Thompsons Track Mud Fest

**shaneh** · 13th December 2006, 21:42

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/ca...y=2007-1-3&c=6

Here's a link to the Track
http://smaps.co.nz/nz/matamata/te+ar...ompsons+track/

**scracha** · 14th December 2006, 05:47

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** · 14th December 2006, 21:24

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

**shaneh** · 22nd December 2006, 12:52

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

**cheese** · 22nd December 2006, 21:15

could be keen early feb?

**Turtle** · 22nd December 2006, 21:49

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** · 23rd December 2006, 20:54

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** · 23rd December 2006, 22:00

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** · 24th December 2006, 21:12

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** · 25th December 2006, 06:51

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** · 25th December 2006, 08:53

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 25th December 2006, 11:39

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** · 25th December 2006, 12:31

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

**shaneh** · 29th December 2006, 18:08

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 ?