seano...legend. :))...I have always looked up to you Al as someone i can learn from...and its true..i have just learned what NOT TO DO ...love it!!  ;D :P

        This is what I love to see Al............. 4WD ACTION

Thats a really good looking pack rack all and its a really good fit to, you just wanted to get the perfect photo of it didnt you :}

Aim to please.
Al

Al besides your pride was there any other damage?

Al, stop destroying our tracks!!

 ;D ;D ;D

Jeff.
The old girls got a few more memories on the doors, and the flares and side step arent quite how i remebser them. Mechanicaly i will find out after Dave gets it off the hoist tomorrow. And the winch is need of a big service, glad i wasnt stuck out there with a toy chinese one. Other than that i was very lucky as it was looking like i would have to winch it on its side for 20m, before i could right it.

Menace.
I figure i can destroy some tracks, as people like doing it to mine.

Al

Yeah not great Al    Maybe you let Coop drive next time ;D

Jeff
After using the left foot on the Jesus bar to hold me in the seat. Right foot for the clutch, hand throttle for revs, left hand to steer and right hand to operate the winch controler hanging through the window, i had it pretty well covered. Coop would have been handy for lowering down to the low side of the car to retreive the recovery gear though! See ya saturday, Al

There's your problem Al, your using your 4x4 as a 4x4.

I only use mine as a ute :P

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/131_23_04_12_9_03_05_3.jpg)

OMG Tim .... how do you get the bikes on the roof rack ... that's insane !!!

 And Al - lovin the Cruiser having a sleep, great pic mate :)

 Yazza

Top weekend, as you would expect from Al.
Some tough stuff was tackled, sometime we won and sometimes the terrain won.
Few issues with bikes, two not getting through the weekend.
Excellent accommodation at Rawson and a great night in the Stockyard.
I bailed today at lunchtime and drove out of the car park at 4:11 so I could get home and make a start on getting the bike ready for next weekends desert ride, I'd guess the 12 who did the after lunch stint got back to the cars at 5:30ish, Thanks Al and family for a great weekend.
 

Cheers Tim. 5.30pm had us back to the farm, smiles all round which was great after a tough weekend.
Al

Ps. Thanks for the asistance before lunch.

Muscle, four blokes at the minimum, the more the better. One on the roof rack lifting/guiding, the rest lift the bike up the side of the vehicle.

Big thanks to the Mason family for a great weekend, lots of challenging obstacles, snotty slippery hills that you couldnt walk up (but had to ride up)and lots and lots of fallen trees. Thanks to all who helped push, pull and lift the bikes so we could keep moving. Cant type anymore, arms hurting.

Another great weekend at fumina.
Thanks everyone for a great weekend.
Lost count of how many trees we went over or under but my log hopping skills are getting better.

Looking forward to next years fumina 2 day my body might have recovered by then..

Thanks Al for the invite and a good 2 days of riding in an area that I hadn't ridin before, I was not disappointed. You put on a great ride and thanks to you and your family for the support and organising of it all. A good bunch of blokes to ride with, hope to ride with you again soon, I got home at about 10.30, but worth it.

thanks again

Al

Cheers Rob, Dave and Al.C! I didnt think it went so well until the smiles at the end of both days. And think it went very well with the bike issuse, trees, weather and some seriously snotty stuff. Shaz's dad had a ball, and wants to do it all again next year to.
Thanks Al

Wow what a weekend!! great tracks, company and plenty of challenges!
I had a ball.
A big thanks to the Mason family for the massive effort they put in to make a weekend like this possible.
Seano, hope you get your bike sorted and are back out on the trails soon.

Please read responabliy, and take a break along the way.


Fumina 2 Day 2012
By Al Mason
   Well this year s ride started with me laying my Land Cruzier on its side checking the Saturday morning loop. And with the Saturday loop arrowed out, I was looking forward to jumping on the bike and not needing to think until I had a few kilometres under belt.

