SLROC Forum
Events => NON SLROC EVENTS => Topic started by: DC on July 12, 2010, 05:10:51 PM
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Hiya folks after checking with the events section it seems like there's not a clash with the Lochgilphead forest drive so we're hoping to see a few new faces to experience one of the greatest drives going.
Details:
Lochgilphead Forest Drive August 14 /15
Our next forest drive is now planned for the dates above..As usual we need to warn anyone coming along a few bumps and sctratches are all part of our Forest Drives so shiny owners be warned. The meeting point on this outing is the entry at Birdfield Wood so please take note. The usual start time around 9.45 at the latest please, and the same meeting point and time over both days.
This drive will be a bit different this time round, On the Saturday will drive our usual excellent routes and the cost for the day is as usual ?25.00 .
Our Sunday is to be a work day, the entry fee for the Sunday is a pair of loppers, we will take you on a few routes which are in serious need of trimming back so you will still get to drive a goodly part of the forest as we will drive some of our old favourites tracks en route. We will end the day around 2 pm.
So if you want a day of some good banter a bit of worthwhile effort and a good bit of driving thrown in we will be delighted to see you come along.
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Thanks for moving this for me admin.
Sorry if i posted in the wrong section.
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See you there on the Davie - I'm staying at the Lochgair Friday and Saturday
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I am planing coming up on Sunday but might need to jump in with someone ;)
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No problem with getting a lift round ;)loads of willing drivers and remember bring the loppers :) :)or we might just grab yer wallet :) :) :) :)
IAN
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Hi Ian
I can't make this weekeknd - when are you planning the next one. Ironic thing is I'm in Inverary tomorrow too
Duncan
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looks like i wont need to jump in 11o be hunky dory tomorrow,if not just bring disco
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Good either way, if we get a good turnout for the cutting back , the disco wont be a worry :-\our new 90 has been through the routes three times now and is showing no sign of :D abuse ..so far
Sorry to hear you cant make it Duncan but our next run will be posted on the usual place just after the upcoming weekend.
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our new 90 has been through the routes three times now and is showing no sign of abuse
Ian, We'd love to go on this drive, but discounted it completely because of the comment in the first post about it being for only scratched and dented vehicles. So how bad is it really? Your new 90 is making it fine without damage - but what about a Discovery, which is 16" wider and 40" longer?
Stuart
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Stuart if your disco is your pride and joy and you'd cry if if were to get scratched then the forest drives might not be suitable for that vehicle.
Some of the routes are quiet rutted and cause damage to the underside if no protect is on the trucks so it's really a question only you can answer :)
You'll defo need mud Tyres if you don't want to be getting towed round all day......... :)
HTH
Charlie ;)
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Thanks for your input, Charlie. More angry than cry likely!
There is a big difference between a bit of bramble rash (expected) and gouged panels from sliding sideways into cut ends of fallen trees as they are so close (not a good idea). AT2s and 9.5" standard ground clearance (with further 4" if the computer decides) has been OK in other places, but I'm wary of just how huge a Disco 3 is!
What I would love to hear is that there is a drive-round for the narrow bits should it just not fit. Sadly we can no longer just whip out a chainsaw and make the gap wider! Stuart
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The Saturday drive is our normal drive through the great tracks that Ian & Marion, Bill & Annette have work so hard with the forestry commission to allow us to do this.
So they have to make people aware that your car may be damaged on these plantation tracks.
Not only from trees to each side of the tracks,as some of them are not close at all to trees, but the ruts are deep, the climbs are steep, the rocks are sharp and the ground will be very slippy with all this rain we've been having so there's more risk of sliding if the cars not kitted out properly for the tough terrain.
I used AT's on my first ever outing in my RRC and was pulled most of the way round due to my differential scraping along the centre section as my truck did not have enough clearance.
A DISCO 3 I believe is 2.7 ton in weight, so for a section called the plateu, there would be no chance of it getting through it without major concern.
We never leave a vehicle behind,but we also have to access the risk factor at the same time that certain trucks may pose.
There is a few tracks I would say the Disco would be fine with as they are similar to green lanes etc, but the majority of the tracks would cause scratching/denting if not driven with extreme care.
The choice would be yours Stuart, you may find a spare seat with someone on the drive if you decide to venture up to see for yourself what's involved.
