Club Arnage

Well it's that time of year again, T minus 6 days until the big off.

The ASO have siced things up a bit this year with separate marathon stages for the bikes/quads and the cars /trucks. they are also venturing further into Bolivia this year as well.

Website: http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

Route http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2015/us/route.html

entry lists: http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2015/us/rider/rider-list-bikes.html

 I see Tom Coronel and Roman Dumas are in it this year and i wondered how many other current sportscar drivers are also allowed to take part. I Expect the list could be long. The cars and trucls etc sailed from Le Harvre i belive , do the teams fly?

As allways : A lot of dutch Trucks against 3 russians ( eastern europe trucks )

fantastic :D

Lofty, Team personnel will fly out. Only ASO staff on the boat with all the trucks, competition cars bikes etc. All the European media vehicles were on the boat as well.

Vehicles will be collected from the port in Argentina and then re-scrutinised by the ASO.

Blimey how big is the ship? Looking foward to watching the sand chucking.

All the vehicles are off the ship and ready for collection from the dock.

Lofty this is the boat, already back at sea!

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/shipid:275743/mmsi:247098900/imo:9246607/vessel:GRANDE_AMBURGO

Cheers Jules i see the ship sails Under the Cosa Nostra flag of convenience, i bet it's had some interesting cargo. Full size container ship for the contents of 1 long race, wow.

The bottom half is a RoRo Ferry.

So the cars, trucks, bikes and support trucks drive in the bottom, and containers full of tools, parts, tyres, tents and provisions go on the top.  Clever.

Always pack the beer near the top. NOT at the bottom. I learnt the hard way!

No need to pack beer, Argentina and Chile have some great beer, its all down to the Germans who emigrated in the late 40's and early 50's ;)

Mendoza in Argentina even has a Guinness Bar :) 

Always remember this story about the Dakar race returning to europe

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/15/report-dakar-imposters-busted-with-800-kilos-of-cocaine-in-fau/

Heads up for TV coverage starting tomorrow (Sunday):

Eurosport @ 17:10 for 5 minutes  >:(

and then 30 minutes @ 22:30

coverage then between Eurosport and Eurosport 2 each day

My all time favorite is Ari vatanen in a peugeot 405 GTI being overtaken bij Jan de Rooy in a DAF Truck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Xar-CD6MM

http://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC0QtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DL2Xar-CD6MM&ei=AQepVIivKcP-ULn7gbAL&usg=AFQjCNFBI6iEH724wa9VA2T59P8iD87N9g&bvm=bv.82001339,d.d24

Robby is back in the hummer

part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWiIFVPBdU

part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2agiCfzLlo


and from a couple of years ago:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_SM8IBcRzo

Those pick-ups are awsome,  are They the ones from the ROC?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-2895812/From-punk-rocker-builder-Dakar-motorcyclist-Chris-Cork-embark-5-500-mile-punishing-event.html

Lofty, you must remember this old acquaintance....
 

Bertie Flipcripple was his nick name! I've still got a Chineapple Punx t-shirt, it's a bit taty though. Allways thought he was a nutter but the Dakar!
FMOB

RIP Michal Hernik

39 year old Polish bike rider was found yesterday on the 3rd stage. Cause of death unknown at this moment in time.

Condolences to his family and friends 

The Boston globe have published their "Big Picture" of the Rally

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/bigpicture/2015/01/14/dakar-rally/IyTvSZIqZY8fu0AAa3s4eO/story.html?p1=BP_SeePhotos

Stunning photos  8)

Well done to all the competitors and teams who finished. Results here:-

http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2015/us/stage-13/rankings/overall-bikes.html#ancre

I really enjoyed watching the TV highlights - still watching the repeats now!

I love the commentator's style (Carlton something or other) - although I gather he is a bit Marmite!

The photography was top notch - would be hard to pick out a selection of the best bits.  The slipstreaming across the saltflats was pretty spectacular, surprised they didnt choose a better shot of that section.

F.

Fran,

you mean Carlton Kirby https://twitter.com/carltonkirby

I like him but as you say he is a bit marmite!

Even my wife watch some of the eurosport coverage, and enjoyed the salt flat shots.

Jules

I like Mr Kirby and enjoy his dry tone and commentary style.
Eurosport can be commended this year for some stunning filming during the race, a great event.
Mrs B and I both enjoyed the cars on the salt (made us want to go back to Bonneville).

I reckon a holiday in South America is on the cards  ;D

Steve, Chile is amazing. I have been lucky enough to work out there, especially at this time of year. Great Food, wine and people, mountains, sea, it's got everything. And boy do they like to party on a Saturday night.

Argentina is so so, I have only bee in the Mendoza area. Under stand the south, especially where Top Gear were filming is great.

Jules