B grade Bonanza - Watagans Saturday, 12th March

[D.K.]

Any takers for a run up to the Wattos next weekend?
The tracks ive got in mind I know well and are generally known as:

1. CPT80
2. Dope Hill
3. Bulleys Shelf
4. Sawpit - Branch Rd Link 1
5. Sawpit - Branch Rd Link 2
6. Sawpit 2

These are short technical and enjoyable quick drying tracks, the start of CPT80 and Dope Hill are boggy but nothing to drastic (and i dont like mud!).

The trip will be postponed to the following weekend if the weather turns wet. The modelling forecast is however looking good:)


Where -- Side tracks running off Prickly Ridge Rd , Watagans SF
When -- Saturday 12th March,
Meet -- Old truck stop before F3, Berowra (same spot as for Stocko trip)
Time -- 8:30 am
Grade -- B, not suitable for open diff vehicles.

Requirements -- recovery points Front/Rear, recovery gear, radio, food/drink of choice, camera.
This run is limited to 10 vehicles
Further info contact -- DK , Mob 0434 848 482

Cheers

Dave K

Attending:

1. DK
2. Hunty?
3. Skizzi
4. jbrad
5. Flatfender
6. Pura Vida
7. 5teve
8.
9.
10.

[Hunno]

If your happy with single locker then I'm in.

[SKIZZI]

Count me in please.

[D.K.]

If your happy with single locker then I'm in.

Shouldn't be a problem, the last track -Sawpit 2 might see you spin a wheel but its all good.

Theres a rock slab at the top of this track which is optional - NOT a good spot for shorties with a big lift - last time i was there my front end got too high attempting the start of the slab, if id carried on driving i might well have gone arse over tip. Maybe this time with a few others a strap might be the go to keep it down! The LWB's will be good for this tho.

[jbrad]

Dave, put me down for this. I'm still a newby to Sydney area and am enjoying the exploration.

Jason

[Flatfender]

Put me down for this one Dave - but I will have to leave early afternoon.
Cheers
Ian W.

[Pura Vida]

I'm probably interested. I've got a friend in town and need to see if he wants to come.

Ben

[MOP44R]

Im in too at this stage but if not would know by Thursday Cheers

[D.K.]

Im in too at this stage but if not would know by Thursday Cheers

Hope you can make it Ben, ....you'll like the tracks

[Pura Vida]

Count me in. Let's hope it doesn't rain. I roll doorless as standard now.

[5teve]

im in too
thanks stefan

[Hunno]

Have to pull out to far to drive in 2nd gear lol.

[Hunty]

Im a strong maybe - will know tomorrow!

[D.K.]

Im a strong maybe - will know tomorrow!

No problems mate, txt me or something, so we dont wait around for you ;D

[D.K.]

Have to pull out to far to drive in 2nd gear lol.

No worries, next time then! Theres a spare seat if you want the fresh air!

[D.K.]

Just a quick heads up... Lets try and get off from the meeting point on time - 8.30am kick off - forecast possible thunderstorms in the lower hunter from late morning onward - hopefully we can beat any downpours.

[Hunno]

No worries, next time then! Theres a spare seat if you want the fresh air!
I would but I've got my daughter as well so we might just go visiting family.
Thanks anyway
Hunno

[Flatfender]

- forecast possible thunderstorms in the lower hunter from late morning onward - hopefully we can beat any downpours.[/QUOTE]

Guess who is going to get wet!

[MOP44R]

I am unfortunately out and I LOVE the Watagans but I just cant get there tomorrow

Sorry guys

Ben

[Hunty]

I'm in!..........

