2011 TT2000 (26-27 Feb 2011)

[Jantar]

..
Further to this, can anyone advise on the roads just south of Ranfurly, namely Kokonga Rd and Gimmerburn-Waipiate Rd? Sealed/unsealed, and the condition? Looking for a shortcut that stops me having to go back to the main route, but if the road is really rough then it doesn't make any sense to do it as it would slow me down too much.

....

edit: Jantar, do you know what time the Mobil in Te Anau plan to stay open until? I know you were going to put in a nice word...

As FJRider has stated, the Kokonga Rd is gravel, but I'll be taking it. Even at 80km/h it will save over 15 minutes for the McRaes flyer.

Mobil in Te-Anau is open till 8:00 pm, and I didn't even bother to ask Mark to open a bit longer as the Caltex Station is open to 9:30 pm. Any riders not back out from Milford by 9:30 shouldn't be on this ride.

Also just reported in the local paper, the station at Waikouaiti is re-opening with a 24hr card pump.

[FJRider]

I went over Kokonga rd today ... 8 km's of gravel. Hard packed with a loose surface in places ... mainly between the wheel tracks. That 8 km's took me 12 min's on the FJ1200.

As has been stated in the Macraes flyer ... the one lane bridge between Hyde and Macraes could be a problem for the unaware ... The road rises steeply onto the bridge ... which is level. This means at the moment of bridge entry ... (at speed) your suspension will be un-sprung. Not good if you need traction to brake because you've got it wrong. A sunken area between the wheel tracks (about 200mm wide and 50mm deep) which means I advise not to enter the bridge in the middle. The exit of the bridge is a sharp left hander.

In the Macraes Flat area is a number of patched seal with loose (unmarked) grit. Due to the large amount of vehicular traffic in this area ... as such, those patches may still be there for the TT2000.

The speed advisory signs (on the corners) mean what they say.

[Jantar]

.......
The speed advisory signs (on the corners) mean what they say.

In particular, one downhill right hander marked at 45kmh has grit over the entire left hand lane.

[LBD]

Yes it is ... but two photos are required on that flyer.

Last I looked there were 3 photos on that flyer.....

[FJRider]

Last I looked there were 3 photos on that flyer.....

My mistake ... I WAS wrong ...

But the only reason that the OP may have for asking about those roads .... was if the Wreys Bush photo was not going to be taken on THAT flyer ... (maybe taken after the Winton cematary photo-but before the Otautau photo)

The roads that were asked about ... seems to be on the wrong route ... if all THREE photos were going to be taken on THAT flyer ...

[LBD]

My mistake ... I WAS wrong ...

But the only reason that the OP may have for asking about those roads .... was if the Wreys Bush photo was not going to be taken on THAT flyer ... (maybe taken after the Winton cematary photo-but before the Otautau photo)

The roads that were asked about ... seems to be on the wrong route ... if all THREE photos were going to be taken on THAT flyer ...

Smarty pants since ages ago?....just dishing it back....

We should see who can plot all the flyers and check points in the shortest total distance....to kick it off....
3153 km for Diamond.....

[Gremlin]

A smidgen over 3200 for me. Any less and it becomes too much gravel. Shortcut around mossburn is because the middle photo has already been taken.

[FJRider]

Smarty pants since ages ago?....just dishing it back....

We should see who can plot all the flyers and check points in the shortest total distance....to kick it off....
3153 km for Diamond.....

The shortest distance is not the key ... route's that take the shortest time are needed ... aren't they ...

[LBD]

The shortest distance is not the key ... route's that take the shortest time are needed ... aren't they ...

Agreed, and being on familiar roads at night and conventent fuel stops.

[Jantar]

My mistake ... I WAS wrong ...

But the only reason that the OP may have for asking about those roads .... was if the Wreys Bush photo was not going to be taken on THAT flyer ... (maybe taken after the Winton cematary photo-but before the Otautau photo)

The roads that were asked about ... seems to be on the wrong route ... if all THREE photos were going to be taken on THAT flyer ...

I'm looking at combining those two flyers into one. It saves 8 km directly, and allows taking the back road from Mossburn to Five Rivers saving another 10 km.

Edit: I just noted LBD's comment on the Dipton-Mossburn Rd. That makes a huge saving in distance.

Just how many of us are registered so far?

[Shadowjack]

Just how many of us are registered so far?

91, as at 20/01/2011, according to the website.

[Jantar]

Yes 91 total, but I should have been more specific. How many KBers?

So that's:
Jantar
Gremlin
Shadowjack
LBD
KoroJ
Gixxer Peter
SarahTvet
Redklr650
Mr Triple and Em
JMemonic
Andybandit
Toto
lockhead83

[Gremlin]

1

[Shadowjack]

2

[andybandit]

Thanks for all the tips.
Since Mike posted the route so early, you mainland guys have had a real advantage over us in the North. Being able to test ride various sections and the Flyers.
I'll be trying for the Diamond, but I realise it may be possible but is it doable. So many factors could slow you down. I've got bail out options and just go for Gold and finish.

Something to consider it that to get the Diamond you need to take 52 photos. How fast can you stop, compose the photo with your T-shirt and get going again. At one minute per photo thats 52 minutes just taking photos. On last years TT I fluffed around and probably took 5 to 10 minutes at the photo stops. Can't do that on this rally.
The main thing I'm concentrating on is navigation. Good navigation will save time. Losing time is allways the issue. Riding fast will never make up lost time.

Hi LBD, I think you were on the Ferry with me after the rally last year. Were you heading for Turangi. See you in a few weeks.

Andy