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Author Topic: Fumina Clubman  (Read 4779 times)
AL
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 830
« on: March 25, 2012, 03,26:52 AM »
A slightly damp Fumina 24/3/12
By Al Mason
The weather was looking perfect for the day with showers and a top temp of 17. The week of none stop rain had the ground repealing any water or bike that found it. With a slow start as some stragglers arrived late, we headed off for 9:30am bound for Mineshaft Track. With the regulars all knowing what sort of fun that was going to be in these conditions? As I hooked in to the first corner to get the run at the hill, I had my first owe s$%t moment for the day. About 50 small trees had decided to have a game of pickup sticks on the track, and hadn’t quite finished their game yet! New plastics now christened, and my guts stopping an inch big stick from getting hurt.  I stopped the group and rode back down and headed off for plan B.
Up the new track I’m sure any of the new comers were quickly finding out about where they get baby oil from, as it oozed from the ground. We pushed the pace up (Al’s speed anyway) and headed into the fun zone. Telecom Track was the first to arrive and was oiled up nicely as we dropped down to the bridge in the bottom of the gully. I had let a few of the faster blokes paced as they caught me on the way down, but soon caught up again as the challenges arrived. The bog hole caught me out as I couldn’t manage to mono long enough through the rut before becoming wedged. Thanks Jeff for the assistance getting out! Then I was back under way for the climb, log hopping and woops up to the regroup area. The funning thing about the regroup spot is you don’t even need to tell a firs timer that we will regroup there before we tackle the rest of the track; sheer exhaustion takes care of that for  ya.
By this point I get to see who’s having fun and who thinks I’m insane! Everyone made it through and was still smiling and after a few bike tweaks we were off again in search of something a little harder  on day like this. The group moved well and the only real bottle neck was the ride leader. We then tackled the first good hill climb for the day that all ways sorts the guns from the gunners. After a very snotty and steep creek crossing, you get about 40 seconds of flowing track before the switchbacks start and the hill gets serious. Local knowledge here is good, unless the ride leader wooses out of his usual line over the log  as  it green and wet. Timmy caught me and got to see which line not to take! Told him you got hit the log and stay left and with some encouragement Timmy hit it and flew to the top like a gun. I rolled (slide) back to where Timmy had started and adjusted the jocks for more support in the needed region and blasted up. One by one the group made it up; we sent some on to the end of the track to let their bikes enjoy some air to help with the steam and water shooting out of overflow bottles. (Got to love big bores)
 After a very long wait, Angus headed back down to show the gunners the way around. Myself and a couple others headed around to meet them. I should have known that our Tail man Mark, wasn’t going to let them get out of it that easy! And must have given them some advice and wisdom. And I got back to the group Mark had them all at the top.  Clarky was looking a little sweaty and a few asked if there was any more of that sort of stuff planed for the day? (Note: start telling the truth)
It was then time to get stuck in and get some kilometres done. Next track had been closed, so some fun was had on the freshly graded main rd around instead.  It was then over the main road and through some farm land and down to river for lunch. It was good to have a group that listened when I requested they took it easy till passing through the last farm gate. Thanks boys!
Lunch for 12:30 and 26 kilometres under our belts, with only another  100 kilometres planned for the day we were doing well. Lunch done some more fun tracks and then some open running to make up some ground. Crossing the river was going to be fun with plenty of very fast moving water, added boulders, manmade trench and near vertical entry. After some discussions about how deep and how f$%ken cold the water will be and the lack of interest in wet boots, we pushed across and headed into heaven.
At each regroup the sweat got thicker, but the smiles got bigger. (The best part of my  job)A change of tail man as Lefty put his hand up to let Mark have a better view of the trails, without his arse in the way. (Thanks mate) We did some more of my favourate tracks and I kept and eye on Lefty and let the troops open there throttles a bit more. Apart from one small mix up we flew through the tracks, until Jeff’s KDX had a hissy fit. We tinkered away trying to find it problem whilst flicking leaches off, until Angus came back down and offered a different view of the problem. Problem found, two broken wires shorting out on the frame. Electrical tape and we were under way again.
With the clock showing 3:30pm and a fair distance home, we headed back to cross the river that would now see us riding up the vertical side out. Pretty and graceful are not the two words that come to mind, but everyone through and ready for home. Let the group meet me at each corner of the trails back,  as Lefty and I tried to keep our pace up? With one quick detour around the staircase it was then the run up Kenny Spur and home as always.
Back at the cars around 5:30 I think and 105 kilometres on the clock we load up, talked crap and headed home. Everyone seem to have a good day, no major injuries other than leach bits and a couple bruises we head home. Thanks to Mark and Lefty for tail man duties and to the rest of the group who attended.
Cheers Al



RIDE LIST
AL MASON                  WR 250F  RIDE LEADER
PETER MONTGOMERY          KTM 300
PETER DUNLOP          YZ 250
NICK NICOLAON          KTM 300
STUART MACKEY          WR 250F PM TAIL MAN
JEFF DAVEY          KDX 200
ANGUS BOUD          GAS GAS 250
TIM WAINWRIGHT          KTM 250
MARK CLARK          WR 300 AM TAIL MAN
DARREL CLARK          WR 450
TERRY CLARKSON          FE 570
JOHN KIRBY          EXC 530
ADAM CLARKSON          EXC 300
CHRIS DEPROPENTIS       WR 450
MATT DEPROPENTIS          DRZ 400
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flipper
Full Member 2012/2013

Posts: 260
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2012, 10,21:53 AM »
Thanks for a great day Al, and to Lefty and Mark for doing the tail duties.

