-
Hi everyone,
As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.
When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.
Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.
Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.
Thanks for your patience and support!
Dakar 2012
- Thread starter Ruffus
- Start date
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
Dakar 2012, Stage 4
San Juan - Chilecito
714 km in total, 326 km special test
Goncalves gains ground
Paulo Goncalves finished today´s Dakar stage in fifth position. The Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain rider gained valuable time against his closest rivals, as everyone endured a long and difficult test through the Rioja canyons.
Goncalves started the day as third and quickly found his rhythm. He had race leader Cyril Despres in sight around the 80 km mark, but made a navigation error at a difficult waypoint when he momentarily lost concentration. This mistake costed the Portuguese almost ten minutes. Keeping up his front-runner speed, Goncalves afterwards rode together with Marc Coma, Helder Rodrigues and Frans Verhoeven until the end of the stage - the closing kilometres through a muddy river bed.
"More would have been possible today," he said. "I´m mad at myself having made the mistake. It´s positive though that I found and kept a good rhythm. The bike worked flawlessly."
Zé Hélio rode a determined stage, stayed out of trouble and used the day to improve to 16th overall. Meanwhile teammate Joan Barreda experienced a disappointing outcome. The Spaniard was lying fourth at the first checkpoint, but his rear wheel broke 70 km from the finish. Together with Jose Manuel Pellicer he eventually made it to Chilecito.
Thursday offers the white dunes of Fiambalá. Things are going to be very challenging. The riders will need a good eye and superb navigation in the 247 kilometres long special test. The connecting stage is rather short
(151 km).
1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM, 4:16:43 hrs
2. Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM, 2:02 min behind 3. Frans Verhoeven (NEL) Sherco, 8:26 4. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha, 9:01 5. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 11:18 21. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 30:29 62. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 1:25:17 70. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 1:35:58
Overall standings
1. Despres, 11:50:27 hrs
2. Coma, 8:10 min behind
3. Rodrigues, 26:48
4. Francisco Lopez (CHI) Aprilia, 29:50
6. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 35:16 16. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 1:15:57 36. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 2:30:09 45. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 3:00:44
San Juan - Chilecito
714 km in total, 326 km special test
Goncalves gains ground
Paulo Goncalves finished today´s Dakar stage in fifth position. The Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain rider gained valuable time against his closest rivals, as everyone endured a long and difficult test through the Rioja canyons.
Goncalves started the day as third and quickly found his rhythm. He had race leader Cyril Despres in sight around the 80 km mark, but made a navigation error at a difficult waypoint when he momentarily lost concentration. This mistake costed the Portuguese almost ten minutes. Keeping up his front-runner speed, Goncalves afterwards rode together with Marc Coma, Helder Rodrigues and Frans Verhoeven until the end of the stage - the closing kilometres through a muddy river bed.
"More would have been possible today," he said. "I´m mad at myself having made the mistake. It´s positive though that I found and kept a good rhythm. The bike worked flawlessly."
Zé Hélio rode a determined stage, stayed out of trouble and used the day to improve to 16th overall. Meanwhile teammate Joan Barreda experienced a disappointing outcome. The Spaniard was lying fourth at the first checkpoint, but his rear wheel broke 70 km from the finish. Together with Jose Manuel Pellicer he eventually made it to Chilecito.
Thursday offers the white dunes of Fiambalá. Things are going to be very challenging. The riders will need a good eye and superb navigation in the 247 kilometres long special test. The connecting stage is rather short
(151 km).
1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM, 4:16:43 hrs
2. Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM, 2:02 min behind 3. Frans Verhoeven (NEL) Sherco, 8:26 4. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha, 9:01 5. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 11:18 21. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 30:29 62. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 1:25:17 70. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 1:35:58
Overall standings
1. Despres, 11:50:27 hrs
2. Coma, 8:10 min behind
3. Rodrigues, 26:48
4. Francisco Lopez (CHI) Aprilia, 29:50
6. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 35:16 16. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 1:15:57 36. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 2:30:09 45. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 3:00:44
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
A cool site by Ned with daily updates. http://rallyraidio.net/
Pretty neat being able to hear his experiences throughout that days stage.
