Dakar 2006 - Stage 6

[klaus]

stage 6 - Thursday 5 January 2006 | Tan Tan > Zouérat

* Connection 336 km
* Special 444 km
* Connection 12 km
* Total 792 km

Southbound

The hours of sleep stored up from previous stages will be an asset when tackling this long road. The long liaison to the start of the special will take place at night, in conditions which require maximum vigilance. The first part of the sector counting towards classification will be fought out over a wide, fast track, before taking on a much sandier stretch halfway through the special.




http://www.dakar.com/PHOTOS/DAK/2006/600/PARCOURS.gif
http://www.dakar.com/PHOTOS/DAK/2006/600/FRANCE_ETAPE.jpg

[klaus]

What to expect tomorrow?
During a phone call with Dirk, who by the way said hello to everyone all the fans to follow the team online, we learned a bit about the next stage:


It will be very fast, there are lots of “offroad” sections, meaning driving in the desert without any roads. The main and only navigation will be the compass. Navigation will be extremely hard especially if you are in the lead. According to Dirk the 6th or 7th started has the best seat in the house. (DE VILLIERS / THORNER und KLEINSCHMIDT / PONS) Yet he is still happy about the nice outcome today.


Tomorrows missions is to keep speeds fast enough to keep the lead but also not to destroy it. Last year this is where Robby Gordon and Dirk crashed (http://zitzewitz.com/dakar/?p=75). Jutta Kleinschmidt and Fabricia Pons almost fell victim and Collin McRae (http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/sport/mehr_motorsport/dakar_schwerer_crash_von_mcrae_vw_in_fuehrung.7394 7.htm)had his share.
Dakar.com sums up tomorrows stage as follows: “Southbound - The hours of sleep stored up from previous stages will be an asset when tackling this long road. The long liaison to the start of the special will take place at night, in conditions which require maximum vigilance. The first part of the sector counting towards classification will be fought out over a wide, fast track, before taking on a much sandier stretch halfway through the special.”

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Today is the day to open that Hummer up. Wide F'n open!

[BHTool]

can someone post the first leazon start time or approx special start time for robbie (PST)
thanks
tim

[racinteach]

so whattime out time will they start the stages..my little MC on the tracker have not moved..

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Dakar Spot updated.

[klaus]

Startimes according to dakar.com (http://www.dakar.com/2006/DAK/LIVE/us/600/parcours.html)

Bikes: 08:00 GMT or 12:30 - 2AM PST or 8:3AM PST
Cars: 09:39 GMT or 14:09 - 3:39AM PST or 10:09PM PST

Confusing, but the site seems to be designed by a ESL

[BHTool]

thanks
no matter how hard i tried i couldnt stay up that late

so i'll root on the Americans in my sleep and check the progress as soon as i get up

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Startimes according to dakar.com (http://www.dakar.com/2006/DAK/LIVE/us/600/parcours.html)

Bikes: 08:00 GMT or 12:30 - 2AM PST or 8:3AM PST
Cars: 09:39 GMT or 14:09 - 3:39AM PST or 10:09PM PST

Confusing, but the site seems to be designed by a ESL


WTF? English you Beaner Schitzel

BTW you are doing an awesome job on this year's Dakar Thread! Thanks So Much!

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

It's midnight and I'm ready to go!

[klaus]

It's midnight and I'm ready to go!

wow Scott 8 browser windows...

[klaus]

The bikes are scheduled to start the stage at 09:00 CET with a finish estimated at 13:30 CET, while the cars will start at 10:40 CET and finish at approximately 15:30 CET.

CET / Central Europe Time is GMT+1 or 9 hours ahead of us. So the bikes should have started 10 minutes ago while tha cars will start at 1:40AM Pacific Time.

[plantman]

Klaus, FlyFLy you boys are great keep up the good work . its onlt 7:15PM here in AUS and my wife thinks I'm crazy.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Klaus, FlyFLy you boys are great keep up the good work . its onlt 7:15PM here in AUS and my wife thinks I'm crazy.


