Neerim South on 16 May 2009 May 21, 2009, 10:01:25 PM by dennisd
Ride Report – Neerim South – 16th May 2009 By Dennis Dorman
We met up at the DSE trail bike unloading area at around 8:30 am for a 9:00 am start, or at least most of us did. A few had overshot the car park but were soon back with the main group and by around 9:00 am 16 of us headed south for a morning loop under the leadership of Brad and with Mark as tail man. Unknown to us at the time, Ted and Adam were confused and were at the wrong unloading area, so they did their own thing in the morning and met up with us at lunch time at the correct unloading area on Latrobe River Road.
It rained on and off all morning, making for some slippery, muddy tracks with some big bog holes. However, down in the southern part of this area it tends to be more sandy loam than clay, which is more enjoyable in the wet than the clay that seems to be more abundant north of the Latrobe River, as we found out in the afternoon. There were no dramas and everyone seemed to be handling the tracks in these wet conditions really well. So it was time for a little challenge hill. We all rode to the bottom of a steep, slippery track and with some eager encouragement Brad decided that we should all have a go at going back up.
Brad led the way and around 2/3 of the group had a go and most got up. Brad, Scott and I had easily ridden up this hill a week previously on a pre-ride in relatively dry conditions but now in the wet it had changed from a challenging Level 2 hill into a Clubman hill. I was pleased to get up on my first attempt, but was disappointed that we just turned around and went back down again. I have a clear preference for going up steep slippery hills rather than down them and of course I lost the front wheel and had a little tumble on the way down, but luckily there were no photos and the video was not going at the time.
It was good to see that James on his TTR gave the challenge hill a good go. He didn’t quite get to the top but he had a go. Several other quicker riders declined to even have a go.
Before going back to the cars for lunch and some extra fuel, Brad took us to another challenge hill. Some of us had done this hill on previous rides in the dry. The trick is to stay in the middle between the big ruts. But in the wet it proved impossible for those that tried. A few had a go but it was soon obvious that we would need to go around this hill to get back to the cars. Our video cameraman, Chris, had a go and it was good to get him on camera walking his bike back down this challenge hill. This seemed just revenge, as he had caught me and a few others on video falling off on a log on an earlier section of narrow tight trail.
After lunch, fuel and a change into dry gloves, 10 of us headed out again for the afternoon loop into the northern region of this riding area. Ted pulled out due to a sore shoulder after a tumble in the morning, but seven others did the same with varying excuses of having to be somewhere else or just that they had had enough for the day.
The showers were mostly gone by the afternoon and we were soon warmed up with a long, narrow technical section that took around an hour to complete before we headed down and across the Latrobe River at Hawthorn Creek camping area (where Hawthorn Bridge used to be). There were several campers at the river that came out to be entertained as we crossed the river, but all went well and we were across and off exploring some new trails. There is certainly more clay on this side of the river but also some good tracks and hills. It was getting late so we took the Hawthorn Creek road as a transport back to the river crossing. I reckon that this Hawthorn Creek Road had to be the most slippery, treacherous road you could find. I and others stopped a couple of times to see if we had flat rear tyres because we were sliding around so much on the slick, hard clay.
Once back over the river it was meant to be a quick ride back to the cars. However Glen on his CRF 250 decided that he would try a superman stunt. He launched himself and his bike into the air and off into the scrub. When I arrived on scene as the tail man, there was his bike upside down and Glenn lying on the ground. It did not look good. Luckily Glenn was not hurt and was soon up and looking at his upside down bike. Mark and I helped him get it upright again as soon as it was on its wheels it was obvious from the flow of oil onto the ground that there was a hole somewhere in the crankcase. We soon found the source of the leak was a small hole in the clutch housing cover, caused by the brake pedal being pushed into it by the impact.
From previous experience I always carry some epoxy/metal putty stuff and with this we were able to stop the oil leak. Not much oil was lost so Glenn was able to ride out and back to the cars. We got back and loaded just before dark.
