Dakar 2006 - Stage 8

[klaus]

stage 8 - Saturday 7 January 2006 | Atâr > Nouakchott (http://www.dakar.com/2006/DAK/LIVE/us/800/parcours.html)
Connection 34 km
Special 508 km
Connection 26 km
Total 568 km
"Hole shot"

On the first part of the special, the windy route crosses canyons and wadis. Competitors will feel themselves shot like a pinball against the massifs. After the series of zigzags, a very fast stretch will temp the most itchy to push the speedo. But over-confidence could lead to bad surprises.




http://www.dakar.com/PHOTOS/DAK/2006/800/PARCOURS.gif



http://www.dakar.com/PHOTOS/DAK/2006/800/FRANCE_ETAPE.jpg

[klaus]

Source: Dirk von Zitzewitz Blog (http://zitzewitz.com/dakar/)


Today one day before the much earned Sunday off the special stage is 508km in length. “Today, there won’t be too much navigation, less dune crossings but spectacular sceneries.” Its a easy to navigate stage, no dunes and a variety of landscapes. It will be high speed stage.



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


There was talks about canceling today’s stage because of the poor finishing rate of stage 7 but ultimately that’s not the case. Stage 8 will be races but the start time got delayed. The fist car will leave the line at 10:45 European Time.


Mark and Dirk despite the crash are still positioned well in the overall points.


9th in the overall ranking
9 309 MILLER (USA) VON ZITZEWITZ (ALL) VOLKSWAGEN 24:48:06 02:15:25


Robby Gordon and Darren Skilton did not finish yesterday and are currently positioned 60th. There are more good news on the teams progress on Robbys Weblog. (http://flyhiflylo.blogspot.com/)

[evi]

So are they in or out????? RG I mean.... no official word on their status... if anybody has some true info let us know

[elsancho1976]

well its a smidgin past the noonish deadline to be at teh start and no reading from robby's tracker... hopefully a glitch

[KeithTurk]

Since nobody is writting much I'll introduce myself and say thanks yet again... I'm a Bonneville Salt flats racer ... with some minor success... so Winter is my off season... I futz with the car a bit ... but mostly I take the time off to play with my business and try and stay warm....

The Dakar rally came into my life while I was serving as a helicopter pilot in Germany with the Army.... we only got a brit station and the Armed forces network.... somewhere in there as an avid racer... I was missing my life in the states... until this Dakar thing was aired.... I'd sit each day in utter fascination of the these guys determination and sheer grit... Coming home in 93 and trying to continue following the rally each year has become a passion... with the advent of the internet it's become an obsession... each bit of news... guys and gals physically connected to the competitors has been huge....

Someday I'm going to go on the rally... don't want to enter it myself... I just want to help someone out... I've got a fair set of hands and an extreme desire to be successful.... don't know who I'm going to end up going with... simply stated it doesn't much matter as long as I'm there and I can add to someone elses effort...

Hey we all have to dream or dry up... just the way life is...

Keith Turk ( here's my junk if you get bored )http://hotrod.com/projectbuild/113_0501_bonn/

[KeithTurk]

I don't have a reading on #99 Rauseo either.... Hmmm

[tractoR]

This day does not look goot for VW either, Kleinschmidt has been stopped for almost one hour, and Sainz is broken down in the very first part of the stage.

[plantman]

Kleinschmdt through CP1 and so is Saby[start today in 69th at CP1 #16]

[KeithTurk]

72 335 GORDON (USA) 11:39:30 Just found RG

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Just found RG

Your the only one.


Mitsubishi is just flat out whooping up now. They are awesome! After this stage it's going to be a run away!

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Blais finished second!

He is 9th overall.

[plantman]

Bike 009 BLAIS 2nd fastest to CP2
sorry FLY I type too slow

[dezracer9]

did i read somewhere that there is a way to send out an emergency signal via the iritrack to have the race officials help locate your team?

[dezracer9]

and rg just showed up on my tracker... at the 0km?!!

[FlyHiFlyLo]

and rg just showed up on my tracker... at the 0km?!!

Let's hope they give the go ahead?

[dezracer9]

one can only hope...but up til this point there was no info displayed so i guess we'll see

[KeithTurk]

What I found was obviously his start time....shoot... NOT GOOD... hmmm sorry bout that...

K

[blazin72]

Itlook likes some of the cars the started behind RG are on the course......not good

[tractoR]

One possible scenario about Robby : He may have just gone to the starting line, getting his control card stamped to stay within the race, skip the whole stage and head straight to tonights bivouac and get to work repairing the truck.

[dezracer9]

so it is a possibility that he is not completely out? what is the penalty for skipping a whole stage?

