The Road to Dakar - Robby Gordon

[klaus]

Pictures on Robby's website:
http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?direct=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/THE_ROAD_TO_DAKAR

[picone]

Big Tires! They did a ton of work to Cam's old car.

[SnowFarmer]

Maybe someone can answer this for me. How different is Dakar from say the Baja 1000? Aside from time is the actual terrain the same? Sand, rocks and such?

Speed Channel does an AMAZING job bringing that race to life on the television and I always enjoy watching it. What I get from watching is that its less a race and more of a prolonged torture.

Also I want to mention I was very sad for team KTM last year. That was horrible.

Thank you to anyone that can tell me more.

[JGOLDEN]

Are those 37" Toyos on 15" wheels?

[mattb]

I got to hang out with Jean Louis-Schlesser a couple of times, and he said Baja was MUCH rougher than Dakar racing. It is definately and endurance race with a very strong emphasis on navigation. From what I understand, the Spanish sections are the closest to any Baja racing, and from there on out, the biggest concern becomes the endless sand dune sections.

[WoodyW]

so that's why Robby spends so much time in Glamis... Dirk was probably worried he'd find a good double in Tunisia somewhere...Go Robby!

[McClintock]

Posted on desertrides by '951prerun'; glamis pics
http://www.desertrides.com/forum/files/glamis_12-10-2005_006.jpg
http://www.desertrides.com/forum/files/glamis_12-10-2005_005.jpg
http://www.desertrides.com/forum/files/glamis_12-10-2005_001.jpg

[El Ranas]

What!!! that truck looks amazing :eek:

[gomer]

so that's why Robby spends so much time in Glamis... Dirk was probably worried he'd find a good double in Tunisia somewhere...Go Robby!
not really...

[Bryan_D]

Another from desertrides. Anyone know why he isnt running his own shocks? Looks to have kings on it.

[scoobs]

So is he racing that at the 500/1000 and Andy racing the truck?

[NIKAL]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, didnt the spy photos on Robby's web site show 2 spare tires standing upright? I tried to go back and look but the photos are not on his site any more or they have moved them some where else. The above photo's show a spare mounted on the outside of the body. Last minute change maybe? Also I would figure the reason Robby is using King shocks is probably is because you need to bring alot of spares and it is more cost efficient to buy them from King then to have to make three or four of everything.

[Hog Wild]

Here's a link to the the moved page: (CLICK FOR PHOTOS (http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?direct=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/000_THE_ROAD_TO_DAKAR))

http://www.robbygordon.com/Imagefolio31_file/gallery/03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/000_THE_ROAD_TO_DAKAR/ATT00004.jpg

[Chase 2]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, didnt the spy photos on Robby's web site show 2 spare tires standing upright? I tried to go back and look but the photos are not on his site any more or they have moved them some where else. The above photo's show a spare mounted on the outside of the body.

Could be a total of three spares with two mounted as seen in the "spy pics", and one mounted outside.

Also I would figure the reason Robby is using King shocks is probably is because you need to bring alot of spares and it is more cost efficient to buy them from King then to have to make three or four of everything.

Yeah, that and his shocks were the reason for problems at the 1000. They may not have had time to re-engineer, build, and test the fix of the problem in time.

[ShaneR]

I don't think the pic in the shop with the two vertical spares is the same vehicle at the dunes. The buggy(Cam Theriots old car) they were supposed to be using to do this was a rear engine and the pic with the body on it looks to be rear engine?

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

From what I can tell that's a pretty old pic posted.

[David_Girdner]

Could be a total of three spares with two mounted as seen in the "spy pics", and one mounted outside.

In the 'spy pics' I only see one inside vertical tire, I assumed as everyone else did that there were two but only see one... Could it be the the engine is offset to the right (passengers side) and there is just one vertical tire on the inside left? All of the close up Glamis pics only show the right side but in the very first pic of this thread, it looks like there is a tie down on the left side of the rear cage...

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

The one on the back is for when he brake checks Jutta on the Liason part of the stages. This way Robby can test her rack and pinion again.

[TRAVISD]

If You Look At The Right Side Pic From Glamis You Can See A Spare Tire Under The Back Of The Body.

[1469]

looks like exhaust to me.

[ShaneR]

I hadn't even thought about tires beside the motor, I thought it was like the BMW car with two vertical tires. In the Glamis pick above I do now see what looks like the bar that could hold a spare tire but I don't think there is a tire in it, on the left side the white bar goes out past the motor skid plate kind of like it does in the pic from the shop but I don't think there is a tire in it, you see the tire on the ground thru the bar gap. Same vehicle after all and looks like it could run 2 spares, 1 inside and 1 outside!

[plantman]

If you look at the photo from Bryan_D you can see the left side spare under the body

[Chase 2]

If you look at the photo from Bryan_D you can see the left side spare under the body

Yes, you can see the red bead loc. That would put it in about the same location as seen in the "spy pic" (along side the motor) and would place it under the body in a similar manor as many of the Dakar cars. Thats why I was thinking three spares. I would like to see how the rear lid works and how they keep the external spare from getting in the way with the whole shebang.

[obr184]

the whole rear half hinges up.

[John_Bitting]

Are those 37" tires on a 15" wheel?