Dude Your Lucky! The show starts at prime time for you!

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

wow Scott 8 browser windows...

Hey, what are those two windows you have on the right?

[plantman]

Just wish I could stay awake .The incar footage with RG in todays coverage was cool .some more of that live on the web would be cool[dreaming out loud]

[racinteach]

why have the bikes not moved yet..I am getting sleepy..

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Robby is 30KM away hasn't moved and has 40 min to get there. What's up with Carlos, He is stuck @ KM 244, 70 KM away?

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Looks like all the boyz are up to the line now... Cept Carlos! we'll take it!

[plantman]

Just reloaded the bikes now there moving

[elsancho1976]

Miller is off th eline @ aprox 9:43 gmt

[evi]

OK, its 1:45 am PST and I have Miller and Gordon at KM 331 on the stats and at KM 336 (Special Start) on the little car Icons, Sainz has been at KM 244 for more than an hour now, is it a glitch or did he really brake down, that would be a HUGE LOSS for the VW team.... well Ill be awake for a bit more, taking my laptop to my night stand LOL... lets see what happens...

[klaus]

A couple of things to keep in mind:
- The IriTrack system only updates every so often. Its not instant.
- There might be a delay for data to be processed from the signal leaving the vehicle to it displaying on our screen may take time.
- The start of the car race has to be the busiest time for the tracking website, adding addl. workload on the system = more delay

All of this is speculation, so lets not jump the gun and declare anyone broken yet.

When we do the SCORE Weatherman radio relay it takes a good 20 seconds from audio on the air-waves to reach the computers at home and what we are doing is childsplay compared to their system.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

No! we want Carlos broken.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

miller is haul'n *****!

[klaus]

A funny story about the Weatherman Streaming we did during the last Baja 1000. While setting up a call came in (may have been BFG relay?), actual race related traffic. Someone called Bob and asked something. We just started the streaming and to test things out I had a 2nd laptop pretending to be a client at home. The speaker on the "client" laptop was up so I can listen to the transmissions as they come in and adjust audio levels. So Bob gets this call, answers it in detail and then forgets about it. Then 20-30 seconds later it made it to the laptop "Weatherman Do you copy, this is Joe Blow, calling regarding xyz.." So Bob takes his mic and replies, then waits for a copy and while waiting he makes remarks to us on what a dumbass that is calling again on the same issue... but in all reality he answered to something that has happened a while back...so the delay was large enough to forget about what has happened.

It's amazing to see such a delay on a setup as simple as what we use....so the ASO tracking I expect to have delays way beyond that.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

A funy story about the Weatherman Streaming we did during the last Baja 1000. While setting up a call came in (may have been BFG relay?), actual race related traffic. Someone called Bob and asked something. We just started the streaming and toi test things out I had a 2nd laptop pretending to be a client at home. The speaker on the "client" laptop was up so I can listen to the transmissions as they come in and adjust audio levels. So Bob gets this call, answers it in detail and then forgets about it. Then 20-30 seconds later it made it to the laptop "Weatherman Do you copy, this is Joe Blow, calling regarding xyz.." So Bob takes his mic and replies, then waits for a copy and while waitimg he makes remarks to us on what a dumbass that is calling again on the same issue... but in all reality he answered to something thta has happend a while back...so the delay was large enough to forget about what has happend.

It's amazing to see such a delay on a setup as simple as what we use....so the ASO tracking I expect to have delays way beyond that.

Damn Richard Crainiums!

[elsancho1976]

robby is off the line @ aprox 10:10 gmt

[elsancho1976]

AG and blais seem to be doing well to CP1

[evi]

LOL Klaus you should have gotten that on tape.....

Anyhooo... Miller is haulling I have him at KM 373 and RG hasnt even left the line... but Sainz is still stuck at KM 244... ok im off to bed, the wife just told me to shut the Laptop down or get the hell out of the room... Hmmmm sofa city and keep watching Dakar or a comfy sleep... DAMN I HATE THIS HARD DECISIONS!!!!!!

