ATTN: Melbourne DHers

[S.]

Who wants to spend a week or two making a DH trail at/near Narbethong? I'm free from the 28th of June to the 13th of July, and I have all the necesary tools for track building (shovels, picks, axes, chainsaws, etc); who wants to head up there some time? I'm interesting in making a DH track that's flowy but has some good jumps/gaps/drops in it.

Anyone? Leave messages here and we'll work something out closer to the time.

[oz-freerider]

i'll help on a weekend if u can take me and my bike there (and my shovel)

[curtisrider]

me two if you can take me (tools included)

[S.]

Hmm.... we need a car and someone to drive it. I'm gonna get some good maps of the area too, so we can make sure the track works.

[Az]

Ive got a car and a licence!! But cant fit to much in there as i havent got a tow ball or rack to put bikes on.

But I may be skiing most of that time!!!

But i will let you know

[Ride_Guy]

Yer sounds good im up for it when i can josh u got any spot in ur car for 1 more ??

[shmity]

ya sounds for sure like a go'er, just have to organise time off work.

[kalem]

ya should be able to come for a couple of days, it's like an 1 and a half drive for me! But i have a station wagon! WOOT!

[wonderllama]

hey boys im in for sure ive been wantin to do some more dh.. and im a good builder... so im in.. is that school holidays????

[debt]

sounds pretty sweet. school holidays sound best for me. might try 2 bring a few mates aswell. we drive with the blue yum cha racing trailer. We might be able to take one more person up.

[nhd]

if you need extra muscle ill help first week of hols

[Sasquatch]

The old DH track has been wrecked by the loggers, unless we rebuild it I doubt there will be anymore races held there.

Me plus at least a couple of other team members (we call ourselves team spoked) will come up with a trailer (and maybe a 4wd ute) and tools to help rebuild it. Any dates at this stage? Are we planning on using the old track area, or the NS track?

[jamo]

yeah shes sweet as. count me in. i got too much time on my hands. we got a lot of shit that will make good trak and downhillers happy. are there gonna be any roadies there?? im scared of roadies... they ride funny....

yeah ill come plus 5 others....

[fastrider_ben]

sounds pretty good mayb sum of the geelong boys could come up for a day in the holidays

[S.]

The old DH track has been wrecked by the loggers, unless we rebuild it I doubt there will be anymore races held there.

Me plus at least a couple of other team members (we call ourselves team spoked) will come up with a trailer (and maybe a 4wd ute) and tools to help rebuild it. Any dates at this stage? Are we planning on using the old track area, or the NS track?

How recently was it wrecked? It was done over some time last year by the loggers, but it's since been repaired and last time I was up there (2 months ago roughly) it was fine.

[Sasquatch]

I haven't been to Narby in about 4-5 months now, so they probably have fixed it. I was referring to the old DH race course they held races at last season - the loggers drove bulldozers through most of the track (used to be single/double track) so they could get their logging trucks in there.

Have you found any maps of the area yet? It would be handy to get them scanned in so we know which areas everyone is talking about etc.. before we go up there.

In fact I think we might have even bumped into you up there at the NS trail last year Socket? We would have been driving either a lowered grey skyline with a trailer or a 4wd ute... At the time I was riding a black craftworks DHR - we also saw you at the lilydale maccas on the way home? Could be someone else, but they were on an identical bike to yours.

[S.]

That might have been Shane Weaving or Pete Hutchi... what's your name dude? You're not Hugh are ya?

[S.]

Ok, I've gotten a topographic (contour) map of the area, and spoken to Ben Watkins (the dude who build the NS track there) about it, and from talking to him I have gathered this:

- technically any constructions (eg NS bridges etc) on government land are illegal, and should anyone complain/sue etc, they could be torn down by the rangers
- any stuff made HAS to be made safely (personally I'd prefer not to delve into NS stuff, because if it's made dodgily and breaks, someone could get badly hurt)
- the land there is pretty much divided into two sections, the land that is useful (ie can be logged) for the gov't, and the land that isn't. Obviously it'd be better to build on land the gov't isn't simultaneously trying to use
- If someone gets injured, there has to be a way to get them out - proximity to a road is good
- Keep in mind soil erosion when it's rainy etc

Ben also mentioned that it'd be good to have another track close to the existing NS track and racetrack, cos you have so many choices if you go out riding there for the day.

So, who's still interested?

[jamo]

count me in socket. me, sasquatch and a couple of others wil be able to help. may even be able to bring up a 4wd ute and tools etc....

when are you thinking of going up?