[JaxMotorsports]

I beleave they are 37 13.50 17's and there is one spare on the inside and one on the rear.And yes the car in the Spy photo is the same as the one with the Hummer Body at Glamis.

[bpthirteen]

I think you are right John. Toyo makes a 37 x 13.5 x 15

[AllwaysRcn]

the whole rear half hinges up.

Kinda like this.........

[desertracer]

What tranny is he running in this car?

[Chase 2]

Kinda like this.........
That's what I thought, but the guy in the black shirt is standing in the way. I wanted to see how they mounted the "external spare" around the body work. The pic kinda confirms that there are only two spares.

Holy Crap!! Are those two-5 gal gas cans mounted inside the car!! Please don't tell me they have gasoline in them.

[mattb]

What tranny is he running in this car?


From the little we can see, it looks like a Fortin to me.

[JrSyko]

From the little we can see, it looks like a Fortin to me.

A little birdie told me it was an Albin's

[MSS]

From the little we can see, it looks like a Fortin to me.

Albins Tranny

[Chris_Wilson]

They look like gas cans.

[RacrDude]

You guys are killin' me...Everybody is straining their eyes and speculating...and POOF!!... there is a picture!! C'MON...quit hoardin' all the pictures....SHARE....please.

LOL....

[RacrDude]

I find it hard to believe with ALL the safety stuff in place, that those red cans with have fuel in them blazing across the dunes...I think it's Jim Beam!!!

[Chase 2]

They look like gas cans.

OMG! How is that possible?? You would think that FIA would require a cell. Sure the mounts look sano, but plastic gas cans inside the car with you?? Wow!! I can just see that thing on it's lid in the dunes with a ruptured gas can peeing gasoline all over you. Come on guys, there is still time to fab someting much safer than that. Then again, maybe its not fuel (I hope, I hope).

[TROPHYSEDAN]

I think there full of RED BULL. That way he has wings to fly.

[MikeLeung]

Could also be water...they are racing across the desert and I'm sure they require survial supplies.

[CharlieIII]

There a couple of pictures on Tony T's site...El Chinero

[MSS]

The fia requires entrants to carry a large amount of water with them for personal consumption in case they break down. I am no expert, but it might be willing to bet that one of those is full of drinking water.

[Chase 2]

The fia requires entrants to carry a large amount of water with them for personal consumption in case they break down. I am no expert, but it might be willing to bet that one of those is full of drinking water.

I just found out that both containers are for water, an unfortunate choice of color in my opinion. Whew…..

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

I think there full of RED BULL. That way he has wings to fly.


One is for Red Bull the other is for Jim Beam. If you seen the driver's cockpit they have a mini bar and a Blender. He also has storage compartments in the door area for POP Tarts and AbbaZabba bars.

[John_Bitting]

One is for Red Bull the other is for Jim Beam. If you seen the driver's cockpit they have a mini bar and a Blender. He also has storage compartments in the door area for POP Tarts and AbbaZabba bars.

I would rather have Strawberry Quik and Chocodiles.. to each his own. :-)

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

I would rather have Strawberry Quik and Chocodiles.. to each his own. :-)

I can't understand why RG would just let people take all those pics.

[Scrapiron]

Kinda like this.........

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9973&d=1134456248

Whats with the Kings? I thought he was putting the RG shocks back on it.

[Hemp]

someone said earlier in the thread that he might have because of the availability for spares and because he was having trouble at the 1000

as long as he is not using things that have been giving him problems he should get rid of that menard motor

[McClintock]

Cam Theriot changed the vehicle over to Kings, and maybe RG didnt have time to change them over during the hectic build. Thats my best guess.
RG, King, KYB the thing will haul ***.

[Fourstroker]

Anyone else notice the KING decals on the car. Maybe it's a sponsorship deal as well. Just a thought.

[Chase 2]

The fia requires entrants to carry a large amount of water with them for personal consumption in case they break down. I am no expert, but it might be willing to bet that one of those is full of drinking water.

Dakar's rule book says: 1 reserve of 5 litres of water per person + 1 x 1,5 litre ‘camelback’ type drinking system per person.

So maybe one of the containers is Red Bull to give to Jutta when she breaks down, we all know how he loves to stop by and render assistance to the ladys on the VW team! It is awfully nice of RG to continue to be a Red Bull Team player. LOL!!

[partybarge_pilot]

The spare is shaved but none of the other tires apear to be. Hmmmmm.

[Bryan_D]

So it does have the other 2 spare tires under the rear body and the one on the rear to maintain a "factory look"??

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Dakar's rule book says: 1 reserve of 5 litres of water per person + 1 x 1,5 litre ‘camelback’ type drinking system per person.

So maybe one of the containers is Red Bull to give to Jutta when she breaks down, we all know how he loves to stop by and render assistance to the ladys on the VW team! It is awfully nice of RG to continue to be a Red Bull Team player. LOL!!

Heck no! It's Jim Beam.

Jutta's a lady? Damn! After all this time I thought that WAS A MAN BABY!!!

[BajaFand]

Scotty, Matt, and Donny sure did a nice job on the car, hopefully Rob will do well. If he drives the way he did last year (with the acception of that 1 mistake) he should be a top contender.

[El Ranas]

I know this is a question a little out of the topic, but here I go. ¿Who is going to be the Andy McMillin´s co-driver when he drive the Gordon TT in 2006?

