Not Dakar, but getting there.

[JayBoRover]

A bit bored tonight and stumbled across the photo's I got while competing in the 2012 Australasian Safari. Thought it might be nice to share them as we lead up to the Dakar Rally about 28 days away.
The Prologue just outside of Geraldton:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/842.jpg

A relatively typical stage start:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/843.jpg

Clearing firebreak boundary??:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/844.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/845.jpg

Can get a bit dusty out there with no air-con!:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/846.jpg

It's all about gassing it for the photographers:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/01/1256.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/847.jpg

But sometimes you just have to take a nano-second to check out the outback beauty:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/848.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/849.jpg

Let me know if you want to see more.
Ciao
John B

[uninformed]

awesome, having never riden a moto I can only imagine how hard that is. what % are you seated/standing?

some of the footage I have seen of dakar it looks as if they stand 98% of the time? must be fit :eek:

[Landy Smurf]

of course we want to see more. I love the dakar but do they still show it on tv or do they just do the 30 min highlight stuff.
I would love to have ago on one of those bikes and even more those races

[Landy Smurf]

20k entry plus getting there and bike etc that is a lot of money but i suppose if you are good you can get sponsors. i see there is a few aussies on the bikes next year

[JayBoRover]

20k entry plus getting there and bike etc that is a lot of money but i suppose if you are good you can get sponsors. i see there is a few aussies on the bikes next year
The entry fee, large as it is, is only a very small part of the cost of competing in the Dakar. By the time you add in the bike itself (I paid a whisker over $50k for my KTM 450 Rally), service crew and vehicle, airfares, accommodation, freight (either direct from here to the start or from here to France to pick up the ASO "free" boat) and all the small miscellaneous costs it pretty much gets to about $85k is a bottom dollar effort. My budget (planning for 2014 as work got in the way for 2013) is based on $150k including the bike. Sponsors are really a necessity, not a luxury.

SBS do the 30 minute highlights package each day. Surprisingly, the rest of the world is generally pretty jealous of the coverage we get. Only the "traditional" Dakar Rally countries like France and Spain get a fair chunk. The USA gets almost nothing.


awesome, having never riden a moto I can only imagine how hard that is. what % are you seated/standing?

some of the footage I have seen of dakar it looks as if they stand 98% of the time? must be fit
I reckon I'm standing about 95% of the time. You really only sit for the tight corners and maybe the odd rest on a smooth bit. Of course, that's only in the "Selective Sections" (competitive stages). There are also many "Road Stages" (or Liaisons in Dakar speak) where you can rest easy - if you have a comfy seat! I find the cycling I do helps hugely, both with cardio fitness, the mental strength and the leg strength. Unfortunately my upper body is nowhere near strong enough to be Dakar ready - something for me to work on over the next year.

More Photo's soon (probably tomorrow evening).
Ciao
John B

[uninformed]

since working out in a gym can be boring, and you seem the type to want to actually do something when exercising, If you are near some water you should have a go at Stand Up Paddling. It can be great excercise both strength, core and fitness.

My hats off to you for doing something that really is Tough!

[JayBoRover]

since working out in a gym can be boring, and you seem the type to want to actually do something when exercising, If you are near some water you should have a go at Stand Up Paddling. It can be great excercise both strength, core and fitness.

My hats off to you for doing something that really is Tough!
Unfortunately, water and I don't get along very well. Even less so since I almost destroyed my left shoulder with a posterior dislocation and resultant 7/8'th tear of the rotator cuff:(. Even my swimming pool has been allowed to degrade to a green and lumpy frog condo:o.

I do however have a Concept 2D rower, and that is brilliant workout for core and upper body to complement the leg work my cycling gives me. I just need to knuckle down and do it regularly. I used to play a lot of squash which is something I could get back into to limber up a little.

