the real muddy90

I've read the minutes from the last meeting where the proposal was ratified, it specifically says that tray backs would not comply. I don't know if that was carried through with the vote, we'll have to wait & see what the wording is when published . As Ron said, we voted for. because we turn away quite a few vehicles that don't comply because of a few little things that the owners don't want to fix. at the end of the day, each club can create it's own asr's to limit what modifications they want. I'm looking forward to getting a few more vehicles trialing.

I've blown a few motors competing. There's 2 reasons really. Over reving, which isn't going to happen on a husky! The other is heat! Working hard & long will make things hot, as will a battery that's a bit tired or flat. Motors don't like working with low volts. Cheap motors, even warn xp's use soldered comutators, the solder melts, end of motor. One main reason most challenge competitors use bow motors is that the coms are copper braised.

Hi all, just a little reminder & to say that the day is still on for this Sunday. The site is well draining but there are parts with lots of mud to play in if you like that kind of thing & there are plenty of holes to get stuck in if you have a winch to play with. Sign on from 9.30 (10am start). Burger van in attendance. Thanks & look forward to seeing you.

A massive site with something for everyone, as hard or easy as you want it to be.

We have no power to close the byway, just to stop muppets trying to sneak onto the site off the byway. You'd be surprised at how many think it's just a free for all!

Hopefully most of you will have seen this in the calendar or other forums, but for those that haven't... Dorset Land Rover club will be holding their open driving day on Salisbury's Tidworth driving range. It's an 'open' event so no need for membership. Just turn up on the day, no need to book. The site is vast & I doubt we'll fill it! All the info is on our home page 'Dorsetrover.co.uk' or just ask if you need to know anything.

My Disco had the lights come on last week, accompanied by beeps! The abs, tc & hdc lights (not hand brake). I took it in Saturday to get it checked & it was the nsr sensor, & the fault was canceled & went for a drive round. They've since come back on. I've checked for play in the wheel bearing but couldn't detect any, however, I was told you might not be able to!? Is that right? I think I'll change the sensor first before the hub as I need to do all the discs anyway.

Yeah, shut up Ron

Nige, if there's anything we (dorset rover) can do (permit etc) just let me know. We don't have the land suitable for this kind of event but could help with running I'm sure. I did the 2nd & 3rd but got bored with punch hunts but it'd be a shame to loose this one. Rog

I find it very hard to believe that Hants & Berks cant find an alternative site!

Basically you'll need to supply a + feed to both push buttons. This normally comes off the main batery feed on the solenoids. The other 2 terminals on the buttons will then feed the 'in' or 'out' conection on the solenoids. Simples The only drawback with these type of switches is that it's possible to push both buttons at once!

You've obviously met me then! lol

Have you looked at the actual unit yet or just the lever? Fairey is a bit of a give away! & the lever as said comes out of the rhs of the tunel. Without wanting to gate crash someone elses thread too much. This one is in a 109 sat on my drive & I want to put it in my girls 2a 88. Any tips?