Pretty neat being able to hear his experiences throughout that days stage.
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
Live Comments
Virtual Standings
Pos.N°NameMakeTimeVariationPenalty
1 002 DESPRES (FRA) KTM 001:45:56 00:00:00
2 001 COMA (ESP) KTM 001:46:54 00:00:58 00:00:00
3 003 RODRIGUES (PRT) YAMAHA 001:50:54 00:04:58 00:00:00
4 023 BARREDA BORT (ESP) HUSQVARNA 001:56:06 00:10:10 00:00:00
5 032 SVITKO (SVK) KTM 001:56:28 00:10:32 00:00:00
6 014 CASTEU (FRA) YAMAHA 001:56:28 00:10:32 00:00:00
7 010 VILADOMS (ESP) KTM 001:56:35 00:10:39 00:00:00
8 008 FARIA (PRT) KTM 001:57:09 00:11:13 00:00:00
9 006 ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 001:57:23 00:11:27 00:00:00
10 004 LOPEZ (CHL) APRILIA 002:00:29 00:14:33 00:00:00
11 020 FARRES GUELL (ESP) KTM 002:00:37 00:14:41 00:00:00
12 016 PAIN (FRA) YAMAHA 002:01:44 00:15:48 00:00:00
13 007 GONCALVES (PRT) Husqvarna 002:02:17 00:16:21 00:00:00
14 027 PIZZOLITO (ARG) HONDA 002:02:37 00:16:41 00:00:00
15 017 CZACHOR (POL) KTM 002:03:13 00:17:17 00:00:00
16 005 PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) KTM 002:03:24 00:17:28 00:00:00
17 028 ZANOL (BRA) KTM 002:03:55 00:17:59 00:00:00
18 034 BOTTURI (ITA) KTM 002:05:21 00:19:25 00:00:00
19 144 CURTIS (ZAF) KTM 002:09:40 00:23:44 00:00:00
20 026 RODRIGUES FILHO (BRA) HUQSVARNA 002:09:43 00:23:47 00:00:00
21 183 RODRIGUEZ (ARG) HONDA 002:10:16 00:24:20 00:00:00
22 021 AUBERT (FRA) KTM 002:11:10 00:25:14 00:00:00
23 012 PELLICER (ESP) HUSQVARNA 002:11:29 00:25:33 00:00:00
24 048 LIEFHEBBER (NLD) KTM 002:11:38 00:25:42 00:00:00
25 033 BETHYS (FRA) YAMAHA 002:13:04 00:27:08 00:00:00
26 018 KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM 002:13:14 00:27:18 00:00:00
27 064 SCHRÖDER (DEU) KTM 002:13:23 00:27:27 00:00:00
28 043 PISANO (FRA) KTM 002:13:35 00:27:39 00:00:00
29 082 GUINDANI (FRA) YAMAHA 002:14:44 00:28:48 00:00:00
30 057 WILLEMSEN (NLD) HONDA 002:16:54 00:30:58 00:00:00
31 039 GYENES (ROU) KTM 002:17:54 00:31:58 00:00:00
32 041 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA (Transformada) 002:19:15 00:33:19 00:00:00
33 024 STANOVNIK (SVN) KTM 002:19:22 00:33:26 00:00:00
34 040 SERRADORI (FRA) KTM 002:20:01 00:34:05 00:00:00
35 022 DUCLOS (FRA) APRILIA 002:21:19 00:35:23 00:00:00
36 042 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA 002:26:16 00:40:20 00:00:00
37 049 DABROWSKI (POL) KTM 002:26:48 00:40:52 00:00:00
38 066 LORMAND (FRA) YAMAHA 002:27:49 00:41:53 00:00:00
39 035 CECI (ITA) KTM 002:27:57 00:42:01 00:00:00
40 145 NUTTALL (AUS) KTM 002:29:46 00:43:50 00:00:00
41 081 SUESSE (USA) KTM 002:29:52 00:43:56 00:00:00
42 050 SALVATIERRA (BOL) HONDA 002:31:13 00:45:17 00:00:00
43 110 BIRCH (NZL) KTM 002:31:45 00:45:49 00:00:00
