Thompsons Track Mud Fest

[shaneh]

9:00 am Meet.
9:15 am Depart
3rd January 2007
Event location: Waikato - Matamata
It's time to get my dirty old farm quad bogged up to the axles again.
Is anyone game for a tour over the Kaimai's via Thompsons Track ?
Date is a bit flexible. The track is probably quite dry and so would suit moderately skilled quad or 2 wheeler riders. Ideally needs to be a group of at least three for a safe trip.
Likely to be minimum of two hours, could go all day if you're determined.
Post to the forum if you're keen.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=1063&day=2007-1-3&c=6

Here's a link to the Track
http://smaps.co.nz/nz/matamata/te+aroha+rural/thompsons+track/

[scracha]

I've posted this on the TeAroha webbysite too. Could maybe ask Graeme at the LBS to stick a notice up too?

http://www.tearoha.com/forums/index.php?topic=115.0

I'll try and find a dirtbike to steal from someone.

[Motu]

I'd be into that,with a bit more mud it'd be fun on the TLR200.

[shaneh]

We need three committed riders to make this a safe trip.
If you intend coming along, please let me know here.

[cheese]

could be keen early feb?

[Turtle]

I could be a starter here....my boy and his mates included....this side is a piece of cake but the other side is a challenge if wet....Keep me posted on the date.

[Motu]

What is Thompson's Track like? I've heard about it but never been on it.Single track,rutted 4x4 track,steep,twisty,smooth and open - what can I expect?

I will use my TLR200,so won't be going fast....but I will be able to get through most stuff.The worse the better really,dry and smooth won't be much fun on a trials bike,even an old twinshocker like mine.

Working 6 days a week I prefer sundays,and there are no holidays for the self employed.But I reckon I could do it on the 3rd.

[shaneh]

It's an old "road" over the Kaimais. The western side (Matamata) is "maintained" by the local council, that means they run a digger over it once per year. From the summit down to the east is completely unmaintained.

A 4WD SUV would make it up the western side OK and it would be an interesting, but not challenging trip. On my quad it's quite a quick ride, about 20 mins from memory.

The eastern side is a completely different story. Suitably only for properly equipped 4WD SUV's working in teams. A single 4WD on the east side is dumb.

East side is very over grown. Expect paint damage to your 4WD, but on bikes it should be good.

Bring a short shovel if you can. I will try to bring a hand winch and tow rope. Expect to tow your bike out of bogs and do some hand digging to build access.

I have never made it right the way through, and remember unless you have organised someone to pick you up on the far side, you need to ride it all back again. Hence I recommend the early start.

It sounds like hard work, I don't want someone showing up expecting a nice ride in the countryside and causing problems by being out of their depth.

It will be a good day, with some hard work and fun.

Date is flexible. If you can't make it on the 3rd, we could try for Jan 1 to Jan 6, except Jan 2 when I have a road ride. I have to be back at work on Mon, Jan 8th. So don't want to do this trip the day before (call me soft).

If you're keen we could take packs and overnight in the bush, then we really could do the complete round trip.

Shane

[civil]

I did this track last summer from the Tga side and had no problems. So long as it is not too wet and you take care through the 10 or so bog holes near the begining of the Tga side then should be a sweet ride. These bog holes are the ones that the 4WD sink themselves into and then winch out of.

A few km's in from the Tga side (at about the end of the bog holes), is an open flat area which is made up of large deep swamp holes with firm ridges. Best to walk this section first and find your way accross. This was the only section that we walked our bikes through.

We made it all the way over and back in about 1.5hrs, with a stop at the top.

I could be in for a ride on the 3rd, but would leave early and come over from the Tga side.

If riding this track keep in mind that it is two way as each time I have done it I have meet MX & mountain bikes/4WD/trampers/horses.

[shaneh]

Nice to hear from someone who has done the "far side". I've never seen the Tga end. I'd be stoked if we can manage a round trip in a day.

[scracha]

Nice to hear from someone who has done the "far side". I've never seen the Tga end. I'd be stoked if we can manage a round trip in a day.

If it doesn't dry out before the 3rd you'll need a snorkel. Went up yesterday with the horses and had to turn back. The 4 wheelers have made a bloody mess of it.

[civil]

If you have the time and a couple of riders to help get the bikes through the worse holes, then you will be able to make it all the way. The last bit is the worse.