Day 1.
   So with not even a kilometre in, I turned down the wrong track. Then once down the right track, I turned down the wrong siding. With a swift hit to the back of the head the tumblers aligned and the brain finally fell out of organizer mode into ride leader mode. We were soon off into my play ground in some truly horrible conditions, with the rain not really letting up for a minute or two. As we flowed along my arrowed course I stopped for a first regroup at the top of a snotty hill. A couple cheeky buggers who have played around here with me before took the girls option around the hill. With suprisingly little fuss the group was all atop the hill. Seano was our tail man for the morning and arrived atop the hill with a very unhappy sounding Husky. With some tools borrowed from a camper on the hill we soon had the problem diagnosed, and were soon under way again.
   Around a boring gravel section before heading back into some good snotty hills, due to a couple tracks needing too much chain saw work to clear. I did my best to stuff up at least one person on each hill, which is one of the perks about being the ride leader. After only a short wait on the first few hills everyone was up, but then came the long wait. After much laughter and poo slinging, Tim and I headed back down to see if we could help. It turned out we had a couple of strugglers that only needed a bit of a push and encouragement to get going. However, poor Jeff had lost the kick start from the KDX and was having to roll back down each time he stalled.
   With everyone accounted for and the clock ticking too fast, I started to drop corner men and head for our lunch and fuel stop. Once we reached the top of bald hill, we had a very small regroup and waited for it to grow. However it didn’t! After something to eat and jacket on and jacket off and jacket on and jacket off time, we finally got radio contact with Seano. The news was that Bens new Husaberg was having some serious wiring issues. Lucky for him, Dave and Nicko were there to rewire his bike and get going again. As the pack numbers grew on the hill, I start the group off again towards lunch. The ride was flowing really nice at my end as I dropped corner men along some of my favourite tracks. Well until I was just staring to climb the hill around the very deep river crossing at the bottom of the staircase. Here, young Timmy called me and said there was a few more issues he thought, as he had been on it for an hour to catch up to me. Once again the radio came into play, and the message was received that Tim was towing Ben’s bike back to the farm. (About 5ks away) Once i heard Tim was back, we made the final blast up the gravel to lunch, were Ben would meet us and make his call on the rest of the ride.
   We arrived to a very wet and muddy car park for lunch which had been arranged for us by my wife and father in-law. Whilst my son did his best to get the rest of the car park short on mud filled in on his bike. Ben made the call he would head home rather than travel to our overnight accommodation. And the use of brake pads became an issue, as several were changed.  With the day dragging on, a foot in the arse of a few we were back on our way to Rawson.
   With a quick regroup at the still to be Finshed Bridge, we were on one of my favourite technical tracks. Only to find some very tired trees sleeping on some very interesting angles and heights. With a bit of assistance here and there everyone was through, some a little more red faced than others though. And with a time check came crunch time. The very well planned out loop was set fire to and a new loop was made up on the fly and we were off. A quick nip through another technical favourite and some more sleeping tree and waterfalls, another 45minutes has evaporated. So some more tracks get the chop and we make the run for the nights stop. After flowing along for a bit as I sat working out how much fun versus how dark the rest of the loop would be? The pause in traffic signalled a problem. I decided to head back and see what the issues was and soon found Seano and Lefty inbound. At the regroup it was time for Seano’s bike to be towed, with what seemed to be an engine that wouldn't start. Right time to start planning our options. Whilst Dave and the others took Seano’s chain off and prepared it to be towed out, I rang Shaz and gave her directions and GPS waypoints saved in the GPS in my car on where she would need to Seano up from. With that out of the way I lead the group to where Dave, Timmy and Seano would leave us while I lead the group to the warm showers at Rawson. Dave and Timmy would meet us there after linking their way through to the track we took.
   I took no more chance on our way and flowed up some safe tracks to get us into Rawson around 6pm. And as the boys punched on and jostled each other for the warm showers, Shaz and Seano arrived back shortly after. After I had my shower Dave and Timmy arrived back. (After they played on a few tracks on the way back) So I helped them sort their stuff so they could shower and get to the pub before we missed dinner. Just before we were to head over for dinner our special guest arrived, in the form of Amtra’s own David Knight!!! With a very good feed and refreshments (I went silly on the raspberry lemonade); the group were soon all back over to the dorm room to watch some footage of the day’s efforts. Well this was not to be, with the TV having multiple ports for all kinds of stuff. I was missing the correct sprongulate 2.0v connection, so we resorted to watching the god’s must be crazy movie on TV. Well until I put Coops to bed and myself soon after. Where those who were still up watching some skin flick on SBS with the hopes of maybe seeing some nipple.