44 086 MUNK (DNK) KTM 002:32:10 00:46:14 00:00:00
45 168 GUIRAL (ARG) HONDA 002:32:39 00:46:43 00:00:00
46 058 PUERTAS HERRERA (ESP) YAMAHA 002:33:16 00:47:20 00:00:00
47 071 BUTUZA (ROU) HONDA 002:33:21 00:47:25 00:00:00
48 185 SANCHEZ (ARG) KAWASAKI 002:35:43 00:49:47 00:00:00
49 067 BALOOSHI (ARE) KTM 002:36:31 00:50:35 00:00:00
50 075 BUSIN (ARG) YAMAHA 002:40:19 00:54:23 00:00:00
51 065 LAZARD (URY) YAMAHA 002:43:44 00:57:48 00:00:00
52 087 MEILLAT (FRA) KAWASAKI 002:43:55 00:57:59 00:00:00
53 172 LUCCHESE (ITA) HUSABERG 002:44:18 00:58:22 00:00:00
54 069 PAYEN (FRA) YAMAHA 002:44:32 00:58:36 00:00:00
55 138 LECOQ (FRA) YAMAHA 002:46:03 01:00:07 00:00:00
56 061 MATTOS (BRA) KTM 002:48:12 01:02:16 00:00:00
57 089 NASCIMENTO (BRA) HONDA 002:48:59 01:03:03 00:00:00
58 181 RIOS (PER) KTM 002:50:34 01:04:38 00:00:00
59 030 GUASCH (ESP) GAS - GAS 002:52:09 01:06:13 00:00:00
60 045 SANZ PLA-GILIBERT (ESP) GAS - GAS 002:54:32 01:08:36 00:00:00
61 051 ARREDONDO (GTM) KTM 002:54:34 01:08:38 00:00:00
62 060 WATT (GBR) KTM 002:58:44 01:12:48 00:00:00
63 154 GAJDOSECH (ARG) YAMAHA 003:01:26 01:15:30 00:00:00
64 053 RODRIGUEZ (CHL) HONDA 003:07:37 01:21:41 00:00:00
65 100 VESELY (CZE) YAMAHA 003:08:36 01:22:40 00:00:00
66 085 PENATE MUNOZ (ESP) KTM 003:14:08 01:28:12 00:00:00
67 111 ESPINASSE (FRA) SHERCO 003:16:39 01:30:43 00:00:00
68 077 PICCO (ITA) YAMAHA 003:17:50 01:31:54 00:00:00
69 062 SCHWARZ (AUS) HUSABERG 003:18:26 01:32:30 00:00:00
70 149 CIPKA (SVK) BMW 003:21:08 01:35:12 00:00:00
71 165 MULDER (NLD) HONDA 003:23:54 01:37:58 00:00:00
72 059 CIOTTI (ITA) RIEJU 003:25:43 01:39:47 00:00:00
73 046 BIANCHI PRATA (PRT) HUSQUARNA 003:27:03 01:41:07 00:00:00
74 029 BERGLUND (SWE) HUSABERG 003:28:25 01:42:29 00:00:00
75 177 VAN GEEL (NLD) HONDA 003:31:25 01:45:29 00:00:00
76 092 HAMARD (FRA) KTM 003:34:09 01:48:13 00:00:00
77 099 CHERPIN (FRA) KTM 003:37:41 01:51:45 00:00:00
78 170 KREIDL (AUT) KTM 003:38:11 01:52:15 00:00:00
79 056 MENARD (FRA) YAMAHA 003:40:40 01:54:44 00:00:00
80 074 KOFMAN (NLD) KTM 003:43:24 01:57:28 00:00:00
81 091 TONETTI (ITA) HONDA 003:45:05 01:59:09 00:00:00
82 068 BARROT (FRA) YAMAHA 003:51:23 02:05:27 00:00:00
83 015 VERHOEVEN (NLD) SHERCO 004:08:48 02:22:52 00:00:00
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
16:23 Bikes: Borreda Bort sneaks into third place
Young Spaniard Juan Borreda Bort, twelfth to start, has just achieved the third best time of the day, 12’42” behind Cyril Despres. Jordi Viladoms has also shone in this special stage by picking up the fifth best time, 14’17” behind the day’s winner, ahead of Pal Anders Ullevalseter. The Norwegian completed the timed section 14’41” behind the day’s best time, finishing in front of Chilean Francisco Lopez (19’10” behind Despres).
