AMTRA.com.au

HTFU - 2
13/11/2010
Ride Report David Smith

Where do I start, this is my first time attending to one of Will’s rides. I’ve heard lots of good reports so I thought I’d check this one out and with the bonus of a ride T-Shirt, it was even more reason to give this one a crack…

It started with everyone meeting in the car park where the weather was just perfect for the HTFU Ride. Raining, low cloud, humid and not a bit of blue in sight.
With everyone ready and geared up headed off around 9ish; straight into some nice slippery narrow rutted, tree rooted tracks, With me landing about the third corner man where we popped out on the road.
I was feeling like a steamed dim sim. Why do you always decide to wear extra jackets and crap when it’s raining? We had enough tight stuff to keep anyone warm.

With the rest of the crew right behind we were off again. We come to the first little hill of the day; slightly rutted with a hint of Teflon clay. When I got there a few of the boys were having an issue up on the left of the hill but in no time we were off again.
It was good to sit back a bit and look at some of the tyre marks. Some lines were very nice and the next set must have had about 7 fish tales till it was straight (probably James) lol.

With the group flowing very well, we’re making good ground and then wham! All of a sudden we are into this tight technical downhill. Clubman, Nahhh. It’s a HTFU hill! This would be a good hill to try backwards next time. It would be one hell of an event to get back up it.
I’m not sure when exactly but we lost Bill on the Husaberg to a buggered wheel bearing or hub. He headed back to the car where he fought off the mozzies for the next 5 hours as someone (not sure who) had the car keys! In payback Bill had both their lunches, and ate them too…

With lots of tracks on offer I don’t think we had a big transport section all day. It was just track after track after narrow track with a hint of tree roots and large ruts.
I was waiting on a corner in a little loop section when Seano turned up. Apparently after hitting a tree he had bent some bits and the hose clamp had cut though the hose. We sent him out to the main road to have a look and do some repairs. The rest of us did a loop of the section we were in. I think I did about 3. It was a hoot! Nice corners, a few logs to jump and a nice downhill with some slippery roots. You could only just see and of course there on a 45 degree to the track so they snag the front wheel. They nearly washed my front out twice in a row.
We all regrouped at the road to check out how the bike repair was going.
With the seat and tank off, repairs were on the way. We left Seano to check out a challenge hill where a few of us had had a go, only one got up the hill. But there was a lot of pushing and crashing involved.
After a while we headed back to pick up Seano and continue on the ride. We came across another group of riders stuck in a bog pit. If you looked at this thing there’s no way you would go though the centre, it looked like the deepest bit. The boys went either side and were both stuck, but with Will knowing the area he led all of us straight though the centre where it was a bit rutted but not to deep.
I think Damo has some trouble and the other guys give him and the old faithful tractor; a push up the hill.
With us getting to the top we headed down the road where we found another group of rides I think there were 3 of them; well, 3 bikes and only two riders. Ops! Wait, there are three. The other one is swimming in a bog hole about the size of a Land Cruiser. I’m guessing he rode his bike threw drowned it and lost something in the bog hole. You would have to be farking stupid to ride though this bog pit! You could tell it was over a meter deep from a mile away. We left those boys before they wanted help. I’d be surprised if the motor on that crf doesn’t need a full rebuild after the drowning it got.
Heading down the next track it brought us to the top of the challenge hill. We all got down without a problem, some with a little more style than others but all made it without crashing…


With the day getting on it was time for lunch. We headed down to a little spot near the river which just happened to be at the base of this very slippery hill. I slid down most of the hill with the front wheels not locked but the clay build up just makes it slide down. I came up behind Will and I went in the different rut to go around and it was about then when my rut ran out and I nearly went crashing off right in front of him.

We all had lunch and some more laughs, geared up and off up the hill we went.
With Will having the first crash and blocking the track it made a snowball affect the rest of the way down. I was about third in line when Damo was heading up behind me. He tried to stop and just slid backwards and crashed. He continued to slide even when on the ground, it was that slippery.

With some pushing and a few choice words from some people, we all got up the hill and had a regroup. Back on the bikes we had some more open tracks to cool down and get everyone back into it after lunch.

Will had heaps more in store for us with hill climbs and narrow tracks. It made for a great afternoon. The rain seemed to be getting worse as we headed back to the cars. With about 85km on the Speedo for the day I know I had a smile on my face after the days ride.
I’ve been riding in Neerim for years and I’ve haven’t done 70% of the tracks we did on this ride. I’ll be back for the next HTFU Ride!!!!!

After we loaded the cars up and got changed we all headed to the pub for tea. Will had our T-Shirts and a few extra prizes for us all ready to go.
A great meal, a lot of laughs and a lot of good company!!!

Thanks to Will and everyone that came to the HTFU2 for a great day.
I’ll see you at the HTFU3!!!

Will Munro Ride Leader, Riding Another KTM
Gary Clarke Tailman, Riding a Honda CR250R
Frank Reefman Oldest Rider @ 64, Riding the Bavarian Money Waister with awesome brakes and good power
Rowan Smith, Riding Another KTM
Dave Smith, Riding What a Bike
Damo Smith, Riding the Yellow Tractor
Steve Morris, Riding a Pink Honda
Ronnie Ororke, Riding a Honda Fuel Tanker
James Creasey, Riding a Honda CRF450
Matt Creasey The One Liner expert, and Riding a Claytons Honda
Seano Douglas The Clubman, riding The Ikea Promo Bike
Dennis Dihm, Riding  Another KTM
David Petroff, Riding Good Euro Trash
Bill Toan The 22klm man, Riding Bad Euro Trash

Video will be up asap

I don't even eat fish tales!
Can't wait to see the video.

"Bill Toan The 22klm man, Riding Bad Euro Trash"

It was a japanese wheel bearing that failed, the excel hub is ok..... :D :D :D

Great report hurry up with the video evidence..... ;) ;)

ive tried three times to write a bit or a report and been rudely interrupted ::)

it was a wicked day. a top mix of trails, obstacles and water features  :D
blessed we were with some great weather..... :P
a mix of good blokes telling bad jokes...
and topped of with a t-shirt and a massive feed of HTFU mixed grill (and a few chips)
in a great pub with some interesting locals  :D
(how good was the first beer, then every other beer after)
and get Bill to drive home (constantly scratching his mozzie bites all the way)  ;D :D

what a top intro to AMTRA.  :o ;) :D


i still feel sorry for bill. only coz he missed a great ride. :D :D
he must have felt like he was on 'Survivor' back at the carpark.
i feel he might have even shed a man tear or two as he was talking to the mozzies and eating my lunch :D :D

and speaking of lunch...
climbing the hill out, i came up behind Will. it must have been just after the batteries ran out on his Mighty Morphin Wrist Band as he was, lets say, off balance to the point of horizontal :) and for a second he looked like the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard in his new riding gear :D :D

Franks track nearly killed me but thats what HTFU is all about hey.

it was awesome dudes. i look forward to many more ;)

cheers,
dennis the menace

Video's done, it will be at the November meeting. (tomorrow night)

Cool, I hope you got heaps of me in it!!! :D :D :D

Hopefully you will still put it up on the website Dave ???

yeah..maybe we should just have selected viewing for our videos too.. ??? :P