[S.]

count me in socket. me, sasquatch and a couple of others wil be able to help. may even be able to bring up a 4wd ute and tools etc....

when are you thinking of going up?

Sweeeet! Any tools are a help, shovels, axes and mattocks are a good start (I'll bring the chainsaws!).

Not sure when I want to go up, I've got two weeks off starting the 30th of June, so I can go up any time in those two weeks... it's just gotta fit in with everyone else!

And I need to get a lift with someone, cos I'm 16 (no car).

[jamo]

yeah you can get a lift with us if ya want. we should have shitloads of room for bikes and people.

yeah thats about the same time as us when we're free.
yeah chainsaws sounding good...

[S.]

Sounds good.

Just out of curiosity, what is "Sasquatch"s real name? Not Hugh is it?

[jamo]

hehe nah his name is alex. but they have been up there a couple of times.

email us jamox@go.com if ya need a lift up there man. where you in melb?

[S.]

I'm in North Balwyn, how bout you?

[jamo]

wheelers hill

[S.]

Ok... how about we pencil in a date for the builderising? What day(s) are you free?

(Yes I'm aware that it's gonna take a bit more than 1 day to build an entire track)

[jamo]

well i am pretty much free on friday saturday and sunday(till 2pm).

tell us when your free and we'll and work around you.

i think that maybe easier. my other mates have uni exams and i'll habve to confirm with them when they can go.

[S.]

well i am pretty much free on friday saturday and sunday(till 2pm).

tell us when your free and we'll and work around you.

i think that maybe easier. my other mates have uni exams and i'll habve to confirm with them when they can go.

I am free all hours, all days, from June 30 till July 13 :)

I might go up there beforehand just to check out what's going on that the map can't tell me... eg roads that don't exist anymore, logging coups etc.

[jamo]

ok sweet. i have friday saturday off. maybe we can camp up there for two days and two nights. i was thinking we could up one week (4th, 5th and 6th of july) and then go up the week after that again to finish shit off and let everything pack in after a bit of rain and so forth (11th, 12th and 13th)

what do you reckon?

[S.]

Sounds good to me! I've got camping stuff, but if we take bikes, how would we lock em? To a tree or something?

[jamo]

hehehe fuk yeah. bring out the 2mtr krypto mate!!!!!!!

foudn out that only me and sasquatch and anotehr mate will come.
cant get teh ute which is a bitch....
got a trailer though
should be good enough
we need chainsaw bad
and manpower

you got anyone else who needs to come?

[S.]

Yeah, Josh (oz-freerider) was interested I think.

I have the chainsaws covered mate :twisted:

[Sasquatch]

yeah camping sounds good jamie but it could easily get below zero so we need good tents/sleeping bags..

Socket can you scan the topo map in so we can have a look at it? I havent been able to find any maps of the area on the net..

Jamie needs to get his forks fixed (anyone know who services DNM USD180's?) before we go up too.. what kinda camping gear have we got access to?

[S.]

Yep I'll put a scan up tonight... how well do you know the area? Ie could you tell where the track is from the map? I think I can, but I'm sure not all of the roads on the map still exist.

[matt462]

I can give you a map, I have all of vic on my computer 1:25000 just tell me where it is and i'll post a map.

[S.]

Narbethong area, Juliet North is the name on my map. The tracks are about 5km west of the timber mill in Narbethong.

[matt462]

Check the file below. Tell us if its any help

http://home.iprimus.com.au/darkbeatts/t8022-4-1.pdf

Soom in a copy the bit you need so you can edit it.

[S.]

Ok, see between the 44(000) and 43(000) designations on the very left side of the map, there's a road called Plantation Road? That leads out to where the current tracks are. If you could pull up a map of the area adjoining that to the west, that would cover it perfectly.

[jamo]

yeah pretty much. bring out the krypto.


call you on tuesday about organising everything.

got a contact number?

how many ppl you know want to cmoe definately?

[S.]

I'll check around and see who wants to come...

call me on 0401 857 272 or 9857 5732.

[matt462]

try this.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/darkbeatts/T8022-4-4.pdf

Can you draw the location of the old track on the other map?

[S.]

Here is roughly where the old track is, I'm not 100% sure about everything there but it roughly fits the bill:

http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=45

Matt, this cutout is from the far east section of the second map you posted, ya should be able to see it in a broader context easily enough.

[Sasquatch]

:D :D :D :D
great work with the map guys

Meanwhile, Jamo me (Alex) and James (hasnt posted yet, will soon) have been up there today checking things out. Lots has changed since we were last there - the water bar jumps on the DH track really are massive! Plus the newest parts of the NS trail are looking great, who is building most of this stuff?