Day 2.
   8am saw us back at the pub for a bushman’s breakfast that was also great, with weather that was great.  With bikes fuelled up and a few services and repairs done, we soon were off again. In search of last year’s toughest track. Along the way we tried out one of Dave’s tracks of the past, which didn’t disappoint. Followed by a new track I found whilst reecing the area. This also did disappoint, maybe destroyed a few souls though. With a fallen tree in the way, we had to lay Dave’s bike on its side and pass it over one log as we fed it under another. Then send Dave on his way to see if the track was to be a winner or not. As we sat listening to Dave’s two stoke on and off the pipe getting up the hill we couldn’t see, we discussed that the hill sounded very nasty!!! On Dave’s return he gave the thumbs up and commented on the hill would be fun? So as a well oiled machine, the bikes got lifted through, and we set off. As I hit the hill, I found Pauly having a lie down across the two ruts on the right. And as I hit the left rut and sighted the top of the first part of the hill, I could now see Tim stuck only two feet from the top. My run soon came to a holt, so I rolled back down and had a think. I decided to give it another crack to the ledge, where I would be able to get off and help Tim. So I grabbed 2nd and gave it poo. Now I was only a foot less than Tim, as I tried hop off I slide over the embankment only holding onto the bike by its foot peg. I got myself back up on the bike and even though I could almost touch Tim’s bike. Neither he nor I could move to help each other. The fact we had to link hands for each person to pull themselves up to help, paints the picture how steep and slick it was. With a push from Rob I got going and dug deep to get to the top. Once there, I shedder some gear and headed down to help. Nath and Trev had hooked two tow ropes together so the bikes could be dragged up as they were ridden up the hill. So with a series of people along the hill we had all the bikes up. 2 hours 5.3ks in, yep this is turning into one of my rides. After a few short tracks to catch our breaths it was then into last year’s toughest. As we slide our way down the wet, steep and tree rooted gully our hope was to conquer this tough track. As we headed deeper and deeper in, the fallen tree and water damage got worse and worse. With a corner man left at each obstacle we were soon spread out like brown’s cows. After copping, dragging, lifting and sliding bikes through trees for a couple hours it happened. The track became impassable, and with only about half the track covered we would have to turn around. Something that was not a pleasant thought, as this track is really only one way! With everyone turned around and accounted for we headed back, and I knew this was going to get ugly, very ugly. However I didn’t know that the ugliest part would be me. As I layer slumped over the seat of my bike not able to get up. Nicko called out, and soon raced over to help me to the ground. I had well and truly cooked myself. As Lefty, Nicko, Pauly, Tim and Al.C sorted me and my bike out. I sat and put myself back together. Thanks boys. With everyone chipping in along the way to get the group out, we were soon sitting looking at the map and making plans for the second day on how to get to our lunch and fuel stop. With a few amendments to the planned route we hauled butts towards Blue Rock Dam. All was going well and we were making great progress until a river crossing that we used last year, had turned from a clear fast flowing stream. To a very deep, murky and cold crossing. (Cold according to Dave’s genitals With prospect of losing even more time getting the bikes across it was back track time to a smaller crossing and the hope of been able to cross. Or it was going to be a 40k black top ride to fuel. At the second crossing point a new bridge was a pleasant sight, and radio reception told Shaz we were now 10 minutes away. (All be it 2 and half hours late)
   After lunch and a refuel, Tim decided he would take the black top home as we were still a couple hours from home and the clock was showing 3:30pm. So we set off back across the dam wall and new bridge and made our way through some very nice flowing dusty tracks, with just enough super slick corners to catch you out if your guard was down. I also threw in a couple a technical short cuts to make sure the boys weren’t getting cold. It was then over the unfinished bridge a couple more short cuts and across the river at the bottom of Kenny’s Spur. As usual I let everyone go for the great blast that Kenny’s is as I played tail man, before taking over again at the top. Then a slow ride past the houses of Fumina to avoid the phone calls and the last decision of the day? Duggan’s or up Mine Shaft to finish? With our luck and 4:45pm on the clock we decided not to chance Mine Shaft as I hadn’t been up it to clear it lately. And with the hope nothing had fallen from the Friday previous since I had cleared Duggan’s, we blasted or slid our way to the gravel road home. I think I rolled in the gate around 5:15pm and we loaded up the trailer and returned gear, then headed home around 6:30pm.
   I would like to thank the group of riders that attended this year as we all gelled well and worked great as a team. The ride was far from what I had planned and what had been running through my head for weeks. But with everything that was thrown at us mechanical and nature. The weekend had everyone leaving with big smiles and knacked, so my job was done. A big thanks to Paul Lacy driving 10 hours to my place to attend the ride and also to Al.C for driving from Wodonga after me talking up the ride when I get to see him. However the biggest thanks goes to Shaz, Coop and Alan (my father-in-law) for the long and boring job of support crew. With Seano sticking around to help out as his bike got a free ride in the trailer. Thanks mate. And the hard arse award goes to Jeff, with no kick start for a day and ¾’s in some very unforgiving terrain!! Mate well done, and thanks to Nicko for being your 300cc starter motor. I’ve never seen a bike started by other bikes back tyre before, very bl%$dy clever! So until next year, Al
Ps. Sorry if I missed anyone.

