Riverhead/Kumeu forest track.

Dazlinsky · Post by **Dazlinsky** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:25 pm

Hey all.
We went to one of our local tracks along the side of the road in Riverhead today. When we where aproched buy a rude, ranting, crazey woman. She acused us of destroying her 'front garden'. (all the private property was on the opisite side of the road, we where on the forestry side) As far as I knew this was public property and has been used for years by many a 4x4!
Who owns that land? I recon she is just one of those 4x4 hating bl00dy fools. :shock:

The crazy part of the whole thing is that she stopped in the middle of the road! for those of you who dont know is that this area is very windy and hilly. She stopped her car across both the lanes and just over a blind rise!!
We all said she must move her car but was to intent on getting the reg numbers of the 4x4's. Even some guy who lives along the road begged her to move har car before there is a bad crash. As she moved the car about 100m down the road as ute came flying over the hill! he had to lock his breaks and swerve to avoid her. and she said we where causing truble!! :shock:

. I know there are allot of people that destroy tracks and give us a bad name but we where just out on a sunday mud cruse.

PuddleJumper · Post by **PuddleJumper** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:57 pm

These "Tracks" are just fire breaks. They are not public land and they are owned by the group that owns Riverhead forest. Admittedly they do look tempting you but should really try to stay off them as its impossible at the moment to get access into the forest and making a mess down there fire breaks wont help the situation much.If you want to play in the mud then you should look at joining your local club otherwise we all end up getting painted with the same brush. Sorry about the rant but i wanna play in some Riverhead mud just as much as you do.

diffsx2 · Post by **diffsx2** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:19 pm

dude, if shes taken your rego expect mr plod to visit. those "Tracks" are covered by a Rodney Distric Council By-law prohibiting you to do what you did. if it was you that left the mud trail from the track all the way up old nth rd untill i turned off at peak rd while the mud carried on towards hellensville then you deserve the visit! actions like that make it so much harder for those of us in the clubs that are working hard to gain access to those areas again. the local clubs have struck up a very good relationship with the rodney council and we dont need the actions of a few idiots to ruin the access that we have gained and stuff it up for everyone else. join a club and gain legitimate access and have fun safely. i agree tho she probably was a crazy ol b***h and probably wouldnt even stop to clean up the mess her horse makes as it s***s on the road!

4x4Wolf · Post by **4x4Wolf** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:04 am

we dont need the actions of a few idiots to ruin the access that we have gained

That's a bit harsh.

Some people don't like clubs and all the in-fighting that goes on in them, they just want to have some fun. I'm in a club and really do enjoy getting out and about on club trips, I also like being able to go out on a sunday and play in the mud. How do you/we know where you are able to go, maybe we need a forum of tracks listed so members can check out where it is possible to go and even maybe grade them as well. Maybe this already exists and I just don't know where to find it?

just my 2 cents worth.

Cheers
Brent

ToyTruck · Post by **ToyTruck** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:14 am

Thats true, It would be good to have a list of places to go that wont piss people off. I have been to riverhead before and is a fun track for a bit of a play, but also realise that is not worth going there is it is going to annoy the locals. :twisted:

Does anyone know of any places that are accessable in the ALKD area, that have the ok to use?

Dazlinsky · Post by **Dazlinsky** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:57 am

Hi Guys, Dazlinsky's better half here!
My husband was very wound up when he started this thread.
I was there too (as always!!

) That was only our second time going down that track. We've seen loads of people driving down there and always said we need to give it a try, we didn't see any signs saying "No 4x4" so we went, thinking it was ok? A fellow 4x4 guy told us it was ok and that it's a regular track?? The plan for the day was just to practise driving over rough terrain. We don't like making tracks worse unless we get stuck and don't have a choice (I can hear all you guys saying, yeah, yeah!! :wink:

) Once that lady told us to leave, we were already on the track and facing to wrong way to get back on the road safetly, so we just drove down the rest of the track until we could get back on the road the right way, which was only a few hundred metres.
As we were getting off the track we noticed our friend had decided to take a slightly longer route and got himself well and truely stuck!!

We had to pull him out, so out came the the winch and ropes, but we couldn't reach him, so we had to go through a boggy part to get near him and, we got stuck too! At this point I was sure the cops would be out shortly?? We managed to winch ourselves closer together and as soon as we got some traction we just kept rocking forward and back until we got out, but it left us covered in mud :roll:

! (No we weren't the ones that left mud track down the road) We then managed to pull our friend out from the front :oops:

. As we were putting all the ropes etc, away, that's when the lady came back and went mad at us while parked in the middle of the road??? My hubby explained the rest. I can just imagine how it must have looked.....as if we had said stuff her and really tore up the track, but it so wasn't what happened!! I have most of it on tape!!
Anyway, just wanted to put an eyewitness point of view of what happened.
And no we won't be going back there......ever!!!!!!!!
A list of places we can go would be really great!!!

lilpigzuk · Post by **lilpigzuk** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:57 am

ToyTruck wrote:
Does anyone know of any places that are accessable in the ALKD area, that have the ok to use?