Always a friendly face waiting to greet any new comers :)
Hope that helps
:)
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Hi Stuart
Just noticed Charlies post,he has just about said it all really.The tracks are superb with everything you could ask your 4x4 to attempt..Nothing is severe or dangerous in any way,but as said the tracks do need your vehicle to have fairly good clearance along with Muds to make life that bit easier..You will be most welcome to come along and see firsthand how good all these drives turn out to be time and time again. ,each day is different as we have around 30 different routes some very easy some not so easy and some fairly difficult.You can easily come in the Disco as every drive is a progression through the forest,and every track is easily missed where you can park the wagon jump in with one of the lads and the wagon will only be few yards back for a pick up..We have done this on may occasions and it works just fine..Turn up and you will be made most welcome by the friendliest of lads n lassies
IAN
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A Disco3 would be too wide for many of the tracks through the trees, a Defender can get through with an 1" or 2 on each side so no chance for a D3 - I would suggest that the best way to find out is to come up, drive the forest trails and park up at special stage and ride in with somebody else. I will have a spare front seat in my 90 on Saturday if you want to join me, I thought Sthrifty was riding shotgun with me on Sunday but it looks like he might be coming with his own wheels now.
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Thanks for the further info Ian and Tim.
You have convinced me to come along and drive the Discovery on the roads it will fit through, and take Tim's very kind offer of a seat in his 90 for the narrower bits. I'll bring my measuring stick to see just how tight it might be for the future!
Birdfield about 9:15 it is then - unless anyone is driving across from Glasgow and would like to meet up on the way at an appointed breakfast provider?
Again, thanks to all of you for information and persuading me to come along.
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Good Man Stuart
You will have a ball I am sure,we will take you on Basher's Group, driving between sections is just fine for the disco and at each section with any possibility of damage we will get you parked up and into a vehicel no problem.If you intend bringing anyone with you again no problem..Youll certainly get a nice Argyll sticker for the Disco ;)
PS If you need any directions to our start just let me know
Ian (BASHER) :D
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Some photos of the weekend
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/jollyjack99/Aegyll%20Forest%20Drives%20%20August%202010/DSCF3019.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/jollyjack99/Aegyll%20Forest%20Drives%20%20August%202010/DSCF3024.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/jollyjack99/Aegyll%20Forest%20Drives%20%20August%202010/DSCF3028.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/jollyjack99/Aegyll%20Forest%20Drives%20%20August%202010/DSCF3031.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/jollyjack99/Aegyll%20Forest%20Drives%20%20August%202010/DSCF3035.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/jollyjack99/Aegyll%20Forest%20Drives%20%20August%202010/DSCF3033.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/jollyjack99/Aegyll%20Forest%20Drives%20%20August%202010/DSCF3045.jpg)
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Many thanks to Ian and DC for the info that persuaded me to go along with a D3 despite the warnings of scratches and dents. It fitted through most of the sections, and on the ones where the trunks of the trees were closer together than 2m, Tim was kind enough to give me a run through in his 90. No scratches, although the soft needles drew fantastic lines in the thick layer of dust.
A fantastic day out with some spectacular views never seen by tourists. I'll go back! Here is a link to some photos on the D3 forum site (simply as I've not figured out how to include them here yet!) http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=4285 (http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=4285)
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Another excellent weekend, brilliant tracks superb weather and one of our oldest and longest tracks severely trimmed back from 4 feet width to possibly allow Stobarts wagons through ;) Saturday was our usual run through about twelve of our favourite trails, the weather being so nice made recoveries very few throughout the day.
Our two tracks on the highest parts of the forest were superb and after our rock hauling on the Friday the worst sections were more easily passed through. Our Sunday run up to the Plateau was up to its usual standards as all vehicles behind us got caught by the boggiest section on the top..Everyone mucked in to help the stuckies and after an hour of recoveries we were all on the move once more..The downhill track was also severely overgrown so our work party got to work and cleared the worst parts in jig time .. 8) Although Sunday was a supposedly work day we drove 6 routes including our "JUST BE CAREFULL UP HERE LADS" ridge track which always requires a bit more care and concentration,everyone was superb and no recoveries were needed..So again a brilliant weekend and VMAV had no vehicle breakdowns this time out..We made a donation to the McMillan Cancer Trust and bofabill donated some very nice stickers even tho a slight spelling mistake meant a slight alteration was required to correct the error.Thanks to all who came along and made this another fun and amusing weekend...IAN
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Photo links in my post are now re-established!