I had the pleasure of riding with Joey at last years Baja, he is certainly not the fastest but he's got tenacity. We stayed together at a near by camp site, a mate and I rented a rondawel and Joey stayed outside our door in a tent. We invited him to join us but he refused. He was training for the Dakar. It was quite a miserable night out and we had plenty of space. After it all he borrowed us his towbar after they stole ours off his brand new bakkie without even knowing us. What a guy! I hope he really makes it. Godspeed!
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I was honored to get a lift with Joey for my bike & I on the 800km trip from Jozie to the Amageza rally. We had time to talk about a lot of stuff. He is a very, very driven individual. He had shingles before and during the event with the rash on his head. Most people cannot stand the softest pillow; but Joey shrugged it off and pulled on a helmet instead. Then he helped about 6 guys right through the rally "to make his days longer and more like a Dakar day".
We did malle moto together and everyday he would come in bouncing with energy and sounding on top of the world. He was tired like the rest of us, and very very sore, on antibiotics. More than that - He was also dealing with his catheters and drain pipes, his special meds to help his digestive system work, etc. but he carried on like there was nothing holding him back at all. He still had time to help me take my box down from the back of the truck. It was amazing to see. Humbling for me.
I realized that for Joey there is no "try", there is only "do".
He is literally a real live Chuck Norris. When he gets sick or tired, I suppose he compares that to being paralyzed and simply concludes "well this is not nearly so bad". The he just carries right on where he left off, where the rest of us would likely fall over by the wayside.
I remember him describing how he stopped next to a guy who crashed and broken his oil circuit by cracking the case on a rock. He did not accept that it was the end of the guy's race, and told him not to be so negative. A couple of people came past and confirmed the guy was not going to be able to ride. Not our Joey, no. He tells everyone there must be a way to reroute the remaining oil around the problem and then goes ahead and tries it. After an hour of working and testing, it did not work, so Joey just towed him to the finish instead. Over 130km though the toughest part of the stage.
Later in the rally he helped a guy who steering head bearings had collapsed. No steering at all. He scolded the man for giving up and helped him get started on a fix in between helping someone else with another problem 200m away. Well who would have thought that that the guy finished the rally 512km later on a jimmied steering head made out of other bike parts.
I realized that for Joey its not about how tough things might get. Its about getting the job done. No matter what.
Its about not letting negative thoughts prevail. About steeling yourself and gritting your teeth and remembering that there is no such thing as can't. That's why we see him whooping when he was stuck in that sand in Stage 3 a couple of days ago. He was whooping himself out of negativity. He was willing his body, which does not work properly on with his mind, driving it relentlessly forward even though it is screaming stop. He draws his energy from God, from the knowledge that his supporters (us) are behind him, and his own inner strength.
I had to smile when Darryl suggested that if it gets too tough he should stop. Darryl clearly could see the physical state Joey was in during his interview. He was undoubtedly exhausted. But the mind behind the exhausted eyes had no thoughts of giving up. Hence the awkward silence, and I think Darryl realized this. Im sure Joey was smiling, and Darryl shaking his head.
Joey did not get this far to get this far. That is what is written on the bottom of his road book cover.
Speedmetal, I am fully with you, I really hope...NO...
I KNOW he is going to make it.
Lets cheer him on - he needs us now.
Go JOEY GO!!!!! 
Topic: From "Para" to Dakar. (Read 40552 times)