We did around 70 km in the morning and another 60 km in the afternoon. Despite the morning rain it was a great ride. We had no serious injuries and we didn’t lose anyone, although there were at least three members not on the ride who were expecting to do the ride on the Sunday because of a conflict of information on the ride calendar on the WEB.
Ride List:
Brad McDiarmid – WR250 – Ride Leader Dennis Dorman – WR450 – PM Tail man Gerard Blamfield VR250 Scott Dorman - KTM300 Rob Cecelsa – WR450 Mark Clark FE550 - AM Tail man Nathan Stott WR250 Luke Adams XR400 Steve Bennett WR450 Glenn Mitchell CRF250 James Gilbertson TTR250 Darrell Clark WR450 Sasha Gerlieb WR450 Duncan Simmons WR250 Chris McCran WR450 Jamie Mitchell DR400 Ted Henning DR400 Adam Tatlow CRF450
Trailriding with AMTRA July 01, 2007, 01:13:03 AM by David Smith
AMTRA is a club that was formed to cater specially for the Trailrider. AMTRA is a non-competitive club and holds rides throughout Victoria. Our members organise rides in areas they know or want to explore. Club members are invited to participate via the rides being advertised on the web site or the clubs monthly newsletter, AMTRACTION as well as at the monthly meeting. AMTRA was formed on the 16th of January 1969 and the first meeting was held at Milledge Brothers Yamaha with 24 people in attendance. The club membership varies and in the mid seventies had over 500 members. We average around 300 members a year at present. AMTRA members have always been very pro-active at Trail riding and helping to preserve the rights of trailbike riders and access to the track network for riders of registered trailbikes. AMTRA rides consist mainly of day rides however we also have weekend, Easter and Christmas camps organised by members. Rides are held in all areas of Victoria with day rides reasonably close to Melbourne being very popular. AMTRA owns a property south of Myrtleford in northern Victoria which is free for members to use as base to explore the Alpine areas. There is direct access to the track network from our property and it is a very popular place for members to base rides from. As we ride on gazetted roads all members must have a valid licence or Learners Permit and a registered bike. AMTRA members have also been known to organise the occasional car rally, 4wd trip, theatre night and restaurant night. We encourage families to enjoy the camping and social activities the club runs. AMTRA meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month (except for December) from around 8 pm onwards at the St Davids Church hall opposite Tunstall Square Shopping Centre in Doncaster East. Meetings comprise of brief reports on club business, ride reports and details about coming events and often have a DVD of recent rides showing. All members as well as visitors are encouraged to come to the meetings and socialise with other members. AMTRA fees comprise of a once off joining fee and a yearly subscription. The fees are very reasonable and the clubs fund raising subsidises the yearly fees in order to keep the fees down. The current fees are listed in the store on this web site. The fees include 11 copies of our magazine Amtraction either posted to you or downloaded from the web site as well as access to the members’ pages of the web site for details on the latest rides and other articles of interest. For those of you in NSW and South Australia, AMTRA also has branches in those states. To Join AMTRA Click Here
Fumina Ride Report 23rd May May 25, 2009, 08:14:57 PM by ALWR
The Fumina, I’m Stuffed Ride By Al Mason 23rd May
Well great weather was forecast, and a lack of rain were all very good signs for my ride as either dust or deep river crossings can make this ride hard going. I got off to an early start to check to see if my usual first track had reopened after logging. Just before I had finished gearing up Tim arrived and with no real persuasion he said he would help me check. Tim and I were soon off, as the victims began to arrive. Tim hadn’t see this track before but due to Denis Kelly and his bike finding a mineshaft on it most people have heard about it. Once at the top of the track there was a tree that was blocking the path, but we lifted our bikes over and were met by a new track linking it to the main gravel road. Tim loved the couple of hundred steep woops, but with my newly tricked up forks feeling horrid I was dreading a hole day with them. At the car park most of the crew had arrived, and a few over shooting the entrance provided the entertainment as we waited for some later comers. In total there was 16 of us for the day. I did my speech, which would still make my English teacher