[SKIZZI]

Loved it

So far watagans is my favorite. Lets do it again ASAP :P

Had no front locker today as it's leaking somewhere but it was good to struggle up a few climbs and not be able to do one :)

Oh yea who locks themselves out of their car in the middle of the bush lol thanks for the coat hanger

[Hunty]

I had a great time on this run thanx DK for running a great trip -

From memory I think Ben was last to arrive - Pura Vida - so I don't want to steal to much from his trip report BUT!;

200meters into the run DK bogged himself in a smelly mud hole and the rocket scientist following him (me) decided that it didnt look that difficult and Bogged himself at the exact same place - so I posted up the video of DK & I bogging and then winching ourselves out LoL

less than 100meters later we hit a tricky & difficult climb ..... well there was a little bit of carnage or should that be Jeepnage! LoL - now Bear, keep your moustsache on LoL it will all buff out tomorrow! LoL

Incredible as this may seem 50meters further on, the trail got a lot more difficult.......Ian's flat fender was tearing up the trail like a demon possessed, then I heard the sound that no wheeler ever wants to hear!!!! - (Just ask Blow up Geoff) YES you guessed it..... the sound of horsepower turning Steel into pretzels! - so I got under Ians Heap and discovered that where the tail shaft attached to the diff was buggered! and so I removed the rear tailshaft (which was not as easy as you would think - given he was stuck halfway up a killer hill and oh yeah me being so fat n all - LoL) - Ian's Flatfender was now similar to a Hyundai Excel - front wheel drive - boom tish! but without power steering, Ian was pretty much only going straight....... so we soldiered on winching Ian slowly up to the summit until Ian's heap began to make more interesting sounds a kin to Thomas the Tank engine!.... so we shut her down and left it cool off whilst belching plumes of steam!

We then got everybody else up and decided it would be faster and easier to attach the "42" to the back of my Jeep and head for Sydney,

I had a great time, thanx Dave for showing me a new trail and for being a great trip leader enjoy the vids
cheers Hunty


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge27KHvTUZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHrWhpYI46A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmkn3skLyGw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_90RUjoWts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuSPTTX7B2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEATGoqPyZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5XOnleAyHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPcAcDe7Mzs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpYxdqjdZpc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNv3LyJgL1A

[Hunty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu_AhPO8Ik4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH4R1bjASO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TiLM2zROFM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j14ZsRjtuiM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQUz-U2p4IQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzmUOH6J0Lk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_DpkslL0z0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IC1u8EnMFE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vFN1hwkadg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1kdgvm_Es
Enjoy Cheers Hunty

[SKIZZI]

this is the longest wait EVER :P

[D.K.]

Great day guys, amazing good weather considering the iffy forcast.
Thanks so much Hunty for getting Ian home OK, your a real asset to have on a trip, mate.

You wouldn't believe the CPT80 boghole was just a deep puddle, well ok, a shallow mud hole, back in January of this year!

On reflection it would have been better to tackle CPT80 later in the day to give the slightly greasy rock on that bottom section time to dry out. Not the boghole;D

There's no way i would have knowingly led the group down there... especially as i love bogholes so much (not). Well done to Ian for spying the sensible line through this obstacle.
The other tracks we did later in the day went without incident, altho Pura Vida had to show off :rolleyes: by driving Dope Hill in reverse gear, backwards.

cya

Dave K

[Hunty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUq8h9EL6uA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGJ6DegG8Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0BZXqvalXw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oyUa2-ex-s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szi2yAe3Siw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQgpjTF6Tlg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIJWVIa4KS4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvY7Fqy4cxs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZeDYcOckJg
Enjoy cvheers Hunty

[Hunty]

All vids shot on my Iphone 4 - so dont expect too much LoL

Enjoy
cheers Hunty

[Dieselcon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZeDYcOckJg[/video]
Enjoy cvheers Hunty

towing again I see..... What is it with you an pretzels.lol
Jason rock sliders will cover the scratch....just some paint and it'll be like new...
Thanks for the vids... Miss my jeep hope to have it back next week. Well done to all. Will definitely go there next time...
Cheers jeepers.

[Greg D]

Thanks for putting up all the videos Hunty. A very comprehensive coverage.

[SKIZZI]

hey thanks for the vids hunty :)

[Flatfender]

Well I hope the rest of you Guys enjoyed the remainder of the day after I took up a fair chunk of time front wheel driving and winching up the top half of that drive busting hill. I was realy enjoying it up to that point and the weather was great too. I can't thank Hunty enough for all his assistance...lying in the dirt to drop my tailshaft, winch captain, towmaster and freeway escort. At least nothing major is damaged, a couple of u-bolts and a pinion yoke should fix the problem. And the rain even kept off until after I got home so I didn't get soaked.
As usual - great videos Hunty!
Cheers
Ian W.

