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Title: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Brad on May 02, 2011, 10,27:35 PM One of the very best rides I have ever had owing to a combination of people, accommodation, weather and tracks.
Finished work Friday which had been busy, packed the car and headed to the supermarket to get the weekends food supplies for the six of us. Finally 5.30pm on the way only to turn around after 5K's to get my sleeping bag. Arrived at Charnwood about 9pm enjoying some beverages with the boys over a game of Texas Hold'em Poker. (I won!) Saturday Rider briefing and we hit the tracks about 9.30 where I warned of some fence wire on the ground and how to go around it which Trevor missed hearing and proceeded to have an off as the wire hooked him. The tracks were superb tacky with nothing but bikes traveling on them as there was a 30cm worn track on them all. We followed the HCR route maps and negotiated a rutted snotty downhill shortly followed by a track of ROCK'S (cricket ball to football sizes) down an up hill, survival was all about staying on a line the width of the bikes tyres. Found some new narrow tracks and at the south western extreme of the route housing has increased and the roads are boring 2WD. We cleared off the route and started exploring, wherby the tracks just got better and after doing a bunch in the pine forest we were lost and the boys were hungry as lunch was back at Charnwood, it was 2pm. Pulled up and got out the compass and stared to head back to the last T junction where we got back onto known roads. Lunch was 3pm after 110K's and everyone was happy to stop, eat do maintenance and crack open a beverage. Cranked the fire and got it roaring followed by a large BBQ dinner which saw everyone full this was washed down with Red wine, Port, Wiskey and beers. Out came the Poker set the game coming to a showdown between the two Dormans vs Keith who prevailed over the father and son. (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_12_24_2.JPG) Trevor (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_12_24_1.JPG) Keith, Dennis and Ken (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_12_23_0.JPG) Dennis, Ken and Scott Sunday Early up and pack up after which Rob and Doug arrived from Benalla to join the group. At the rider briefing I said a quick 50K's after an hour we had been to the lookout, lake and were at the end of Lightning Ridge track. Small transport back into the mecca tracks and the pipes were singing loud and clear. Some of the 450 style narrow tracks allowed you to do 70km/h at times without fear, it was just gold. Did some more exploring and found some new unmapped mecca tracks then called it time and the boys roared back to Charwood arriving at 12.30 after 97K's. Finished packing up and left about 1.30pm for lunch and home arriving around 6pm, unloaded and then it poured rain fantastic timing. (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_18_48_3.JPG) Trevor (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_18_48_2.JPG) Trevor (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_18_47_1.JPG) Rob (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_18_47_0.JPG) Ken (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_17_24_4.JPG) Dennis (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_17_24_3.JPG) Dorman's (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_17_24_2.JPG) Scott (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_17_23_1.JPG) Keith (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_17_23_0.JPG) Dougie Average speed of the small group was around 53K's at times with everyone working out their pace and took off in that order so there was no pressure at any time. We saw two other bikes and one car the whole weekend having the place to ourselves. No flats no breakdowns hardly ever enough time to get you helmet off between regroups talk about FLOW! (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_15_49_4.JPG) (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_15_49_2.JPG) Sunday ride group (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_14_16_4.JPG) (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_14_15_2.JPG) (http://www.vinamtra.com.au/forum/gallery/93_02_05_11_6_12_24_3.JPG) Ride List: Brad McDiarmid WR250 Ride Leader Dennis Dorman WR450 Tailman (thanks) Ken Robinson KTM450 Trevor Healey WR450 Keith Bujea KTM525 Scott Dorman KTM300 Rob Crisp XR400 Dougie XR400 Photo's are under the AMTRA Gallery Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Grandpa on May 02, 2011, 10,43:23 PM Sounds like a top ride !
Wish I had been able to go ! The KENDA rally was just boring ! Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Robert James Crisp on May 03, 2011, 06,48:02 AM Excellant riding conditions.Great company.Great photos but you missed the best opportunity of the century when the XR's trundled past a WR and a KTM having trouble getting up a snotty hill ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Brad on May 03, 2011, 09,41:54 AM Rob,
That would have been a great photo. Myself and Ken also rode past we figured there were two of them and they are guns so they would sort it out which they did. Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: AL on May 03, 2011, 10,56:53 AM Good report and pic's Dr Brad. Looks and sounds like a good weekend out there. Al
Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: dennisd on May 04, 2011, 12,49:52 AM It was a great ride and thanks to Brad's organisation and good company it was a great weekend. The first snotty downhill Brad referred to was Link Track, which we used in the HCR here in 2007, but it is now severely washed out with big ruts and some rocks to keep you allert. We went down it but it would be a real difficult challenge going up it, particularly in the wet. The next challenging bit was along Black Creek No 1 track (I think). It was through a small creek crossing and then up, and up and up again on this loose rocky up-hill. This was where there was some carnage on the HCR with at least one injury but I think it has got even more challening after all the wet weather has washed ou even more rocks. We all handled it just fine.
Beyond those two challengng sections the rest of the ride was a good level 2 with fabulous tracks in prime condition and just grouse fun! We did tend to get a bit lost through the pine plantation section up the northern end. Just when we thought we knew where we were when we found ourselves at the intersection with Chinaman's Track, we discovered several other intersections with Chinaman's Track....there seemed to be more Chinaman's tracks than pine trees up there! We did just on 210 km over one and a half days of riding. Thanks Brad. Dennis Dorman Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Ken R on May 04, 2011, 12,09:04 PM Yes it was a top weekend. The most enjoyable track for me was Monee Monee which was really on the money, first one out of the starting blocks after Trevor got unhooked from the fence, damp loam - no dust - great traction and jumps that gave even me some confidence to fly a bit.
Some of the narrow tracks were a good fun work out with some mud being found. Probably the most challenging though was the poker especially on Sat night. Don't know whether it was something that was burning in the Coonarra or not but the methane levels got very high and Dennis could have blown Charnwood to pieces when he lit matches claiming it was a proven method to absorb methane. It didn't work as well as opening the door and turning the ceiling fan on. I pushed the Kato past reserve to nearly empty and can say with confidence that the 13ltr tank will take us 200ks, and no, I wasn't on the pilot jet all day. If you want to see how far you can go on a tank ride with Dennis, he carries special plastic bags for transferring fuel plus a syphon hose for backup, one well prepared tail man, Thanks again Dennis. Great weekend Brad and boys, but do we really have to wait till Harry gets married to do it again? Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Brad on May 04, 2011, 03,00:23 PM Ken, you remind me of a comment that was made as we left the aerial mast down a track with nicely formed erosion mounds "Its not every weekend you get to go flying with your mates". Some of those babies seemed to have you in the air for ages before touching back down.
Those who came I am sure still have a smile on their dial it was a magic weekend one out of the box, we were all very blessed! Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Brad on May 05, 2011, 11,11:37 AM Came up with an oldie but goodie TLA to describe last weekend LTMT = Less Talk More Torque
Title: Re: Strahbogies weekend Post by: Ken R on May 06, 2011, 02,50:28 AM Yes Brad I just loved the torque of the EXC4 being transmitted thru my new Dunlop, ha ha. The most talking on the trail was "How many Chinamen were here for there to be so many Chinamans tracks?" and "This looks serious, Brads got the compass out" coupled with "I'm on reserve" Trevor on Sat, me on Sun.
That flying comment was by me after Keith and I flew together off a jump, I did land a bit earlier though, great to watch. |