Who's Watching Dakar This Year?

I'm rooting for Robby Gordon to crash out on day one. He has by far the worst sportsmanship of any high-profile Dakar driver. The sooner he gets his ass handed to him and he goes back to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nascar.com/">Turn Left</a> racing, the better. Him and his mouth are an embarassment to motorsports and to the US. VW hiring Mark Miller was a smart move -- The Tuaregs are fine in the hands of sane, mature drivers (ie. not Robby Gordon).
 
<p>Earthbm, the closest trails <strong>were</strong> in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/">Cleveland National Forest</a> in the area surrounding Saddleback. Most of them are closed now due to the recent fire and are scheduled to remain closed until 11/08. I think Indian Truck Trail might be open and the Main Divide south of Indian might also be open. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/recreation/ohv/wildomar.shtml">Wildomar OHV</a> area may be open though it's supposed to rain again and that will close it for a while.</p>

<p>If you want to do some more serious off-roading, the nearest area is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1_____ENUS240&q=cleghorn+ohv">Cleghorn</a>.</p>
 
What channel will this be on? Versus? Don't have that channel sadly





I always enjoyed watching offroad racing, but it seems that folks in this country only care about racing that's strictly turning left.. I'm pissed that WRC was pulled off of Speed. Other than F1 coverage, Speed is Turn Left TV. Shame, they use to do Dakar coverage too..
 
<p>It's on Versus. Several years ago we'd get an edited version of Eurosport coverage with Toby Moody on Speed. Then it all went to hell in a handbasket. OLN used that Kirsten Gum twit and turned it into a dramatic quasi-reality format trainwreck. That lasted for only one year but the coverage is still very cursory compared to what we used to have. There's very little content for gearheads -- For example, since the loss of the Eurosport content, we have not heard a peep about David Fretigne's two-wheel drive 450cc Yamaha. Just a bunch of Robby Gordon worship. They're focusing on American drivers more than Eurosport did, but even then they're ignoring the American unknowns. Dakar has recently created a "SCORE" class to make it easier for people to bring over their Baja rigs (ProTrucks I believe) and some people have taken advantage of this. Again, not a peep of media coverage in the US unless the driver is Big Name.</p>

<p>It also took Versus (or was it OLN?) nearly a week of coverage to stop pronouncing <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Sainz">El Matador's</a> last name as "saints".</p>

<p></p>
 
eff -



The folks from VW didn't feel that way the year he ran for them.



He stopped in one stage for two hours and helped a teammate swap out a broken steering rack.



I take it you don't like Paul Tracy either?
 
I recall that Robby was ordered to give up his steering rack in an effort to keep Jutta Kleinschmidt on the podium. He was well behind in the overall standings at the time. VW spun it in a positive light -- "Look how nice our kids play together." Robby's commentary said otherwise. He also griped up a storm about the lack of suspension travel in the VW among other things. I can't believe they'd want him back.
 
<p>I want drivers who drive and leave it all out there on the track. Most drivers are prima donnas and egomaniacs. That's why they drive. The difference between Robby and everybody else is Robby says how he feels and everybody else has more decorum. </p>

<p>I remember in '96 when Robby was driving CART w/ Derick Walker at Mid Ohio (I think) when Robby's car was down 100hp from the rest of the Fords for some technical reason. They didn't get it fixed before the race, and it progressively got worse. Robby drove the whole track one or two gears too low against the rev limiter. The engine lasted about two laps. After burning the car down, Robby got out and burned Ford on national TV. The announcer made some comment about "That's the sound of bridges a burning." He was wrong. That was the sound of Ford burning Robby's personal services contract. And that's what I like about Robby - he just wants to win. Period I</p>

<p>n that sense, Robby's his own worst enemy. He's got talent, but he doesn't understand his limitations. And he doesn't take getting screwed well - a la the Busch race last year with Ambrose - who's an idiot for not pulling over in one and letting Robby go. I could tell with four to go before the green came out Robby was gonna hack Ambrose in one from my living rooom - the crew chief or the driver should of been fired on the spot for trying to protect thier position from a faster car who has been DQ's with a driver on a suicide mission.</p>

<p>Maybe Bob should of beat Robby more as a child or something.</p>

<p>Anyway, I dig team Blowout. Paul Tracy. Robby Gordon. Montoya. Maybe not Montoya. He wins.</p>
 
<p>"With 49 deaths in 29 years, the annual Dakar Rally off-road race...is the longest, the toughest, the most grueling and, no question about it, the most dangerous race in the world..." Sounds like a party! <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/27/sports/DAKAR.php">linky</a></p>

<p>The <a href="http://www.riderplanet.us/site.php/arti/read/women_racers/">women</a> motorcyclists of Dakar!</p>

<p>Dakar Rally <a href="http://www.topix.com/wire/racing/dakar-rally">Wire</a></p>

<p> </p>
 
No-Vas



I agree about the 'quiche" racers vs the good 'ole boys like Foyt, Andretti, Jones, and in the current era drivers like Stewart, Earnhardt Sr, Tracy and Gordon.



These guys believe that winning is the only thing and second place is just the first loser. Most ot he drivers I listed will drive anything, anywhere, anytime and will win.



They don't have an interest in being PC, making friends, or being liked. They do what they do and do it well.



For some reason I really like that attitude.



When people look back at the history of winners these are the guys who will be remembered not the good guy runner ups.



Enjoy!
 
<p>I like Stewart and Sr for the same reasons. I was afraid to put Robby and "those guys" in the same catagory because, like Montoya, they win. But so do Paul and Robby. They just have their moments where all they seem to do is crash and fight.</p>

<p>Foyt, Andretti, Jones............you could add Donahue and Senna to that list too, but they weren't nearly as emotional. Just cutthroat and fast. </p>
 
<p>An apparently recent announcement that the event is cancelled.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22502229/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22502229/</a></p>

<p>SCHB</p>
 
<p>If they don't hold the race, the terrorists will have won.</p>

<p>Ok, just kidding. Security is a nightmare for this rally. I would not be surprised to see this rally completely reinvented in the near future. Europe to Senegal is probably no longer feasible.</p>
 
That sucks. There have been hostile acts in the past. The teams used C-130 aircraft for chase vehicles and had armed guards at the overnight locations.



Life is getting very different!



Enjoy!
 
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