[dezracer9]

it sux not knowing...wish there was a better way to follow each driver..but i do realize it is in another country

[tractoR]

Earlier today the truck wasn't appearing on Iritrack, now it is at km.0, which would mean they are not lost anymore. The penalty for skipping a stage (you still have to take the start) is huge, but is not really a concern for whoever has no ambition (anymore) for the overall classification.

[dezracer9]

maybe we should send the weatherman to africa next year so we can follow whats goin on

[elsancho1976]

One possible scenario about Robby : He may have just gone to the starting line, getting his control card stamped to stay within the race, skip the whole stage and head straight to tonights bivouac and get to work repairing the truck.

i imagine it would be the same scenario as stage 7... you are given the max allotted time that was set to complete the stage with a 1 hour time penalty

[duchessofthedirt]

Hi All, Here is what I know...Darren and Robby slept in the desert all night as the chase truck couldn't find them until daylight. They fixed the problem and headed to the start. The start time had been extended until 1pm and they missed that by 1 hour. They are sitting at the start and the officials will not let them go. As of right now it looks like the race is over for them.
What happened, when the hit the camel grass - the bar protecting the radiator broke and poked a hole in the radiator.
That is what I know so far....

[duchessofthedirt]

Darren and I just hung up. They are in Atar waiting for two additional support cars. They will spend the night there and then head to Nouakchott tomorrow which is about a 5 hour drive. From there they plan to head straight to Dakar. They are still fighting to stay in the race, but the chances are incredibly slim.

[allwaysbaja]

Thanks for the news. Were you able to speak to Darren via SAT phone?

[duchessofthedirt]

Yes, I just hung up. Darren said that it was REALLY cold and they had to keep each other warm - Ha Ha : )
At least he had a sense of humor

[bufeo]

duchess-

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of satellite phone is Darrin using. Diana and I leave for Africa on Wednesday and I don't want to take my old Magellan sat/phone as it's too cumbersome. Thought I'd get another one, and if you're talking to Darrin while he's in the middle of the Sahara, that's the phone I want. :)

[duchessofthedirt]

I'm not sure who he is using as it was Robby's team that arranged all that. BUT! Last year Darren used Iridium phones and I spoke with him all through the race. We rented them from a place online... http://www.outfittersatellite.com
Hope that helps!

[allwaysbaja]

so it is a possibility that he is not completely out? what is the penalty for skipping a whole stage?

That must have been a LONG night. Well I hope they'll let them continue. Thanks again for the info, keep us posted please.

Thanks.

[allwaysbaja]

wrong quote sorry...

[bufeo]

... We rented them from a place online... http://www.outfittersatellite.com
Hope that helps!

It does. Thanks.

[no talent hack]

maybe we should send the weatherman to africa next year so we can follow whats goin on
I dont mean to change the subject but is the weather man the same guy from back when I raced in the late eightes?

[BillRuhls]

I dont mean to change the subject but is the weather man the same guy from back when I raced in the late eightes?
Bob Stienberger, aka the weatherman.

[RacrDude]

Back to the race ....

Miller sets second best time in the stage
American Mark Miller, at the wheel of his Race Touareg II, finished the 508 km stage in the same second as Stéphane Peterhansel at 6’52’’ behind today’s winner, Thierry Magnaldi.

Great Job Mark!!!

[mattb]

Does anyone have updated info on Schlesser's buggies? I haven't heard much about them lately.

[allwaysbaja]

Blais finished second!

He is 9th overall.

There is still a couple of our boys running well, lets not forget about them. Miller and Blais did really well today.

[bufeo]

Just saw this, hope it hasn't been posted before:

Miller sets second best time in the stage
American Mark Miller, at the wheel of his Race Touareg II, finished the 508 km stage in the same second as Stéphane Peterhansel at 6'52'' behind today's winner, Thierry Magnaldi.

Press Release
Amaury Sport Organisation

And just think, that VW was upside down!!!

[allwaysbaja]

Does anyone have updated info on Schlesser's buggies? I haven't heard much about them lately.

actually did really well today:
RANKING STAGE CAR Pos. N° Name Make Time Variation Penalty
1 315 MAGNALDI (FRA)
DEBRON (FRA) SCHLES-FORD-RAID 05:00:56 00:00:00
2 309 MILLER (USA)
VON ZITZEWITZ (ALL) VOLKSWAGEN 05:07:48 00:06:52
3 300 PETERHANSEL (FRA)
COTTRET (FRA) MITSUBISHI 05:07:48 00:06:52
4 304 ROMA (ESP)
MAGNE (FRA) MITSUBISHI 05:08:51 00:07:55
5 302 ALPHAND (FRA)
PICARD (FRA) MITSUBISHI 05:11:32 00:10:36
6 305 DE VILLIERS (AFS)
THORNER (SUE) VOLKSWAGEN 05:27:12 00:26:16
7 301 SABY (FRA)
PERIN (FRA) VOLKSWAGEN 05:32:05 00:31:09
8 311 SOUSA (POR)
LURQUIN (BEL) NISSAN 05:35:34 00:34:38
9 314 SCHLESSER (FRA)
BORSOTTO (FRA) SCHLES-FORD-RAID 05:47:20 00:46:24
10 303 KLEINSCHMIDT (ALL)
PONS (ITA) VOLKSWAGEN 06:11:28 01:10:32

[RacrDude]

"Does anyone have updated info on Schlesser's buggies? I haven't heard much about them lately."