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
STAGE 6 FIAMBALA-COPIAPO CANCELLED
Due to the bad weather continuing over the Andes Cordillera (rain and snow), the Chilean authorities were forced to close, for the night, the border at Paso de San Francisco, situated at 4700m.
For the 7th time, the Dakar is about to cross over the Andes, and because of very unfavourable conditions, added to the fact that the course has been hit by rain and snow, in order to guarantee the security of the competitors and those following the rally, the organisers have decided to organise a convoy for all vehicles tomorrow. The itinerary has been changed after the border (follow the main road on the right which goes to Diego de Almagro).
Due to the bad weather continuing over the Andes Cordillera (rain and snow), the Chilean authorities were forced to close, for the night, the border at Paso de San Francisco, situated at 4700m.
For the 7th time, the Dakar is about to cross over the Andes, and because of very unfavourable conditions, added to the fact that the course has been hit by rain and snow, in order to guarantee the security of the competitors and those following the rally, the organisers have decided to organise a convoy for all vehicles tomorrow. The itinerary has been changed after the border (follow the main road on the right which goes to Diego de Almagro).
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
BC61's Dakar story
BC2DAKAR
January 5, 2012
Race Day
By bc61
The Race – Day 1
Early start to day one, we wake at approximately 4:30 am, there are still New Year´s Eve revellers lighting off fireworks and going crazy in the streets. Chris Vestal gives me, Ned and Jonah a ride to parc ferme´. Our official wrist bands get us down the closed roads and right to the gate. It was logistically best for the team for us all to arrive together but that meant a wait for Ned and even longer wait for myself before we could get to our bikes. I managed to get into parc ferme´ a little earlier than the 30 minute window allotted. The extra time was handy as I needed to make adjustments to the ICO, load the road book and just get settled.
Time to go. Leaving parc ferme´ I´m given my time card and take note how much time I have to make the 145 kilometer liaison. Riding down the road leaving town it was impressive how many people came out to watch the show leave town. The roads were packed even when we were in the middle of nowhere people were camped out under the lone shade tree excited to see us ride by. They waved, cheered and snapped pictures like crazy. Any time we came to a stop people would come running up to get a photo. The excitement and enthusiasm of the locals was incredible, and I really didn´t feel I deserved it. They made the effort for us and I felt compelled to wave and acknowledge them back.
Made it to the start of the special, bikes were lined up and the front runners were long gone. Only about a fifteen minute wait and it was my time. I could see the first kilometer of the route from the dust trail wind along the coastal shore line. From the dust being kicked up from the previous riders I knew I did not want to get caught in the trail of the rider starting next to me, the hole shot was important. I planned to get safely through the first stage, not get caught up ´´racing´´ anyone, but getting stuck in some ones dust sucks. I could tell the moment we left the line the rider next to me had no intentions of racing. Easy enough, it was time to enjoy the ride, get through safely with giving up as little time as possible. Things started well as the trail was a rough hard pack mix of sand and stone with a few danger sections to watch out for. This turned into a sand trail that was very soft and wooped out from the previous 180 riders. Not very fun as the bike just did not want to go straight and I didn´t feel comfortable attacking the woops with speed yet. The full tanks made the bike feel like the front wanted to fold in the bottom of each, not comforting and it was giving me arm pump in my throttle arm. This rarely happens and if it does I can usually shake it off fairly quickly. Unfortunately with the deep soft sand woops I couldn’t really get the hand off the bar. This went on for probably ten plus kilomteres, not fun. Eventually we made our way onto the beach where I could find somewhat hard packed surface that wasn´t too rutted. Leaving the beach brought us to a dune section that was very narrow in where we had to navigate. With so many riders before me the route was easy to follow but the sand was now extremely chewed up and loose. The first few climbs went well. Then I approached the first of what would be the two largest dunes of the day, not very big but again chewed up and loose. I began to come across more riders as they struggled in the sand. I made it up no problem but I could tell the motor was working hard. Eventually I approached what was the largest dune climb of the day, there was a considerable drop approaching it but a steep transition climbing so caring big speed approaching really wasn´t possible. I noticed some harder packed sand to the right and a few tire trails that went that direction and then traversed diagonally back to the left and over. Looked good to me until