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

www.TeamDakarUSA.com will be up sometime this weekend.

[FullsizeFun]

the red jugs are for water, it has about 100gal fuel cell
the trans is Albins
the tires are shaved cuz the toyos are heavy as heck

[Jack]

I thought there was a rule about track width? This car seems a bit wide to me. Maybe this is the SCORE car?

Just a guess.

[Chase 2]

I thought there was a rule about track width? This car seems a bit wide to me. Maybe this is the SCORE car?

Just a guess.

FIA Rally rules:
2.2 Maximum width
- For 4-wheel drive vehicles, the maximum width of the bodywork
is 2.00 m without rear view mirrors.
- For 2-wheel drive vehicles, the maximum width of the bodywork
is 2.20 m without rear view mirrors.

2.2 meters is 86.6 inches or about 7.22 feet, RG should be just fine with this.

[Jack]

OK, cool, just never seen one with fenders so far outside the body, seemed very wide for Dakar.

[Chase 2]

Heck no! It's Jim Beam.

If I was broke down in the middle of BF Africa, I would much rather have the JB than to have to drink a bunch of Red Bull and get all amped up with nothing to do! The mental picture of RG full of Red Bull pinging of the dunes cracks me up! The only one better than that would be Jimmy Smith! LOL!!!


Jutta's a lady? Damn! After all this time I thought that WAS A MAN BABY!!!

She does look like a manly Ellen Degeneres dosen't she?

[scottm]

There are good pics on www.umiracing.com
Its running a umi LS2

http://www.umiracing.com/gallery/Images/Robby's%20dakar%20H3-11.jpg

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

FIA Rally rules:
2.2 Maximum width
- For 4-wheel drive vehicles, the maximum width of the bodywork
is 2.00 m without rear view mirrors.
- For 2-wheel drive vehicles, the maximum width of the bodywork
is 2.20 m without rear view mirrors.

2.2 meters is 86.6 inches or about 7.22 feet, RG should be just fine with this.


Know it all!

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

There are good pics on www.umiracing.com
Its running a umi LS2

http://www.umiracing.com/gallery/Images/Robby's%20dakar%20H3-11.jpg

The tuning is being done by UMI the engine was built and prepared by GM's Katech. UMI, Robby and Katech are/were still in search of that 500 mile range with max HP.

[baja619]

Any words from the insiders about who is co-driving

Is RG effort All American

Is McRae involved like the last time

[Chase 2]

Know it all!
Naw, I got tired of you having all the answers, and then having to check them to make sure, so I downloaded the PDF files of the rules from Dakar and FIA. I can't remember nada, but I sure can look stuff up!

Boy, that LS2 sure is pretty. Interesting how the UMI site has pics before RG's site! What's up with that??

[JrSyko]

Any words from the insiders about who is co-driving

Is RG effort All American

Is McRae involved like the last time

Darren Skilton is co-dawging.

[Chase 2]

Is McRae involved like the last time

Collin's team from last year (Nissan) is kaput, done, fini, and no longer doing Dakar.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

I can't wait to see it in action.

[younggunracer]

When is the Dakar rally on TV???

[RacrDude]

"Darren Skilton is co-dawging"

AWESOME!!!! If they can keep that car together, this should be an Awesome Team!!!



"Collin's team from last year (Nissan) is kaput, done, fini, and no longer doing Dakar."

No More NISMO??? What happened??

[arias1772]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20051212/i/r3443532964.jpg
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20051212/i/r2475516817.jpg
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20051212/i/r2180637092.jpg
looks like a good paris-dakar race already

[Kirk_Babbington]

Very glad to see they got Darren to navigate, he knows his stuff and is in tune with how the American's race, WFO!

[Chase 2]

Very glad to see they got Darren to navigate, he knows his stuff and is in tune with how the American's race, WFO!

No pressure there, navigating for RG eh?? How would you like to be first off the line (because RG won the previous day's stage) and be leading the pack while finding the route?? Route finding and getting lost is a BIG, BIG, part of Dakar. That's where Peterhansel and others have a huge advantage over just being fast. Dang I can't wait..

[CharlieIII]

It would be nice to see all the Europeans reaction to RG's car when they see it for the first time. I can't wait for it to start either...

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Full set of media pics on RG.com now.

http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?direct=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006

[McClintock]

http://www.robbygordon.com/Imagefolio31_file/gallery/03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/000_THE_ROAD_TO_DAKAR/TEAM_DAKAR_USA_47.jpg

Foose design the lid?

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

He's just there because he never sleeps and RG needs all the help he can get. Plus that dude knows his Sh!+ when it comes to cranking out glass/carbon layup and modification. Roger Willis is all up in that OverHaulin show now.

Menard Engineering limited made the molds and did the carbon body.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

I don't know much but I think the body was based off his TT.

[CharlieIII]

those are awesome pics....

[mattb]

I don't know much but I think the body was based off his TT.


That's pretty wild to see that they modified the present trophy truck body to work. I would have thought that they would have used an unpainted one to start with.(Pic #3) Does this mean that Red Bull isn't coming back at all? They scrapped a perfectly good body.

[scoobs]

So is that Cams old car or the TT?

[John_Bitting]

That's pretty wild to see that they modified the present trophy truck body to work. I would have thought that they would have used an unpainted one to start with.(Pic #3) Does this mean that Red Bull isn't coming back at all? They scrapped a perfectly good body.