Anyway, some more happy snaps from the 2012 torture session:
They threw a bit of sand into this years Safari:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/799.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/800.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/801.jpg

Sure do stand while riding a lot!:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/802.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/803.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/804.jpg

All that effort to get to the finish arch:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/805.jpg

Of course, it would be faaar more difficult without a few sponsors along the way:
"Tyres for Bikes" in Victoria Park -
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/806.jpg

"Causeway KTM & Ducati" also in Victoria Park -
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/807.jpg

and of course my company "MO Consultants" for all your specialist Project Management and Commissioning Management needs in the process control space -
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/808.jpg

and finally the mighty D90 did stirling service as the trailer tower, my accommodation and service crew chase truck:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/07/1537.jpg

There's a bunch of awesome generic photo's around here too somewhere. I'll dig them out and post a few of them up. Some awesome car ones that also really show some of the terrain the course went through this time. It was a tough event this year, with a pretty high attrition rate.

Ciao for now.

[MacMan]

I'll dig up some of mine from this year John too. Got some good ones of you.

[powerband]

55416

[Yorkie]

great pics and excellent effort if you get to dakar, i would love a crack at one of those trucks. :)
there some aussies doing well in the cars and bikes, good to see in with the euro teams.
will look out for you in the 2014 event, all the best. :cool:

[Cobber]

Some wonderful pictures there :cool:

A fella I know here is part of the support crew for one of the Dakar teams - whether it be Australian Safari, Dakar, or any off-road race, there's a heck of a lot of prep work before you even turn a wheel. Even if you're in the support vehicle.

Well done on the finish :BigThumb:

[Pedro_The_Swift]

55416

This is the road 2 recovery team yes?

[JayBoRover]

Yep. They featured them in he SBS coverage the other night. Have a look at my post in Armchair Warriors.

[flagg]

Love it, just love it.

Very jealous of your skill and determination!

[JayBoRover]

The route and dates for the 2014 Dakar Rally have been released by the organising body, the ASO, today:

- Start on January 5th in Rosario, Argentina,
- Rest day on January 11th in Salta, Argentina,
- Finish on January 18th in Valparaiso, Chile.

The route travels through Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. Looks like it will take in the worlds largest salt lake in Bolivia and a new route through the Atacama Desert in Chile that promises to be a "surprise and challenge for competitors".

Looks like I now know when and where my holidays are in January!
"Kiwi Safari Team" to "Kiwi Dakar Team" for 2014"!!!:cool:

[JayBoRover]

Hmmm ... How do I tie my Dakar dream to my Land Rover hobby:confused:? I know ... I'll go and pick up my order of Tyres for the Dakar in the D90:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/06/369.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/IMG_1336_zpsf3ed8fb5.jpg.html)

... and stacked in the shed with the bike:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/06/370.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/IMG_1338_zpsfd42ba68.jpg.html)

That's 11 rear Michelin Deserts and 9 front Michelin Deserts, picked up from "Tyres for Bikes" in Victoria Park. That's $4,442 worth of tyres to last me 14 days:eek:. There's still the Mousses to arrive in a week or two, 2 of each rears and fronts, for another $870:eek:. Expensive hobby this "doing the Dakar". (Luckily Peter at "Tyres for Bikes" helps me out a bit and I don't have to pay that full retail price. Every little bit helps:)).

Ciao for now.
JayBo

[JayBoRover]

Well, looks like I might need to change the thread title or start a new one ... I received this nice letter from the Dakar organisers yesterday:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/07/539.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/ASOconfirmation_zps54e4aa0c.jpg.html)

I'm off to the Dakar Rally 2014 in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile!:cool:

[Chucaro]

Well, looks like I might need to change the thread title or start a new one ... I received this nice letter from the Dakar organisers yesterday:........................................ ..........................
I'm off to the Dakar Rally 2014 in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile!:cool:

Congratulations, if you never been in Argentina an Chile you will have an awesome experience.
Do NOT live your bike unattended in BA!!
How is your Spanish?

[Yorkie]

excellent news, good luck with the preparations. :cool:

[JayBoRover]

Congratulations, if you never been in Argentina an Chile you will have an awesome experience.
Do NOT live your bike unattended in BA!!
How is your Spanish?
No I haven't been to South America at all, so it sure will be an interesting experience!!!

