afx Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) I love this event! I was just checking the official website to try an figure out what network in the US was covering this event and could find nothing! The lack of attention this event garners in the US is appalling. How do you, fellow Dakar fans follow this event? Edited December 16, 2014 by afx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunkypeanutbutter Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I used to watch it on the Speed channel, but we don't get cable anymore. Now the only rally I can watch is the Baja when it comes around on X-Games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o-man Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 The past few years, NBCSN has carried it. I'm sure there is some type of European torrent that could be watched, but I have no idea how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZIL 111V Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) Remember following this epic rally back in the 80s, best accurate infos on this rally was in... French! In North America, back then...mostly nobody knew what was: Paris/Dakar! Edited December 16, 2014 by ZIL 111V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyK Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I couldn't remember what channel had it but NBCSN was probably the one I caught the highlights on each year. Seemed they had it on at 11pm Pacific time each night so I'd just record it and watch the next day. Such a great event! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 Remember following this epic rally back in the 80s, best accurate infos on this rally was in... French! In North America, back then...mostly nobody knew what was: Paris/Dakar! Yea unfortunately politics forced them to move the race from Africa to South America. The race/rally is still just as spectacular and grueling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o-man Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Yea unfortunately politics forced them to move the race from Africa to South America. The race/rally is still just as spectacular and grueling. If you mean politics like security concerns for participants then yes, you are correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 (edited) If you mean politics like security concerns for participants then yes, you are correct There were multiple issues, locals being struck and killed, livestock being struck and killed, environmental issues, economic issues and so on, but the warlord threats were apparently the last straw. Edited December 17, 2014 by afx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrGlueblob Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 So, -what do they call the event now? I always loved rally cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) So, -what do they call the event now? I always loved rally cars. It used to be called the "Paris-Dakar Rally". It's now just called "The Dakar" Here is some history from Wikipedia. Edited December 18, 2014 by afx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Looks like it is on NBCSN again this year: 4:30 PM EST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 (edited) Imagine Trucks as big as the ones that collect our recycling bins tearing across desert dunes and rocky trails in 120 degree heat for two weeks and 5600 miles day after day with nothing more than a dotted map to guide them, a dotted map of a vast empty landscape. Imagine a lone motorcycle rider with nothing but an LED screen with a guide that only gives him land marks to do the same, with nothing but what he carries to get him through breakdowns, hazards and for some, lone nights lost in a prestine landscape void of mercy. Imagine a car or small truck doing 125 miles an hour down a sand dune and finding nothing but a rollover waiting for it at the bottom. Imagine spending over one million dollars on one vehicles' effort to enter. Imagine manufacturers spending over 8 million dollars to send a team of 4 or 5 vehichles. Most of which will fail to see the finish line if at all the half way point known as "rest day". Imagine this is all done criss crossing the unforgiving yet beautiful landscape of Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. If you can capture that vision, that chaos and the ruthless traveling to become the one team who can say after 15 days they not only survived the tougest race on the entire planet but did it in the shortest time, then you are talking about the Dakar Rally. 168 motorcycles, 50 quads, 143 cars and 67 giant trucks will be put against the elements in the 2015 Dakar Rally. Set to run January 4th to the 17th it will be broadcast on the NBC sports network at 4:30 pm Monday January 5th with updates every day there after to keep you up to date on the previous days action. This years Rally promises to be another great spectacle, and, one can only wonder what unforseen events lay ahead. In 2008 terrorists threatned certain competitors and sanctions and the event was cancelled. From that year forward the rally has ben run in South America. where it was moved from the original course from Paris France to North Africa. Rivers flooding their banks and washing out trails leaving competitors unable to continue or stranded have been one example of how the landscape and terrain always play a huge part in determing the outcome. It's hard to imagine how such wonderful and prestine beauty could be such a deadly foe, yet it is, and it loves to play it's part. Aside from the geographical and geological challenges that have racers sometimes running in all but the right direction, the scale of effort put forth by each team plays a deciding factor as well. And that's where we come in. The United States. We have one entry in the Cars, with over 140 cars running, only one American team. It's not a big team with backing in the millions of dollars like Mini Cooper with 10 cars entered or like Toyota who has more than that many running, not all factory backed teams mind you but when compared to the one lone United States entry one can hardly see the point in splitting hairs. Peugeot has a new bigtime team this year with multiple entires. Peugeot though not a big name here in the states is a force to be considered, and make no mistake this a global race with global entries that feature efforts from around the world. And those far reaching efforts bring us back to where we started, our single car entry. Being headed by Robby Gordon a noted Indy car driver and NASCAR driver he also carries many championships in other forms of racing including the 24 hours of Daytona. With multiple stage wins in the Dakar Rally already to his credit Robby Gordon knows his business around the rocks and has full intent on bringing this years Dakar Championship home to the States. Home to his shop in North Carolina where the vehicle, "The Gordini" was built, built from the ground up and is not connected to any big multimillion dollar board meeting but more to a tireless group of guys who rely as much on a tape measure and a sandwich that the big boys do on a stock market report and the price of gold. Make no mistake, this team, although they chose to drive down a highway with strips attached to the Gordini to test air flow rather than spend thousands on a wind tunnel, they have a first class built for speed operation. Air flow for a desert race you ask? Well, at 110 plus degrees air tempreture, getting ever aspect of cooling into the engine and in the vehicle is critical....not to mention last year when the Gordini was doing 120 miles an hour down a sand dune, or was it 140 miles an hour....160? No matter, speed is a main focus on some stretches and on sponsorship. That's where some of the funding comes from, Speed Energy Drink, Toyo Tires and Traxxas remote control. I'm sure every T was crossed and every I was dotted for this years event. It's the biggest race in the world being entered by the biggest heart in the racing world from greatest country in the world with one the smallest teams in the world. How can you go wrong with that? Follow along as the rally unfolds on NBC Sports Network 4:30 PM starting Monday January 5th and each day there after. For greater detail you can join Robby Gordons fan page and information hot spot at planetrobby.com Edited January 2, 2015 by afx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatW Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 (edited) It's on Eurosport here in the UK. I've watched it virtually since it was first run. Friends from UK and SA mechanic for major teams, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mini and on various bikes. Superb competition, the last real long-distance Rally Raid! The other ECO-Dakar is being run at present through some of the African countries that the Paris-Dakar used to use. Edited January 2, 2015 by PatW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 Stage 1 in the books. Short easy stage to let the competitors shake out their machines. Gets a lot tougher today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 (edited) There was a death during stage 3, a motorcycle rider. Tackling the Dakar on a bike is especially dangerous. Not only do you have the risk of accident but also the sheer physical exertion of the competition. Rest in peace Michal Hernik. Edited January 8, 2015 by afx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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