My advise if you want to get through is to walk the bikes past the bad holes rather than end up pulling them out of the mud cause you ended up falling of into the mud hole.

When you get to the Tga side and across the swamp, then come across mud hole after mud hole around each bend, then you will be within a couple of Km to the end of the track on the Tga side.

[Geordie]

Duno where i can get a piston for a TLM50 ? std or bigger? cheers..

[shaneh]

Assuming we start from west side (Matamata) if it starts to look too hard, then considering time of day and how enthusiastic we feel, we can always turn back. It's not compulsory to do a complete round trip.

I'll be taking a quad.
How may other contenders are there and what bikes are you taking ?
Quad or 2 wheel ?

[civil]

I plan to join but will start on the Tga side early and come over to the Waikato side. CRF450R.

[Danger]

I might have been keen but doing the Possum Trapper on the 2nd. Maybe some other time.

[Motu]

Have you got enough coming to make this happen yet?

[shaneh]

Looks like it's Civil, Motu and Me.
That's enough to get me out of bed.
Civil is leaving from Tga side, coming across then meeting us on Matamata side, then going back with us.

My vote is the trips on.

It's almost 2 hr travel time for me from Raglan, so if I'm a bit late please wait for me.

[DingDong]

I've been up there heaps... and have taken a quad once, each time I swear I wont do it again but I always start hanging out for another challenge.

From the Tauranga side, there are only 4 big bogs

Best advice is to:
walk every bog first, then decide if your going to ride it or push it
wear sneakers and shorts (shoes need to be tight or you'll lose them)
Travel as light as poss, rope is a must for clearing water from pistons.
Spare chain link might help too (along with some tools)

Bikes:
Needs to be a good starter (sometimes too slippy to push start)
Tyres dont need to be good, the ground is clay and you'll just end up riding a huge mass of mud anyway.
Gas wont be a problem... it aint that far, just hard work
Dont lube your chain... it'll be a waste of lube
The best way to shift a quad through the big holes is to flote it, guy on each side (up to their necks in it)

I want to come but I have already organised a golf thingy...

If the date changes to the 4th or the 2nd I'd be keen ( leaving from the TGA side)

[DingDong]

and also...

The Tauranga side takes about 1.5 - 2hrs to get up, thats taking your time to negotiate the route, then about 40 minutes to get back down(because you know the track).
You can actually walk the track in a couple of hours and it is poss to push a bike out in a couple of hours if going down hill.

[shaneh]

I'll be bringing a tow rope, small shovel and trying to find my hand winch but not having much luck.

[Danger]

and also...

The Tauranga side takes about 1.5 - 2hrs to get up, thats taking your time to negotiate the route, then about 40 minutes to get back down(because you know the track).
You can actually walk the track in a couple of hours and it is poss to push a bike out in a couple of hours if going down hill.

Gee I do it quicker than that on my MTB.

[doubledown]

How would a sport quad handle this? Sounds like fun but I don't wanna be the kook that holds everyone up :p I'm doing the Maramarua thing tomorrow & don't have anything better to do the next day.

Oh, and hi from a n00b :spudwave:

[civil]

How would a sport quad handle this?



From the Waikato side would not be a problem, just stop when the bogs get too deep!!!, but that will be all the way over anyway.

[doubledown]

From the Waikato side would not be a problem, just stop when the bogs get too deep!!!, but that will be all the way over anyway.
Righto. Sounds like a plan then, given I don't do some sort of mischief to myself or the quad tomorrow. And I'm not laying any bets on that :p

[shaneh]

I'll be taking my 10 year old farm quad. It's 4WD so got a slight advantage over your sport quad. But you've probably got a tonne of extra horse power and your bike is much lighter (less sinking into bottomless bogs) and more ground clearance.
How about, I'll promise to tow you out if you promise to tow me out.
I've got a tow bar and substantial frames to hook onto.
Your sport quad might be missing this stuff, so if it's easy to do, please put some hook points on front and rear.
I'm bring a small selection of recovery gear. If anyone has a compact hand winch please bring it along. I can stow it on my bike easily.

[shaneh]

My cell if you need directions (and if I have coverage) is 021 742 634

[DingDong]

Gee I do it quicker than that on my MTB.