I was already committed, the face of the dune was much steeper than it appeared from the distance, a quick reminder of depth perception can be tricky in the dunes. As I made way diagonally across and up with good momentum the front just started to slide more and more eventually pointing down the face. It was time to ride down the dune, across the bowl and go up from the other side. Should have been easy enough but the more the front turned down the more it dug in to eventually burying itself quickly before I could shift my weight and the bike fell to the downhill side. Not the clean start I wanted and a quick mental note not to go for creative lines in the dunes. Embarrassed there was a huge crowd watching but thankful as many came rushing and had the bike lifted before I could give any kind of direction. The front was still buried deep, it took some time to get it moving again. I made my way down the face of the dune up the steep drop leading to the dune and kind of made my way around to the back side of the dune but needed to make my way back to the top for the way point. This little mishap probably cost me five minutes. Time wasn’t too much of a concern for me on this stage but I wanted to ride clean. The back side of the dune led us to hard pack rocky roads, time to open the Husky up. The road felt like running down corduroy with the bike weaving nonstop, something I was used too and comfortable with which allowed me to gain ground on many competitors. These roads ran for probably 8k and finished the stage. Road past a crowd of people and a stopped bike up right on its kickstand. I learned that evening a French rider died there.
Once the stage was over it there where tons of riders stopped and chatting but I knew it was time to keep moving as we had another 600k´s to the bivouac.
Once again there were people along the route, even in the remotest of areas. They waved and cheered like we were rock stars. The appreciation they showed when waved back too was moving. I saw many of riders ride on by but when someone acknowledged them they went nuts. They made an effort for us I needed to do the same. This started to take a toll and conserving energy way key, even on the liaisons. I kept waving but it some became a modified forearm resting on the bar hand in the air kind of wave. This went on for hundreds of kilometres.
I was approaching Bahia Blanca and the bike started missing. Looked at the middle tank and could see it was running low. This shouldn´t be the case as I knew I another hundred kilometres plus of fuel left. I stopped a local on a dirt bike and he directed me toward a gas station, fortunately it was on the main route. Not an official gas stop I stopped any way as I need to fill the other tanks and see what was wrong. I got mobbed at the gas station people came from everywhere, snapping pictures, asking questions I couldn´t understand and wanting to touch me. The culture is different here for sure. They are very touchy feely and want to be close or hanging on to you. Many pictures where taken as I filled up and then it was time to leave.
Going into Bahia Blanca the roads were close down for the Dakar machinery parade, wasn´t expecting this. In the middle of town there was a check point and a water/food stop. Perfect timing, I was hot, hungry, thirsty and needed to get off the bike without getting mobbed. Made a quick stop then off again. Leaving the center of town the crowds were even bigger. People would run into the street as riders slowed hoping we would stop for pictures and autographs. Extremely friendly but now starting to get more aggressive as we would stop at traffic lights, running up and grabbing or throwing an arm around me as someone took our picture. A few times I felt like I was going to be pulled over. A strategy of slowing before the lights and hopefully never having to full stop usually kept the crowds opening up a lane as I made my way forward. It kind of looked like what you see in the Tour de France.
Continuing on with the liaison I still had several hundred kilometres to go. Only 100k from the last gas stop the bike is running low again. I pull over to check what´s up. Now the neither the front nor rear tanks are flowing to the middle tank with the fuel pump. A simple temporary fix of opening the gas tanks released the vacuum and fuel began to flow again. Not sure if the front tank would be a problem again I stopped short of the official gas stop to top off. This proved later to be a good call. I continued on but played with the gas caps as I was riding down the road trying to release any vacuum build up so the fuel would flow properly. When I made it to the rally station it was packed with competitors and support vehicles. It would probably take 45 minutes to get fuelled there. I knew I had enough gas to make the last 75k and even if it did not syphon properly to the middle tank I could remove the front tank and dump it into the rear tank quicker than dealing with the crowd at the gas station. I continued on only to start sputtering about fifteen k later. No big deal, I pulled over and began removing the front tank. Many locals as well as other support vehicles stopped to offer assistance. I let them know I was ok and resumed moving forward shortly.