The red bull TT was just raced a couple of weeks ago at the 1000. Those posted pics of the body have to be way older then that because it was posted the body went to Menards to be Carbon Fibered a month or two before the 1000. I guess to use a old body is smarter then ruining a new one.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

The red bull TT was just raced a couple of weeks ago at the 1000. Those posted pics of the body have to be way older then that because it was posted the body went to Menards to be Carbon Fibered a month or two before the 1000. I guess to use a old body is smarter then ruining a new one.

Notice the 31 on it?

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

I like this pic from the chopper.

Up to speed.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Chase, how about some per stage action?

Say $10 per?

I'll keep a log on the blog.

[Chase 2]

Chase, how about some per stage action?

Say $10 per?

I'll keep a log on the blog.

Sorry, The Dakar isn't about winning stages, it's about have the lowest overall time at the finish in Dakar. That doesn't mean I don't fully expext RG to win stages, I think we all know he will.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Sorry, The Dakar isn't about winning stages, it's about have the lowest overall time at the finish in Dakar. That doesn't mean I don't fully expext RG to win stages, I think we all know he will.

=> Cha Ching!

[MX304]

They just showed a few clips of Robby testing the H3 at Glamis on SPEED news. The show will replay tonight if you want to catch it.

[Gadzooks2]

In the shot from the chopper that FLYHIFLyLo posted you can clearly see they are movin', the front end is up a bit AND some rookie co-pilot without a helmet? NOT SMART:eek: Testing sessions can have mistakes just as racing can. That's a surprising picture to me.:cool:

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

In the shot from the chopper that FLYHIFLyLo posted you can clearly see they are movin', the front end is up a bit AND some rookie co-pilot without a helmet? NOT SMART:eek: Testing sessions can have mistakes just as racing can. That's a surprising picture to me.:cool:

Yes, they are movin' good. You can see the flag on the back hanging on for dear life. I bet they are 90MPH+. In the Dakar Rally last year they didn't use full driving suits on Team VW. They drove with T-shirts. The Helmets arn't much too. Just open face peanut shells. Yes, testing sessions are dangerous too. But what the hell it's Glamis. Robby only wears his helmet on the really really big stuff. See pic?

[Chase 2]

Yes, they are movin' good. You can see the flag on the back hanging on for dear life. I bet they are 90MPH+. In the Dakar Rally last year they didn't use full driving suits on Team VW. They drove with T-shirts. The Helmets arn't much too. Just open face peanut shells. Yes, testing sessions are dangerous too. But what the hell it's Glamis. Robby only wears his helmet on the really really big stuff. See pic?


What that old saying??? "It's all fun and games until some one loses an eye....."

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

What that old saying??? "It's all fun and games until some one loses an eye....."

LOL..... True so true.

[RGordonRedBull]

Robby Gordon Tackling the Most Difficult Challenge of His Driving Career

Dakar: The World’s Most Grueling Race



On New Year’s Eve, while most of NASCAR’s elite prepare to celebrate the arrival of 2006 in comfort, and for the two weeks following rest, take a cruise, hunt or play golf, one NASCAR driver will take on a racing challenge perhaps as physically and mentally challenging as the entire 36-race NASCAR season rolled together.

The Dakar Rally, easily the world’s most grueling and logistically challenging auto race, will start on Dec. 31 in Lison, Portugal and head approximately 6,500 miles south through Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar and into Morocco. From there, the race turns rugged as the field of more than 500 vehicles makes the incredible journey through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Senegal.

Robby Gordon, perhaps the world’s most versatile driver, will spend his New Year’s Eve behind the wheel of a race car for the first of 16 days of competition in the Dakar with hopes of being the first to pull into Dakar, Senegal on Jan. 15.

Gordon, a six-time SCORE Off-Road Champion and a two-time winner of the famed Baja 1000 in addition to countless other off-road races in North America, will drive a specially prepared Hummer H3 on Toyo Tires with sponsorship from Jim Beam in his quest to become the first American to win the famed Dakar Rally in its 28-year history. Last year, driving for the German Volkswagen team, Gordon became the first American to ever win a stage in the race, eventually winning two of the 16 stages en route to an 12th-place overall finish.

While on the surface Dakar is just a race like any other, looking just below its façade immediately reveals that it is also a logistical challenge unrivaled in all of sport, and is also a mental test akin to military boot camp.

Imagine the famed Tour de France bicycle race, itself a grueling event, being contested not only on pavement but also through hundreds of miles of Saharan Desert with sand dunes soft enough to swallow a car; on seemingly endless razor sharp rocks and stones that often render even the most rugged off-road tires useless; and through river and water crossings better suited for small boats than race cars.

Then consider these hostile African challenges must be navigated for as much as 543 miles (874 km) each day with only the assistance of a guide book which was distributed only hours before the start of the day’s stage. This is done with the full knowledge that assistance can be hours away for a driver and car if a need arises.

Welcome to the Dakar.

A race that was founded with the goal of making grown men cry, not to mention quit, the Dakar quickly became recognized as the toughest of all off-road racing events in the world, a perfect challenge for Robby Gordon.