There arent any left due to the above happening. You will need to join a club. If you dont like that one, try another one. There is bound to one that meets your requirements.
Failing that you can pay $95/day to go too extreme 4wd or drive along muruwai beach.

Rangielux · Post by **Rangielux** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:58 am

Auckland has a huge growing population of people and 4wds and not many back country tracks handy to the city. Down here in the King Country we are even starting to see more 4wd pressure from the city.

Lilpig is kinda right in that there is places to go 4wding in and around Auck and joining a club is probably the best way to get to these places. Club politics are not as bad as people make out

, anyway you can easily choose not to become part of that side of a club scene and just go out on the trips and have fun

The public eye and 4wd use don't mix that well (as unfortunity Dazlinsky just found out) You rarely hear about someone getting a rolocking from a anti 4wd nut while doing a track or trip in the back of beyond away from the public eye (these places do exist). I have a good relationship with the Doc office down here that look after Pureora and the only time they get upset is when they see obvious evidence of 4wd use next to the main 2wd roads thru the park or at camping areas etc. I've often driven past little "play areas" on the side of very public pieces of the park and thought "I can do that" but I don't. Because lots of other 4wds have had a go doesn't mean it actually the right or responsible thing to do.

Hope that helps to explain how and why these things happen from time to time.

Dazlinsky · Post by **Dazlinsky** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:14 am

Admittedly, we are all feeling a bit :oops:

about it! We are not trouble makers, we just want to enjoy our truck....like we all do, but I think was just a case of ingorance about the "laws of the land"?? All cleared up now and will check things out better from now on!!
Back to Muriwai!!

Moriarty · Post by **Moriarty** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:16 am

Well put, Rangie, and I concur wholeheartedly.

Most of those "play areas" that I have seen have still got youngish guys cars still in the tyre tracks!! The cars involved, yes, CARS, are 2wd and road tyred as well.

but of course, we 4wd gasguzzling users get the blame.

PeterVahry · Post by **PeterVahry** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:46 pm

An interesting discussion and yet no-one has said they have tried to change the lack of places to use a 4x4 around Auckland. What about writing to your local Mayor and pointing out that there are other recreations catered for but not 4x4? You've heard the saying "a squeaky wheel gets the oil". I've had recent correspondence with the ARC Chairman about the lack of motorised recreation options in the region despite quite a bit of public land....ARC regional parks cover 39,000 hectares!
If they get continuous polite requests for space then one day it might register that there are quite a few voters who might be useful next election.
I do know that Franklin District are looking at the possiblity of some land for 4x4 use because they spoke to me yesterday and Rodney District have done a deal with the regions 4x4 clubs for access.
Contact your Councils and ask them where you can use your 4x4. If they get a flood of letters or calls they might start thinking of more options.

Peter Vahry
NZFWDA northern public relations

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:55 pm

Interesting comments....

Re the comment

If you want to play in the mud then you should look at joining your local club

ORE 4x4 Association is a NZ4WD assn club, otherwise join other local clubs trips, "Clubs" usually have access to places. As the newly formed ORE 4x4 club develops more formal trips will be developed for ORE4x4 club/ore members....with that other clubs will usually get invites to ORE events and vice versa

I am personally part of CCVC (largest Welly club) and ORE/ORE 4x4 assn so in theory twice as many trips etc.....re the politics deal with it, its usually there for a reason eg mounting towhooks properly for safety reasons.....

There are a number of clubs in Ak which allow visitors, clubs are usually friendly with a great bunch of people.....

any other trips happening in Ak?

Post by **mike** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:49 am

I am personally part of CCVC (largest Welly club)

and largest NZ club :wink:

Mike

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:29 pm

So has anyone past the bombays suggested any suitable clubs to check out or invited these guys to any visitor trips, events etc rather than dump on them........comon guys Dazlinsky is carrying recovery gear etc which tends to suggest he is a responsible 4wd'er (unlike those who go out without even a towrope)

lilpigzuk · Post by **lilpigzuk** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:36 pm

In No particular order....

