So, what can we do better next year -- Dakar Coverage?

[ian408]

Originally Posted by PackMule

As Flood mentioned either here or in another thread, one of the truly fantastic things here on ADV is how "free" the discussion is. Oldtimers will lament that it's not like it was in the "good old days". but there aren't 100 people around the campfire any more, either. Finding the balance point is the trick.

Now listen here n00b

I have to say the moderation was plenty fine. And with respect to the old days, I think coverage keeps getting better.

[F650Dakar_Norway]

My only gripe with this years Dakar was insatisfactory Eurosport coverage. I really missed bivouac interviews with others than the top contenders etc.

This forum worked beyond my wildest expectations. I'm impressed over the skills and knowledge thriving here and advrider beats all other forums I frequent in all respects.

RallyRadio is awesome and truly brings the Dakar home to us all.

When speaking of dissent about ASO ruling we should be aware that the Dakar thread grows with such immense speed that what may seem like inappropriate repeated arguments is simply caused by that post having been ignited 10 pages earlier. Meaning some leniency is appropriate. I feel the mods deserve credit for balanced and good conduct.

The pure volume of forum traffic must be demanding to deal with, so big thanks to all mods for their efforts and same to all participants for a good international coop environment!

It's amazing to hear Eurosport use terms from this forum as reference, so let's keep the good level and standard we've achieved

[JayBo1]

Originally Posted by cyborg

I think if we could point any US Dakar rider hopefuls that want to try next year to the the 2012 F5irehose threads and Ned's Thread and Nates RallyRAIDio site then... I bet if they read up and listened they could get pretty fired-up to call in too! Just an idea.

Originally Posted by Boondoggle

Gummee! makes a point- this could be a high-water mark. After all- not every rider that we could possibly support would be so excited about making daily calls, etc.
And really- I wouldn't want them to feel obligated to do so. I felt really lucky that Ned checked in- it made the experience better than it's ever been - but that's a lot to ask from someone who's doing the Dakar.

Originally Posted by Gummee!

If Ned's not racing next year, who are we gonna goat rope into calling in to Rallye Raidio?

Originally Posted by JayBo1

... and I look forward to doing the same at Dakar 2013.

Ah I see. You specifically want a "US Dakar rider" ADVRider to do the call-ins?? A "Kiwi Dakar rider" doesn't cut the mustard. Ah well. Here's hoping a few US riders get into the act then.

[cyborg]

Originally Posted by JayBo1

Ah I see. You specifically want a "US Dakar rider" ADVRider to do the call-ins?? A "Kiwi Dakar rider" doesn't cut the mustard. Ah well. Here's hoping a few US riders get into the act then.

JayBo I think ANY of the Dakar racers from any country calling in would be a big treat!

A few of us are focusing on the 'Mercans because Rally interest is dismal in the USofA, and mostly a small group of hard-core awesome individuals. We need all the help we can get to spread the RallyeWord!

NZ is awesome to ride! I was also cheering on Team DakarBerg and I'd love to ride the Oz Safari, but not likely gonna happen...

[F650Dakar_Norway]

Agree with Cyborg. ANY rider calling in would be great - regardless of nationality

Last year was awesome - hearing Jenny Morgan etc.

[Drif10]

Expectations have to be realistic, I think.

As Ned pointed out in his wrap up: He made time for the calls, but he really didn't have that much to spare, even with his good arrival times. He finished in the top 30%, if you count the number of entries. Compare his times to Toby's, who finished in the 90's. Ned rode on specials 15 1/2 hours more that the leaders. Not counting liaisons. Toby rode EIGHTY hours more just in specials. So what time did he have to make a call? He got in to the biv on the rest day at like 10 in the morning, fercrissakes.

So though Ned did us such a big one by his faithful reporting, is it right to continue to expect the same from another rider next year? They're there to race, to finish, not to make us armchair warriors fell better.

So I simply ask for folks to remember this.


Now, that being said, I have the obvious solution: From now on, since it's proven successful, Ned must race Dakar. We neeeeeed him to.

Why mess with what works?

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by JayBo1

Ah I see. You specifically want a "US Dakar rider" ADVRider to do the call-ins?? A "Kiwi Dakar rider" doesn't cut the mustard. Ah well. Here's hoping a few US riders get into the act then.

You're putting intentions into my post that I didn't put there. I don't really care what nationality the person calling us is. After all, we're ALL Dakaristas!

M

[pebble35]

My 2 cents worth !

Rally Raidio call in's were great - provided valuable insight to the behind the scenes situation and helped us all 'connect' far better with the riders than we could ever hope to with the written word in blogs etc.

The big question is how do we make sure they continue next year ? Follow fellow inmates ? Jaybo seems to have thrown his hat into the ring all the way from down under and a more local (to us in the UK at least) inmate with a very similar sounding name is also making noises about 2013. If we look after them I am sure they will do their best to look after us !

[Boondoggle]

Originally Posted by pebble35

My 2 cents worth !

Rally Raidio call in's were great - provided valuable insight to the behind the scenes situation and helped us all 'connect' far better with the riders than we could ever hope to with the written word in blogs etc.