I think the bike will be ridden from the port of landing directly to Rosario, although I will be assuming security there will need to be tight as well. It won't be the first time I've brought my motorcycle into a house or motel room:eek:! This will be my life's, next life's and next to next life's savings in one go, so I won't be letting my bike disappear without a serious fight!

My Spanish is non-existant. I'll set about trying to learn a few words. "Thank-you", "please", "water" and "fuel" would be high priorities. Hopefully won't need "help" or "lost":D. All the route instructions are in French, due to the event being run by the ASO, so that always makes things interesting too. Luckily I've done a couple of off-road rally races before that also used French instructions, so I have a bit of an idea there. You very quickly get to recognise a few critical words and if you come across an instruction you can't work out you simply slow down and ride to the conditions. (Luckily I've never come across "accelerate rapidly!", or I'd have been in serious doo doo:D).

Thanks for the interest.
Cheers

[Chucaro]

You will have no problem with english in Buenos Aires, there a many people that speak english well.
When I come to think about it the Buenos Aires Herald news paper is older than many Australian news papers.
In BA I will look into for accommodation in La Recoleta, Barrio Norte or Palermo. Any of those suburbs are very good.
DO NOT LEAVE THE BIKE UNATTENDED
Rosario is a big city and for sure you will be ok there.
If I can help you in any way let me know by sending me a pm
Cheers
Arthur

[Datt]

I'm off to the Dakar Rally 2014 in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile!:cool:

That's freaking awsome.

I hope you keep the thread (or new one) updated so we can follow your progress.

Obviously you go through more rear tyres in a rally then fronts. Do you put on a fresh set for every stage?

Matt.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Thats great news:clap2::clap2:

Legend has it--
that in the early 70's Mitsubishi sent two guys to run a big Australian rally. From the time they picked up the car at the airport till boarding the return flight the whole trip was done in race notes/tulips.

[LandyAndy]

Great news John.
ENJOY
Andrew

[Cobber]

Well Done Sir! Good luck :BigThumb:

[JayBoRover]

That's freaking awsome.

I hope you keep the thread (or new one) updated so we can follow your progress.

Obviously you go through more rear tyres in a rally then fronts. Do you put on a fresh set for every stage?

Matt.
If the interest is here, I'll keep this up to date with progress as I prepare. Not sure how much I'll be able to do during the event, but I'm sure the odd land Rover friendly titbit will get here;). Then a bit of a report afterwards.

A fresh pair of tyres for every day except the first day and a marathon day, so I have 12 rears and 9 fronts. The first day tends to be a long road liaison to the first bivouac and then the first stage tends to be lots of dirt roads and rocks to get out of civilisation, so the same tyres will do for that. Then there's a "marathon stage" where the riders are on their own from one morning to the following night. No service at the end of the first of the marathon day with only the rider able to work on his bike and using only the tools and spares he's carried with him. This happens immediately after the rest day when the bikes depart from the car/truck route and head into Bolivia. The bivouac in Bolivia will be in your riding gear with a blanket and a pair of slippers the organiser issue to you. Tough stuff:twisted:!! Then rejoin with the rest of the circus in Chile at the end of the second marathon day.

Seems silly, but it's this marathon day I'm looking forward to:confused:. To me it's two days with zero risk of being run over by a flying car or truck:cool:.

Cheers

[weeds]

keen to follow your updates......

[JayBoRover]

Plans are rapidly being set in place for my Dakar. I've come to an arrangement with a Chilean company that provides service and support and also hire out rally bikes for the Dakar. I looked into taking the Deefer over as my service truck, but it was waaay too expensive. I will still have my trusty mechanic from NZ coming over to look after me and "my" bike, but he'll ride with the Chilean service crew and "my" bike will actually be "theirs".

This has a huge benefit for me in that I can use my identical rally bike here to compete in the Australasian Safari in September. The very best type of training you can do is "bike time" and doing it in a competition virtually the same as the Dakar is better yet. I can then take my own seat, nav gear and suspension with me to the Dakar and swap it onto the hired bike. Perfect. I can also enter the "Dakar Challenge" and try and win a free entry to the Dakar, worth 14.800 Euro!