The pre-ride warning about the slippery conditions that Fumina throws up wasn't an exaggeration! It seemed that every time I touched the throttle, the back wheel of the YZ broke loose and I was going sideways...my apologies to those I may have inadvertently sprayed with mud, but I didn’t have a lot of traction, even with the tyre dropped down to about 6psi.

Great tracks, slimy mud, river crossings and challenging hills – what more could you ask for?  Cheesy

Peter D
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AL
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 830
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2012, 10,41:31 AM »
Glad you had a good day Pete! Its funny no one wants to come out there, yet once they do? You cant stop them from coming back every time i put a ride on. I had a ball, had to only miss a few good tracks and didnt have to tame the day down to much which made my job easy. As for the slickness of the place, only those who ride it on a day like yesterday. And on those sort of tracks get to see what the place is really about. Hope to see you out there on another one soon.
Al
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Jeff Davey
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 187
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2012, 10,42:11 AM »
Thanks Al for a great day out.
Mark & Lefty once again did a great job at tailman duties.
When I found Al stuck in what can only be described as a trench with only the handle bars above ground. I thought I had better help him so he might feel guilty and hang around to help me Grin
Oh yeah to the guy on the Suzi I am sorry about landing on you!
After being stuck on the hill for awhile, I turned around to head down for another run I was heading down in one rut as poor Suzi guy was heading up in the rut beside me.
My front wheel dropped in a hole, a bit too much front brake and over the bars I went, the bike fell sideways landing on top of the Suzi oops!
I also tested Marks accidend avoidance skills, as I hit a down hill erroision mound a bit out of shape when the rear wheel touched down the engine had stalled (probaly from to much rear brake)when the dead wheel touched down on the slippery ground it immediately started to over take the front as I slid gracefully across the track Mark was trying to time his overtake without leaving knobbie prints across my chest thanks mate I appreciate skill.
Also a big thanks to the guys that helped sort out the little problem with the green machine it was looking a bit ugly for awhile I was thinking not another bush rescue mission
Once again yet another great ride around Fumina
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AL
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 830
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2012, 08,50:07 PM »
Was great to have you along as always Jeff. As for the rut, i did ask if you would be alright before i nicked off. See ya on the next one, Al
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Peter Monty

Posts: 221
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2012, 03,21:00 AM »
 Grin
Great day out!
Perfect weather, grippy dry tracks, absolutely perfect! Yea right another perfect Fumina day!!!
I had ball, the tracks were slippery & challenging for most of the day, all the guys kept up a great pace & no one hindered the ride at all, so it was a great day. What more could you ask for?
Thanks Al for putting the ride on, cheers to Mark & Lefty for the tail man duties during the day.
Special thanks for the guys with the "incest jokes" while waiting a the last regroup. Very funny. LOL
Oh & for those on the ride who were showing signs of stress over the amount of leeches hanging off riders each time we stopped, I now belive the leeches are just a destraction to enable the mosquitoes to rip you apart, even through ride kit! I'm still scratching !!! LOL

Al forgot to mention that one of his infamous river crossings was crossed for the last time on this ride, as a new shiney concrete motorway is being put in to attract those riders who have submarined their trusty bikes in the past!

Cheers Pete
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Ya wouldnt be dead for quids!
Adamclarkson

Posts: 85


WWW
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2012, 05,19:06 AM »
Great day out again, thanks Al.
Me personally getting a new tyre sick of no traction
in the mud on the stone king. Might be going for a trials
tyre?? any one else tried em??

cheers and see u at HCR.
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2011 KTM 300 EXC
Love that 2 stroke punch!
Peter r
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 2482
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2012, 05,42:02 AM »
Quote from: Adamclarkson on March 28, 2012, 05,19:06 AM
Great day out again, thanks Al.
Me personally getting a new tyre sick of no traction
in the mud on the stone king. Might be going for a trials
tyre?? any one else tried em??

cheers and see u at HCR.
John t and i ran trials tyre for a few years, they feel a bit wobberly, but give you good traction and you can ride over anything !!!
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AL
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 830
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2012, 06,41:44 AM »
Just buy a bridgestone 404 or 403 and low preasures and its like cheating!
Al
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