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Post by milkman on Nov 30, 2006 3:52:03 GMT -5
Just watched the dvd of the Race to Dakar series. Charley Boorman, the fella who did Long Way Round with Ewan McGregor (on WAY over loaded Beemers) has attempted the Dakar. Great series, particularly as I've never seen an inide view of the dakar (maybe you Europeans have, but rallies aren't given as much air time here).
Do yourself a favour and put it on the chrissy list.
On a side it got me researching the Dakar, and before the recent domination of the KTM's, the Yams were king, aswell as victories by the good old xt500.
Anyone have a picture of one of these? Think it was largely standard?
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Post by tradrockrat on Nov 30, 2006 13:53:13 GMT -5
not to hijack the thread, but have you all read the book about MacGregors trip? Really interesting if you can get past the whining. gives a whole new view on the film now back to the origional subject - I've always been fascinated with the Paris / Dakar rally - just too cool. Added to the chrissy list.
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Post by fenz on Nov 30, 2006 20:21:19 GMT -5
This series is being shown here in australia on the ABC thursday nights at 8.30 pm
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Post by milkman on Nov 30, 2006 22:43:30 GMT -5
Trad, I haven't read the book, but like you said, I heard it was quite whine-y. I'll have to look it up though. I think thats just the way these guys are - no glass half full/empty its full, or empty.
For those with Thumper-itis the Dakar is a feast.....
Interestingly - the current most popular Yamaha bike of choice are the wr450 2 trac. Yamahaha keeps around the magic 500 capacity while everyone else is thumping along on 650's.
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Post by colinjay on Dec 1, 2006 0:40:23 GMT -5
I watched the first show last night on Aunty. Is their anyone out there who wants to has a lazy few 100 K to put a team like theirs together so I can have a go at it on an XT500? I promise I won't winge and say it's hard!
CJ
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Post by tradrockrat on Dec 1, 2006 0:54:15 GMT -5
Trad, I haven't read the book, but like you said, I heard it was quite whine-y. I'll have to look it up though. I think thats just the way these guys are - no glass half full/empty its full, or empty. Yup. to hear a famous actor who is getting an around the world trip paid for by the production company (his idea at that) whine about how the filming was ruining his freedom to do what he wanted seemd a little ... uh... stupid... to me
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Post by wotavidone on Dec 1, 2006 1:29:22 GMT -5
I watched some of it last night. He did appear to be a bit of a sook, eh. Adventurous Pommies fall into two categories. There's the mad bastards who are a pleasure to know, funny as buggery and willing to have a go at anything, got one of them here at work now. Then there are the ones who only go to new places to find something new to whinge about. Met a few of those in my time, too. Mind you since the man broke his collarbone trying to teach his bike to fly off sand dunes, maybe he had a little bit of justification for grizzling a little bit........ Mick
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Post by milkman on Dec 1, 2006 2:13:13 GMT -5
Gets better lads, both the action and the whinging......worth sticking with it though.....I bought the DVD at the Sydney bike show becasue I thought I'd missed the series!!!! It says as seen on the ABC on the front cover, and since I work from 2pm to 10pm, I thought I bloody missed it!
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Post by fenz on Dec 1, 2006 2:28:50 GMT -5
I was going to say something about winging poms in my first post but it looks like you guys have done it for me.He should try ridding the dunes down my neck of the woods wouldnt last 5 mins without complaining i rekon.
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Post by wotavidone on Dec 1, 2006 2:39:21 GMT -5
Riding on sand is a skill I plan to master as soon as I finish my XT. Seems to me that the trick is to go quick, possibly with weight as far back as possible so as to keep the front wheel from bogging down? Never had a trailly with enough grunt to get it all together when I was a kid. Mick
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Post by milkman on Dec 1, 2006 2:39:41 GMT -5
Where's Millicent Fenz? I did some dirt biking at a motorcross place in Port Gawler??? about 10 years ago. Just know it was a really sandy place. Camped there for a week, and took 2 weeks to shake it out.
Can catch Blue Crabs in the mangroves nearby.....
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Post by fenz on Dec 1, 2006 6:16:02 GMT -5
Millicent is in the SE corner of SA about 1 hr from the VIC border.Have got a 10 min ride from my house to be in sandhill heaven. The area you are talking about was very popular years ago but i think it has been developed now. As for sand ridding let those tyres down and keep the momenteum up,let the bike find its own way with in reason.The more you wrestle it the quiker it wears you down.
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Post by frankyb on Dec 1, 2006 19:03:41 GMT -5
Hi guys, re the paris dakar. VMX magazine did an article in issue 26 about two dutch guys who hosted the heroes-legends ride to dakar this year. They only used xt500s on the ride, and there were 24 of them. Its only a short article in the magazine, and the pics arent brilliant, but have a look. Cheers franky b.
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Post by wotavidone on Dec 2, 2006 7:44:36 GMT -5
I believe Port Gawler still is a good crabbing spot. Port Pirie is a great spot for big blueys too, but you really need a boat to get at the best ones. I could be doing that tomorrow if the wind dies down enough. There is a very low tide expected, so if the wind drops I'll be launching the boat and heading out to the middle of the gulf, where there is a big patch of sand that comes out of the water at low tide. Will take advantage of the low tide to grab some razorfish which are the finest beer drinking snack food in the known universe, shell them and take the hearts home for said beer drinking snacks, and use the shells for burley to attract some whiting. Razorfish guts will go into a little mesh bag, which will go into a crab net, and the aforementioned blue swimmer crabs will flock to the bait. If all goes well the boat will be washed and put away by sunset, blue swimmers will be swimming in the steamer, razorfish will be jarred up, whiting filleted. If its windy I'll stay home and get the XT frame ready to paint. There will be no beer drinking, on the grounds that I have not had a drink since I fell in the bonfire. Twice. Can't really blame that on the beer. One must really blame Aussie inventiveness and ingenuity. If some bright spark had not invented the wine cask, I would not have drunk 4 litres of chateau cardboard, followed by 2 litres of port. With 6 litres of cheap red in ya, fire walking actually looks like a good idea. I see on the news tonight a surfer in Western Australia got his leg bitten off by a white pointer. I had a very interesting encounter with a white pointer a couple of years ago. Truly a magnificent animal, but best if he stays in his environment and you in yours, I feel. Mate was out kayaking the other day, paddle past an object in the water which turned out to be half a dog. Definitely looked bitten through he reckoned, not boat propellor damage. He said it was amazing how fast his missus can paddle when she wants to get out of the water fast................ Mick
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Post by Cameron on Jan 2, 2007 17:31:33 GMT -5
Up here in Ellensburg, WA (US) we have Jonah Street running the rally again. He took 16th last year, his rookie year, and is a lot of fun to watch whipping around the hills around here.
Who knew the semi-aired desert in central washington is extremely similar to Dakar...
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