Part of the deal I have worked out, is the Chilean manager, an accomplished Rally rider himself, will come to Australia and ride my old Safari bike (an enduro bike converted to a rally bike a few years ago) with service and logistics support from my manager and Perth based company CPW Safari. A bit of a complicated deal but saves me a bit of money, with virtually no negative points.

So my shed looks looks a bit chaotic at the moment with two bikes being stripped and rebuilt to prepare for the Safari that starts on September 20th. I'll post a photo of the chaotic shed in the weekend when there's enough light to see everything!

Ciao for now.
John B

[flagg]

Fantastic!!! Hope everything works out well for you and you cross the finish line in one peice :)

[JayBoRover]

My entry went in for the Australasian Safari today, so that's all go:).
The bike has progressed from this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/593.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/P7290007_zpsc7d5f883.jpg.html)

... and this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/594.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/P7290009_zpsd9cb72a6.jpg.html)

.... to this:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/595.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/P8180014_zps853a9e8b.jpg.html)

... in the last couple of weeks. Still a fair bit to do, but I'm waiting for the new (and by "new" I mean latest technology / electro-trickery to market being tested in anger by me for the European manufacturer - "Aurora Rally Equipment") navigation gear (scrolling roadbook holder) and my custom finished seat that is winging it's way back to me from California thanks to "Renazco Racing". Two amazing sponsors I have that I am deeply grateful to.

My Chilean mate has unfortunately pulled out of coming over for the Safari, due to work commitments in Europe he can't get out of:(. Which is kind of good because it takes a bit of pressure off me and means I can continue to prepare the 450RFR to perfection instead of trying to prepare 2 bikes and being conscious that I will be hiring his bike at the Dakar - imagine if he had a major problem on mine over here??:eek:. The down side is that I can't justify bringing my mechanic across from NZ just for me, so I'll be doing all my own servicing and tyre changing through the Safari. Only 5 weeks to race start! Bring it on!:twisted:

The pace will be picking up over the next few weeks so I'll try and keep progress reports coming. If you're really keen to follow the story, check out my thread on ADVRider:
HERE (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php't=872471)

Cheers for now.
John B

[JayBoRover]

Thought I should pop in here and update things. My last step-out on the rally bike before heading to Argentina for the Dakar 2014 was the Australasian Safari in September.
Day 0 was okay ...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/1508.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/2013%20Safari/KTM450Rally-Safari2013_zps3c6aafc9.jpg.html)

... but Day 1 didn't end so well for me:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/1509.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/2013%20Safari/PA080006_zpsad443355.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/1510.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/2013%20Safari/PA080008_zpsc09276c6.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/1511.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/2013%20Safari/PA080004_zps7adb637a.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/1512.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/2013%20Safari/PA140004_zps47aa7c54.jpg.html)

The photo's are several weeks after the "incident". Foot was a "lateral and spiral displaced fracture of the heel" and the hand was a "displaced fracture of the middle metacarpal". The hand underwent surgery and now has a plate and 3 screws in it.

So the Dakar organisers have agreed to defer my entry to Dakar 2015, so I am the world's first confirmed entry for the Dakar in January 2015.
I've had to "upgrade" my fundraising Tee Shirts:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/1513.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/IMG_1443_zpsb499e7f4.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/1514.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/GaelJohn/media/JayBo%20Dakar%202014/IMG_1445_zps3c3f32e8.jpg.html)

[justinc]

Sad to hear mate, glad you are on the mend. I am feeling every one of my fractured vertabrae at the moment after the day i've had at work fitting heater cores to disco2's...:(

after a head on with a car i wedge fractured 3 thoracic vertabrae and was lucky to walk again. this was feb 1986.

hope you heal up ok for '15 :)

jc

[weeds]

Bugger.......

[FeatherWeightDriver]

:(

It takes a certain kind of person to take on events like the Safari and the Dakar, and knowing this I am sure this will only be a temporary setback and you will be certainly be back next year ;)

Hope your recovery goes well.

[Yorkie]

such a shame and all the best for the recovery. :)

bring on dakar2015!. :cool: