Auckland Cruise anyone?

[DefeXion]

I think it's well overdue. Has anybody got ideas for somewhere to go? I was thinking kumeu -> helensville -> wellsford would be a really nice drive. Or maybe skiping wellsford and heading through woodcocks road to Warkworth.

No traffic to compete with, nice bendy roads, throw in some beautiful scenary plus a couple of good coffee shops on the way (a definite must for any successfull cruise) and we should have a recipe for a good drive.

[Ryan]

I agree that one is overdue. I will be happy to go along whatever the route, just depending on when it's due to be held as my work schedule is quite erratic.

I would be happy with your proposed route but was considering maybe something along the lines of:

Auckland - Tauranga?
Auckland - Thames / Coromandel
Auckland - Raglan when it warms up a bit.

Just my 2c worth... :)

[bradc]

I'm fine with any of those 4 possible options, just let me know when

[Subaru ETA]

im cool with what ever aslong as i havent taken my car off the road to do the clutch and steering rack

[Nigelator]

Has any one been to Dickies Flat? in the Karangahake gorge? Very nice,
I have been to stay there about 6 -7 times, great short walks to see in some cool gold mining tunnels. it is between Paeroa and Waihi. Mint in summer when ya can swin in the water.

I might be camping there at labour weekend.

Just quietly wondering, have we ever done a night away some where?

[bradc]

no, Carsten gets too excited!

At least those with Legnums won't need to pack a tent :)

[Ryan]

I know the place you're talking about Nigelator, it is kickass... I'm keen as a bean for that.

[DefeXion]

sounds like we have 2 cruises coming up then. With christmas around the corner, it would be great fun to pitch a tent in the back of the leggy and get out of auckland. If we pitch tent half way somewhere, the welly guys could come up from welly. NORTHISLAND MEET!

[bradc]

if you're under 5'10" and have a Legnum there is no need for a tent anyway! About half way is Taupo, we could all meet up there?

[Subaru ETA]

and have a track day :D

[DefeXion]

if you're under 5'10" and have a Legnum there is no need for a tent anyway! About half way is Taupo, we could all meet up there?


tent in the back :P. Taupo sounds good to me. I was actually just thinking that earlier. Pretty central. Good tourist attraction...... taupo track

[Ryan]

The ideas get better and better. Taupo definitely has merit, more or less equidistant from WGN / AKL

I haven't been to that side of the country in a while now either... can someone suggest a date? I won't have a free weekend again until the 5th November as I'm oncall for the next 4 weeks *frown*

A run down Desert Road with twin turbos sucking in frigid central North Island air... :)

Mind you, I am just one person though so depends on how keen everyone else is I guess? *Shrugs*

Hmm... the track... I almost need a new set of tyres *beams*

[bradc]

very keen. Needs to be before december though cause of all the holiday traffic and cops!

[Subaru ETA]

**** id better get my car fixed up sooner rather than later!

[bradc]

you're the mechanic Dave!

[Subaru ETA]

yeah but meh...i work on cars all day and just cant be bothered working on my own car!

[Xeroid]

Cruz, cruz, cruz, we need another night meet in the city/Kelly Tarltons and pix. Been so long since we all got together.
Longer trip sounds cool too, Hiway 16 to Wellsford is sweet, good bendy road and maybe fin at Mangawhai Heads. Tawharanui Peninsula is good, bit of dirt road out that way ....mmmm Gravel ..../rally
Raglan is cool especially if you take the back road through Pukekohe down through Te Akau, still a few k of gravel left at the very end. ( Was down that way recently for WRC ). Motorways are BORING !!
Nice pub there for lunch, you don't HAVE to drink.
Come back up via Ngarawahia route or past Wangaro Springs.

[Subaru ETA]

mangawhai is good so i can stay at my batch :D

[bradc]

I think we should listen to Brent, not only does he have the best coloured Legnum ever but he knows all the good places!

[Xeroid]

BBQ at SubaruEtas bach after crusin up via SH16, hows that sound ?
Cruz home later all mellowed down SH1 and convoy the motorway on the way back. Lights up everyone.... VR4 snake line up Waiwera Hill, scare the bejabbers out of all the Frods and Holdons.
Yeeha !!
Date ???? Maybe early-mid November ? ( but Nov 3 is no good isn't it Brad ? )
Weather might be good ( better anyway ).