cringe, and we were off. After a 500meter bitumen stretch, I lead the pack up the first deceivably tricky first track to the fallen tree. Out with the trusty folding saw and some heavy breathing from myself, Tim and Tim and the tree was removed now just a couple hundred woops were there to great us. As usual the good blokes effortlessly bound over them in a fluid motion. Myself and the rest of us, just tried our best to hold down breakfast. With my new front end still making me dread the next 120ks, I found Mark Salter over an embankment at a very weird angle. Stopping to lend a hand I felt better knowing these woops can claim one of our best, the rest of us are doing alright! The group took off though some nice flowing tracks to the first river crossing on the days loop. Its also the most infamous one on my ride. With everyone across,  Some with style and grace, and some not. A single stalled bike was it. A blast up the staircase and a few short goatees and another river crossing and we are in the good stuff. I stopped at my usual rest, fuel, food and chat stop after a long flowing narrow trail. The word “arm pump” was already been bantered about, with my highlight of “how cool” and “good are these tracks!” I say my highlight cause its a big part for me to show people around a place most of them had never heard of. And then I get to tell them “that the good stuff is still to come“. Refreshed and recharged we head of for my regulars sections. The group was flowing the best of any ride I have ever led, and we were covering the ground in record time, which was extra good as this was the largest group I ve ever had as well. I’ve manage over the years to link up all the track well, until a big dozer had ploughed a new road. With a slow down and a look about we picked up the track again and headed for “The Bridge”. When we arrived the powers that be have bulldozed a road up to and then from “The Bridge” but have left it in its far from ideal state still there?? Once we were all across, young Tim had taken over the controls of Paul’s new KTM 250 for the try before you buy ride. I led, then let past some of the faster guys in the group, back into the technical stuff. We hoped out at the end on to Stony Creek Rd. I took off and started leaving my corner men again, when Tim stopped me to say we had an injured rider. This was first time for me with an injured rider on my ride. My brain went into overdrive about how bad and easiest way to get help as I rode back. Tim and I arrived back to the group to find young Tim with that look of “did you get the number of that bus?” on his face and a very sad looking KTM on the ground. To my relief no ambulance was going to be needed, but a easy route back to the cars was? The spanners were already out on the Kato to make it rideable, so I got out a (Tim’s)pen and my map and marked the route out for Rob, Tim and Paul. With the usual reticule out of the way I took them to the start of the track home and sent them on there way. Once back to the group I gave the nod and we were off again along some open flowing tracks to our lunch stop. At lunch I asked the Orical (Tim) about the river crossing and if he thought it would be alright? Tim asked “how goods the track that comes down to it?”. “The best of the day”, “well we will do it” As we sat and replenished another group of riders came down to the crossing and supply some entertainment. The first two crossed easily, then it got a bit messy for the next couple using the submersible method. As they kept coming we thought it was time    To get a move on. After a cruise track alone the river flat to another of my famous bridges I stopped, and pondered using the crossing instead? As is always asked by someone on my ride. So I edge up to the left entry track and plunged in to the clear 6 inches of water, that went up to my knees. I then proceeded across with the grace of a drunken ice skater to the other side, only to find the hidden exit was a near vertical 3 feet of red clay. By this point 2 other bikes had entered on the right and were told STOP! no exit. Row simply flicked the Kato around and rode out. I man handled my bike and got out, but Clarke wasn’t quite so lucky. Dropping his 450 in the water, while a couple of us waited to see if the 450 had survived its swim, I sent the rest over the bridge to the other side. The 450 came to life and we headed over the bridge too. After assigning a corner man we were back into the tight stuff that always puts a smile on the faces at the top of the track. At the regroup it was disgust how good the track was, but also how stuffed people were. After a breather I led the group to a track that none