[evi]

Darn, RG got off the line just as I was posting the last message... hmmm sofa is looking pretty comfy right about now....

[klaus]

It looks like Andy and Chris are glued together the entire stage, maybe they teamed up?

Also during the Stage4 TV show they said it was Chris's birthday. What a way to celebrate.

---

CP1 221KM: The bikes are arriving at the first checkpoint now and it is Esteve Pujol who is fastest, 54 seconds quicker than Marc Coma with Cyril Despres 2min 30secs adrift in third. The trio are riding together.

[klaus]

CP1 for the bikes.

Andy running 5th and Chris 8th !!!!

Pos. N° Name Hours Time
1 003 ESTEVE PUJOL (ESP) 09:43:57 01:39:57
2 002 COMA (ESP) 09:42:51 01:40:51
3 001 DESPRES (FRA) 09:42:27 01:42:27
4 006 SALA (ITA) 09:59:30 01:43:30
5 023 GRIDER (USA) 10:04:04 01:44:34
6 008 CASTEU (FRA) 09:56:44 01:44:44
7 005 ULLEVALSETER (NOR) 09:59:35 01:45:35
8 009 BLAIS (USA) 10:04:06 01:45:36
9 007 DE AZEVEDO (BRE) 10:04:36 01:45:36
10 039 RIVERA (ESP) 10:06:40 01:45:40

[plantman]

First cars toCP1 SHLESS kicking

[klaus]

1 314 Schlesser (fra) 11:09:54 01:30:54
2 302 Alphand (fra) 11:14:58 01:33:58
3 300 Peterhansel (fra) 11:07:15 01:34:15
4 309 Miller (usa) 11:09:17 01:34:17
5 304 Roma (esp) 11:13:25 01:36:25


And where is Carlos Sainz ? The tracker shows him as not started for the special stage.... strange

[klaus]

Pos. N° Name Hours Time
1 300 PETERHANSEL (FRA) 11:07:15 01:34:15
2 309 MILLER (USA) 11:09:17 01:34:17
3 314 SCHLESSER (FRA) 11:09:54 01:30:54
4 304 ROMA (ESP) 11:13:25 01:36:25
5 302 ALPHAND (FRA) 11:14:58 01:33:58
6 305 DE VILLIERS (AFS) 11:17:12 01:34:12
7 303 KLEINSCHMIDT (ALL) 11:18:54 01:33:54
8 301 SABY (FRA) 11:21:20 01:34:20
9 307 SAINZ (ESP) 11:21:43 01:32:43
10 315 MAGNALDI (FRA) 11:21:57 01:30:57

ahhh.. Sainz just cleared CP1

[plantman]

Two SCHLESSER cars 314/'315 [2WD buggys] very quick to CP1

[klaus]

Robby must be on fire.... on IRITRACK the cap between his little icon and the leaders narrows by the minutes. One of the advantage he has is that all he has to do is follow the most tire tracks and dust vs. the first bikes and cars that have no one to follow.

Dirk von Zitzewitz said yesterday that the tools of choice for todays stage is the compass.

[plantman]

RG 1;38;50 at CP1

[plantman]

CP2 Schless 2:40:07
peterhansel 2:45:41
Go 2WD buggys

[klaus]

CP2

Pos. N° Name Hours Time
1 314 SCHLESSER (FRA) 12:19:07 02:40:07
2 305 DE VILLIERS (AFS) 12:27:46 02:44:46
3 300 PETERHANSEL (FRA) 12:18:41 02:45:41
4 302 ALPHAND (FRA) 12:27:19 02:46:19
5 309 MILLER (USA) 12:24:59 02:49:59
6 304 ROMA (ESP) 12:27:16 02:50:16

On CP1 Robby Gordon was 8 minutes behind the leader, now it looks like even more then that.