We had the idea of building a flowing slalom/DH track across parts of the NS trail.. We would like to get permission from the person who has built the NS trail first though since it would obviously cross his trail. There is quite a bit of useable land although its fairly dense trees/underbrush. We could even ride under some of the higher bridges already there (or over in parts)

[Sasquatch]

hey mat462, are you gonna come mate?

the more people the better.

please tell me before this tuesday.

we gotta organise transport, whos camping there etc..

[S.]

The water bars on the DH track are seriously massive. I've crashed hard on those (twice in the same run!) and I know a guy who got knocked out cold stacking off the last one.

Building across/near the NS track would be hard work I reckon, it's fairly thick scrub there and Benny Watkins (the builder) may not appreciate it.

One place I was considering building is on the north side of Plantation Road, starting maybe at Mount Murrindindi. I think this would be a good place to build (going by the map at least - it may be impractical) because it allows us to run down a ridge, almost alongside a road the whole way (which is useful should somebody get injured etc). Building anywhere south of the current track (ie down the back side of the same hill) probably wouldn't work due to the water catchment area down there (no access).

Check this map http://home.iprimus.com.au/darkbeatts/T8022-4-4.pdf to see where I mean.

[jamo]

can you gimme some coordinates where your looking at exactly.

ta

[S.]

765 480

[jamo]

ta....


fuk yeah!! yeah the water bars are fuckin huge!!
cant wait to get some air of those sexy bitches!!!

hey socket i will probably call you on tuesday 02/07. maybe sasquatch me and you can meet up and organise some shit to paper??

u reckon?

[S.]

Yeah that'd be cool. I *might* have a different mobile number by then (handset is about to cark it), if I do I'll let you know beforehand. And Tuesday is 01/07 :)

[jamo]

01/07 is tuesday.................. yes .....................yes it is................


yeah sweet i think we should meet up (everyone thats going) and get some shit to paper. also organise lifts up there, and what camping equip we have. you up for staying there overnight friday night??

[jamo]

does anyone else wanna come to narby???

please email us if you wanna go

:?: :?: :?: :?: :!: :!: :arrow: :arrow: :o :o

[stinky|d]

ill be there sat for a look and to take some pics.hope you guys can turn on the action.

[S.]

You realise we're there to build, not ride?

[kingcooper]

Just for your information guys the ns track was originally built as a dh track by two guys richard and jason. Then ben took over and turned it into a ns track as richard and jason don't ride anymore .Just some food for thought so let's hope the ns keeps getting better as the track is f#cking great.[/b]

[jamo]

yes yes i agree. the ns track at narby is fuckin awesome. top section is pretty much perfect. the bottom half gets a bit wonky and 50/50. it needs a bit of work and restoration. but in general the ns track overall is nuts!

[kingcooper]

did you do any work on the ns track on sat while we worked our asses of on the dh track

[S.]

Yeah they did a bit. I never got to finish clearing the section we cut that used to be the old track tho, sorry. We spent too long packing up!

[kingcooper]

thats cool next time we go up we will clear it out and fix up those big washouts

[S.]

Yeah Jamo wanted to go up again this weekend, and if I can walk alright I should be going too... we can do it then I spose?

[jamo]

yeah sorry guys. we did do quite a bit of work on teh NS track.
the trip worked out to be a bit different than i expected.

we are going up again this weekend, without bikes.

[jamo]

you guys seriously did a fuckin awesome job on the Dh track. seriously the smoothest shit ive ridden in years!!


nuts.............

[kingcooper]

we are hoping to go up again on saturday to

[jamo]

kool, if you come up we will be in the same spot, or we may jsut go for the day.

[S.]

prolly easier to go for the day don't ya reckon? camping wastes a fair bit of time in setting up/packing up.

[jamo]

yeah a day would be better. but i was thinking that if me, alex and you went up there and camped overnight. it would be better with less people. more organised and efficient.

[S.]

Yeah righto, at least this time we know where we're gonna camp.

[kingcooper]

but are you guys going to work on the dh or ns track this time. you should work that out first
so when we come up theirs not half on one track and half on the other.
the more workers on one track the more work will get done

[kingcooper]

how the f#ck do i get rid of the huffy owner under my name

[matt462]

Post more.

I have the same problem

[kingcooper]

change your avatar in you profile

[S.]

Well if we're going for two days (saturday n sunday) we'll probably spend one day on each track. You'd be going up Saturday yeah?