Up until this point I was impressed that the liaison, though long it really wasn´t that bad. That quickly turned. For the last hour I was ready to get off the bike. Riding down the road I was working out in my head the possible causes of the fueling problems and various solutions. The heat was getting worse and 450 miles on dirt bike droning down the highway isn´t the most exciting riding one can do. As I approached Santa Rosa, bivouac location for the night, I started to wonder the proper procedure for fuel for the next day. Do I need to come in full or is there a gas stop first thing in the road book. Not sure I decide to stop at the official rally gas station at the beginning of town. Not many competitors there but security was lax compared to the other official stations and was quickly swarmed by people pulling and tugging before I even came to a stop. Everyone from little kids to grandparents wanted photos, autographs and hugs. Women and girls were grabbing my head kissing my helmet. It took much longer than expected to get out of there with the large crowd and I was ready to get off the bike. Made my way through Santa Rosa, huge crowds same as everywhere before. I was hot, hungry tired and honestly kind of over the crowds by now as I ready to get off the bike but I still felt like I needed to show the respect they gave us so the forearm resting on the handle bar salute continued for several miles.
Finally arriving at the bivouac I was ready to be done. It took a few minutes to locate the crew and I was spent. The commute that started easy got old toward the end. I rolled in at 7pm. Jonah and Ned, arriving considerably earlier than me due our start times, looked relaxed and fresh by now. Ned with his big grin asked me how cool was it to be racing in the Dakar and wasn´t this fun. I told him fun left about an hour and a half ago.
Tim was busy working on Ned´s bike and I did not want to interrupt him so after cooling off a bit I gathered my stuff, hit the shower grabbed some dinner. After eating I headed back to our camp and began working on my road book. Finished with the road book I was ready for bed but Tim was wrapping up Ned´s bike and I did not want to interrupt. I knew I need to explain to Tim how the fuel system worked, what was going wrong. Tim needed to take the front tank off to look at the system routing for us to sort out possible solutions. It was 11:30 before I made it to bed.
Bikes lined up at the special.
BC2DAKAR
January 5, 2012
Race Day
By bc61
The Race – Day 1
Early start to day one, we wake at approximately 4:30 am, there are still New Year´s Eve revellers lighting off fireworks and going crazy in the streets. Chris Vestal gives me, Ned and Jonah a ride to parc ferme´. Our official wrist bands get us down the closed roads and right to the gate. It was logistically best for the team for us all to arrive together but that meant a wait for Ned and even longer wait for myself before we could get to our bikes. I managed to get into parc ferme´ a little earlier than the 30 minute window allotted. The extra time was handy as I needed to make adjustments to the ICO, load the road book and just get settled.
Time to go. Leaving parc ferme´ I´m given my time card and take note how much time I have to make the 145 kilometer liaison. Riding down the road leaving town it was impressive how many people came out to watch the show leave town. The roads were packed even when we were in the middle of nowhere people were camped out under the lone shade tree excited to see us ride by. They waved, cheered and snapped pictures like crazy. Any time we came to a stop people would come running up to get a photo. The excitement and enthusiasm of the locals was incredible, and I really didn´t feel I deserved it. They made the effort for us and I felt compelled to wave and acknowledge them back.