Mark is doing well. On CP1 he was 3:20 behind the leader and by CP2 around 10 minutes. Maybe the same formula will hold true for Robby as well.

[KeithTurk]

Dakar or work.... Hmmm ( got any room on that Sofa? )

Keith Turk
Fairly fast off roader...
262mph Bonneville Salt flats... 2005

[plantman]

Tracking and updates stopped 35 min ago for me.any updates "please"

[klaus]

Pos. N° Name Hours Time
1 314 SCHLESSER (FRA) 12:19:07 02:40:07
2 315 MAGNALDI (FRA) 12:31:57 02:40:57
3 307 SAINZ (ESP) 12:31:49 02:42:49
4 305 DE VILLIERS (AFS) 12:27:46 02:44:46
5 300 PETERHANSEL (FRA) 12:18:41 02:45:41
6 303 KLEINSCHMIDT (ALL) 12:31:11 02:46:11
7 302 ALPHAND (FRA) 12:27:19 02:46:19
8 301 SABY (FRA) 12:33:54 02:46:54
9 309 MILLER (USA) 12:24:59 02:49:59
10 322 CHICHERIT (FRA) 12:42:07 02:50:07
11 304 ROMA (ESP) 12:27:16 02:50:16
12 335 GORDON (USA) 12:52:58 02:52:58
13 313 COX (AFS) 12:49:10 02:55:10
14 345 PESCAROLO (FRA) 12:53:02 02:56:02
15 317 GACHE (FRA) 12:52:54 02:57:54
16 316 SERVIA (ESP) 13:01:30 02:58:00
17 311 SOUSA (POR) 12:53:52 03:00:52
18 415 KAHLE (ALL) 13:03:31 03:07:31
19 310 HENRARD (BEL) 13:14:01 03:09:01
20 340 DE LAVERGNE (FRA) 13:14:04 03:16:04

RG is 12:54 minutes behind the leader with 83km to go out of 444 for todays special.

[bufeo]

You guys are insane. I learned my lesson during the Tunisia Rally earlier this year watching it live. I can't do those all-nighters. Anyway the 'stops' during the run would drive me nuts wanting to know what happened.

klaus, isn't the delay a factor of 'batching' to the satellites? I believe IriTrack works just like any satellite internet hookup. I know with Motosat I get a 'delay' that's not there with cable internet.

[Chase 2]

From Dirk's Blog with a bit more translation:

Today first day in Mauritania. It was somewhat difficult for us, because we opened the distance with. Finding the way was less the problem, rather this way by the Camelgras to even. We smoothed practically the way for all following. With each car, which came to us, it became faster. That is naturally bitter, if one is and thinks in the goal, one was completely properly on the way. Then one sees the times of the others, is briefly frustrated and says: Ok, tomorrow we come of in the back then fit that again. Otherwise a calm day was actually, without special occurrences. Eases completely, actually after plan, not completely as fast, as we it intended from in the back.
Statement by Mark Miller via Volkswagen engine haven:
#309 - Mark Miller (the USA), 10. Place daily/7. Place total value. We lost some ground, because I drove to a dangerous jump more slowly. We drove too fast over a dune and the tail came up much. Today we experienced, we with difficulty navigation are, if one as the second starter.

So my take on this is they are a little frustrated with today’s results but not unhappy as they are still on plan and within striking distance.

Looks to me like with the different stage winners every day, that if you are leading the group, you aren’t going to have the fastest time. Notice that the guys who are back slightly are posting the fastest times. It’s just incredible that the top ten are all within 10 of the leader. Anyone of them could win the overall.

[BajaboundMoto]

Jonah Street, Team RallyPanAm.com, still running at 23rd OA (bike) afer Stage 6 on the privateer KTM525 after a terrible Stage 6.

Excellent quotes from Jonah's wife this morning.....

