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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 8:31 pm
by cj
christover1 wrote:
Maybe it's not getting softer, maybe I was softer back then, and maybe I just getting harder
You're scaring the children
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 8:33 pm
by christover1
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:55 am
by Gwagensteve
[quote="suzuki boy]
By the look of the photos (i know they never do it justuce!) But it looks like theres easyer lines to take?quote]
There are alternative lines up near the top but the natural fall of the track is to the left as you are climbing so to get onto the other lines you have to climb up to the right which can be quite hard.
There is a section of maybe 70m before the top section where there are no alternative lines. It is a fair slot and the ledges will push the car around, you can put the front where you want but the back will just get sucked into the deepest hole which is how you can start to get across the track.
In the wet, you will loose all ability to direct the front, and loose traction on the rocks so you would have to be far more committed, and so much more a passenger.
I have never had to reverse down any distance, but dropping a SWB off the ledges in reverse wouldn't be mch fun.
It's really only a car breaker if you can't slow the car down. With proper gearing it is a nice easy 1500rpm meander. If a ledge spits you out, you can ease off of it and have a play around and you will get it up eventually. Without gears though doing this is just too hard on the car as it is pretty steep and the rocks have high traction so it really loads the car up.
To give you an idea of the condition it is in recently, in the bone, bone dry:
Michael had a couple of tries on one ledge in particular - 91:1 crawl, twin lockers, 35" Swampers @ 7psi, RUF.
Greg was fine - 62.9crawl+converter (effective 120:1) twin lockers, ruf, 35" Krawlers, EFI
I struggled a bit with only a front locker, LWB 1.0litre, 34" swampers, 76:1 crawl, had to hit a few ledges a couple of times and have a play around at the top
Mugginsmoo and Christover were fine with 31s/32's, LWB/Jimny (almost the same WB) twin locks. The wheelbease helps a lot. I could play on it all day in my Gwagen @ 108"WB, auto, lockers, 36" swampers.
We are all experienced drivers that have driven the track heaps.
Yes, it doesn't look steep at all in the photos. on the flat, the ledges woudl be nothing, but the steepness makes them pretty serious.
Steve.
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:19 am
by grimbo
Gwagensteve wrote:
Whilst I don't agree with Grimbo's stance on body damage, Body damage is just a PITA when you have to rebody your car or get a canary, it's certainly not a mark of how good a driver you are. Its one thing to knock the car around a bit, but entirely another to actually go over on a hill as long and as hard to recover out of as Rocky.
my stance is that body damage can and will occur however the attitude of completely not caring about the body work of the vehicle or that it is cool to pound the living snot out of the car to make up for driver and vehicle inability is not good driving. All weel and good to say it is just a play thing, but when you have to constantly repair the damage, or worse case, replace the vehicle because the damage is too much then maybe it isn't so cool
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:21 am
by sierrajim
I can tell you that reversing down the easier section with only front wheel drive (open front diff too) in a LWB in the dry is interesting.
A short wheelbase would be fun.......... to watch someone else do.
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 2:16 pm
by grimbo
Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 5:40 pm
by suzuki boy
Well the trips off now!
Any way i am ordearing the gears in the next couple of weeks and the tyres are nearly ready to go!
In a month is any one up for a zook only trip to rocky track?

When do the tracks close?

Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 5:53 pm
by grimbo
tracks close Queens BDay weekend.
You'll be much better off with the gearing and tyres to tackle these sort of things. You'll also be amazed at the difference the gearing does. Much more control and finesse. You'll be driving the vehicle all the time rather than the vehicle controlling where it goes
Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 5:58 pm
by bigzuk
i feel sorry for you mainlanders that have track closures.
pretty much can go anywhere anytime i please on the north west of tassie.
forestry are even as kind to give me detailed maps of all their areas

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 8:38 pm
by ljxtreem
moose wrote:yeah !!
Ross,s critter !!!!!

No!!!!!! my critter biatch
Was a very, very different car by then
Rocky was wet that day too, little rivers flowing down it

, and there was still plenty of traction
Mock

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:56 pm
by dank
suzuki boy i'd be keen to give it a go. i did all of the track except for the few steeper ledges in the middle as it was the "4 o'clock" track so I wanted to be able to drive home, and not stuff the car up....get some gearing!!!
i
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:10 pm
by christover1
I stuffed up, as our clubs Warby trip is on Sunday not Saturday.
I fixed me t-case and rear diff, only to find I now have a brake issue.
Oh well, can't go anywhere now
Maybe we can do it another day.
christover
Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 4:54 pm
by suzuki boy
Yeah! When i have gearing i will put a trip!