[Ryan]

Yeah, mid November would be cool... Damnit, just realised that I am going to miss Guy Fawkes at Brad's :(

[bradc]

could make it the weekend of the 27/28th October or 10/11th November.

[Nigelator]

Oh boy looks like i got a big month and a half ahead!

Tech work and assignments.
Plus just sold my house, got to move out by 26 Oct
move in with the wife's parents
then around the 17 november move their house and my stuff into a new house on the other side of the road.

Oh good thing its at Eastern beach go for a swim after and dinner at the beach. :)

But I am Keen for all! We Must!

/secret Secretly I am looking very forward to guy fox! Thanks Brad!

[KiwiTT]

Poll added.

I'm keen for Wellsford as always :D

[DefeXion]

Sounds like we have our next 4 or 5 cruises lined up then. Wellsford is an easy one dayer that we can do anytime, but I absolutely love the road out there.

[bradc]

we need an option for either date is ok, cause I'm happy with either weekend.

[Subaru ETA]

i dont know about myself. i gotta get my car fixed and start on my project car so yeah. if i can ill be there

[Oblivion]

I'd be keen for a cruise as long as there's no gravel involved! Be nice to see some of you in real life haha

[DefeXion]

awww... gravel = good fun :P /rally

[Oblivion]

for me anyway.... gravel = stonechips & ending up in a ditch! :P

[Nigelator]

Looking at the poll..
..Seems that there is only 4 people interested in an event..
....Could be wrong i could....

[NAUSED]

/woot2

[Xeroid]

Well I've ticked for 10/11th November but whats at Wellsford ?
Or are we carrying on through to Mangawhai ? (and BBQ at Subarueata's place) ..or somewhere.
Wellsford's a bit of a pit, KFC and a petrol station just about ( ok so the petrol station is handy ).

[Subaru ETA]

my batch is prob gonna be rented out most weekends by the looks....plus ive got the ball rolling on taking my car off the road so depends if i got it going by then if i can attend!

[Nigelator]

Well we can just tke up a camping set, I sould have all the gear there.
Have a BBQ on the beach? Couple of beers or rum, but gota drive home.
Someone might have a radio in their car we could put on.

Hell if we all got tents just pitch a nite any where. some nice ARC Parks up there.

[DefeXion]

Theres a really good cafe on the way out there and then theres puhoi on the way back. Stopping in Wellsford?... pschhh

[djb160]

Man I haven't been to Wellsford in years and the petrol station and KFC is all I can remember of it.

[Nigelator]

Well djb160, you still have plenty of time to make it up here for the day!
We are now counting on ya being there!

[Ryan]

Unless I'm looking through my eyelids here, have we decided on a final route yet?

[KiwiTT]

I'll put my vote to SH16 Wellsford :D

[DefeXion]

Ditto for SH16 :)

[Ryan]

I went for a little wander through the streets that go past Paremoremo Prison the other day, some nice twisty roads there.

Just got to avoid the wrinklies and their day-glo vests out for the their morning stroll.

Just a random fact for the day.

[DefeXion]

That use to be a weekly drive for me and my mates. There is a really nice road with long sweeping corners that is great for RWD's my understeering was a bit of a problem at the top of those roads though. no barriers if you lose control.

[Joanne]

Just got to avoid the wrinklies and their day-glo vests out for the their morning stroll.

And those of us on bikes! The Avenue is a well used cycle route at the weekends :)

[Ryan]

That use to be a weekly drive for me and my mates. There is a really nice road with long sweeping corners that is great for RWD's my understeering was a bit of a problem at the top of those roads though. no barriers if you lose control.

That's right, could definitely end in tears if you get it wrong through there I thought.

Cycling is good fun Joanne - when I eventually get round to getting a bike again, I'll go for a wander through there.

When I was out visiting NZ in 2000, I spent some time cycling around Waiheke Island, testing at times because of all the hills but good scenery.

[DefeXion]

So it looks like we are unanimous(sp?) for the 10/11th November. This is good because uni will be out by then and I have a couple of friends who might enjoy the drive.

Now that we know WHEN this will happen, the next questions are, WHERE are we going to go, and WHAT are we going to do. It's a bit short notice to do the overnighter to taupo (That would be more convenient in christmas hols) so I'm in favour of a day long trip on SH16.

