Last year the race was cancelled due to terrorist threats along the African route. This year the 18 day race is back on in South Amarica. Today was stage one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI9Ha0gBiB4


Stage one recap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVVaTZ7mm0U


In a race this long, anything can happen. Sometimes it's not the fastest racer, but the racer that both go fast and keep his machine running that wins in the end. This year in S.A., it looks like tires are going to be problematic for the bikes.

 

Good stuff.

Bummer deal having to ride back on the rim, but I guess you finish the stage anyway you can.

 

Nice! thanks for the links. I wish they put more of this type of stuff on tv. Speed channel runs hour after hour of "Pinks", put some rally racing on! I liked the guy rolling in with no tire at all on the back rim. nice

 

Speaking of races, has anyone heard from Bill (Shadetree) since he told us he might be going to Tunisia to participate in the GS challenge?

 

You can catch all the daily juice on this site. We get a daily update on the TV every evening.
http://www.sbs.com.au/dakar2009/

 

If you get the Versus channel, they show daily 1/2 hour updates beginning tomorrow, recapping the prior day's stage. I've got the TIVO set. Also, a guy on ADVRider set up this site so that competitors can call in with report:

http://www.rallyraidio.net/

This is really cool because you get to hear it in their own words, no media cameras or microphones in their faces asking stupid questions.

Keep a close eye on Jonah Street this year - should be one of the top privateers, looking for a podium finish, hopefully.

 

Our men should finish high, plenty of experience there.
Go!Go!Go boys!
40 SCHWARZ David (AUS) KTM
126 PAVEY Simon (AUS) BMW
205 BARRIERE VARJU Christophe (AUS) KTM

Spare a thought for the Caldercott family who lost Andy,father and husband, to the 06 Dakar, he was 41. A champion of a man who was tragically taken doing what he loved best. He was a four-time winner of the Australian Safari and won three Dakar stages finishing 6th overall in 2005.

Every little helps, so donate if you can or just pass by to farewell a lost brother.
http://www.andycaldecott.com.au/index.html

 

very touching westie

 

and so it has begun...








































...again.
my first time seeing dakar was 2 years ago, couldnt get enough, and went it was canceled i was crushed. cant wait till 1230, probally why im still up at 630 (and the fact i didnt get off work till 4amish)

 

If you haven't already, you should definitely get the book by Lawrence Hacking, "To Dakar and Back". He's first Canadian to finish the Dakar, and wrote a book on his experience. He did it the hard way, totally privateer, lived out of the standard issue foot locker for the three week race, doing his own mechanical work at night, etc. Great story and a good inside look from the perspective of a privateer.