Top End 2 Day Trail Ride

[green machine]

I forgot all about this one..........buggar it

[gonzo_akl]

We had a really good time over the weekend, thought the sections through the forest the most enjoyable part. Not a big fan of the deep sand sections.
Had our share of problems so thanks to all those that stopped.

It was well organised and run, hope the organisers also felt it was worthwhile.

Anyone know who the photograher was taking photos on Saturday.

cheers

[EXCDirt]

Just rode on the Sunday. Got the first lap in at 56kms

Good variation of trails. I liked the bit in the Forrest over by the dunes that went back and forth parallel for four or more runs.
Overall very well marked and fun.

Just a bit of a mission on the drive in with the van..... Company van so ok really.

Did many people run out of gas? I nearly did and have a 9.5l tank.
gave a guy off a rmz450 a lift out after he ran out of gas 5k or so from the end.

[Ktmboy]

We have a saying.
You never hear an expert saying a track was to easy (they just twist the throttle for more adrenalen) but make the track too hard and you get 200 novices saying so.

Anyway the weekend started out well although by the time Saturday came around we were in need of a bit of rain to harden the sand up a bit.
We had a weekend from HELL
Setting up Friday and the riding on Saturday was HELL good. Just awesome.

Unfortunately on waking up Sunday morning HELL changed. During the early hours some "P" freaks broke through 2 forestry gates about 10km away and proceeded to park on the beach about 300mtrs from camp. They then wheeled 3 bikes along the road to their waiting 4x4 ute and drove off 15km through the forest and down Muriwai beach with them.
This despite us locking all the forestry gets and chaecking them again at 1.00am
Two of the bikes just happened to be mine and one other was a track marshalls.
So the day lost its structure a bit as half the staff were trying to find the culprits and I was dealing with the police tracking the bastards. On my travels I ran into 5 of the brown bros illegally riding and got the big threaten from them. Fark where was my back up.
HELL kept going as one of our 4x4's blew an engine on the beach and serendered to the incoming tide. Its buggered.
Then on my return folks told me "Don't worry we have put the forest fire out" WTF!!

Please guys if you fall off or drop you bike check for foliage around the exhaust. We hate fires.

Anyway the day got even worse but thats another story...more like a book.
Thanks to KiethF, Buffy etc and numerous others who virtually gave up their day to manage an event when the Captain went walk about.

As far as the fresh tracks go they will only get better as the trees grow providing shade and they wear in. If we don't ride them now then its too hard to put tracks in in the future, so really they are an investment for later on. The bottom half of Woodhill will have tracks much the same soon as harvesting takes place over the next few years. So generally we are in a good position.

[krad_nz]

Stink Tony, sounds like there was a bit of drama.

Bikes recovered?

[Ktmboy]

Stink Tony, sounds like there was a bit of drama.

Bikes recovered?

Nope bikes gone. 2009 YZ250, our 2008 WR250 and my 2011 KTM300.

[krad_nz]

F**k thats infuriating.

[motor_mayhem]

That is a huge bugger mate. I hope those thieves get the hiding that's surely coming to them.

[oldguy]

Nope bikes gone. 2009 YZ250, our 2008 WR250 and my 2011 KTM300.

Arrr F**K ,that's not good to hear Tony. got to be local, someone that's been up there before, and knew what was going on, not some opportunist.

[takitimu]

Nope bikes gone. 2009 YZ250, our 2008 WR250 and my 2011 KTM300.

Stink, any graphics kits or distinctive markings to keep an eye out for ?.

[Crisis management]

Sorry to hear that Tony, you put in a huge effort to provide us with riding oportunities and don't deserve that sort of bad luck.

[Ktmboy]

Arrr F**K ,that's not good to hear Tony. got to be local, someone that's been up there before, and knew what was going on, not some opportunist.

Oh they were local for sure and its a poacher who knew tracks that I'd never seen and I spend probably 2-3 days a week in the bush up there. They didn't scope us out at all just went straight to the source.

We have a theory and have a pretty good idea who they are. Trouble is we can't prove it legally and these pricks are gang related.
Kumeu is the general area.

Anyway we have to look on the bright side. The ride was basically very good, The farmers paddock is in great condition (thanks for not ripping up the paddock guys. And we learn't to secure our bikes where ever. We will hire a security firm for the night next year.

[Ktmboy]

Stink, any graphics kits or distinctive markings to keep an eye out for ?.

Not really, My bike (KTM300) had a bit of hot pink dazzle over spray on the swing arm, Scott Ohlins damper, FMF Knarly, carbon fibre pipe gaurd and Acerbis Ram Air bush guards.
The YZ was mint standard and the WR250 had FMF graphics on the shrouds.
They won't look the same now though.

[flyingcr250]

man that sucks, id be sitting in the corner having a cry if my bike got taken, i cant remember the last time i locked my bike up over night on a 2 day ride, i dont even lock my van at trailrides,

[been_there]

man that sucks, id be sitting in the corner having a cry if my bike got taken, i cant remember the last time i locked my bike up over night on a 2 day ride, i dont even lock my van at trailrides,

Bet you do at home !!!!! You should also lock your boots up as well aaaaaaa bro!!!

I see the Hells Angels made the headlines again...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crim...uarters-raided

The charges relate to alleged illegal hunting activities in the Woodhill state forest at night, without permits and without firearms licences over the past year.

Detective Inspector Grant Wormald said the forest was a reserve used by trampers, mountain bikers and recreational hunters with strict safety rules.

"Hunting is only allowed through a carefully managed ballot system in an area cleared of people for a short period each year.

"Other than that nobody should be in there at all with a firearm," he said.