Wow, 30 cars turned up for the Mt. Mee night run, with a lot new faces on the trip. With this trip now being rated blue, a lot of visitors came along to test their night driving skills. It was raining during the week leading up to the trip so I assumed it might be a bit wet up there. A big effort was required to process everyone and organize three groups of cars. I advised the group to expect the finish time to be midnight. Let’s see how we go!
We stopped at the entrance to the forest to air down and do some hill stall recoveries with the visitors. We were soon driving up the first of many steep hills leading into Mt. Mee. It was already dark when we got to the bottom of
A Break. I knew from the two recees I had recently completed that there were some big holes at the start of the climb and also near the top. I warned the group what to expect on the climb and advised that they straddle the holes at the bottom and I would be further up the hill with a torch guiding them through the top holes. Most made it up, but three cars found the holes and got bogged. Just a quick reverse, a different line and all were up. Marcel was now at the bottom waiting to take his group up.
A bit further on we had another hill with big holes and then a steep climb. The track fell away to the left so it was important to keep right while negotiating the hill. All did well and made it to the top with no hassle.
We continued through the forest crossing little streams, up and down small hills and driving on loose surfaces. The tracks were dry with little mud. It Looked like the rain didn’t make it up there. As we ascended higher up the mountain our headlights shone through the clouds.
The next stop was the lookout, where all three groups met up for a bit of a chinwag and to stretch the legs.
When it was time to move on Evan lead his group away first, I left five minutes later then Marcel’s group followed.
Turning left off the main track we encountered some small steep declines with loose gravel. Further along there were a few tricky climbs with ruts and some big stones which required accurate wheel placement. Not so easy in the dark! Some had a little trouble but eventually all found the right line to get to the top.
Shortly after we came across a fallen tree blocking the track which we safely diverted around using a track Marcel and I made during the reece.
Towards the end of the night we came across some big slippery deep holes filled with water. We all stopped, picked our own line and drove through. Some cars bottomed out and scrapped the under carriage but I don’t think anyone got stuck. This proved to be a good challenge in the middle of the night. Not long after this the three groups met up at the gantry to air up before heading home. We finished at midnight, just like I said. Great timing!
I would like to thank Marcel, Tiny, Evan, Eddie and everyone who helped on the night. I hope everyone enjoyed the night. I know I had a ball.
Gary.
We stopped at the entrance to the forest to air down and do some hill stall recoveries with the visitors. We were soon driving up the first of many steep hills leading into Mt. Mee. It was already dark when we got to the bottom of
A Break. I knew from the two recees I had recently completed that there were some big holes at the start of the climb and also near the top. I warned the group what to expect on the climb and advised that they straddle the holes at the bottom and I would be further up the hill with a torch guiding them through the top holes. Most made it up, but three cars found the holes and got bogged. Just a quick reverse, a different line and all were up. Marcel was now at the bottom waiting to take his group up.
A bit further on we had another hill with big holes and then a steep climb. The track fell away to the left so it was important to keep right while negotiating the hill. All did well and made it to the top with no hassle.
We continued through the forest crossing little streams, up and down small hills and driving on loose surfaces. The tracks were dry with little mud. It Looked like the rain didn’t make it up there. As we ascended higher up the mountain our headlights shone through the clouds.
The next stop was the lookout, where all three groups met up for a bit of a chinwag and to stretch the legs.
When it was time to move on Evan lead his group away first, I left five minutes later then Marcel’s group followed.
Turning left off the main track we encountered some small steep declines with loose gravel. Further along there were a few tricky climbs with ruts and some big stones which required accurate wheel placement. Not so easy in the dark! Some had a little trouble but eventually all found the right line to get to the top.
Shortly after we came across a fallen tree blocking the track which we safely diverted around using a track Marcel and I made during the reece.
Towards the end of the night we came across some big slippery deep holes filled with water. We all stopped, picked our own line and drove through. Some cars bottomed out and scrapped the under carriage but I don’t think anyone got stuck. This proved to be a good challenge in the middle of the night. Not long after this the three groups met up at the gantry to air up before heading home. We finished at midnight, just like I said. Great timing!
I would like to thank Marcel, Tiny, Evan, Eddie and everyone who helped on the night. I hope everyone enjoyed the night. I know I had a ball.
Gary.
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