Robby Gordon 2013

[Carlos M]

Originally Posted by troy safari carpente

Not so... didn't Ari Vatanen get stung for outside assistance when he drowned the Race toureg in Portugal (2006?). a spectator vehicle towed out the car... and (IIRC) he finished the stage on a strap behind one of the VW team T5 service trucks... .

Troy,

I can't believe you forgot my 15 seconds of fame!

It was day two, 2007, and it was yours truly who got Vatanen out of waterlock by opening one of the glow plugs. They had not the tools - All the intercooler tubing was full of water, Ari was hasty to restart the car and he waterlocked again, I took out the glow plug again and disconnected the admission tubing. He restarted without air filter (and intercooler) but finished the special on his own steam. It was a special Special Stage in the South of Portugal, very very tight, trucks were not doing this special so Vatanen was without assistance and had a boat to catch for Africa .

I have a pic somewhere and a few seconds of footage from the episode - I must dig that before I loose it.

IIRC he was towed out of the stream by another competitor (no penalty involved in that) but he indeed got some hours penalty on that stage (I never knew if it was because we helped him out). A few days later his Touareg burnt to pieces (not my fault - my friends all teased me because of that) . Ari Vatanen got my phone number through VW Portugal and we called me to personlly thank me - imagine my face when I got that phone call

[Flood]

Originally Posted by Carlos M

Troy,

I can't believe you forgot my 15 seconds of fame!

It was day two, 2007, and it was yours truly who got Vatanen out of waterlock by opening one of the glow plugs. They had not the tools - All the intercooler tubing was full of water, Ari was hasty to restart the car and he waterlocked again, I took out the glow plug again and disconnected the admission tubing. He restarted without air filter (and intercooler) but finished the special on his own steam. It was a special Special Stage in the South of Portugal, very very tight, trucks were not doing this special so Vatanen was without assistance and had a boat to catch for Africa .

I have a pic somewhere and a few seconds of footage from the episode - I must dig that before I loose it.

IIRC he was towed out of the stream by another competitor (no penalty involved in that) but he indeed got some hours penalty on that stage (I never knew if it was because we helped him out). A few days later his Touareg burnt to pieces (not my fault - my friends all teased me because of that) . Ari Vatanen got my phone number through VW Portugal and we called me to personlly thank me - imagine my face when I got that phone call

Damn, 6 years already? I remember that. "That guy in Vatanen's engine bay! That was one of our Nomads!"

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

Lost an additional 19 min to leaders today.........now 49min back. Kinda going in the wrong direction. He's far enough back that once he gets his shit together, the race leaders won't try to catch him and he very well win a bunch of stages and still not podium.

Passing that many cars today would account for time lost today I'd think? It's a long race, everybody has trouble at some point and Robby got his out of the way yesterday.

[Dekatria]

Unless a miracle happens, Gordon is out for the top brass. After just two stages, that's a feat.

[Strong Bad]

Originally Posted by larryboy

Passing that many cars today would account for time lost today I'd think? It's a long race, everybody has trouble at some point and Robby got his out of the way yesterday.

He did not start 130 something, he was given the Lucky Dog pass and started 33rd. Following other's tracks can actually make the navigation simpler and allow for a faster pace. We'll have to wait to see who he blames for today loss.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

He did not start 130 something, he was given the Lucky Dog pass and started 33rd. Following other's tracks can actually make the navigation simpler and allow for a faster pace. We'll have to wait to see who he blames for today loss.

Ahhh, ok.

[zenjen]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

he was given the Lucky Dog pass and started 33rd.

SB knows his audience.

[larryboy]

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

It's crazy that they get so close to each other, as big as the desert is.

[homerj]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

Lost an additional 19 min to leaders today.........now 49min back. Kinda going in the wrong direction. He's far enough back that once he gets his shit together, the race leaders won't try to catch him and he very well win a bunch of stages and still not podium.

When the terrain suits the Gordon Buggy it really suits it. He took 27 minutes out of the Mini's on a single stage last year? I wouldn't write him off the podium just yet. If he can keep his head on straight, stops the bleeding on this terrain that doesn't suit his car, and drops the hammer on terrain that does, he might still be up on the podium.

Remember, the Buglys are on their first Dakar run ever, all sorts of weird mechanical stuff could befall one or both. And they've already said their goal this year is to simply finish.

All of that said, when Robbie gets up against the ropes he tends to push really hard trying to get back in the lead and usually breaks his car. Hopefully he's learned over the last few years to temper that instinct a bit on a two week rally.

[Dano 407]

Originally Posted by homerj

, when Robbie gets up against the ropes he tends to push really hard trying to get back in the lead and usually breaks his car. Hopefully he's learned over the last few years to temper that instinct a bit on a two week rally.

+1

I would not call Day 2 of the Dakar the end of the line just yet.

[amazing ricardo]

Originally Posted by cyborg

Man, ROBBBEEEEEE GOORRRRDDDOOONN is PISSED!!

.

[Strong Bad]

There is no doubt that he win at least several stages.

Carlos and Nasser are not contenders with the Jefferies cars. They are already on borrowed time.

[Wannabeeuro]

http://twitpic.com/bt3oph

[homerj]

Originally Posted by Wannabeeuro

http://twitpic.com/bt3oph

I've got to be honest, when I heard "Robbie threw his helmet at Kellon" I thought it was more dramatic. To me that looks like someone who's lost his cool and when that helmet gets caught in the steering wheel he chucks it aside in a "get this out of my way" manner.

Still not what you'd call stellar (or even mature) behavior, but not as bad as some of the NASCAR helmet throwing at other passing cars or other drivers.