Ride List..
Al Mason      TE310         Ride Leader
Jeff Davies       KDX200
Ben Hayes      Berg 450
Al Clarke      CRF450
Nathan Stott      TE310
Paul Lacy      TE300 Berg      Tail Man
Sean Douglas   TE449         Tail Man
Rob Cecelja      WR450
Stuart Mackey   WR250      Tail Man
David Smith      TE250 Berg
Tim Wainwright   KTM250
Rob Copsey      FE390
Nick Nicolaou   KTM300
Trevor Bastin      WR250
Tim Dykes      TE510

Well done to Al Mason and the Mason clan, fantastic effort and very well organised. From parking the cars at the farm till putting the bike back on the trailer I had a ball. A heap of highlights which included the tracks, blokes,area,views,accommodation,Saturday nights meal, drinks,lunches,sundays weather,the tough slog sunday,bed sunday night. Not to forget the laughs along the way. Felt sad for Seano but chin up champ. High five to the man Jeff Davey, your a tuff mother. Great effort from Pauly and Al C for making the drive. The happy twins Dave and little Tim, crop duster Nathan. Big Tim and his new doo !!!Nick Nicko and Trev for the advice and laughs. Rob and Rob for being great riders and loving to have a chat. Big sad face to Ben, next time mate.
Thats all folks. I had lectures today at Jeff's shed ad fell asleep twice.

Peace and love to all man kind...
Lefty.

PS. If your starting a list for next year Al, put my name down pls...   

Cheers Lefty, and no problem mate.
Al

Some pics.

All of that in there??

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_03_17_0.jpg)

Rob's been with Al before. Light on the helmet

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_03_17_1.jpg)

Seano needs a hand with everything

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_03_17_2.jpg)

Still trusting me

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_03_17_3.jpg)

Any advice Nath?

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_03_17_4.jpg)

Al;s babble

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_04_39_0.jpg)

Eger to get going

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_04_39_1.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_04_39_2.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_04_39_3.jpg)

Feeding the troops

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_04_39_4.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_06_20_0.jpg)

There used to pads here, Im sure!

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_06_20_1.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_06_20_2.jpg)

??????

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_06_20_3.jpg)

Back under way

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_06_20_4.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_07_51_0.jpg)

Lefty giving Nath the hurry up

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_07_51_1.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_07_51_2.jpg)

Jeff and another roll start

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_07_52_3.jpg)

Tim

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_07_52_4.jpg)

Dave

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_09_56_0.jpg)

Pauly

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_09_56_1.jpg)

Timmy

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_09_56_2.jpg)

Me

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_09_56_3.jpg)

No Lefty, you cant have my chips!

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_09_56_4.jpg)

Please Mr Knight, can I have your autograph

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_12_16_0.jpg)

Happy with the days proceedings

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_12_16_1.jpg)

Please take me Dad

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_12_16_2.jpg)

Sun shine and Lefty telling the boys his there to help them if they need it

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_12_16_3.jpg)

Yes that evil p#@k

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_12_16_4.jpg)

Fumina 2 Day 2012 minus Ben

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_14_23_0.jpg)

I will race ya to the gate

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_14_23_1.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_14_23_2.jpg)

I win!! So give me your bike Timmy

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_52_54.jpg)

Al's finally taking us home

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_14_23_3.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_16_59_0.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_16_59_1.jpg)

And through the gate

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_16_59_2.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_16_59_3.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_16_59_4.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_19_13_0.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_19_13_1.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_19_13_2.jpg)

(http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/16045_15_10_12_6_19_13_3.jpg)

A weekend to remember, huge contrast in weather from Saturday to Sunday. Freezing cold with solid rain on and off on Sat to glorious sunshine on Sunday. As others have said this was a great ride made possible by the huge effort put in by Al, Shaz and old Al. The effort was much appreciated guys..

A few more pics of the weekend..

   (http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp356/TrevorBastin/P1020663r.jpg)
(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp356/TrevorBastin/P1020666r.jpg)
(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp356/TrevorBastin/P1020669r.jpg)
(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp356/TrevorBastin/P1020672r.jpg)
(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp356/TrevorBastin/P1020668r.jpg)

Great photos boys .....  You are all definitely insane  you know that right .

Im with Zeb on that one....fantastic report Al...great photos. Glad you are all back in one peice and had fun :))

Thanks for the pics Trev.

Not insaie Zeb, just rise to a challendge. Not pack up and go home!

Grass hopper, your down to sweep ride next year!

The photo of everyone standing around looking a Seano's poor 449 looks really sad , everyone looks like Dave has just stopped giving it CPR and informed everyone that its to late felllas i really tried hard but she's gone .... Al you should remove this photo its to depressing.

Seano i hope your up and running again really soon.

Awesome ride report Al,, Hats off to all of you who rose to the challenge.. fantastic pics. :)

thanks zeby
And it's trevs photo not als

FANTASTIC RIDE AL!!!

As per usual I was was not disappointed with the quality ride and trails you and fumina had to offer there's nothing better then being absolutely stuffed and smiling after 2 days of awesome riding our machines with a grouse bunch of blokes!

Many thanks to you and your family Al.

Cheers Timmy, was a blast having you along.
Al