Huffy owner just indicates that you have less than 100 posts on this forum... don't worry about it.

[jamo]

you can only go saturday and sunday eah?

can you go friday? socket..

[kingcooper]

i can only go saturdays at the moment but still that depends if some thing else does not come up
as i am working on three other jump trails so it's hard to get to all of them and do some work

[jamo]

ok well ill be up there satuday day. and if socket agrees we'll be fixing the dh track.

[kingcooper]

that sound cool to me

[S.]

I can go whenever, I'm happy to work on either track just as long as we make a decision and stick to it really...

[Stick]

Hey Socket why don't you put in some work up at Mt Dandy,Every time I go back no one bothers to tidy it up ?.There's plenty of tools up there to do it?there is more work going on up there now.
There is going to be another race at Granton short track soon and that needs some work to as plenty of us did work on the long track.Why don't you come up????

[S.]

Hey Socket why don't you put in some work up at Mt Dandy,Every time I go back no one bothers to tidy it up ?.There's plenty of tools up there to do it?there is more work going on up there now.
There is going to be another race at Granton short track soon and that needs some work to as plenty of us did work on the long track.Why don't you come up????

I would if a) I had a car and b) I'd been there (Mt Dandy) more than once... I just don't know the track well at all, nor do I know where the tools are. I'd be happy to help if someone can get me a lift up there though.

As for Granton, I'm happy to help any Sunday (school weekdays, work saturday) if someone can give me a lift up there.

[oz-freerider]

mt dandy :D :D :D :D :D :D



steve mate i could *prolly* give you a lift from mooroolbark station to the top ;) if i go

[S.]

When?

[oz-freerider]

dunno, when is the clean up? :D

[S.]

What the hell?

[oz-freerider]

Hey Socket why don't you put in some work up at Mt Dandy,Every time I go back no one bothers to tidy it up ?.There's plenty of tools up there to do it?there is more work going on up there now.
There is going to be another race at Granton short track soon and that needs some work to as plenty of us did work on the long track.Why don't you come up????

I would if a) I had a car and b) I'd been there (Mt Dandy) more than once... I just don't know the track well at all, nor do I know where the tools are. I'd be happy to help if someone can get me a lift up there though.

As for Granton, I'm happy to help any Sunday (school weekdays, work saturday) if someone can give me a lift up there.

[S.]

Yes, and do you see a date written there anywhere?

[oz-freerider]

no i am waiting for you's to seat set a date as i can get up there pretty much any weekend

[Ride_Guy]

yer and i might even put in an apearance if we could get that luamch fixed that would be sick

[jamo]

Hey Socket why don't you put in some work up at Mt Dandy,Every time I go back no one bothers to tidy it up ?.There's plenty of tools up there to do it?there is more work going on up there now.
There is going to be another race at Granton short track soon and that needs some work to as plenty of us did work on the long track.Why don't you come up????

we have been going up to the dandies for the past 3 years. we havent been up there for about 4 months now. what tracks are getting worked on. we live pretty much 15mins away. if ya need help we will.

also when you going up to granton? ill definately come up and help if you need any

[S.]

Right, well you guys tell me what needs doing and when, give me a lift up there and we're set :)

[oz-freerider]

yeah i live about 10 15 mins away too so when's a good day for every ones ( i am only free on weekends)

[jamo]

im free during the daytime everyday. except sunday.

we going up to granton or dandies?

[oz-freerider]

i was thinking dandy

[oz-freerider]

BO YAH JUST TURNED PRO!


<------ 501

[S.]

im free during the daytime everyday. except sunday.

we going up to granton or dandies?

I'm free every day except Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday... with the exception of school holidays, when I'm free all the time (ie this week).

Dandies can be done at any time really cos it's not a racetrack, but Granton would probably have to be a concerted effort sometime very soon.

[Ride_Guy]

same here its in a bit of bad shape im meen dandies

[S.]

Personally I found that the whole fun of the dandes was that it was gnarly... Dandes are techy, Kinglake is steep, Narby is fast, Granton is cornery (as in you meet every different kind of corner there), Eildon is off camber and difficult... each track has to have its own personality.

[jamo]

well socket if you can make it this weekend we will go to granton instead of narby.

and like on the weekends in the future we can go up to danenongs and fix up shit bit by bit.

it jsut seems weird to fix up tracks at ddnongs coz its so close to home. but hey why not?


i reckon granton this and saturday??