The big question is how do we make sure they continue next year ? Follow fellow inmates ? Jaybo seems to have thrown his hat into the ring all the way from down under and a more local (to us in the UK at least) inmate with a very similar sounding name is also making noises about 2013. If we look after them I am sure they will do their best to look after us !

I think we have bandwidth aplenty

As well as enough support, too.

[PackMule]

Originally Posted by Boondoggle

Gummee! makes a point- this could be a high-water mark. After all- not every rider that we could possibly support would be so excited about making daily calls, etc.

And really- I wouldn't want them to feel obligated to do so. I felt really lucky that Ned checked in- it made the experience better than it's ever been - but that's a lot to ask from someone who's doing the Dakar. When I support someone to run the Dakar, I am supporting their Dakar run- however they want to do it. And I'm cool with that.

Indeed, this is a very, VERY important point for us all to consider. Ned had both the desire, and the OPPORTUNITY to call in. Imagine Toby's availability as a contrast. And of course, Ned's insight maximized the opportunity.

Still, I think we made a great leap this year, And I think we can carry it on!

[PackMule]

Originally Posted by JayBo1

Ah I see. You specifically want a "US Dakar rider" ADVRider to do the call-ins?? A "Kiwi Dakar rider" doesn't cut the mustard. Ah well. Here's hoping a few US riders get into the act then.

JayBo, :handsonhips

RallyRAIDio is open to any competitor (or participant or spectator, for that matter) who wants to give us an english language call in. (I'd love to branch out to other languages, but the labor would be a crusher, not to mention no way to screen/vet the content)

The most critical factor, though, is having someone who "understands" -- who knows that we want to go beyond the timing sheets and the profile of the stage, and go Inside the Helmet. No one understands that better than an Inmate.

We should chat.

Originally Posted by cyborg

JayBo I think ANY of the Dakar racers from any country calling in would be a big treat!

A few of us are focusing on the 'Mercans because Rally interest is dismal in the USofA, and mostly a small group of hard-core awesome individuals. We need all the help we can get to spread the RallyeWord!

NZ is awesome to ride! I was also cheering on Team DakarBerg and I'd love to ride the Oz Safari, but not likely gonna happen...

I am happy for Jonah that he's done what's right for his family and addressed it on his terms. "We" (in the interest of US Rallye) need a new home grown contender. Anyone know if Quinn Cody is an Inmate?

[PackMule]

Originally Posted by Drif10

Expectations have to be realistic, I think.

As Ned pointed out in his wrap up: He made time for the calls, but he really didn't have that much to spare, even with his good arrival times. He finished in the top 30%, if you count the number of entries. Compare his times to Toby's, who finished in the 90's. Ned rode on specials 15 1/2 hours more that the leaders. Not counting liaisons. Toby rode EIGHTY hours more just in specials. So what time did he have to make a call? He got in to the biv on the rest day at like 10 in the morning, fercrissakes.

So though Ned did us such a big one by his faithful reporting, is it right to continue to expect the same from another rider next year? They're there to race, to finish, not to make us armchair warriors fell better.

So I simply ask for folks to remember this.

[JayBo1]

Originally Posted by PackMule

JayBo, :handsonhips

RallyRAIDio is open to any competitor (or participant or spectator, for that matter) who wants to give us an english language call in. (I'd love to branch out to other languages, but the labor would be a crusher, not to mention no way to screen/vet the content)

The most critical factor, though, is having someone who "understands" -- who knows that we want to go beyond the timing sheets and the profile of the stage, and go Inside the Helmet. No one understands that better than an Inmate.

We should chat.

No worries everyone. I guess I needed a "tongue in cheek" emoticon. I know well that RallyRAIDio, and the interest of the Forum, goes waaay beyond just the US involvement - I've participated myself before.

Interesting some of the comments that have come out though. It does take around 10 minutes to make a worthwhile call and certainly that's a valuable chunk of time in the Dakar where every minute to ride, eat, sleep and mark-up road-book is valuable. What makes it far easier to contemplate is if there was someone else managing the process in the bivouac so that the "interview" format is used. That takes a lot of the pressure off the rider to make the calls and can then be done while the rider is ramming food down the gullet or marking the road-book, etc.

I like the "to go beyond the timing sheets and profile of the stage, and go inside the helmet" concept. What is the rider "feeling" about what is going on. Getting the perspective that isn't available from the tracking system and Way Point results. Stuff like that is what sets the F5 team apart from any other source of Dakar information, and I'll be very happy to do what I can.

Cheers
JayBo

[HogWild]

Originally Posted by PackMule

Anyone know if Quinn Cody is an Inmate?

Probably not an inmate, but I have his cell number and email address.

[Dread Pendragon]

Originally Posted by HogWild

Probably not an inmate, but I have his cell number and email address.

If you could persuade him to even do a few posts here, even one or two posts know and one or two right before next year's Dakar, it would go a long way in drumming up fervent support among the Rallye Tragic. Obviously we already like and support him, but for a tiny, tiny bit of effort he could dramatically magnify his U.S. support.