Dakar rally

[dutchman]

Does anyone here follow the Dakar Rally?

I've loved it since I was a kid. Must be awesome to race through the desert at such speeds. I quite like those outrageous trucks some of the use too… 1000bhp… 0-100 in about 8 seconds… 200km/h top speed… A bit insane perhaps… but fun things usually are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiOlymvt46s&feature=related


Renault 4-s involved too, back in the day

http://www.nuvideo.nl/dakar/22051/dakar---6-strange-machines.html

 

[Robotstar5]

Yes, I usually follow it, but had forgotten it was that time again!. Are they running it this year? after last year was cancelled. I preferred when it started in Paris late December, Eurosport used to have a lot of good coverage.

 

[dutchman]

They are starting in Argentina this year.

Africa was getting too dangerous

 

[Robotstar5]

They are starting in Argentina this year.

Are they still finishing in Dakar will have to search out some info on the interweb. Used to like some of the competative trucks that entered, not support trucks. Did you ever watch the European truck trials?, some of the big Russian 8 wheel drives were amazing.

 

[madkayaker]

I have the logo on the back of my van! It sometimes feels like I'm in it on Cumbrian roads!

 

[dutchman]

Did you ever watch the European truck trials?, some of the big Russian 8 wheel drives were amazing.

Never heard of it

Sounds like I need to do some web-searching too

The old DAF turbo twin trucks are still my favourites.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-CWhAU5Qn6dQ/jan_de_rooy_dakar_1988_daf_turbo_twin/

 

[dutchman]

...It sometimes feels like I'm in it on Cumbrian roads!

Being threatened there by Mauretanian warriors too then?

 

[madkayaker]

nope lots of sheep! But they are getting organized!

 

[Robotstar5]

Being threatened there by Mauretanian warriors too then?

Ambushed in the Winlatter pass?

 

[madkayaker]

Ambushed in the Winlatter pass?

Squirrels

 

[Sparkey]

Yeah!!! Dakar is amazing!!! We watch it every year!!!
GO TEAM DE ROOY!!!!

 

[madkayaker]

looks like fun i like the bikes bet they are really crazy!

 

[ben8vgte]

I always remember a team that took a range rover chasis and put a jaguar body (xj i think) on it and painted it bright green.

 

[zzr1200]

It sometimes feels like I'm in it on Cumbrian roads!

Ravenglass>Hard Knot>Dudden Valley>Ulpha>Corney Fell>Ravenglass. Then dinner at the Wasdale Head...

 

[Marky]

I have followed it in previous years 2 guys im lucky to be friends with have competed .

looks a nightmare for me personally . Im a on track fan ... off road doesnt float my boat....

 

[dutchman]

GO TEAM DE ROOY!!!!
View attachment 6547

Yeah, would be nice if jr got himself a title. Not sure though. I mean a rally truck with an Iveco engine that is quite a gamble isn’t it?? From what I have heard Iveco doesn’t exactly have the best of a reputation…
Err Snowcat, do you maybe have an opinion on this; do you know how Iveco compares to DAF or CAT?

 

[ben8vgte]

Yeah, would be nice if jr got himself a title. Not sure though. I mean a rally truck with an Iveco engine that is quite a gamble isn’t it?? From what I have heard Iveco doesn’t exactly have the best of a reputation…
Err Snowcat, do you maybe have an opinion on this; do you know how Iveco compares to DAF or CAT?

lol i've seen a few iveco's eat there crankshaft, would much rather have a cummin's engine. But saying that it should be alright if they built the engine well.

 

[Robotstar5]

lol i've seen a few iveco's eat there crankshaft, would much rather have a cummin's engine. But saying that it should be alright if they built the engine well.

Heard a Cummins go bang in the test cell at the factory a few years ago, was impressed with the autopsy, they had a trolley with locations for every component so could identify what had been destroyed when they pulled the engine down.

 

[dutchman]

I drove a Mercedes lorrie through Germany a couple years back when all of a sudden BANG! engine wrecked, crankshaft eaten
Got towed away and the guy who rented me an Iveco that night warned me that the Iveco brand was pretty horrible....
Could not really believe him at the time since he was an ultimate Mercedes fan and I had just wrecked one

 

[ben8vgte]

I suppose no matter what you drive it's alway going to be a bit of a lottery if it will blow up/breakdown, just iveco's give you half the numbers to start with.

Heard a Cummins go bang in the test cell at the factory a few years ago, was impressed with the autopsy, they had a trolley with locations for every component so could identify what had been destroyed when they pulled the engine down.

There engineer's came over to where i was working as one of the daf45's had a test engine in to have a look and take samples they dropped the sump checked the bearings put the old oil back in and away they went in what only seemed like 20 minutes.