Dakar Rally

[Nautilus]

"The death of South African motorcycle rider Elmer Symons overshadowed the fourth day of the Dakar Rally in Morocco on Tuesday"


Deaths every year, and what are the organisers doing for safety ?

[Tarzan]

Originally Posted by Nautilus

Deaths every year, and what are the organisers doing for safety ?

Add more sand???

No, but they said on the sports on tv here in sweden, that he didnt pay attention to the roadmap he had...

[aussie dollar]

Saw A Doco Made By Some Pommie (had Never Competed On Bike Before About Day 4 Broke His Arm
Seems Very Crazy Race.
Auzzie Guy Was Killed On Repsol Bike (think It Was 2 Years Ago)

[LivinLOS]

You must have seen Charlie Boarmans 'Race to Dakar' also get him and Euan McGreggor's the long way round.. Superb travelogues..

As to the Dakar.. Its an endurance race.. The danger is the appeal.. its about pushing themselves well beyond their tolerance levels.

Personally my hats off to them.. Its that kind of spark and push that really makes people feel alive.

[aussie dollar]

THAT WAS IT LIL ITS WORTH WATCHING
LAST ESPISODE THIS THURSDAY HAS KEEP ME IN LAST 5 WEEKS ON THUR NIGHTS.

Charlie Boorman is a likeable type of fellow,but cant remember him in anything else some type of actor I believe

[marc26]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

You must have seen Charlie Boarmans 'Race to Dakar' also get him and Euan McGreggor's the long way round.. Superb travelogues..

As to the Dakar.. Its an endurance race.. The danger is the appeal.. its about pushing themselves well beyond their tolerance levels.

Personally my hats off to them.. Its that kind of spark and push that really makes people feel alive.

ewan mcgregor went off and did a rain forest type series, i believe

that long way home-great
i was real sick last xmas
laid on my couch and watched a whole marathon on it

[LivinLOS]

I got the DVD's of the long way round and just watched it all over a couple of nights.. Love travelogues like that and Both Euan and Charlie come across as funny, cool, matey kinda guys.. No Hollywierd bullshit to McGreggor..

As soon as I finished straight online to order the Dakar one..

Apparently they are doing a London to Capetown.. Something my little brother and I have discussed a few times about doing..

[Pad Mc]

Sounds like cool shows. I must check them out.

[LivinLOS]

The Long way home is more buddy buddy.. Travelogue through harsh terrain.. Road trip.. The Dakar series really is a bit more bike / race centric (theres some interesting extras on the DVD about the bike build and stuff)..

By using a video diary format they also show a good slice of thier apprehension and fears and shows the guys personality.. I also hadnt heard of Charlie before but both he and Euan come accross as super likeable (and theres this fella called Simon in the Dakar one who is just this super positive 'can do' kind.. Just the man you want on the team).

I could copy and post if you like.. Tho really play.com had em for a tennerish a series anyway..

I like those kind of shows.. Michael Palin etc..

[aussie dollar]

read today 49 deaths in 29 years of race
24 competitors and 25 support persons.
2 african children were killed by rally vechicles last year and also aussie competior andy calecott died in race crash.
A south african rider was killed this year.

not a good record.

[LivinLOS]

No its not a good record.. But in the context of what they are doing death and injury is a risk, its a risk they are aware of and choose to take.

People climbed mountains and died (read tigers of the snow.. great book) people set sail into the unknown.. People slogged to the poles.. Its that very rising to the challenge and pushing the limits of endurance that shows the human spirit at its most challenging.

The death of the locals is theworst part.. It smacks of modern colonialism where we tear through thier countries for our enjoyment, thats questionable. But the racers themselves wish to do this and fair ****s to them..

I bet more people die horse racing.. I bet more people die on Patongs roads..

I am just very big on the idea that people should be allowed to do how they wish as long as their actions dont effect others.. You want to risk life and limb racing across hellish terrain.. Good for you.. Take care.

[aussie dollar]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I bet more people die horse racing..

I am just very big on the idea that people should be allowed to do how they wish as long as their actions dont effect others.. You want to risk life and limb racing across hellish terrain.. Good for you.. Take care.

Think more people die motor cycle racing than horse racing but in saying that agree its there risk to take.

the figures shocked me a bit so many support people being killed,and from watching the show can understand why.

How about the BMW support car breaking the same suspension arm looks bad design.

anyway last show is about to begin gotta give the dogs a run before so catchya

[LivinLOS]

Yeah that BMW looked awful.. Made a right poor showing..

I actually read somewhere that horse riding takes more injuries than loads of other 'dangerous' sport (Reeve / Madonna / etc being high profile examples) but have no back up or stats.. Also maybe horse riding not competing etc..

[Pad Mc]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I could copy and post if you like.. Tho really play.com had em for a tennerish a series anyway..

I like those kind of shows.. Michael Palin etc..

Cheers for the offer Livin! Appreciate it... But as you say its probably less hassle for both of us if I ordered from Play.com... DVD's aren't that expensive anyhow. I am looking forward to seeing them.

Agree with you about the motivation these guys have for doing these kinds of races... The Paris -> Dakar is almost like the ultimate race for Driver/Athlete's and the teams of mechanics that are involved. I was just looking at the site... They have modified 1000 hp trucks that can "thunder" along the desert at speeds in excess of 150mph for days on end!!!

Hats off to the guys on the bikes though... They are probably the most "possessed"! It sort of reminds me of the Isle of Mann TT races and our own bike road racing here in Ireland... These guys are totally fearless and committed to there sport... Sadly there is a huge percentage of them lose there life (eventually)... Every year there is talk about "doing away with" the sport altogether because of the fatal accidents.

One guy that is sadly missed is Joey Dunlop! An absolute genius on a motorbike... He is considered by many riders (even the superbike on MotoGP guys) to be one of the best bike riders of all time! Sadly killed in Estonia in 2000 doing what he loved... His funeral was an amazing sight... Nearly every fella with a bike on the Island went to it in N.I.

King of the road... RIP.... Joey Dunlop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Joey Dunlop M

[syeatman]

I've got a signed hardback copy of Long Way Round - met both of them (well shoook hands anyway) at a book signing in London. Also saw boorman at the bike show in Birmingham when he was showing off his bmw there.

My saffer mate has talked about doing the London to Cape Town. He lives in London and is from Cape Town, so has a special appeal for him. Could only imagine what it would feel like to ride into Cape Town at the end of a journey like that and turn up at your old man's front door asking for a beer.

My hat goes off to all those nutters who just go for it. A1 channel is a favourite of mine, ppl pushing themselves to the limit in less than friendly territories just to satisfy their desire for adrenalin and adventure.

Also agree on Palin's stuff. If I am ever stuck for suggesting a present, it's always 'anything Palin that I haven't got'. Will be the kind of material I will be handing down to kids/family in future, alongwith Nat Geo, Planet Earth/Blue Planet etc..