Hello Chaps ,
Firstly , sad condolences to Elmers family . I have known this guy since he was just out of school , he always dreamed of this race , and now its been his last dream . I am gutted by it , my young friend !
Oh well , that is the risks one takes for glory .
BMWs , every one is moaning about no BMs in the race . There are a couple of fundamental reasons , as pointed out in the book by the ginger whinger , Charley . The side covers have to be remade , as clutches cant be changed without losing all the coolant , a BIG problem for desert races .
The second problem is the weight of the bikes , with fuel etc , they weigh in like a Harley Fergusson out there in the sand .
BM factory is not committed to produce alternate bits and pieces , like the KTM guys do .
So , if you have a spare half million rands or you can relieve some one of that much , best to hire a bike for your first outing at any rate .
Tom Classen and most of the SA guys do that , it means there is some poor dude waiting to help you fix your bike every night , and generally assist .
Riding the dakar , according to my good friends that have ridden it , is not as hard as us regular SA enduro riders beleive , its the mental thing you have to have . Ride for 18 hours , slogging away , picking up your bike a hundred times , kick starting it , riding a few metres , getting off , dragging the front wheel out of sand starting again and so on . Get to the overnight , service the bike , feed , and then go out without more than maybe 2 hours kip to do it again , for 2 weeks !
That is the hard part , not the actual riding .
Alfie told me that that is what breaks most of the riders , they dont have the mental ability to suffer !
Talk to the guys that have worked on Dakar as mechanics , they'll tell you worse stories of hardship , thats where you learn to sleep for 1 hour a day on the transfer plane , the rest of the time you are running around , getting wheels and tyres , getting the riders trunks from their transport , putting up the riders tents , preparing for your rider , but having to drop all , so you can help another mackie , untill your guy comes in , and then hopefully one of the other mackies will help you . Tyres , the michelin trucks work 24 hours , they tell you to be back to collect your wheels at 2:15 am you better be there , coz otherwise some one else will have taken them and your rider than has a problem !!!!
Its a fantastic experience if you have the cash , but its not a walk in the park .
Tom is doing good so far , Oz is a great rider , lots of vasbyt , lets just hope that lady luck smiles on them both .
Have fun out there in the sun , from a damp cold UK !!
Topic: Dakar 2007 (Read 5128 times)