"I talked to Jonah yesterday morning (Jan. 4th in USA) around 10am.
He said he was feeling great but that his bike just couldn't keep up with the top guys. They can top out at 155km per hour, Jonah can only top out at about 135km per hour.
So his goal now was to keep the bike from blowing up and have fun, learn all he can, and finish in the top 20 which would still be an amazing acomplishment.
He said the guys on the Yamaha's get a new motor after EVERY stage.
CRAZY!
He also said he was the only guy that wore a backpack. Apparently the othe guys have someone who meets them at the end of every stage with water and food and their sleeping bag, etc. Jonah has to carry all his own stuff....so he is doing incredible!!

I got a call at 2:30 am this morning (Jan.5th in USA), scared the crap out of me, but he is fine.
He ran out of gas in Mali.
He said he was in the middle of nowhere not a hill or anything for miles.
It was really cool because i could hear the motorcycles going by (cool for me not him) and poor Jonah would say, "Oh there goes another one" or "Here comes a French guy, he's not gonna stop and give me gas".
He had to wait for his teammate Charlie to come by. which was quite a wait it looked like.
Jonah ended todays stage in 72nd (bummer) but overall he only dropped a few spots to 23rd.
I'm sure he will be in catch up mode the next few stages which makes me a little nervous!!
Please keep him in your prayers!!"

[FullsizeFun]

Robby is moving up. from 69th to 45th and now 27th overall. He placed 11th in stage #6. Still over 4hrs behind though.

An 11th place finish in the sixth stage of the 15 stage Dakar Rally has once again vaulted Team Dakar USA up in the overall classification. Gordon, who was as high as eight in the overall standings after stage three, dropped to 69th after suffering a transmission problem in stage four. Since then the duo of Gordon and Skilton have logged two stong stages and are working their way back to the top-10. Beginning the day, Gordon was in the 45th position. After today the No. 335 Hummer H3 is now four hours and 28 minutes back of the lead car of Giniel De Villiers.

[Ryan_Arciero]

Just got a message from Mark about an hour ago. He sounds great and is really looking forward to tomorrow's stage. He said he took it pretty easy today, and wasn't concerned with a tenth place finish, nor should he be. Being 7 minutes out is nothing at this point.

He was talking about turning up the pace on tomorrow stage and see what happens. He sounds really positive and focused and ready to set after the leaders.

[Will_Higman]

Ryan

When do team orders start to kick in? Will they just leave it alone all the way to the finish when they are all so close? Chances are it won't stay that way but just curious for your thoughts.

Will Higman

[Chase 2]

Robby is moving up. from 69th to 45th and now 27th overall. He placed 11th in stage #6. Still over 4hrs behind though.

An 11th place finish in the sixth stage of the 15 stage Dakar Rally has once again vaulted Team Dakar USA up in the overall classification. Gordon, who was as high as eight in the overall standings after stage three, dropped to 69th after suffering a transmission problem in stage four. Since then the duo of Gordon and Skilton have logged two stong stages and are working their way back to the top-10. Beginning the day, Gordon was in the 45th position. After today the No. 335 Hummer H3 is now four hours and 28 minutes back of the lead car of Giniel De Villiers.

At the present time what position you are in is really moot. The thing that matters is how far back you are time wise. RG is an 1Hr, 24 min behind the closest guy ahead of him. RG is doing a great job but is still losing time to the leaders. Eventually he will be in a position where he will be abe to pull off a stage win. Additionally, there will continue to be people dropping out so if he can keep from further mechanical problems, he will whork his way up the ladder. There's still a long way to go.

[Ryan_Arciero]

The team orders will start to kick in when one or more of the Volkswages get behind. I don't mean to be vague on it, but there is no set time when they will kick it in. It will eventually happen, unless the Volkswagens perform flawless for the rest of the rally. As long as they are all within striking distance of eachother, Kris Nissen (Team Leader) will just let them run their race. I know he would love nothing more than to see a Volkswagen 1,2,3 or even 1,2,3,4,5. At this point with all of them running as good as they are he cannot pull team orders because it might jeopardize a podium finish and it is still a little bit too early to in the race.

