Brass Monkeys

[paulmac:Me]

I’ll fess up as one – but suddenly you’d find life had passed you by.

on ya mate. I like honesty, esp in this day and age ! maybe go thru there on the way to the burt munroe at the end of november ! ( i'll buy you a beer there )

[Berries]

So maybe it would be better for the LTSA/ council responsiable for those closed roads to advertise more widely the reasons for the road closure, particularly when events like bike rallys etc are on.

Not really practical, especially considering the number of closures in the area over the last two weeks. Sometimes you can ask the bloke manning the gates/closure but more often than not they are away trying to pull someone out who ignored the signs. Saw this myself in the floods north of Oamaru a couple of weeks ago.

You can get state highway info off the NZTA website, but your best bet is the AA Roadwatch site. Have a look here - http://maps.aa.co.nz/traffic/roadwatch and you can clearly see all the closures in Waitaki from the flooding, but also those where snow is a problem, like Danseys Pass.

[kiwipeet]

To the guys who ignored the sign and took the road: *fuckin outstanding effort.* clearly your balls are bigger than your brains.

Thats what adventure bikes are for. Having an adventure. Self preservation is waaaay overrated IMHO.

To all the wimpy naysayers, just think. Instead of boring their grand-kids to tears, they're gonna get to hear real stories from Grandad. (provided they can prove Darwin wrong long enough to meet thier grandkids.)

Rock on dudes.

peet

[HenryDorsetCase]

I saw a red/maroon Indian 741B being loaded on the back of a truck. Good effort whoever that was and can I have a go?

[HenryDorsetCase]

I’ll fess up as one of the group and give you all the facts, not the sensationalized stories printed in the papers.
First off these comments are my own and from my perspective, there were about 15-18 people who passed bikes under the gate on the Northern side of the pass and met at the top around midday. These people were from about 4-5 separate groups travelling on bikes ranging from dual purpose adventure bikes, road, trail and vintage.
There was no snow on the road on the northern side of the pass and didn’t start till after the second corner on the way down. At no stage was it shoulder deep, although some drifts on the corners were probably just above the knee. For the most part it was slightly above ankle deep.
The group I travel with have used this road to get to the Brass Monkey for the last few years and we were expecting the snow to only be on the road for about half of the track down which wasn’t the case this time around.
The Indian (my bike – which is a Chief not an army (741)) was abandoned because the clutch had cried enough, not because it was stuck in the snow. The only other bike that was left out overnight was a mid 70’s Ducati that also had electrical problems and could not travel any further, again not because it was stuck.
Most of the group rode/pushed all the way down to the hotel where the police were notified that there were others further back. The local farmer and Police then went by 4WD tractor back up the road, followed by the grader. 1 group of 3 (group I was with) were still making slow progress out at this stage and were met approx 2kms from the hotel and proceeded to ride out after the grader had been through. The last group of 4 was approx another 2kms up the road and had put up their tents and were in their sleeping bags settling in for the night – these people also packed up and rode out after the grader went past.
While we were heading along the road during the evening a further 2 groups of 4-5 bikes passed us, these guys were not part of the original group but more people who had ignored the signs.
Search and Rescue were not called out, neither was anyone from a 4WD club as they were not needed.
While we were all tired after the days activities I do not believe anyone was in danger and most people then carried on to the rally, although a few did stay at the Danseys Pass hotel for the night.
I returned on Sunday morning and along with the Ducati owner went with the farmer who collected our bikes with his tractor and brought them out for us – mine I will have to go back and collect, not sure what happened to the Ducati.
My 2 mates and I apologized to the farmer and publican for the unnecessary hassle we caused and I also paid his charge out rate for his tractors time, again not sure if others contributed to his expenses.
Yes our actions were stupid and it is not something I will be repeating again in a hurry.
I suppose we could have stayed home by the fire all weekend – but suddenly you’d find life had passed you by.

I should have read this before posting. I still want a ride on the Indian though.