“The Dakar is something that I always paid attention to and wanted to try, and fortunately last year I was given my first opportunity,” said the 36-year-old driver from Orange, Calif. who will celebrate his 37th birthday driving his H3 in stage 3 on Jan. 2. “Growing up in Southern California, obviously my whole life in off-road racing revolved around the Baja 1000. I still go back to Baja every year and love that race as much as any other, but Dakar takes on a completely different challenge and to me it’s so much more than just driver and car.

“The logistics involved are mind numbing. This year we’ve entered and built a car out of my own race team in the States, and the thought of building cars and support vehicles here to race in Europe and Africa is itself intimidating. But then when you add to it that these support trucks and 16 crew members have to follow the race car down the same race course to work on the car after every stage is beyond intimidating. I like to tell people it’s like running 16 Daytona 500s or Indy 500s in a row, but you don’t have a garage to work from. You can’t go to an auto parts store and buy what you need to fix or replace a broken part, if you don’t have it with you, you’re in trouble. You have to think of every possible item that can break on a car, and bring four of them with you.”


Gordon’s participation in the 2005 Dakar brought the race much needed recognition in the United States and Canada, and exposure to North American race fans will grow again in 2006 with OLN’s daily coverage of the race and the network’s four recap shows that will air after the completion of the race.

However, as its popularity grows in the United States, its mass appeal in Europe and Africa is already beyond compare. In 2005, more than 560 hours of original programming were allocated to the race in 178 countries. In 2006, more than 600 hours of programming is expected in more than 180 countries. The sanctioning body of the race, the ASO – which also promotes and organizes the famed Tour de France bicycle race – produces a daily 26-minute television show that is distributed via satellite.

“I didn’t really know what to expect last year when we went over for our first Dakar,” Gordon said, “but it didn’t take long to get a feeling for how big it is. When we went to the starting line on the beach in Barcelona on the first day (site of the race’s first stage), I was completely blown away by how many people were there. There must have been 300,000. It reminded me of the Indianapolis 500.”

This year, 508 cars, trucks and motorcycles, representing 40 countries, will leave the starting line in Lisbon with their eyes fixed on a finish line 16 days and 6,500 miles away. While many will consider just finishing a victory, Gordon’s goals are clearly stated: “I will be disappointed with anything other than a win. Our people have given so much of themselves over the last few months to get us ready to compete, and our sole focus is to become the first American’s to win Dakar. We finished the race last year, this year we’re going there to win.”

###

Media Contact: Robby Gordon Motorsports, 704-949-1255; rharris@teamgordon.com



Probably already seen here but I fugured I would post in just in case it wasn't.

[AllwaysRcn]

What that old saying??? "It's all fun and games until some one loses an eye....."

"after that, it's just fun!"

[twillis]

Very glad to see they got Darren to navigate, he knows his stuff and is in tune with how the American's race, WFO!

Roger that.

Let's not forget that they've got someone who solos Baja in the other seat.

[Chase 2]

Roger that.

Let's not forget that they've got someone who solos Baja in the other seat.

Someone who solos? At last count, there are 2 in Flash's car when he's driving. Why is it co-drivers get so little respect?? I know what you are saying, but truly going solo is doing it Ivan style, single seat & all the way.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Someone who solos? At last count, there are 2 in Flash's car when he's driving. Why is it co-drivers get so little respect?? I know what you are saying, but truly going solo is doing it Ivan style, single seat & all the way.

Yes that is truly solo. Mouse fer sure.

But, even Hans Solo himself had Chewbacca

Being stuck in a car for 6000 miles and 16 days with another man may be more of a challenge too. I know Dick Rutan and he said Burt and Gina were going to practically kill each other after being stuck in the Voyager together for so long.

[Ramsey_ElWardani]

Roger that.

Let's not forget that they've got someone who solos Baja in the other seat.
Someone who solos? At last count, there are 2 in Flash's car when he's driving. Why is it co-drivers get so little respect?? I know what you are saying, but truly going solo is doing it Ivan style, single seat & all the way.I think he was referring to Darren Skilton soloing in the Kia Trophy Truck, of course I don't recall him going more than a few hundred miles in it (EDIT) in the last two years. I have been reminded that the Kia TT finished its first Baja 1000 to La Paz in 2002 in 7th place in class. It finished all of its races in that season except the 500. In 2003 it finished all the BITD races except for the final one. Darren has soloed the 1000 every year from 93-98. That is quite an accomplishment. I sure do hope that Robby and Darren kick some serious butt this year and show the world what desert racing is all about.

[scoobs]

It is Cams old car correct? Was the hummer body based off the TT and put on the 1 car?

[McClintock]

Look previously in the thread.. Its Cam's old car and there is a picture of the body shaping process off of one of the red bull TT bodies.

[NIKAL]

Found this press release on Robby's site today. He also has a e-mailing list to sign up for. They will e-mail you updates from teamdakarusa. So I assume that will cover all USA teams and not just Robby. Pretty cool!


Robby Gordon Tackling the Most Difficult Challenge of His Driving Career

Dakar: The World’s Most Grueling Race

On New Year’s Eve, while most of NASCAR’s elite prepare to celebrate the arrival of 2006 in comfort, and for the two weeks following rest, take a cruise, hunt or play golf, one NASCAR driver will take on a racing challenge perhaps as physically and mentally challenging as the entire 36-race NASCAR season rolled together.

