So the aim awas to treat "The Mistress" badly and see how she responded... So me and one of the young blokes jumped in the ute and headed for Yackandandah. For those local to the area we where headed for Long Tom.
I wanted to ensure the ute would not go into limp mode and see how all the connectioned where holding up... so
Pic 1 shows Long Tom from almost the bottom up... it dips right down at the lower sections.... and as always... photo's do not do it justice... A bit over half way up (Where the track widens right up) is where we really started from but I had a crack at the bottom section to begin with... Had as much success as the Americans in Iraq!... Was absolute slosh and rutted in the run up with massive ruts and hard packed clay ascent... the 3 bikes we found at the bottom where just laughing... firstly cos they had struggled for the past hour to get up... and secondly they could not believe I was going to attempt any section of the track when it was wet...
So we took the long way after to half hearted attempts at the bottom section, starting from where the track widens, this is about half way although the photo would suggest diferently... we managed to get up to the top of the third cut away, the bikes had joined us again by that point to watch (Which I was thankful of someone else being around just in case)..
The first section took 2 goes but I was then on my way... I got to the top of the thrid wash away at the top of the following shot but just lacked mementum and grip as it turned back to clay at this point... I hit the brakes and threw it in reverse and started back down the hill... at which point the young bloke turns and says.... "We cant stop can we?"....
I didnt answer.... and we continued back down at a pace I was not comfortable with... at all....
Once back on the rockier section the car griped up again and I proceded down at a controlled pace, tried to launch forward again a few times but it wasn't going to happen... so we backed down to the drain and took some posser shots.. (Yes MMaaxx... I was thinking of you when they where took)
The above shows where we got to, and in the top photo its where the track turns to the left at the top, below shows what we conquered. The car performed excellent, 4,000+ rpm in both low 1st and 2nd all the way... some big hits and best of all no limp mode... (Thank Firetrucks)...
This last shot sows a track on the left of the opposite hill that goes up toward the right and comes down the other side... this is also another great circuit in either direction with the RHS being the steeper and rockier track... Very keen to get some of the NewHilux members out into this area... its within 10 minutes of Yackandandah townsip
Posser shots....
Shots 1 and 2 are the compressed side obviously... what you cant actually see is that the tyre is unfortunatly rubbing on the tray
No biggy I think as it was almost at full extension...
The front at almost full extension... we got it of the ground but no one was game to get out of the car at that point... we could hardly stand on the track let alone climb a few foot into the air to get back in...
The rear at full flex.. (considering the otherside isn't going up any further...
I'll have to measure this one day as the tray really makes the amount of travel look alot less than what it is...
Anyway, a few very exiting events on the way down and we finally met the road again... for once I was relieved to get out of 4L... I was sweating like a bitch... the young bloke looked like he donated a few litres of blood also... The guys on the bikes where just shaking their heads... Not chance.. not after what they had just seen... they’d end up on their arse with the bike rolling down the hill....
Sorry for the long winded write up on what was meant to be a Sunday quickie... (At least it was over by 2pm, the same day)
Im now going to re-read the drive train bible thread as I really need lower gearing and I must admit, ABS would have helped cos trying to feel the heels on that slippery a surface was insanely hard...
by Quinny34 on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 8:00 +0000 