Auckland Four Wheel Drive Club
PO Box 6712, Wellesley Street, Auckland.
http://www.auckland4wd.org.nz
President, Craig Lord (027 273 4156)
Secretary, Royce Graham (027 294 1794)
Membership inquiries Stephen Reed (09) 836 7244. e-mail oink@xtra.co.nz
Club meets third Monday of each month, at the Vintage Car Club rooms, 39 Fairfax Ave, Penrose

* Counties 4 Wheelers
PO Box 72-1394, Papakura, Auckland
President, Steve Gleadell
Secretary, Lisa Brown, (09) 298-2730, lisa.croucher@xtra.co.nz
Membership inquiries to Pete Brown (09) 298 6853
Club meets first Tuesday of every month

* Manukau Four Wheel Drive Club
PO Box 75-199, Manurewa
President, Glen Raymond, 09 2788 379, http://www.manukau4wd.org.nz
Meets first Tuesday each month, Hillpark Primary School, Grand Vue Rd, Manurewa, 7.30pm

* NorWest OHV Clun Inc
PO Box 171, Kumeu, Auckland
e -mail norwestohv@xtra.co.n z
President, Fritz Scheidegger (09) 480 6630
Secretary, Tracy Taylor (09) 441 7358
C lub meets every second Monday of month at Riverhead Rugby Club, Main Road, Riverhead

* Rodney Off Road Club
C/o 26 Governor Grey Road
Snells Beach, Warkworth
President Nigel England,
Secretary Paul Davis.
Meets every second Wednesday of the Month at The Puhoi Pub, Puhoi

* Shore Four Wheelers
PO Box 100 404, NSMC, North Shore City.
President: Simon Bishop (09) 4430771
Secretary: Tanse Wilson (09) 3606949
Meets third Wed each month, Takapuna Scout Hall, Taharoto Park, Taharoto Rd

diffsx2 · Post by **diffsx2** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:44 pm

Dazlinsky, im sorry for wrongly blaming you for the mud trail along old north rd, i went through there on the sat not the sunday that you were up there :oops:

i too was a bit hot under the coller after seeing the mess on the road and its likley that the (crazy) woman had seen the same mess!
when you say that the track is "local" are you in the kumeu area? the Norwest club meets 2nd monday of the month at the Kumeu rugby club in Riverhead, 7.30pm bar is open come along and have a chat. unfortunatly most of our comeing runs are out of town at the moment so traveling is involved to get to the play areas.
there isnt many play areas left around auckland that you wont get the rath of the neighours thrown at you!
Peter is right about getting in the ear of your local counciller or minister and pushing for access rights to motorised parks, it was through persistance over time and showing the Rodney District Council that the clubs involved were united in there cause and were not going away untill there was a result, that we gained the access and working relationship with them that we have now.
another way to find access is to volunteer your time to marshal at events such as the kiwi challenge and meet like minded people at the event and also get to see some well set up trucks perform (check out warlord autosports web site or look in 4x4 action mag for details)

Dazlinsky · Post by **Dazlinsky** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:04 pm

No worries!! We also get upset when we see other people trash the place and we all get the blame, but hey, it happens!!
We do live near Kumeu. Could you give me the contact details or are they the same as "lilpigzuk" posted for that area?? The marshalling sounds like fun!!

We can't do anything about it now, as I'm busy for the next few weeks anyway. I'm "pitcrew" for a race team in the Targa

. I'm getting the cars ready with all the spare time I have lately...work seems to get in the way!LOL!!! :wink:

That's why I got so upset on sunday, because that was my last play in the mud for a few weeks??

diffsx2 · Post by **diffsx2** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:59 pm

yep same details. have fun at the targa dude.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:11 pm

another way to find access is to volunteer your time to marshal at events such as the kiwi challenge and meet like minded people at the event

Even better is to have a chat to the councils & doc etc and have rubbish cleanup days ...recovering carbodies is an excellent and fun use of your strop/winch and the councils are usually very grateful.....or helping with planting somewhere...or clearing a walking track.....that way they see organised clubs in a better light.

Good excuse for a BBQ to charcoal the "meat" afterwards too....

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:25 am

Jerry wrote: Good excuse for a BBQ to charcoal the "meat" afterwards too....

you should see jeerys skills!!!!

Moriarty · Post by **Moriarty** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:57 am

Jerry wrote:Even better is to have a chat to the councils & doc etc and have rubbish cleanup days ...recovering carbodies is an excellent and fun use of your strop/winch and the councils are usually very grateful.....or helping with planting somewhere...or clearing a walking track.....that way they see organised clubs in a better light.

Good excuse for a BBQ to charcoal the "meat" afterwards too

What a damn good idea, there are always dead cars etc needing removal.
All I need is a wench...... sorrreeee WINCH!!!!!

PeterVahry · Post by **PeterVahry** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:44 am

The NZFWDA have been working with the international organisation UFWDA (http://www.ufwda.org) to promote an annual clean-up day worldwide and the scheduled date is the first Saturday in October each year....so it's just gone this time. Put it in your new diaries for next year!

Quite a few clubs get involved and it does garner good relations with Councils etc.

Peter

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:39 pm

Theres nothing stopping you doing something before October !!!!

PeterVahry · Post by **PeterVahry** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:53 pm

Jerry, of course there is nothing to stop anyone doing a clean-up at any time .... I'm drawing attention to the fact that there is a day set aside with the intention of getting a concerted effort and possibly media attention to emphasise that 4x4 users are also good citizens. The Oct date works well for most countries.