The Dakar Rally, easily the world’s most grueling and logistically challenging auto race, will start on Dec. 31 in Lison, Portugal and head approximately 6,500 miles south through Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar and into Morocco. From there, the race turns rugged as the field of more than 500 vehicles makes the incredible journey through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Senegal.

Robby Gordon, perhaps the world’s most versatile driver, will spend his New Year’s Eve behind the wheel of a race car for the first of 16 days of competition in the Dakar with hopes of being the first to pull into Dakar, Senegal on Jan. 15.

Gordon, a six-time SCORE Off-Road Champion and a two-time winner of the famed Baja 1000 in addition to countless other off-road races in North America, will drive a specially prepared Hummer H3 on Toyo Tires with sponsorship from Jim Beam in his quest to become the first American to win the famed Dakar Rally in its 28-year history. Last year, driving for the German Volkswagen team, Gordon became the first American to ever win a stage in the race, eventually winning two of the 16 stages en route to an 12th-place overall finish.

While on the surface Dakar is just a race like any other, looking just below its façade immediately reveals that it is also a logistical challenge unrivaled in all of sport, and is also a mental test akin to military boot camp.

Imagine the famed Tour de France bicycle race, itself a grueling event, being contested not only on pavement but also through hundreds of miles of Saharan Desert with sand dunes soft enough to swallow a car; on seemingly endless razor sharp rocks and stones that often render even the most rugged off-road tires useless; and through river and water crossings better suited for small boats than race cars.

Then consider these hostile African challenges must be navigated for as much as 543 miles (874 km) each day with only the assistance of a guide book which was distributed only hours before the start of the day’s stage. This is done with the full knowledge that assistance can be hours away for a driver and car if a need arises.

Welcome to the Dakar.

A race that was founded with the goal of making grown men cry, not to mention quit, the Dakar quickly became recognized as the toughest of all off-road racing events in the world, a perfect challenge for Robby Gordon.

“The Dakar is something that I always paid attention to and wanted to try, and fortunately last year I was given my first opportunity,” said the 36-year-old driver from Orange, Calif. who will celebrate his 37th birthday driving his H3 in stage 3 on Jan. 2. “Growing up in Southern California, obviously my whole life in off-road racing revolved around the Baja 1000. I still go back to Baja every year and love that race as much as any other, but Dakar takes on a completely different challenge and to me it’s so much more than just driver and car.

“The logistics involved are mind numbing. This year we’ve entered and built a car out of my own race team in the States, and the thought of building cars and support vehicles here to race in Europe and Africa is itself intimidating. But then when you add to it that these support trucks and 16 crew members have to follow the race car down the same race course to work on the car after every stage is beyond intimidating. I like to tell people it’s like running 16 Daytona 500s or Indy 500s in a row, but you don’t have a garage to work from. You can’t go to an auto parts store and buy what you need to fix or replace a broken part, if you don’t have it with you, you’re in trouble. You have to think of every possible item that can break on a car, and bring four of them with you.”


Gordon’s participation in the 2005 Dakar brought the race much needed recognition in the United States and Canada, and exposure to North American race fans will grow again in 2006 with OLN’s daily coverage of the race and the network’s four recap shows that will air after the completion of the race.

However, as its popularity grows in the United States, its mass appeal in Europe and Africa is already beyond compare. In 2005, more than 560 hours of original programming were allocated to the race in 178 countries. In 2006, more than 600 hours of programming is expected in more than 180 countries. The sanctioning body of the race, the ASO – which also promotes and organizes the famed Tour de France bicycle race – produces a daily 26-minute television show that is distributed via satellite.

“I didn’t really know what to expect last year when we went over for our first Dakar,” Gordon said, “but it didn’t take long to get a feeling for how big it is. When we went to the starting line on the beach in Barcelona on the first day (site of the race’s first stage), I was completely blown away by how many people were there. There must have been 300,000. It reminded me of the Indianapolis 500.”

This year, 508 cars, trucks and motorcycles, representing 40 countries, will leave the starting line in Lisbon with their eyes fixed on a finish line 16 days and 6,500 miles away. While many will consider just finishing a victory, Gordon’s goals are clearly stated: “I will be disappointed with anything other than a win. Our people have given so much of themselves over the last few months to get us ready to compete, and our sole focus is to become the first American’s to win Dakar. We finished the race last year, this year we’re going there to win.”

[TROPHYSEDAN]

I found this on a rally site. Have to be crazy to be da man in Dakar
2005-12-25

Turning left for 500 miles may earn a lot of moola, but for a true driving feather in the helmet, fans need look across the pond for the Dakar Rally -- the world's longest and most grueling auto-racing challenge.

The green flag for Dakar drops on Dec. 31. The 1,500 mile race begins in Portugal, crosses through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Guinea before ending in Dakar.

This is a true race. A test of man and machine where 50 percent of the entrants won't finish and chances are good that someone's career may end permanently. In short this is no normal person's idea of a holiday vacation.

Think of it as a Nextel Cup race where the track is gravel and full of pot holes, boulders randomly roll down the track and pit road has been stripped bare and the few fans in the stands may occasionally shoot at the vehicles in an attempt to steal the tires and rob the drivers.

There are no pit stops for repairs in the Dakar. There are no trailers full of new tires and supplies. There are no neat ovals with yellow lines at the bottom that shouldn't be crossed. There are no grandstands full of fans whooping it up.

