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Author Topic: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth  (Read 6395 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« on: January 25, 2011, 03:02:35 am »



Competitors in the brutal 12-day, 5,000-kilometre Dakar rally must face 'dust, heat, the lack of oxygen at altitude and the unrelenting fury of the Sun,' says contributor Howard Elmer.  'As a spectator here'I was worn out just watching!'

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Offline tpl

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2011, 05:35:50 am »
Quote
'dust, heat, the lack of oxygen at altitude and the unrelenting fury of the Sun,'
Doesn't that describe driving from Alberta to Vancouver just as well? Especially following a motorhome on steep grades.    ;D
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Offline Mike

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2011, 09:11:22 am »
I've always wanted to go to one of these events.  I think the biggest hazard is still 'spectators' who purposely sabatoge the track to create accidents.  Several Drivers have died due to this.
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Offline johngenx

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2011, 10:06:30 am »
There should be a race driving west to east across Manitoba.  Most drivers would become hypnotized by the complete lack of bends, trees or any other variation in the scenery, and die from complete boredom.  I suspect the highest fatality rate race on the planet...
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Offline Mike

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2011, 10:08:35 am »
Quote from: johngenx on January 25, 2011, 10:06:30 am
There should be a race driving west to east across Manitoba.  Most drivers would become hypnotized by the complete lack of bends, trees or any other variation in the scenery, and die from complete boredom.  I suspect the highest fatality rate race on the planet...

No man, it's Dakar, it's all about endurance.  They need to race from the Manitoba Ontario Border to Calgary  :rofl:  Turns = 0
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Offline johngenx

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2011, 10:29:13 am »
Quote from: Mike on January 25, 2011, 10:08:35 am
...They need to race from the Manitoba Ontario Border to Calgary  :rofl:  Turns = 0

No one could make that!
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Offline PJungnitsch

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2011, 11:24:03 am »
Heh, brings back some memories.

Last year at this time I was staying in a village on a lake in Peru at 3812m. Nasty headache, and exhausting just walking around. Took some altitude medication which helped but had the side effect of making my skin feel like it was vibrating off. Then of course the harsh sun fries the skin given a chance. First time I ever saw ads for 100 sunscreen. Throw in some stomach trouble and it's like, what am I doing here?!

Got up to 4400m at the highest and even plants just seemed to give up.

Our Rockies are pretty low in comparison. Banff is at a puny 1383m, Kicking horse pass is only 1627m. The top of the highest mountain in Alberta is only 3750. That's where those South American plateaus start, people go about their lives, fish, farm, etc. Crazy.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2011, 12:03:38 pm »
Mother of all Dakars...................oft times a fluke sand dune,a sharp rock and a wrong turn and yer Literal TOAST...Head ov'r teakettle...........but the Helis and safety vehicles pick ya Up.................bloddy NANNIES.. ;)...................


Now the TRANS-FIXED mid Canada route...needs some BOOBY traps,sand dunes and a few camels (smoking) ;D thrown in to seperate the WHEAT from the CHAFFED BUMS...............even the odd HOLE with some POT innit........ :rofl2:
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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2011, 12:04:50 pm »
Quote from: johngenx on January 25, 2011, 10:29:13 am
Quote from: Mike on January 25, 2011, 10:08:35 am
...They need to race from the Manitoba Ontario Border to Calgary  :rofl:  Turns = 0

No one could make that!

But it would be a lot more interesting at say 250, than 110. :)
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Offline tpl

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2011, 12:46:37 pm »
Quote from: PJungnitsch on January 25, 2011, 11:24:03 am
Heh, brings back some memories.

Last year at this time I was staying in a village on a lake in Peru at 3812m. Nasty headache, and exhausting just walking around. Took some altitude medication which helped but had the side effect of making my skin feel like it was vibrating off. Then of course the harsh sun fries the skin given a chance. First time I ever saw ads for 100 sunscreen. Throw in some stomach trouble and it's like, what am I doing here?!

Got up to 4400m at the highest and even plants just seemed to give up.

Our Rockies are pretty low in comparison. Banff is at a puny 1383m, Kicking horse pass is only 1627m. The top of the highest mountain in Alberta is only 3750. That's where those South American plateaus start, people go about their lives, fish, farm, etc. Crazy.


How do they make a proper cup of tea at 3812 metres?  pressure cooker?
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Offline johngenx

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2011, 01:52:07 pm »
Quote from: PJungnitsch on January 25, 2011, 11:24:03 am

Our Rockies are pretty low in comparison. Banff is at a puny 1383m, Kicking horse pass is only 1627m. The top of the highest mountain in Alberta is only 3750.


True, but we're not accustomed to the altitude.  I've spent quite a bit of time above 3000M in the Rockies, and find most people bonk seriously bad when they cross that barrier.  There are no roads in the Rockies that put people high.  The Icefields Parkway has spots around 2000M or so.  People drive to the Icefields Center, hop out of their cars and go to run up the stairs to the building, only to be winded in no time, and it's only 1985M.
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Offline ktm525

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2011, 02:05:01 pm »
IIRC Highwood pass in the Front Ranges (Alberta) is the highest paved pass @ 2350m (7710'). Cycling that I was sucking wind.
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Offline PlanB

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2011, 03:40:06 pm »
I used to watch the Paris-Dakar Rally on TV (OLN) every year and was disappointed when they cancelled the race a while back.  Surprised they still call it the Dakar when it isn't there anymore? 

Even though I didn't like the guy, I was entertained by the series 'Race to Dakar' featuring Charlie Boorman entering a (more or less) privateer entry in the motorcycle class in the 06' Dakar.  You really saw things in that series that you didn't see in the OLN footage. 

Still waiting for the series Long Way Down to air on one of the channels I get on TV because I can't find it anywhere where I live. 
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Offline safristi

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2011, 04:56:31 pm »
Dakarians don't be suckin' air they B suckin SAND....isn't that RULE #1......or are we tawkin' about Tinkerbell & Peter Pullin'.....in an alternate thread here........... :think: :hide:
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Offline conwelpic

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Re: Feature: Dakar 2011 - the most brutal race on Earth
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2011, 05:57:11 pm »
here's a link showing the Kia Sorento on the Dakar

http://kia-buzz.com/?p=6499
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