1st and 9th today...1st and 2nd in stage 6

[Woody]

Arciero, could you fill us in with some information. What are the rules for missing your start time? Is this the stage that you had problems last year? Also have you talked to Mark after stage Eight?

[bufeo]

Arciero, could you fill us in with some information. What are the rules for missing your start time? Is this the stage that you had problems last year? Also have you talked to Mark after stage Eight?

Woody, you might check in the Stage 7 thread. I believe that's where someone explained this.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Chris, thanks for the update. Blog updated too.

[desertbull]

Dakar's Official Website shows Robby as out of the race...

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Dakar's Official Website shows Robby as out of the race...

We will see what the US Rep for the ASO can do for Robby.

[klaus]

On the bright site... Laughlin is next weekend, maybe Robby can make up then since he is officially listed as a withdraw.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

On the bright site... Laughlin is next weekend, maybe Robby can make up then since he is officially listed as a withdraw.


I was thinking the same thing. This also opens him up for all the days of Daytona Testing and the 24 hours of Daytona.

I can say this, He will be back at Dakar next year with a great deal more knowledge. I already can't wait.

Plus he has his Cup Team and Andy next year too.

Sux to be Robby. One failure leads to more oppertunities. He is the Man!

[klaus]

Well we still have other friends racing. Mark is doing well and they have high hopes for a podium finish. I just wrote some stuff on Dirks blog about their stage8.

http://zitzewitz.com/dakar/

[Sideways]

Thanks to all on this board for giving the best info on the Dakar available.

After hearing that the VW team went through tech in 3 hours, there's obviously some influence that can be thrown around the ASO.

I noticed that the awesome Dakar Blog Spot has had over 10,000 hits. Just the stage 8 of this board has had over 10,300 hits, last check. That's a nice audience for an almost invisible race.

Maybe we could pull our thoughts and throw them 10,000 ideas to pitch ASO!

Just a thought; being a salesman funds my racing. :D

[mattb]

actually did really well today:
RANKING STAGE CAR Pos. N° Name Make Time Variation Penalty
1 315 MAGNALDI (FRA)
DEBRON (FRA) SCHLES-FORD-RAID 05:00:56 00:00:00
2 309 MILLER (USA)
VON ZITZEWITZ (ALL) VOLKSWAGEN 05:07:48 00:06:52
3 300 PETERHANSEL (FRA)
COTTRET (FRA) MITSUBISHI 05:07:48 00:06:52
4 304 ROMA (ESP)
MAGNE (FRA) MITSUBISHI 05:08:51 00:07:55
5 302 ALPHAND (FRA)
PICARD (FRA) MITSUBISHI 05:11:32 00:10:36
6 305 DE VILLIERS (AFS)
THORNER (SUE) VOLKSWAGEN 05:27:12 00:26:16
7 301 SABY (FRA)
PERIN (FRA) VOLKSWAGEN 05:32:05 00:31:09
8 311 SOUSA (POR)
LURQUIN (BEL) NISSAN 05:35:34 00:34:38
9 314 SCHLESSER (FRA)
BORSOTTO (FRA) SCHLES-FORD-RAID 05:47:20 00:46:24
10 303 KLEINSCHMIDT (ALL)
PONS (ITA) VOLKSWAGEN 06:11:28 01:10:32


Thanks, I keep forgetting that Magnaldi is w/Schlesser. I'm used to it Jean-Louis and Jose Maria.. being together. Good for the, Jimco, Fox, Fortin, etc..

[bufeo]

OLN coverage today reported that Andy Grider suffered a broken femur, but that's incorrect. According to the tel/con I had with Anne this a.m. there are no broken bones, and she had spoken with Andy. They're keeping him in the Canary Is. tonight and then, tomorrow, fly him back to Lisboa, where he, Anne, and the rest of his family will decide whether to come home or go down to Dakar.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

OLN coverage today reported that Andy Grider suffered a broken femur, but that's incorrect. According to the tel/con I had with Anne this a.m. there are no broken bones, and she had spoken with Andy. They're keeping him in the Canary Is. tonight and then, tomorrow, fly him back to Lisboa, where he, Anne, and the rest of his family will decide whether to come home or go down to Dakar.