Instead, drivers have only what they carry for repairs and nourishment under a blazing sun along a route figured by navigation and dead-reckoning on a map. They hope they figure right and manage to avoid sand traps, bandits or an untimely breakdown somewhere on the southern edge of outer nowhere.

Last year two-time Dakar winner Fabrizio Meoni of Italy and Spanish amateur Jose Manuel Peres were both killed trying to complete the race.

It takes a special breed to attempt Dakar. Ronn Bailey, the 56-year-old CEO of Vanguard Integrity Professionals, will lead a two-car team. Last year Bailey was one of the many DNFs after getting lost in a sandstorm and going without gas or food for three days until he was rescued.

NASCAR will have a sole representative brave or crazy enough -- depending on your point of view -- to attempt speeding across a barren landscape with conditions reminiscent of a Star Wars podracing scene. Rebel Robby Gordon will join Americans Mark Miller and Darren Skillton for his second try in the rally. Dakar is perhaps the only race that can make Gordon's NASCAR struggles this past season seem like a pleasant memory.

Pointing to the equal opportunity positive organizers of an event for those with much more driving skill than sanity, Dakar does have a women's division, and in 2001, Jutta Kleinschmidt became the first female to win Dakar.

So for those who bemoan the 50 or so days until Cup racing returns to television and need a little fix to fight the racing shakes, keep checking up on Gordon and see if he wins, places, finishes or even survives Dakar.

By-the-by, hiring your own bandits to take out competitors is discouraged but not actually outlawed under rally rules. So there is still a chance for some of the Cup drivers to vent any remaining dented-fender rage at Gordon and get involved with Dakar.

Marcus Fitzsimmons is a sports reporter at The Daily Times. Write to him at: M. Fitzsimmons, c/o The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, Tenn., 37802-9740, or e-mail him at:marcus.fitzsimmons@thedailytimes.com

[Yumaoffroad]

I found this on a rally site. Have to be crazy to be da man in Dakar
2005-12-25

Turning left for 500 miles may earn a lot of moola, but for a true driving feather in the helmet, fans need look across the pond for the Dakar Rally -- the world's longest and most grueling auto-racing challenge.

The green flag for Dakar drops on Dec. 31. The 1,500 mile race begins in Portugal, crosses through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Guinea before ending in Dakar.

This is a true race. A test of man and machine where 50 percent of the entrants won't finish and chances are good that someone's career may end permanently. In short this is no normal person's idea of a holiday vacation.

Think of it as a Nextel Cup race where the track is gravel and full of pot holes, boulders randomly roll down the track and pit road has been stripped bare and the few fans in the stands may occasionally shoot at the vehicles in an attempt to steal the tires and rob the drivers.

There are no pit stops for repairs in the Dakar. There are no trailers full of new tires and supplies. There are no neat ovals with yellow lines at the bottom that shouldn't be crossed. There are no grandstands full of fans whooping it up.

Instead, drivers have only what they carry for repairs and nourishment under a blazing sun along a route figured by navigation and dead-reckoning on a map. They hope they figure right and manage to avoid sand traps, bandits or an untimely breakdown somewhere on the southern edge of outer nowhere.

Last year two-time Dakar winner Fabrizio Meoni of Italy and Spanish amateur Jose Manuel Peres were both killed trying to complete the race.

It takes a special breed to attempt Dakar. Ronn Bailey, the 56-year-old CEO of Vanguard Integrity Professionals, will lead a two-car team. Last year Bailey was one of the many DNFs after getting lost in a sandstorm and going without gas or food for three days until he was rescued.

NASCAR will have a sole representative brave or crazy enough -- depending on your point of view -- to attempt speeding across a barren landscape with conditions reminiscent of a Star Wars podracing scene. Rebel Robby Gordon will join Americans Mark Miller and Darren Skillton for his second try in the rally. Dakar is perhaps the only race that can make Gordon's NASCAR struggles this past season seem like a pleasant memory.

Pointing to the equal opportunity positive organizers of an event for those with much more driving skill than sanity, Dakar does have a women's division, and in 2001, Jutta Kleinschmidt became the first female to win Dakar.

So for those who bemoan the 50 or so days until Cup racing returns to television and need a little fix to fight the racing shakes, keep checking up on Gordon and see if he wins, places, finishes or even survives Dakar.

By-the-by, hiring your own bandits to take out competitors is discouraged but not actually outlawed under rally rules. So there is still a chance for some of the Cup drivers to vent any remaining dented-fender rage at Gordon and get involved with Dakar.

Marcus Fitzsimmons is a sports reporter at The Daily Times. Write to him at: M. Fitzsimmons, c/o The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, Tenn., 37802-9740, or e-mail him at:marcus.fitzsimmons@thedailytimes.com







That guy is talking much crap about robby......:mad:
I hope Robby finishes and faster than all kills all those european teams.
I think The hummer will do good and hope that robby doesen't break it like the"Usuall"
I sure hope to catch some video or Robby passing them 4WD drive mitsubishis thru the sand whoops at over 100 mph, to see their faces. :eek:

[Bohr7]

Yuma, the stock car media gets bored this time of year and since Robby intimidates them, he's a logical choice to take their frustrations out on. Idle hands and all that........typical of that media.

