Laning on the Saturday

[stretch]

As a few people have dropped out is it worth doing a 4th group but different set of lanes ie last years which would be nicer on LWBers and bit of a shorter day?

[Fatbaz]

There's only one lane that could be a tad snug for LWB and that's easily bypassed. There's one spot on said lane with a chicane caused by a tree means that you have to drive with care when positioning the vehicle so as to drive through cleanly. we've put 110's and Disco's and Rangeis through there, A monster 90 (3" suspension lift, 35" Simex and cage) had the biggest issue when he got the positioning wrong and got the top of his snorkel hung up in the overhead vegatation. All the fFonties will get through unscathed. Same as for the "scratchy lane", easy to bypass it. The scratches I got last year were only where the blackthorn rubbed down the sides, these polish out with a little elbow grease. Possibly worse on my car as I was the first car through and the lane hadn't been driven for some years, the vegatation from either side hadgrown right across the lane.

As for the length of the laning session, last years Saturday lanes were about the same duration as this years and nowhere near as interesting. If someone wants to volunteer to lead a group on last years route I can email them the MM overlay, if the send me their email address.

We can play the Sunday by ear, there's the Sunday route from last year which is a couple of hours of tame lanes local to Sibbertoft or we can do a route starting over towards Hinkley that finishes about 2 miles East of Sibbertoft which is a little more interesting though not extreme. The overlay I have for this is not accurate as some of the lanes shown are not "do-able", as we found out.

Regards

Stuart

[BadBoy]

I ask that all the potential laners have a get together Friday evening about 9ish at the marque to run through the days agenda and groups, thus eliminating the faffing about on Saturday morning (to round you all up on my own is a challenge I don’t relish so please turn up of your own accord).

Can this be a bit earlier. I may not be coherent by 9pm

[Wilberforce]

Half a shandy is about all it needs to get you nissed, isn't it Paul??

Stu, PM sent with my email in, ta.

[hipo1024]

I wont be arriving on site until sat morning, Im aiming to arrive about 8am so should have enough time to get organized

[Drift]

Hipo, I will have a hangover so please be quiet when you arrive as its likely I will have only gone to bed an hour or two before

[hipo1024]

lol Ill try my best

[Fatbaz]

I shan't be arriving until about 7 ish, so time to get tent up; brew and munchies then the laning meet. Might make it a bit earlier, say 8.30/9.45 at a push.

Paul, hope you going to be co-whatever-it-was-you-said cause there's every possibility you could be leading group 3. Pete (Loneranger) is having problems with his nav system and has asked me to find someone to step in. He's already asked Fudge but I understand he may also have issues converting the MMO I sent to the system he uses.

I opologise to those that haven't received their copy of the MMO yet, I didn't get near my home PC last night, promise to do better tonight!

Regards

Stuart

[fudge]

Well when i get home i will have a play. But since i am not bk till friday. I won't know



and is it possible for some one to convert the mmo to gpx for my mmtracker program


Ohh and dan no phoning me say your lost/stuck as i will prob have a hangover as well

[BadBoy]

and is it possible for some one to convert the mmo to gpx for my mmtracker program

Matt I've emailed it to you in GPX format for mm tracker

Paul, hope you going to be co-whatever-it-was-you-said cause there's every possibility you could be leading group 3.

Happy to lead a group And should have someone from Northants4x4 with local knowledge with me too which will help.




How do we fair with crossing Santapod? I only ask as xfest is on there that whole weekend. I was led to believe that those lanes were subject to closure during events there?

[Fatbaz]

First things first. For Jim and Frank, sent your copies of the MMO tonight hope you get them OK.

Paul, thanks for sorting Matts GPX format (whatever that is! if it ain't got wheels I'm lost). As for the Santa Pod issue, not aware of anything there, if as you say the lanes across the end are shut just means after swinging south to the layby on the road for lunch we continue by road to the next lane instead of re-tracing our steps a short distance to continue up pass the western end of the drag strip. Who you got coming from N44 we may know him?

Regards

Stuart

[fudge]

i caan comferm that mine is now working all ok

[Fatbaz]

That's good news Fudge, we should now have plenty of bods with the capability of navigating the route, hopefully catch up with you at the Friday evening meeting to sort out who's doing what with who and when.

Catch you later

Stuart

[Fatbaz]

The wheather were having here in Northants at the moment is not exactly seasonal. Therefore i fully expect the lanes to be wet. That's wet not damp, so, as the majority of surfaces are clay based I suggest those vehicles on less than full mud tyres make sure they have suitable recovery points and equipment (rope, strop, chain, string, bungy cord, fishing line, shoe lace etc etc))as no-doubt you'll need pulling out of a hole en-route. Be even better if said vehicles can position themselves behind/between vehicles suitable for pull them out of the myre. Goes with out saying that everyone will need suitable footware and clothing.

Pray for sunshine from Thursday onwards so at least the trees aren't dripping on us and the camp site is dry-ish.

Regards

Stuart

[BadBoy]

As for the Santa Pod issue, not aware of anything there,

Was just a rumor I'd heard about the place. Something to do with the lane at the end of the drag strip and safety. Local knowledge is always much better which is why I asked.

Who you got coming from N44 we may know him?

Hopefully will be there with Kidmachine. Loneranger knows him

[Fatbaz]

Paul

been speaking to a colleague reference Santa Pod lanes, he maintains they can legally shut them though they could hinder your progress along the lane while the strip is active, lets face it who wants half a ton of hot metal for a door sticker.

Loneranger just PM'd me regarding Kidmachine, thanks, dn't know what he's driving at the moment though, need to get him into a 2.8 SWB, yea.

Regards

stuart

[bobbinsjob]

Isn't one of them lanes called 40 foot lane because U don't get more than 40 feet without getting stuck

[snapper]

Would I get a set of Amazon Muds (275/75/15) on a std 2.8 lwb without having to cut chunks off the thing or doing a lift? It's currently sat on a set of Wrangler AT/R's (255/75/15) theyre legal but could be better and considering the possible mud bath I ain't in the mood for getting towed 90 miles lol

[Fatbaz]

Forty foot is to the East of Santa Pod, it's not included on the route we're doing. It's normally TRO'd all season anyway. It gets it's name from the width of the lane however I think Bobbins interpretation is more apt. After the rain we've had the past week or so you'd be luck to do 40 inches let alone 40 feet. people have been known to take all day doing it (before it was TRO'd). Even tricked up fully locked Landrovers on 35" Simex get bogged down and need winch assist.

In all honesty your better off steering clear of it unless your prepared to sacrafice motor and leave it as a permanent feature of the landscape as a few have had to do until the ground dried out enough to get a 4wd tractor in the to extract it.

We'll find you enough mud to satify your earthly cravings on the lanes we've got planned.

Regards

Stuart

[Fatbaz]

Just looked on the Northants lanes website, it advises the lanes will be open on 3rd May 2012. Now I'm getting exited