An email I received yesterday & thought I'd share. Sarn Helen - Hirfynydd. (South Wales) (Neath, Port-Talbot County Borough - Byway 39) I hope you'll excuse this random contact. It's an informative email which may be of interest to some members of your respective clubs. Sarn Helen, (Helenas causeway), is ‘jewel’ amongst green-lanes and it's still open, (for nearly 3 months over the summer). At risk of closure due to one of the landowners having great ‘influence’ in Council. This is part of the 2,000 year old road which the Roman empire used to link the Northern & Southern ends of what we now know as Wales. Having fought to stop this road being lost and having continued fighting to get this road re-opened this year – it’s been disappointing to note that the ‘motorised vehicular user’ element has been slow to return in anticipated numbers. This road is open for just 3 more weeks. If you haven’t used it so far this year, or if you’ve never driven this route – it’s a must! Some idea of the terrain and views to be enjoyed along this 7 miles of byway; http://s942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Sarn_walk/'>http://s942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Sarn_walk/ http://s942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/ The road largely follows the ridgeway of Hirfynydd, (which translates as Long Mountain). Views from the ridgeway on a clear day include the Bristol, Channel, Swansea Bay, Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains, etc. On a good day, you can see about 8 counties in Wales & England. In a climate of progressively constraining TRO's / closures, etc. it's a shame that these 3 months of vehicular access aren't being fully exploited. If you know this road and have enjoyed it in the past – re-acquaint yourselves with it’s charms! Out of interest, at the Northernmost end of the mountain, there are 3 other byway roads which run across the site, (they originally linked with what is now the Pontneddfechan Parish road). These are also open to traffic. How to find it:- Map: http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Finding_Sarn.jpg (please note this is my attempt at a map and is not to scale – it is generally intended to show the main roads & lanes which lead to Sarn Helen). Via Neath Valley: Sat Nav. SA10 8HH – this will take you along Ynysgerwyn Avenue, past a few industrial units, (look for Groundhog on your left). From the M4; ABERDULAIS entrance, (South to North). M4 – Junction 43. (Signed Neath / Merthyr Tydfil) Take A465 North for approximately 4 miles. Look for slip on left signed Aberdulais / Crynant, (A4109). Drive up onto the intersection roundabout above the A465. Miss first exit, (Cadoxton / Cilfrew) Miss second exit, (housing estate) Take 3rd exit, (A4109), signed Aberdulais / Crynant, Seven-Sisters, etc. Continue for approximately ¾ of a mile, (you will have passed the National Trusts Aberdulais falls site on your left). Look for a right hand turn onto the B4242. Take this turn right, you will pass some housing and a few commercial units on your left, there is a grassed ‘banana island’ in the centre of the road. Once past this banana island, continue along for about 200 yards keeping a careful look-out for the entranceway in the foliage to the left. This is well hidden and easy to miss, especially travelling from this direction. This ‘entrance’ takes the form of a tree-tunnel in through the foliage. Still on the B4242, if you have come to an entranceway on your right which turns into a driveway for 2 detatched houses* then you’ve gone too far. (*one of these is the Constituency home of Peter Hain MP). Photos of this entrance: http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Sarn_Aberdulais-1.jpg http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Sarn_Aberdulais-2.jpg http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Sarn_Aberdulais-3.jpg http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Sarn_Aberdulais-4.jpg http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Sarn_Aberdulais-5.jpg ----- North to South, (recommended); Sat Nav. SA10 9LN – this will take you to Roman Road. Just drive up it onto the mountain. From Rhondda / Cynon Valley, etc; A465 South / West-bound. Take turn off for Glynneath. Go straight ahead at traffic lights and follow the A4109, (inter-valley road), up. After approximately 2 miles the ‘Dove workshop / Banwen’ is signed to the left. Turn left and drive straight ahead. Roman Road is one straight row of terraced houses. The road continues past these houses as Byway 39. http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Roman_Road-2.jpg http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Roman_Road-1.jpg http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/oldenlay/Real%20Sarn/Roman_Road-3.jpg From the M4; Via Swansea Valley: M4 – Junction 45. Follow the A4067 all the way up the valley as far as Abercrave. Passing Pontardawe, Ystylafera & Ystradgynlais. Drive through Caerbont and look for signposing on your left for Abercrave, (DON’T turn left!) Just after this junction, turn right onto the A4221. After approximately a mile you will drive past signs for Coelbren on your left. After approximately another mile you will see the ‘Dove workshop / Banwen’ signed to your right. Turn right and drive straight ahead. Roman Road is one straight row of terraced houses. The road continues past these houses as Byway 39. From Brecon / Llandovery, etc. Follow the A4067 South as far as Abercrave. Approximately 1 mile after Penycae, Abercrave is signed to your right, (DON’T turn right!) Just after this junction, turn left onto the A4221. After approximately a mile you will drive past signs for Coelbren on your left. After approximately another mile you will see the ‘Dove workshop / Banwen’ signed to your right. Turn right and drive straight ahead. Roman Road is one straight row of terraced houses. The road continues past these houses as Byway 39. R.O.W.A.N. has been fighting hard to prevent this amenity from being stolen from the community. It’s been an uphill struggle and is ongoing. This section of road is under great scrutiny and ‘misbehaviour’ only provides the landowners ‘friends in Council’ with the excuse that they need to further restrict vehicular access. So, please don’t give them any more excuses. Please; Stay on the road: If you wander off onto the private tracks or into the forestry or surrounding fields you are liable to get a s59 notice, (your vehicle may be seized if there are future infringements), you may be fined, receive points on your licence, etc. This area is policed by RAFT, (the Rural and Forestry Team). The local Police Sergeant, is a RAFT member, he seems to be generally sympathetic to our overall aims and has been taking a hard-line with one of the landowners over their intimidation of the public but if you’re being naughty on the mountain and he catches you – don’t expect preferential treatment! Remember it IS a REAL PUBLIC road: Legally you are ‘on-road’ (even if it FEELS like ‘off-road’). You can be charged with numerous motoring offences such as speeding, reckless driving, dangerous driving, etc. If you are there to enjoy a ‘green-laning’ type of experience then you will find few better places to be. If you’re there to tear around or create a muddy pit so that you can try out your winch – then you risk your licence. There are plenty of proper off-road sites where you can try this extreme form of 4x4 sport. Respect other rights of way users: You may encounter equestrians and cyclists. You will, almost certainly, encounter walkers. OK, it’s a road but please behave courteously to other users of this highway. If they see 4x4 drivers or scrambler-riders causing damage, behaving aggressively to other road users, driving recklessly, aggressively, etc. The offenders are highly likely to be photographed and reported. It also helps them to advance their argument to exclude motorised user altogether. Club Activities: One of the ‘sticks’ we’re using against one of the landowners with is the apparently unlawful status of the motorsports they have been holding on site that the Sarn Helen runs through. This is a 2 edged argument inasmuch as club activities such as ‘off-road runs’ may need to look at whether they require any of the permissions we’re quoting, (such as land-owners permission / local authority permission, MSA authorisation, etc.) The safest way of sorting out a ‘run’ is probably just to make it an event where a few friends get together. If it’s on a club website, if there are charges / fees involved, if you’re using club insurance cover, if you’re using public roads, (which include Byways), then you risk being seen to have organised a motor sports event unlawfully on a public road. There have been ongoing issues over many years with intimidation, unlawful blockades, etc. We advise that you carry a camera and use it if challenged. If you have any queries and want to ask about the specific whereabouts of the byways, your rights on the byways etc. email this email address, (don’t hold your breath waiting for a reply though as it’s usually only checked weekly), or call in at 61 Roman Road and ask for Brian or Chris. or Phone 01639 700128, (evenings are best) Other than that … Enjoy! Chris Williams Secretary R.O.W.A.N. (Rights Of Way Alliance Neath) Dedicated to protecting the amenity of ALL public Rights Of Way on Hîrfynydd Mountain for EVERYONE to enjoy.

I'm very suprised that silicon works, I would have thought that the petrol disolves it!?