I did notice that no mention was made of Mark; only an obscure mention of Darren and nothing at all about Dirk. Very frustrating. It would be nice to see an article every week leading up to and covering this race but none of the outlets are interested..............YET. (Unless we all veto Jayski and get Ryan and Mark's site on there daily!!) I believe that will change when Mark, Darren and Robby put the USA on that podium.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

The New Robby Gordon dot com is up. With Team Dakar USA section open.

Also, go check out this site for over 100 links all Dakar. www.flyhiflylo.blogspot.com

Start the race already!!!!

[bufeo]

Hey Fly-Fly,

That's a great site you've put up. Many thanks. With your permission I'll link it on a couple of other Forums.

Allen

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Hey Fly-Fly,

That's a great site you've put up. Many thanks. With your permission I'll link it on a couple of other Forums.

Allen

The more the better, always good to share the wealth. :>

[bufeo]

The more the better, always good to share the wealth. :>

Done. Thanks.

[Rory]

From the Dakar website today:

12:46 - car
Robby Gordon: “Not here to play…”
For the second year running, Robby Gordon will be starting the Dakar. After a first experience behind the steering wheel of a Volkswagen race Touareg that saw him clinch two special wins and make it to the Lac Rose in overall 12th position. But this time, the American has a whole new project: his own program with a Hummer vehicle powered by a GM engine. “I had a good time with Volkswagen last year and I learnt a lot. But I wanted to come back with my own program. Now we’ll see what happens but we don’t quite know what to expect against the other guys that we’ve never competed against. Anyhow, this time or next time: we want to win this race. We’re not here to play.”

[transformed]

I read on RobbyGordon.com that he after being introduced in Lisbon, backed off the platform and then made a run at it and launched over it for the crowd. Anyone have any pictures of this? I guess this is what happens when you let the Americans come and play. We just have more fun.

Also just got done watching the first coverage. I thought it was good to hear Robby explain the difference in his Hummer design versus the Euro rally style. His Hummer definantly doesn't fit in over there.

[Alliturken]

....but in a good way. Standing out and looking different is, (along with winning), often the best possible marketing scenario.....that truck is going to sell some Hummers in Europe, which is the whole ultimate point.

Personally, I think it looks pretty cool out there, (like a hungry, angry beast in a herd of svelte prey), and will come into it's own on the rough stuff.

[Sampeter]

OK, 8 overall, look out for the next days...

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

OK, 8 overall, look out for the next days...


Hell yeah! Time to Layith The Smackith Down!

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

I read on RobbyGordon.com that he after being introduced in Lisbon, backed off the platform and then made a run at it and launched over it for the crowd. Anyone have any pictures of this? I guess this is what happens when you let the Americans come and play. We just have more fun.

Also just got done watching the first coverage. I thought it was good to hear Robby explain the difference in his Hummer design versus the Euro rally style. His Hummer definantly doesn't fit in over there.

I love the look on their faces!!!

[pjc]

Also, go check out this site for over 100 links all Dakar. www.flyhiflylo.blogspot.com



Excllent BLOG!!!!

Thanks for the hard work!

[elsancho1976]

imagine driving your peugot down a lil 2 lane Spanish road and you see this beast coming head on straddling both lanes
http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/02-DAY_2&image=06Dakar_Stage2_05.jpg&img=&tt=

[elsancho1976]

and heres some irony... note the sign in the background...http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/02-DAY_2&image=06Dakar_Stage2_03.jpg&img=&tt=

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

imagine driving your peugot down a lil 2 lane Spanish road and you see this beast coming head on straddling both lanes
http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/02-DAY_2&image=06Dakar_Stage2_05.jpg&img=&tt=


That is so F'n funny. When I seen that photo... = Yep it's "The Monster"

[Martin]

and heres some irony... note the sign in the background...http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/02-DAY_2&image=06Dakar_Stage2_03.jpg&img=&tt=

Thats great he is heading away from cali a long way.

[Offspring]

and heres some irony... note the sign in the background...http://www.robbygordon.com/cgi-bin/Imagefolio31/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=03_OFF-ROAD/05_RALLY_RACING/DAKAR_2006/02-DAY_2&image=06Dakar_Stage2_03.jpg&img=&tt=



That is great. I have seen this a couple of times, why is Darren's mirror pointed back at RG? Probably has "Cannon" imprinted on its backside.

[desertracer]

I love how he still has the AZ plates on it all the way over there, nice touch.

[elsancho1976]

so im browsing through Robby's photos and im wondering if there is regulations with liquor sponsorships... Every Jim Beam logo has "Beef Jerky" added to it.

[elsancho1976]

stage 4 has begun... Robby's 5th off the line

[Hemp]

where do you guys find the starting time for each stage? i couldnt find anything on dakar.com

robby looks to be about 7 km behind Roma who was first overall at the start of the race so far. He is ahead of Miller and Sainz

[elsancho1976]

he actually started 1 spot ahead of roma and right behind jutta.. actually hes put time on roma and already passed jutta. sometimes teh indicators get stuck and to get an accurate reading i replay the event up to the current point.... it looks like hes on par with schlesser but masuoaka and peterhansel are flying

[elsancho1976]

i just rplayed and robby hasnt moved from km 107. glitch or stuck?

[elsancho1976]

whew.. glitch

[Hemp]

robby still looks to be about 10-15 km's behind petterhansel and mousuka