[Nigelator]

Would we be making the Fuel Eco Run the start of the day? Then up through State Highway 16?

If we were to make it saturday, for ones wanting to could return some where for the evening.

[Kenneth]

Would we be making the Fuel Eco Run the start of the day? Then up through State Highway 16?

If we were to make it saturday, for ones wanting to could return some where for the evening.

How much fuel can you afford for the day? :P

Driving up SH16 and back (if you do it properly that is) takes about a tank of fuel.

[Nigelator]

Its a Love affare Kenneth.
Besides if the car doesn't the cash get it the the wife will take it.

[KiwiTT]

Let's just say. The last run I had was the best $60, I ever spent.

[Kenneth]

Let's just say. The last run I had was the best $60, I ever spent.

Haha, I don't know if I could say it was the best, but it was definitely one of the fastest :p

I think ill have to take a rearward (ie not the lead) position on this one though, as I will be running on standard suspension and un-proven tyres.

[KiwiTT]

My tyres are nearly due for replacement 3-4 mm of tread left. Should I replace them before-hand

[Kenneth]

My tyres are nearly due for replacement 3-4 mm of tread left. Should I replace them before-hand

I wouldn't have thought you would need to replace them with that much tread, but it is up to you really. If you are safety conscious then you may want to change them as the greater tread depth is definitely better for wet traction.

On a side note (and a selfish one at that) when you do change them, if there is 2mm or more tread I wouldn't mind your old tyres. (ie keep the tyres when the store changes them) as I have goodyears on the front of the galant but some bidirectional crap on the back, and I don't feel like ar5e ending into a pole in the wet :P (also if I go RWD I could use some skid tyres... lol)

[KiwiTT]

Can I fit four tyres on the back seat of my car ?

As to depth. 1.5mm is the Government's minimum. Would you trust their judgement on a VR-4 at speed.

[bradc]

you definately can, Uc has had that many in the back of his car :)

[Kenneth]

Can I fit four tyres on the back seat of my car ?

As to depth. 1.5mm is the Government's minimum. Would you trust their judgement on a VR-4 at speed.

Yep, they fit :) Can get one or 2 in the boot also.

Depends on the weather. In summer I would run down to 1.5mm but I would be much more careful when approaching water.

[DefeXion]

I have gotten 5 18x9 tyres, turbo silvia hubs, a full trust bodykit, and some other bits in pieces in the back of my leg. Plus me, the driver, and 3 passengers.

Was a fun drive from hamilton back up to auckland. The car was sacked au.

I'm on about 4mm on one side atm and can feel it slide around in rain over the harbour bridge. It's a tad unnerving. If the tyres are warm and its dry, they hold fine though. It's more like racing slicks when they have no tread :P

[bradc]

4mm is plenty, if you guys are all getting rid of your tyres with that much tread on them, I will gladly take them off from you!

[DefeXion]

Mine are all donated to the cheap drifters cause. I have some almost new accelleras that I am going to be selling cause they are plastic.

[Xeroid]

Buy decent tyres, the D3's, and keep them aligned and balanced and they'll wear well and hang on even in the wet right down to the limit. 35,000 k from Liz's first set and they were still legal but we changed them last May with winter coming on just in case.
Frank Allen at Albany does best prices and service, just tell them Liz and Brent sent ya.

[KiwiTT]

Kenneth. I am changing them next week. Do you want all 4 ?

[Kenneth]

Kenneth. I am changing them next week. Do you want all 4 ?

Yes please! :D

[Ryan]

I'd be happy to keep the ST-R company as my car is just plain standard so won't keep up very well unless I take my Michael Schumacher pills... wait, I have EBC brake pads :P

[KiwiTT]

Saturday 10 or Sunday 11 November ?
10am 11am or 12 noon Start ?

Meeting places. Bombay BP, Foodtown Greenlane, Ken's Work Carpark ?

Other Questions ?

Post your thoughts. I post up a formal thread next week.

[DefeXion]

My vote is Saturday the 10th at 10am.

[Nigelator]

What time are we likely to be returning?
I have got tickets to that We Will Rock You show on Sat Night.

[Kenneth]

Has to be Saturday for us.

[Ryan]

Saturday 10th for me too (anytime)