[oz-freerider]

ment to be bad weather but i'll *might* come i'll just have to see if dad feels like driving

[jamo]

well if everything goes to plan i can give you and socket a lift up there.

i will have to give you notice about thursday/wednesday day

[oz-freerider]

ok cool man what should i bring? a shovel? anything eles?

[jamo]

well if we take my car, we cant bring any bikes coz i havent got a towbar. but if we bring alex's car then we can bring bikes with trailer.
i mean if we are only fixing up teh track a shovel is pretty much all you need.

[oz-freerider]

my bikes only little :( it'll fit lol see what the weathers like if it's wet and rain i dont think it's even worth taking bikes (after seeing pics for last years wet granton race)

[S.]

Unless other people are going up to Granton (such as Stick or Ben Reynolds etc) I'd say it'd probably be better to go to Narby again. The reason I say this is because the FTF guys are probably going to want to do specific things to the track rather than just "random" repairs, if ya know what I mean. Also kingcooper is going to be at Narby again this weekend, isn't he?

Unless... you want to go to Granton sometime during the week (this week)? If so, I suppose we could fix some stuff up, but no matter what we do, I'm sure Benny Reynolds is going to want to add/change something.

[oz-freerider]

hmmm what ever i dont mind just keep in mind i can only go on weekends

[jamo]

shit forgot kingcooper is going up. silyl me

yeah narby this weekend. its final and thats that!! (unless we can get transport up there)

[S.]

yaaay. What day(s)?

[oz-freerider]

so i'm lost now whats happening :D :P

[S.]

Well, basically you're being excluded :P

[oz-freerider]

:( ah wells i go to dandy and try out my new forks :P

[S.]

bitch!

Ok plan seems to be that we're going to Narby this weekend, may fix up Granton whenever Ben Reynolds + co goes up there, and we can do Dande whenever cos it's close.

[oz-freerider]

haha ah wells be good if we could build some road gaps at robroy insted off launches off the other side but yeah thats not gonna happen :(

[Simo]

if i oculd actually get up there i would tag along and bring many shovels and picks and tonnes of other usefull shit.
My mums a landscape designer so she's got tonnes of that stuff

[kingcooper]

don't take any bikes or you won't do f#ck all work because you'll want to ride

[jamo]

heh yeah kinda figured that one out last weekend.

no problem with that

[DJK]

Where at mount dandenong is the DH track. is it near sky high?

[Ride_Guy]

yes it is very close to ther ill show u one day :) we got a buch of guys who do it now and then

[Stick]

Hey Socket I did some more work up at Mt Dandy have you found it yet,by the way how far from there do you live as I might show you where some of the tools are there so you and the other boys can go and get your hands dirty and do some track maintenance ?.

[oz-freerider]

stick mate! show me! i live like 15 mins from the top and ride there all the time!

[S.]

Hey Socket I did some more work up at Mt Dandy have you found it yet,by the way how far from there do you live as I might show you where some of the tools are there so you and the other boys can go and get your hands dirty and do some track maintenance ?.

Have I found what yet? I've only been there once and that was about 6 months ago.

I live in North Balwyn (40 mins or so drive away), so I can't (and haven't managed to) get out there very often...

[Stick]

The Mt Dandy track has gone down hill a bit as when we first finished it ,it had 4 ramp drops and a lot more jumps but the ranger decided he liked the ramps some much he took them with him and trashed a lot of other stuff so he knows its there so we keep a low profile up there as he wants to nail someones arse for it so I keep it qiuet when I go up there but all the gear is still there for when we get it back up to scratch but if one of you guys wants to do some track work go ahead,but keep your eye pealed for the DNRE truck.Do you work Oz freerider or do you go to school ?I could meet you up there one day when I get home from work and show you..

[oz-freerider]

i work but i get home and it's dark in 30 mins so yeah (pm sent)

[Ride_Guy]

i reckon we organise a weekend to go up maybe on a saturday in a couple of weeks time??? But mainly do trail maintanence cause it really needs it up ther!!

[jamo]

The Mt Dandy track has gone down hill a bit as when we first finished it ,it had 4 ramp drops and a lot more jumps but the ranger decided he liked the ramps some much he took them with him and trashed a lot of other stuff so he knows its there so we keep a low profile up there as he wants to nail someones arse for it so I keep it qiuet when I go up there but all the gear is still there for when we get it back up to scratch but if one of you guys wants to do some track work go ahead,but keep your eye pealed for the DNRE truck.


hey we were up there about 3 months ago, the jumps and shit in the woods?? next to the fast mother fucked fire road???

[trobb]

I don;t live in melbourne but i will help