Made it to the start of the special, bikes were lined up and the front runners were long gone. Only about a fifteen minute wait and it was my time. I could see the first kilometer of the route from the dust trail wind along the coastal shore line. From the dust being kicked up from the previous riders I knew I did not want to get caught in the trail of the rider starting next to me, the hole shot was important. I planned to get safely through the first stage, not get caught up ´´racing´´ anyone, but getting stuck in some ones dust sucks. I could tell the moment we left the line the rider next to me had no intentions of racing. Easy enough, it was time to enjoy the ride, get through safely with giving up as little time as possible. Things started well as the trail was a rough hard pack mix of sand and stone with a few danger sections to watch out for. This turned into a sand trail that was very soft and wooped out from the previous 180 riders. Not very fun as the bike just did not want to go straight and I didn´t feel comfortable attacking the woops with speed yet. The full tanks made the bike feel like the front wanted to fold in the bottom of each, not comforting and it was giving me arm pump in my throttle arm. This rarely happens and if it does I can usually shake it off fairly quickly. Unfortunately with the deep soft sand woops I couldn’t really get the hand off the bar. This went on for probably ten plus kilomteres, not fun. Eventually we made our way onto the beach where I could find somewhat hard packed surface that wasn´t too rutted. Leaving the beach brought us to a dune section that was very narrow in where we had to navigate. With so many riders before me the route was easy to follow but the sand was now extremely chewed up and loose. The first few climbs went well. Then I approached the first of what would be the two largest dunes of the day, not very big but again chewed up and loose. I began to come across more riders as they struggled in the sand. I made it up no problem but I could tell the motor was working hard. Eventually I approached what was the largest dune climb of the day, there was a considerable drop approaching it but a steep transition climbing so caring big speed approaching really wasn´t possible. I noticed some harder packed sand to the right and a few tire trails that went that direction and then traversed diagonally back to the left and over. Looked good to me until I was already committed, the face of the dune was much steeper than it appeared from the distance, a quick reminder of depth perception can be tricky in the dunes. As I made way diagonally across and up with good momentum the front just started to slide more and more eventually pointing down the face. It was time to ride down the dune, across the bowl and go up from the other side. Should have been easy enough but the more the front turned down the more it dug in to eventually burying itself quickly before I could shift my weight and the bike fell to the downhill side. Not the clean start I wanted and a quick mental note not to go for creative lines in the dunes. Embarrassed there was a huge crowd watching but thankful as many came rushing and had the bike lifted before I could give any kind of direction. The front was still buried deep, it took some time to get it moving again. I made my way down the face of the dune up the steep drop leading to the dune and kind of made my way around to the back side of the dune but needed to make my way back to the top for the way point. This little mishap probably cost me five minutes. Time wasn’t too much of a concern for me on this stage but I wanted to ride clean. The back side of the dune led us to hard pack rocky roads, time to open the Husky up. The road felt like running down corduroy with the bike weaving nonstop, something I was used too and comfortable with which allowed me to gain ground on many competitors. These roads ran for probably 8k and finished the stage. Road past a crowd of people and a stopped bike up right on its kickstand. I learned that evening a French rider died there.
Once the stage was over it there where tons of riders stopped and chatting but I knew it was time to keep moving as we had another 600k´s to the bivouac.
Once again there were people along the route, even in the remotest of areas. They waved and cheered like we were rock stars. The appreciation they showed when waved back too was moving. I saw many of riders ride on by but when someone acknowledged them they went nuts. They made an effort for us I needed to do the same. This started to take a toll and conserving energy way key, even on the liaisons. I kept waving but it some became a modified forearm resting on the bar hand in the air kind of wave. This went on for hundreds of kilometres.
I was approaching Bahia Blanca and the bike started missing. Looked at the middle tank and could see it was running low. This shouldn´t be the case as I knew I another hundred kilometres plus of fuel left. I stopped a local on a dirt bike and he directed me toward a gas station, fortunately it was on the main route. Not an official gas stop I stopped any way as I need to fill the other tanks and see what was wrong. I got mobbed at the gas station people came from everywhere, snapping pictures, asking questions I couldn´t understand and wanting to touch me. The culture is different here for sure. They are very touchy feely and want to be close or hanging on to you. Many pictures where taken as I filled up and then it was time to leave.
