Thommos highway - 22 March 08

[xj]

Well, Thompsons is ready for bitumin and curbing...

We had a ball up there today, sadly i forgot my camera, but there were plenty of pics getting taken and plenty of stuck vehicles to take photos of....
well, only three really got stuck, My Wrangler, Yorick and hitbiga in his Vitara.... but we had multiple episodes, so it actually seemed like more than just us 3.
The winch got a good workout, im still picking gorse outa me undies and the back of my shirt, my new soft top somehow got a puncture hole in it, when in stowed position. And, noticed the steering was a bit loose on the way home. going round a right hand corner was becoming a touch hairy so thought it prudent to stop in morrinsville and have a nosy..........
Not the best pic, but can anyone pick whats wrong with this image? (aside from the date stamp being crook)

[86-surf]

FAR OUT!, The surf is a beast!! lol to me any ways, i didn't think i would get it thru half the places i took it today.
it was a good day even tho I got some battle scars.
Thanks merc and yorick for asking me to come along with you.


Ha Ha hahaha I didn't get stuff and i have ifs!!


oww i just poked my self in the eye

[xj]

I hope that hitbiga and all concerned in the accident end up ok. Keep us posted.

[xj]

Ha Ha hahaha I didn't get stuff and i have ifs!!

.... and you're not likely to get stuck if you stay on the track/motorway all day.... if you dont get stuck son, you're simply not trying!!

[86-surf]

Shusssh shut up xj, i went everywhere you went or just about so shushh .
Merc hurry up and upload all them pictures you took! lol. i want to see!,


Hope hitbiga is ok, he was a bit shaken up after that,

[TJ]

Not the best pic, but can anyone pick whats wrong with this image? (aside from the date stamp being crook)

Can you take a photo with a bit more of the scenery of the general area of where this part is, looks like the panhard rod drop bracket is not doing what its supposed to do (properly).

[xj]

have a look dead centre..... half of something is missing....

[TJ]

I did and it does seem like something is chipped off. Just wanted to see what it was.

[xj]

I did and it does seem like something is chipped off. Just wanted to see what it was.

its like an additional locating bracket the runs from the bottom of the chassis to the additional knuckle as shown there. Seems somewhere along the way it decided to give up the ghost. The broken eye has a thread running back into the bar, so hopefully autolign will be able to track me something down. Id hate to have to go back to procomp and try to get a replacement.

[TJ]

Whilst this off a left hand version, but this is what the steering system should look like. Hope its something simple and cheap to fix (as if there is such a thing!!).

[TJ]

Some of photos from a good day out. It was nice, warm and dry. At times it felt like I was on Queen Street with the amount of passing traffic.











It was the first real test of the new output shaft and driveshaft. They both seem to have survived without any incident, so the repair has worked.

Thanks guys for a good outing.

[yorick]

What an absolute cracker of a day, muds, rocks, water, big holes and many bangs and scratches. Good to see the 86-Surf get a few battlescars along with occasional woops.

Cutting corners can have consequences. Luckily she backed out OK


Paj had a ball in the swamp


And then somebody said: "Nobody's ever crossed that swamp!" Bloody tree was in the way otherwise....
Which led to the second recovery of the day.


This was the first. Jeep about to be extracted by Paj


While Big-Al was dead certain this was a heck of a lot easier in a Zuk.


The hole that eventually stopped us


But it wasn't for lack of trying. Photos prove I really have to do something with that injector pump


Not to be outdone, Bighita decided to hit the hole in the Vitara.
Just before the hole


and trying to get out the other end


Vitara had pulled the Paj out, so Paj returned the favour


And out she came looking a little different in colour.


This had to be a staged recovery because of the two holes and a bloody great rock. I backed down and hauled out the Vitara and then the Paj had to get winched up over the rock by XJs jeep. Excellent fun.

Many thanks to XJ for getting the day off the ground, it took me over an hour with a truck wash down hose to clean the mud out of the Paj's chassis! Excellent! A little bit of panel beating to do before the Laurie Sanson, but otherwise no problems at all.

[86-surf]

What an absolute cracker of a day, muds, rocks, water, big holes and many bangs and scratches. Good to see the 86-Surf get a few battlescars along with occasional woops.

Cutting corners can have consequences. Luckily she backed out OK

Hmmm If i had of cleaned my windscrean i would of been able to see where i was going , But i couldnt see becuase the sun was just reflecting on all the dust so couldnt see much, My towhook got hitched on the drain pipe Wen yorick told me to gun it!, now i have a big dent in the front of my chassis where the tow hook got hitched, Shell be right!.
Hopfuly on wednesday ill be able to get a new left side mirror and a right indercater lenze,

[tintin]

i will delete this post if requested
3 occupents were in the car that got hit by zuki then scraped power poll
all involved were very very very lucky to come out with or with out the injury's they received
male passenger no injuries
female driver extensive brusing, broken arm, big cut in the other arm
after a little while the little boy said he had a sore arm which turned out to be broken, i tell ya this was one brave little boy
all are home and on the mend
just a reminder to keep your eyes open and respect others and yourself on the road you just never know when or where

[xj]

I dont think theres any need to delete it tintin.

