Dakar 2013 - Official Event Coverage - thank you ALL TeamF5, lurkers and posters!

[Lobster Grrl]

Originally Posted by Misery Goat

If that's the case they could see mud and flooding.

This is a track west of the 40/Belen and NE of Fiambala, I was heading south. Looking at the map they may well be running on this road. I took this pic in Feb.

Sweet! I need to get out more.

[barrier]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TheQuadShop

Thanks for the warning.

Don't worry, Alien snookerist today! One has almost won already, so shouldn't be as much excitment as last night!

[8340SU]

Hondas's history of the Paris-Dakar rally 1981-1989

Thus, BMW realized an overwhelming winning percentage of four victories in the seven rallies up until 1985. In contrast, the Honda France Paris-Dakar team was simply unable to beat the BMW’s high-speed machine and also played second fiddle to the Cagiva’s machine with an L twin cylinder which made it first appearance in 1985.

In this way the Paris-Dakar entered into the high-speed age. While slightly heavier than single cylinders, twin cylinder machines could quickly reach maximum speed, leading to the evolution of high-speed racing. The rally itself also shifted from a competition mainly for amateur riders to battles between factory teams “going in for the win.”

Of course, Honda was the strongest contender for defeating BMW. At the compelling request of Honda France, the HRC Project Team was formed in the autumn of 1984 and, with the aim of “winning the 8th rally in 1986,” the development of a machine exclusively for the Paris-Dakar was initiated.

They won in 1986 (Neveu), 1987 (Neveu), 1988 (Orioli), 1989 (Lalay)

[Drif10]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

Fiambala

Last year they shortened the stage due to attrition....it wouldn't be surprising to see it happen again this year. Hope not....I recall it taking out 40%? of the bikes a few years ago. Small dunes, very hot and very soft sand. The kinda stage that can throw a wrench into even the most logical of stage/race predictions

Fiambala is not an unknown to the ASO. And considering today's temps, I'm sure they're well aware of the attrition rate they can cause if they make the stage too difficult. In these temps, there is a very real physical danger to the racers, which I'm sure the med staff are very concerned about. The ASO has never knowingly risked people in this manner.

So if we take the above to be correct, I would surmise that the route will reflect the realities. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they made a plan 'A' and a plan 'B' for the day. Make the call at this time with current met data, and go with the appropriate choice.

They've been doing this a long time, with the attendant lessons learned. One would expect they will choose wisely.

Unless their IT department is involved. They never learn.

[michalCCR]

Kick the Dutch

[Drif10]

Originally Posted by michalCCR

Kick the Dutch

South Americans kicking the Dutch Special Olympics guy. Something wrong about that.

Good on them for getting him in.

[yammie]

Originally Posted by Drif10

Unless their IT department is involved. They never learn.

It maybe is hard to train those message pigeons to deliver on time in this kind of heat??

[Drif10]

Originally Posted by yammie

It maybe is hard to train those message pigeons to deliver on time in this kind of heat??

I think they're still using Morse code, poorly.

[knybanjo]

Great to see Laia is in!

I wonder what the problem(s) of the day were?

Originally Posted by Drif10

Fiambala is not an unknown to the ASO. And considering today's temps, I'm sure they're well aware of the attrition rate they can cause if they make the stage too difficult. In these temps, there is a very real physical danger to the racers, which I'm sure the med staff are very concerned about. The ASO has never knowingly risked people in this manner.

So if we take the above to be correct, I would surmise that the route will reflect the realities. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they made a plan 'A' and a plan 'B' for the day. Make the call at this time with current met data, and go with the appropriate choice.

They've been doing this a long time, with the attendant lessons learned. One would expect they will choose wisely.

Unless their IT department is involved. They never learn.

Trying to decipher the map for tomorrow it looks likes there's no more than about 30k of dunes?

[Dread Pendragon]

Originally Posted by yammie

It maybe is hard to train those message pigeons to deliver on time in this kind of heat??

I was thinking that the monkeys normally only have a pleasant buzz, but the extra beers they have to drink to keep cool pushes them deep into inebriation territory, which slows their words-per-minute efficiency.

Originally Posted by Deadly99

Fiambala

Last year they shortened the stage due to attrition....it wouldn't be surprising to see it happen again this year. Hope not....I recall it taking out 40%? of the bikes a few years ago. Small dunes, very hot and very soft sand. The kinda stage that can throw a wrench into even the most logical of stage/race predictions

What if they held a Dakar and nobody won?

[Flanny]

Pat running steady, and having a blast!

[michalCCR]

I've been randomly checking ES and have suspicion that during last half an hour the score of that "hit-my-balls-with-your-pole" game hasn't changed a bit

[Deadly99]

Originally Posted by Flanny

Pat running steady, and having a blast!

[yammie]

Originally Posted by Drif10

I think they're still using Morse code, poorly.

Ok.. thought they went back to basic or so..

Originally Posted by Dread Pendragon

I was thinking that the monkeys normally only have a pleasant buzz, but the extra beers they have to drink to keep cool pushes them deep into inebriation territory, which slows their words-per-minute efficiency.

What if they held a Dakar and nobody won?

Hope it is no alchol in the beer since it dehydrate the body..

[rallyman1978]

FIIIIAAAAAAAAAAMMMBAAALLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! !

Tonight is the only night I'm not jealous of the blokes in the bivouac.

50 degrees?
220km special stage?
75km of dunes?

Fuck that!!!!