Going into Bahia Blanca the roads were close down for the Dakar machinery parade, wasn´t expecting this. In the middle of town there was a check point and a water/food stop. Perfect timing, I was hot, hungry, thirsty and needed to get off the bike without getting mobbed. Made a quick stop then off again. Leaving the center of town the crowds were even bigger. People would run into the street as riders slowed hoping we would stop for pictures and autographs. Extremely friendly but now starting to get more aggressive as we would stop at traffic lights, running up and grabbing or throwing an arm around me as someone took our picture. A few times I felt like I was going to be pulled over. A strategy of slowing before the lights and hopefully never having to full stop usually kept the crowds opening up a lane as I made my way forward. It kind of looked like what you see in the Tour de France.
Continuing on with the liaison I still had several hundred kilometres to go. Only 100k from the last gas stop the bike is running low again. I pull over to check what´s up. Now the neither the front nor rear tanks are flowing to the middle tank with the fuel pump. A simple temporary fix of opening the gas tanks released the vacuum and fuel began to flow again. Not sure if the front tank would be a problem again I stopped short of the official gas stop to top off. This proved later to be a good call. I continued on but played with the gas caps as I was riding down the road trying to release any vacuum build up so the fuel would flow properly. When I made it to the rally station it was packed with competitors and support vehicles. It would probably take 45 minutes to get fuelled there. I knew I had enough gas to make the last 75k and even if it did not syphon properly to the middle tank I could remove the front tank and dump it into the rear tank quicker than dealing with the crowd at the gas station. I continued on only to start sputtering about fifteen k later. No big deal, I pulled over and began removing the front tank. Many locals as well as other support vehicles stopped to offer assistance. I let them know I was ok and resumed moving forward shortly.
Up until this point I was impressed that the liaison, though long it really wasn´t that bad. That quickly turned. For the last hour I was ready to get off the bike. Riding down the road I was working out in my head the possible causes of the fueling problems and various solutions. The heat was getting worse and 450 miles on dirt bike droning down the highway isn´t the most exciting riding one can do. As I approached Santa Rosa, bivouac location for the night, I started to wonder the proper procedure for fuel for the next day. Do I need to come in full or is there a gas stop first thing in the road book. Not sure I decide to stop at the official rally gas station at the beginning of town. Not many competitors there but security was lax compared to the other official stations and was quickly swarmed by people pulling and tugging before I even came to a stop. Everyone from little kids to grandparents wanted photos, autographs and hugs. Women and girls were grabbing my head kissing my helmet. It took much longer than expected to get out of there with the large crowd and I was ready to get off the bike. Made my way through Santa Rosa, huge crowds same as everywhere before. I was hot, hungry tired and honestly kind of over the crowds by now as I ready to get off the bike but I still felt like I needed to show the respect they gave us so the forearm resting on the handle bar salute continued for several miles.
Finally arriving at the bivouac I was ready to be done. It took a few minutes to locate the crew and I was spent. The commute that started easy got old toward the end. I rolled in at 7pm. Jonah and Ned, arriving considerably earlier than me due our start times, looked relaxed and fresh by now. Ned with his big grin asked me how cool was it to be racing in the Dakar and wasn´t this fun. I told him fun left about an hour and a half ago.
Tim was busy working on Ned´s bike and I did not want to interrupt him so after cooling off a bit I gathered my stuff, hit the shower grabbed some dinner. After eating I headed back to our camp and began working on my road book. Finished with the road book I was ready for bed but Tim was wrapping up Ned´s bike and I did not want to interrupt. I knew I need to explain to Tim how the fuel system worked, what was going wrong. Tim needed to take the front tank off to look at the system routing for us to sort out possible solutions. It was 11:30 before I made it to bed.
Bikes lined up at the special.
robertaccio
Husqvarna
Pro Class
Are there any "real" Husky 449s left in the race? And no I am not being a wise arse, I really want to know.
(the ones I keep seeing are the rebadged rally comp G450RR models)
PS Morton is just kicking butt in the pits/paddock area!!
(the ones I keep seeing are the rebadged rally comp G450RR models)
PS Morton is just kicking butt in the pits/paddock area!!
Ruffus
Husqvarna
AA Class
The only real one I was sure of was BC61. I believe all the remaining ones are SpeedBrain mount's. I could be mistaken. Been so busy trying to keep up, I haven't really looked at the individual Husky bikes.