of them had done, that would take us to the river crossing we had lunch at. I had told everyone how good this track was, but also failed to mentioned how tough it was either. As the group headed off into the unknown it very quickly becomes apparent how tight and twisty this track is, i.e. 3 point turns required. After going over, under and around some logs came a choice? The duck under a branch as you hope over a log. Or the blast up an embankment around the hole problem. I watch Tim go for the later and get stuck, requiring some brut force to free himself. Whilst waiting for the duck and hop option to become clear, Row decided to take the blast and around option. Row didn’t see there was also a tree to the left of the track. As he lunched up the embankment he bounce off the tree and looked like he and his steed were in for a long drop. However a inch thick stick that would have broken on any other day, held the two. Allowing Row to think about new jocks and remount the Kato. By the time I arrived at the river with two arms made up of only jelly, Tim and a few guys were standing in the river to give advice and assistance. On dropping into the river, that old saying of “were you look is were you go”. Well Tim pointed were to go and I looked at Tim? Up the river a bit I headed to the exit were I had seen it so easily done, I asked mark for his advice. Ignored it and went up the other side and with a little help made it. With the group all out and some people sitting on their bikes and their lungs resting on the handle bars, we decided to make this a rest stop. As we rested Tim said when he had arrived the group we saw at lunch, were only just getting back under way. It was now time to head for home, a short open section Leeds as back into the tight stuff and a couple of the track we had done in the morning. After a few flowing track we do our last river crossing, how ever one rider went left while I was talking to the corner man. Nathan offered to go get him, but I wasn’t clear enough to Tim and he thought they were light on for fuel and heading for the cars. After a few more tracks we hit the last goatee for the day, I let Tim and mark go ahead for a blast, as there is no where to pass. After leaving a corner man I to went for a blast, and arrived quickly on the tail of Chris. Were I made the mistake of grabbing a fistful of front brake on wet red clay! No biggy the bike washed out and hit a tree stump, sending me over the hangers and up, over and down six feet of the embankment. Where I used my shoulder to break my fall. After climbing(crawling) back up to the track and mounting the bike I gingerly road to the end, were it was noted the we had NO Nathan or Maurice. With most of us running on limited fuel Aaron volunteered to come back with me to were I thought they would be. Along the way I counted every bump and woop as they hurt like hell, but after a few tracks Aaron and I meet up with them, they had done the right thing and waited at what was the last corner man position. A short route was taken back to the group, and we all headed for home. Once on the last track pretty much everyone past me as I was so slow. I reached the group and at the last intersection, we headed down the main rd back to the cars. As most of the blokes had got changed and loaded bikes, it was noticed that we a ‘Clarke’ short? Nathan and Tim quickly volunteered to go get him, which I was rapped about as I was working out how I was going to do a couple hundred gears changes on the way home and not looking forward to any more bumps or woops. I showed Tim on the map I gave him were I had left Clarke and he and Nathan set off. The rest of the crew check If I wanted them to hang around and wait, but I said no I will wait for them. After what seemed forever the three of them returned, two without head lights in the dark. With my cruisers head lights acting as the sun we got the bikes and gear loaded and set off for home. From me a big thanks to Tim and Nathan for retrieving Clarke, and thanks Paul and Aaron for their tail man duties. Also thank to the group for a great day out and the smiles were a great reward. And a sorry to Clarke for forgetting to do a head count at the regroup after finding Nathan and Maurice. Thanks Al
RIDE LIST Al Mason WR250 Ride Leader Paul Lacy KTM250 Morning Tail man Nathan Scott WR250 Mark Salter KTM300 Michael Neubecker DRZ250 Pictures Chris McCran WR450 Video Darrell Clark WR450 Trevor Bastin GasGas300 Tim Dykes TE510 Rod Wainwright WR250 Tim Wainwright WR250 Damian King WR250 Serge Coffa WR250 Rowen Smith KTM250 Aaron Rowe KTM250 Afternoon Tail man Maurice Cortada WR450
Neerim South on 16 May 2009