[Howie]

Not really practical, especially considering the number of closures in the area over the last two weeks. Sometimes you can ask the bloke manning the gates/closure but more often than not they are away trying to pull someone out who ignored the signs. Saw this myself in the floods north of Oamaru a couple of weeks ago.

Not really that hard to achieve with a bit of preparation by whoever is responsible for putting up the signs / closing the gates. It’s as easy as a sign attached to gate saying road closed due to deep snow at location …….. Simply use a laminated A4 or A3 pre printed sign for main reason and add extra info in a Maker pen, could even include date and time. Attach to gate or barrier with tape or cable ties. That would make people think twice, and also let them know exactly where the problem is.

I would never expect all road closed gates / signs etc to be manned.

You can get state highway info off the NZTA website, but your best bet is the AA Roadwatch site. Have a look here - http://maps.aa.co.nz/traffic/roadwatch and you can clearly see all the closures in Waitaki from the flooding, but also those where snow is a problem, like Danseys Pass.

As to using the Internet for updates while travelling, I’m not sure about others but I don’t tend to access it at all when travelling by bike or car!! It is even more impractical than informative signs about current conditions.

[_Shrek_]

just finished reading now who was it fess up & take the up the arse that ya deserve

my 1st post after reading the news

Good on ya mate.
A much more realistic or plausible picture that makes.
News papers are terrible at getting the facts straight.

as TA said

I’ll fess up as one of the group and give you all the facts,

I suppose we could have stayed home by the fire all weekend – but suddenly you’d find life had passed you by.

after this read i my words

well done Rob & others cheers

[AllanB]

I was told the snow was 4 metres deep and all the men had formed a circle and were performing lewd acts upon each other in a vain attempt to keep warm.

I believe there may be actual films on Nightline tonight.

Let the legend begin!

[HenryDorsetCase]

I was told the snow was 4 metres deep and all the men had formed a circle and were performing lewd acts upon each other in a vain attempt to keep warm.

I believe there may be actual films on Nightline tonight.

Let the legend begin!

I heard someone abandoned an Indian and an old Ducati up there. Ima wait fer the spring thaw, an' go a'prospectin' them thar hills.

[Pixie]

lol those guys that got rescued sound like they had fun i bet they got a good story to tell lol.

They should have stayed home and watched it on TV

[imdying]

I heard someone abandoned an Indian and an old Ducati up there. Ima wait fer the spring thaw, an' go a'prospectin' them thar hills.

I heard Chuck Norris started out with them, but he ended up turning back as it was too cold for him!

[748south]

whats with all the "congratulations"??? locked gate, they went through it anyway - as far as i'm concerned they're idiots that mar the rest of us. oh but "well done boys" (with sarcasm), fuck sake, why do you think so many trails have been closed to bikes over the years, it's because of clowns like these guys that think they're above the rules.

So sorry but no well done's from me, just grow up you should have known better.

[cooneyr]

Road closures are for the masses i.e. the majority of drivers (as they drive 2wd cars). Those on bikes that need a road in a similar condtion to a 2wd car should have though twice about attempting the pass but a road closeure will almost always be over the top for a Adv bike or 4wd except for the odd time. This leads to a fair bit of complaincency re road closures for anybody who is prepared and has the equipment and skills. If I didn't have a 8 week old baby at home I'd have been one of the "idiots". I wont say I'm disapointed I wasn't there but I'd love to have been. It would have been a heap of fun bashing my KTM 950 with knobblies through knee high snow drifts. I'd be off down there now if I could.

Hell why don't they put track closed signs on all the alpine tracks when it snows in winter to stop all the idots going climbing. I've spent a two days wading through waist deep snow for the fun of it, but I was well prepared with good gear and just fit enough and it enjoyed it!

My next project is to stud some old knbblie tyres for my XR250 and then I'll be deliberatly going looking for snow.

[madbikeboy]

I heard Willie Apiata was with them - and was camping naked in the snow.

[Beemer]

I heard Willie Apiata was with them - and was camping naked in the snow.

Damn, I KNEW I should have gone to the Brass this year!