[ONE_RJ]

Ryan,
Mark was so close to a stage win yesturday,is there a stage coming up that he feels might be a better chance for a stage win? or is his plan to stay consistent in time & finishing order and if he wins a stage by being consistent than thats added bonus?

It is awesome that he is right there each day racing for a stage win and you listen to his audio and its like no big deal to him to be racing in the top 10 at this point,and he say's he is not pressing the competition. Is it still to early in the stages to make a move for the top position or stage win fearing a mistake?

Great information,
keep us posted,
Rick Johnson
www.agavemotorsports.com

[Offspring]

At the present time what position you are in is really moot. The thing that matters is how far back you are time wise. RG is an 1Hr, 24 min behind the closest guy ahead of him. RG is doing a great job but is still losing time to the leaders. Eventually he will be in a position where he will be abe to pull off a stage win. Additionally, there will continue to be people dropping out so if he can keep from further mechanical problems, he will whork his way up the ladder. There's still a long way to go.


Craig maybe you looked at results before everyone came in. I think now a :30 minute gain will get him up 3 spots. I don't know how long the guys in the top 10 can keep this pace up it is incredible. One of these stages will certainly shake up the top of the standings drastically. I am already dreading the let down when this race is over.

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

Craig maybe you looked at results before everyone came in. I think now a :30 minute gain will get him up 3 spots. I don't know how long the guys in the top 10 can keep this pace up it is incredible. One of these stages will certainly shake up the top of the standings drastically. I am already dreading the let down when this race is over.


Over the next three Stages the pace will be cut in half.

Half of the top 20 will get stuck lost and broke over the next 1000 miles.

[Ryan_Arciero]

Rick, sorry for taking so long to reply. Today's Stage he felt could be a good chance for a stage win. It is so hard to know because you don't know exactly what the stage is going to be like until you actually get the road book which you don't get until you finish the stage and get back to the bivwac. When you reach the bivwac they give you the road book for the next day so you have one night to look it over and see what is up ahead.

It also is based on how you are feeling, like at the start of today's stage Mark was feeling really good, unfortunately they made some navagation errors that cost them dearly. As he gets into Parts of Mali, and Senegal the stages are a little bit more like Baja, almost like running up in the pine forest with lots of trees and brush.

[klaus]

Listen to todays Audio Update from Dirk (German) (http://zitzewitz.com/dakar/wp-content/audio-dakar-2006/6-05-01-2006.mp3)

Mark Miller and Dirk von Zitzewitz during stage 6 of the 2006 Dakar “This is day one in Mauretanien. It was hard as we where in the lead group. Finding the correct route wasn’t the main concern, but smoothening it in the camegras sections. We practicaly laid a smooth path for our competition. Vehicle by vehicle the route became faster and smoother. Then later after the stage you compare times of the vehicle that followed us and realize that their stage time is faster then ours. It’s frustrating “ok, tomorrow we will take the field from the back, that will even things out” Otherwise we had a quite uneventfull day. Relaxing and right on schedule just not as fast as we expected.”

http://zitzewitz.com/dakar/wp-content/thumb-mmdvz6etappe.jpg

Andy Schulz head similar remarks after the stage:
“The new regulations make the co-drivers job more difficult. I personally don’t think the new rules are fair, because the team entering the stage first is disadvantaged through the difficult navigation. On the other hand, the following drivers can use the dust clouds and tracks for orientation and can drive faster as a result and do not run such a high risk of making mistakes. So, the drivers in the midfield have an advantage. The best tactics under the new rules are to run in midfield and try not to win any stages.”

#309 - Mark Miller (USA), 10th place (leg) / 7th position overall
“We’ve lost a little ground, because I drove slower after a dangerous jump. The rear came up very high when we drove too quickly over a dune. Today we saw just how difficult the navigation is when you start second.”

http://zitzewitz.com/dakar/wp-content/thumb-mmdvz6etappe2.jpg