That's good I broke my Femur in half and it hurt like Hell! I't will put you out for half a year.

[blazin72]

I talk to Bob Gordon and he said the Robby is offically out and the he has to continue with to convoy all the way to Dakar due to fuel issues. I assume that Robby won't be coming home any time soon.

[bufeo]

If anyone is interested DIRT BIKE has a pretty good report here http://www.dirtbikemagazine.com/detail.asp?id=579 on Grider's accident. Joe Barker described it as "an F16 ejection ride".

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Thanks to all on this board for giving the best info on the Dakar available.

After hearing that the VW team went through tech in 3 hours, there's obviously some influence that can be thrown around the ASO.

I noticed that the awesome Dakar Blog Spot has had over 10,000 hits. Just the stage 8 of this board has had over 10,300 hits, last check. That's a nice audience for an almost invisible race.

Maybe we could pull our thoughts and throw them 10,000 ideas to pitch ASO!

Just a thought; being a salesman funds my racing. :D

It's amazing what putting your link on two sites can do, Race Dezert and, RG.com Thanks Guys! I think I will do some follow up looking towards next year. Maybe today or tomorrow so stay tuned.

[Beachracer]

What a great Blog, I don't know a h*** of a lot about blogs but I like getting updates there and here . I have just the light that would have helped find the car last night,
I should have sent some to the shop for promo.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

What a great Blog, I don't know a h*** of a lot about blogs but I like getting updates there and here . I have just the light that would have helped find the car last night,
I should have sent some to the shop for promo.

LED by chance?

[ChuckH]

A laser light would do the trick, 100mW can be seen 65 miles away, he would just have to shine it over the horizon in different directions until they see it, once they radio that they see it they could pulse it to help lead them.

http://www.biglasers.com/site/1589403/page/715253

[FlyHiFlyLo]

A laser light would do the trick, 100mW can be seen 65 miles away, he would just have to shine it over the horizon in different directions until they see it, once they radio that they see it they could pulse it to help lead them.

http://www.biglasers.com/site/1589403/page/715253

Dr. Evil has a cool LaaaaassseR he could barrow for next year.

[Sideways]

Too bad RG missed racing Bobsleds today!

Boris Said won the Bodine Challenge to raise money for the olympic Bobsled team.

Here's a picture of Boris at SPEED:eek:

See more on Yahoo sports.

[bufeo]

Update on Andy.

Annie just called. Andy is now with them in Lisboa. He says the med help he got at Bivouac was superior to that in Canary Is. He's in a wheelchair--I'll bet that's hurting as much as the injury--and the doc's directions were "to take it easy." Apparently, there's a rather large hematoma on his pelvis that they are concerned about.

Andy's description of the "launch" was that it was the highest "get-off" he'd ever had. He remembers looking way down at his bike flipping and then seeing blue sky and a fifteen-foot (more or less) drop to the ground.

He was doing only 40mph or so, but his auto-map roll had stopped functioning and he was having to adjust it by hand. He looked down for a moment and hit the sand obstruction just after that.

He's extremely disappointed. Every night after the Stages, physicals (including blood samples) are given and he was in great shape. All his signs were superior. No IVs (common for many of the riders) were necessary and he felt that he was in great shape to finish the Rally.

[desertbull]

Best wishes to the entire Grider Racing team/family.

Truly a bummer ...

Thanks Allan for the updates direct from Grider Racing and its good to hear that Andy will be racing soon again. Those first reports of a broken femur made me cringe thinking of the pain...

DB

[bufeo]

Thanks DB, though Andy is not out of the woods (inappropriate in a desert race :) ) yet. He hasn't had an MRI, and I tried to convince him today to not wait until he returns home. Blood clots are not something you want to fool with on a flight home.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Thanks DB, though Andy is not out of the woods (inappropriate in a desert race :) ) yet. He hasn't had an MRI, and I tried to convince him today to not wait until he returns home. Blood clots are not something you want to fool with on a flight home.


Yes...Good advice, I almost had to have my leg chopped off below the knee from that. Left Tibula that time... (Different time than the Left Femur time.)

[Bohr7]

Best of luck to Andy, we were all rooting for him............prayers for his safe return to the states!

[Vtr_Racing]

Thanks DB, though Andy is not out of the woods (inappropriate in a desert race :) ) yet. He hasn't had an MRI, and I tried to convince him today to not wait until he returns home. Blood clots are not something you want to fool with on a flight home.

That sucks. I heard from Patty at the Parker race about the crash. She was really bummed as we all were. The details were very sketchy. Glad to hear Andy is ok. Thanks for the updates. Just catching up on all of it now.