PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive Monday 6th July

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Fergs and I like to give PP drivers a chance to see Alice Springs at night via a night drive on your rest day if there is enough interest. This will be a offroad trip close to town, although nothing too hard it will involve some hill climbing, decents and some spotting to ensure no damage is made to vehicles. The trip will take approx 2-3hours depending on how many vehicles attend. Some offroad type tyres and suspension lift recommended as there will be some rocky sections. Hope to see you there,
Zookcubr.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Zook, do you mean the night of the 6th July 2009?

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

I guess so Prycie, im lost a bit for dates exact. Thanks for adding that. Id like to add this area we will be driving is Crown land and there are no issues regarding tresspassing etc.

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

I'm up for as much exploration as I can possibly fit in. Great idea and thanks for leading the way Zook.

LFaR.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Great idea Sean, not sure that we will be up for it after doing rainbow Valley and Owen Springs that day but I am sure those that are not doing that with us would be interested in doing the night drive and even those doing the trip with us that day might still be up for it. Are you talking Widow Maker or out the back of Smith Street?

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

I have a loop track in mind starting at Flynns Grave which will be our meeting spot that includes a hill climb that can be challenging. I beleive the so called widow maker is on the range behind the Transport Museum (which you get a great veiw of Pine Gap) although there are also some that have been recently closed that would fit that decription on the West Macs I myself wouldnt drive. This slightly challenging drive will include some climbs, decents and some careful spotting to ensure everybody gets through OK. At the end theres a short creek run in river sand stopping off to see some dumped classic old cars before finnishing our run at Lovegrove Rd. We will be meeting just before sundown to make the most of the picturesque scenery as the light fades over the West Macs at the highest point. Another item to add to this trip, if you do not wish to scratch your duco please do not join this trip,

Zook.

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

I,m Interested Zookcubr :lol:

I'm sure we could get another say 15 cars going as well.

Russ

[GaryE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GaryE]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Zook

We are interested



Gary

[Trev L Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trev L]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Hi Zook,
Not shore yet wife fances diner at the overlander

Cheers
Trev L

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Top idea Zook & Fergs

Even if I have to drug the family and leave them snoozing I reckon I can escape for this :lol: :lol: :lol:

Cheers
Chippy

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Good to see some interest, I have to work Monday day then ive got Tuesday and Wednesday off for the Boggy Hole drive and camp. Due to work commitments and a lack of annual leave I will not be camping at Kings Cannyon or Yulara. The sunset here in Alice has been setting earlier then during the summer so im looking at a early start at around 5pm at Flynns Grave which is on Larapinta Drive West of Alice Srpings CBD of Monday the 6th of July. The meeting point is well signposted on the left just before the 100klm speed limit posted sign. Make sure you bring your camera, food, drink, torches or portable spotlights if you have one ( help spot vehicles avoid scratches down the cutting and looking at the wildlife ) and wear something warm. Hope to see you there, Zook.

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Some pics of where we are going-





This is the cutting, a narrow pass through the rock near the end of the trip.



Heres "The Widow Maker" if you want to try that is.






The Veiw from the top, its day in theses shots.





Just some random pics of the track.

[Trev L Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trev L]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Hi Zoocubr,

That looks the goods. I will try to escape for this.

Cheers

Trev L

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive

Looks great, Could be a interesting night. :wink:

We might have to get the maxi tracks out to light up the track :lol:

Cheers Russ.

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: PPGTG Alice Springs Night Drive Monday 6th July

Well the night drive went really well for those people who attended. We had 9 vehicles all up, good to see the WA crew was very strong on this trip. We started at Flynns Grave where we aired down, had a breif chat and hit the trails. We only got a few klms before Leechy was pulled over with his bonnet up looking for a noise arond his transfer case. The problem wasnt found so he decided to continue anyhow. Our first challenge was the Widow Maker. Some of the more hardcore group gave it ago and all made it up. Time to get the camera out and take some pics of the fading sunset over the West Macs. We continued on heading North along side the Simpsons Gap National Park. Leechy again pulled over still having noise issues, he continued on again hoping the noise would either rear its ugly head or go away. By this time the track was starting to become more challenging. Rutts, sharp rocks, a bit of sand with the odd small creek crossing thrown in. By this time the sun had truley dissapeared and the spotties where showing us the way. Leechy again, but this time he found the problem. A glass bottle under one of his seats. We climbed and decended a few times and finally got to a drop off which had some drivers a bit worried as they slowly eased over the edge some scrapping their side steps. With everybody through we stopped at the lookout for our last chance to see the lights of town before continuing the the last challenge, "The Cutting". I gave it a go first after we all loked at how we where going to approach and decend down into the valley. All the vehicles made it without any fuss with heaps of smiles all round. Our journey was not yet complete until we hit the creek bed for some sand driving and around to checkout some old classic car wrecks. Unlocking out of 4wd we headed for the Coles servo to air up and say our goodbyes.

I hope all who went enjoyed themselfs, I know I did. Sorry there are no pics yet, im sure we will have some soon.

Zook.