[SKIZZI]

good to hear you got home safe Ian . I got out of my car after a climb to watch the next car. pulled my key half out of the ignition to stop it chiming, closed my door and as my passenger got out I heard the doors lock, he must have hit the switch on the door as he got out. Yelled at the passenger not to close the door but with the adrenalin still in him from the climb it didnt register and he closed the door. well lucky for me there was a coat hanger handy and we were gone in 360 seconds ;)

I just watched the footage of me climbing the section jason took out his side step and it would seem I did the same. went out and checked the car but have no damage on the step. Guess im just lucky my Jeep sits a fair bit higher otherwise I would have the same damage. At least I know the correct line up that section for next time if the track doesnt change too much.

[jbrad]

Hi all, I had an outstanding time out there yesterday. All the moons aligned, great weather, driving and company. Glad you made it home Ian, in one piece and dry. As for Ben (Pura vida), I've not seen anything like a reverse hill climb to frighten the pants off your passengers before. It's a shame none of us got that on video. The trail kiss that I got is on its way to repair, I started at it with hammer this afternoon and will dump the old steps for a decent set of sliders - just got to find some that have a built in step as well as its good for the kids. Thanks heaps to Dave for organising the trip. Well planned and executed. For those of you going to Wheeny Ck next weekend, I'll see you there. Jas

[D.K.]

The trip report never got written up (you know who you are>:D),

so ive done one now, will send off to Scott for the magazine.

Attendance:

D.K. (Dave)
Hunty (andrew)
Skizzi (Greg)
JBrad (Jason)
Flatfender (Ian)
PuraVida (Ben)
5teve (Stefan)



Another successful trip with some sustained B grade driving.

The saturday dawned hot and sunny after a really doubtful forcast with storms predicted for the upper hunter.

PuraVida in his inimitable style got lost getting to the Berowrah meeting point but he caught up with us just after the Cooranbong exit ramp where we were airing down and chewing the fat.So why am i writing this report, Doh!

The trips focus was on doing as many of the short tricky tracks that run left and right from the main Prickly Ridge Forest Rd. I thought we'd start off by driving "CPT80". Id driven this track about six weeks previous so i was confident that the shallow bog hole at the start would be a doddle. WRONG! Red faced and mouthing obscenities i winched out - Amazing how track conditions change so quickly.
Ian in his great looking flatfender plotted a line over the rut ridges and most other people navigated the same line with great success.

Further up, the track claimed two casualities - JBrad's JK acquired some minor sill damage on slightly slippery rock steps while Ians Flatfender blew his rear tailshaft uni halfway up the final rocky hillclimb.Hunty did a great job of removing Ians rear tailshaft and co-ordinating winching activities with the car reaching the top of the hill safely and efficiently.

With all vehicles now safely at the top of CPT80, Hunty decided to chaperone Ian back home along the F3 just in case of any mishaps.

The rest of the team proceeded to drive several more tracks without any dramas.
First off was Bulleys Shelf, a short track with one optional tall step. The only mishap was Greg having to break into his JK with a coathanger after both doors slammed shut.

We then headed into the southern entrance of Sawpit and drove up a technically interesting track with rocks, steps and a fun offcamber rut at the top.
It was then back down another track into Sawpit where some skill in downhill descent was needed. With everybody still keen we drove back up the track we had just descended.

Finally a run back down Prickly Ridge Rd into "Dope Hill", a good track with a rutted descent and a longish rocky hill climb.

[SKIZZI]

Dave, im having Wattagans withdrawals! HELP ;)

[D.K.]

Dave, im having Wattagans withdrawals! HELP ;)

Patience grasshopper :D

[MOP44R]

Me too......

[SKIZZI]

Few ... Not just me!

[D.K.]

Few ... Not just me!

Are you blokes free this saturday? I know there is the big Glow worm tunnel trip on the sunday.
Looking at the next 28 day modelling forecast, rain is due to return after this weekend.

I will post up for saturday if you are free.

[SKIZZI]

Ill check and get back to you ASAP.

[SKIZZI]

Just checked with "the boss of me" and i have agreed to attend a birthday get together this sat.

No go for me :(