MTB's dont get bogged down so yeah they'd be quicker... but you'd have a hard time peddling to the summit:yes:

[Danger]

MTB's dont get bogged down so yeah they'd be quicker... but you'd have a hard time peddling to the summit:yes:

My mate and I did it twice on MTB's in one afternoon from the East side, and the first time we went down the West side for a look too. Its a good downhill back to the East side which was real fun. But we were crazy enough to enjoy the climbs as well. Those were the days eh?:Punk:
Actually remember passing some guys stuck on their dirt bikes in some of the bogs. They were knackered ha ha!

Good luck with this ride guys.

Might be looking for a ride after Wednesday this week, but as said doing the Maramarua ride Tuesday (which is today, better get to bed LOL!)

[doubledown]

How about, I'll promise to tow you out if you promise to tow me out.

No worries :niceone: It's easy to get a towrope around the frame at the front, but bugger-all options at the back short of risking tearing off the grab bar. It does have reverse tho so I can always tow backwards.

Gotta get me one of these for next time :D Never thought you could fit one to a sport quad.

http://www.atvconnection.com/Features/Feature_Articles/Winching-It-Up.cfm

[Motu]

I've held off confirming this one - and now I can confirm I won't be there,sorry.

I've had a task to do this break,and did it today - behind the controls of a screaming 2 stroke and cutting over 40 metres of concrete....and then the sledge hammer.I have over used all the muscles I would use on the bike,and being self employed with no holidays or sick pay...I have to pace myself.

But now I have learned about Thompsons Track,let me know about anymore attempts.

[Ixion]

Thompsons Track used to be a good ride until the ruddy Landruisers dug those big holes in the track.Stupid pricks.

Mate took his Norton Atlas over it OK, but that was back when it was actually a road.

[shaneh]

Doubledown showed up, not sure where everyone else got to. We had some fun. Sport quad showed it strengths (fast over rocky ground) and weaknesses (grounds out easily).
But we had fun nonetheless and my plodding old farm quad didn't embarass itself, so it will get to see another day out once I have waterblasted the mud off. Hey Doubledown, you should do some 'net research on prepping your bike for deep mud and proper clean down procedure after a day like this.
It will likely need more than just a hose off, although being brand new with all new seals etc it might be OK. I'm no expert that you need to be checking for water ingress into electrics and check all fluid levels and quality. Make sure no water has got into engine or diff oil.
Also, your bike seemed to be stalling far more often than it should. I'd get that looked at by the dealer.
Cheers for a great day out and remember to give it loads of throttle.
Shane

[doubledown]

Make sure no water has got into engine or diff oil.
Also, your bike seemed to be stalling far more often than it should. I'd get that looked at by the dealer.
I expect to get bitch-slapped when I drop it off for its first service. Doesn't look quite so new any more. What brainiac decided to make the plastics WHITE anyway?

As for the stalling thing, it cleared up just a tad when I noticed the choke was on :doh:

Great day out. Awesome views and lots of lovely MUD! :D

[civil]

Dispite the best of intentions the phone started ringing at 8:00am :doh:, and so I never made it.
Obviously some people went back to work today and thought the rest of the world joined them!

With the rain we had last night I would be interested to know how wet it was on the tga side and if you were able to make it right over?

[grantman]

I have been following your thread for the past few days

Good on you guys for getting out there and doing it!

(I didnt post as I am doing family stuff this week,
but a friend & I would be keen another time)

Sounds like you guys had a great time!

Cheers
Grant

[doubledown]

With the rain we had last night I would be interested to know how wet it was on the tga side and if you were able to make it right over?

Wet :p

We only made it a short way down the Tga side. I had enough stucks on the other side as it was. Even the 4X4 boys were having a tough time. I wanted to see the rest of the track but I think I'd have had to walk it. Or swim it :D

[DingDong]

LOL... shame you didnt go the whole way:second:

Shit I wouldnt take a NEW bike up there... :gob:

[civil]

I am still keen to do this ride again as it has been about a year since the last time.

I will look to do it again next week if it stays dry, maybe mid week. Anyone still interested?

[shaneh]

I could only do a Saturday ride. Possibly this coming Saturday, not sure. I'd recommend only 4WD quads on the Tga side or well setup and quite experienced 2WD quad riders. 1WD are probably ok.

[Motu]

I'd still be keen,the TLR200 loves mud,but not tooooo deep.I work 6 days,so I am a sunday rider.