Its relevant to the days affairs, and although we all had a cracker of a time up there, it also serves as a timely reminder of how quickly things can go wrong.
Im just thankful that it wasnt any worse than what it was.

As for the rest of the trip, I'd like to make mention of an observation that was passed during the day. Earlier on in the week DB had asked if we were bored of Thomos yet (im paraphrasing). I concur with that sentiment, im thoroughly bored of it, but as suggested at the time, tthat here were people coming that had never been up there before.
Now i certainly dont want this to come out the wrong way, or to be mis-interpreted. I had an utter ball, and i've come to the realisation that although the track was as flat as a pancake, it was the people that made the day fun. Some times a change of personell can be as much entertainment, and as refreshing, as a change of track.

I guess what im getting at is that its the people that make this past-time really cool, not necessarily where we go or what we drive.

[RJ]

Hi all,

Great day riding in the hot seat with xj. Great meeting more ORE contributors. Took a few photos just thought I would add a couple to this thread.

xj in the play area


yep that photo, had to be shown but dont tell xj ( I think hes having nightmares about these mitsi's) The favour returned on several occasions during the day


Learning off yorick how to throw a paj into a hole with vengence. Great meeting you yorick, keep me inforrmed with your mods.


hitbiga after attacking the hole. Hey champ hope your ok!


Parking issues in the bush, who would believe!


My first attempt at joining photos. The team on exit from the trip part way down the kati kati side of the hill.


great day in the bush, cheers to all and great to meet you

[mercutio]

I guess what im getting at is that its the people that make this past-time really cool, not necessarily where we go or what we drive.

well said that man

[coxsy]

i also enjoyed my day out there as well , thmos is flat now dove around in 3rd low , with lots of trucks and rain it will cut up again , back to interesting again

[mercutio]

hey the way i look at it thompsons is now going to be useable for alot longer into the winter yes it is easy now but we will be able to use it for longer when winter comes

[hitbiga]

pics from saturday. Very gutted about the crash just lucky that there was no fatal injuries.

[TJ]

Hitbiga, that looks nasty. Glad occupants of both cars were not critically injured.

As for the Vitara, it'll just buff out with a bit of elbow grease! So what did really happen, were you blind sided by something. I can't imagine high speeds being involved (atleast not on your part given that its not safe to do).

PS: If you rather not discuss this due to legal/insurance reasons, I fully understand. No reply is compulsory. You have to protect your legal rights first.

[hitbiga]

yea was following tintin home to wash the car, didnt see the interestection till after that big tree but slowed down and looked both ways and looked clear them my mate yelled stop and i slammed on the brakes and hit the incoming car. Did not know what hit me and was quite shocked, just pays to be extra cautious at intersections. As for the car, i think ive lined up a rolling body to drop all my stuff into so will hopefully be back out there.

[TJ]

Live and learn. Could have been a lot worse. Bullbars up front would have saved you probably, but created a bigger mess (more injuries) for the other car. There is always a trade off somewhere.

[xj]

86 Surf heading up the middle track......


popping around one of the corners. Would loved to have seen a VX try to get around some of them without popping the tyres over the edge.... she was a tad tight in spots...


Recovering the Pajorik... had to show one, just to get the ledger straight!!

[Jeepers_Creepers]

Looks awesome, great photos, wish I could have been there! :-( Next time. :-)

[xj]

Looks awesome, great photos, wish I could have been there! Next time.

Well my friend, you will go and lend your Wrangler out for a month at a time wont you!!!!
Will you have your wagon back before the 25th april?

[Jeepers_Creepers]

Well my friend, you will go and lend your Wrangler out for a month at a time wont you!!!!
Will you have your wagon back before the 25th april?

Presume you're talking about ANZAC Wknd and the event that's happening that weekend (which I have read about but can't currently find the post for at the moment). My friend won't be using the Jeep that weekend (which is good) but unfortunately I'll be overseas sitting some exams (which is bad). So to answer your question, yes, I will have my wagon back but that won't make much difference since I won't be around to be able to drive it. As I PMed you, going to try to get down to the 42nd Traverse this sometime this week so that might make up for it.

[DaveM]

yea was following tintin home to wash the car, didnt see the interestection till after that big tree but slowed down and looked both ways and looked clear them my mate yelled stop and i slammed on the brakes and hit the incoming car. Did not know what hit me and was quite shocked, just pays to be extra cautious at intersections. As for the car, i think ive lined up a rolling body to drop all my stuff into so will hopefully be back out there.

Good to see everyone was ok. Also pays to take extra water to keep windows clean after a days fun too, especially if the cops turn up on the scene of an accident and they are dirty, doesn't go down too well

[86-surf]

merccccc!! where are the pics you took, Me want to seeee

[85BJ73]

Would LOOOOOVE to come up there and drive that sometime....if you guys are not too bored to show someone else around that is!!