Dakar Rally Rant

When I was a kid my dad would bring home odd books or magazines he'd come across that had racing in them. At some point in the early 80's he brought me something on the Paris-Dakar Rally and I was hooked and began to read everything I could about it. Being a kid and not having an internet this limited me to the occasional snippet in Autoweek or whatever foreign sports magazine I could find in some of the nicer libraries near home.

It seemed like an incredible race. Starting out in Paris, a boat ride across the Mediterranean Sea and then almost an entire month across Africa more or less on your own taking on inhospitable terrain and local bandits in all manner of vehicle from 2CVs and Vespas up to ridiculous twin engine trucks piloted by people from all walks of life, amateur adventurers, Grand Prix racers and even princes and princesses.

This brings us to my rant. In recent years it has become more and more sanitized and corporate to the point that I am fairly certain that although I could never win even I could probably finish the event. The race was shortened, then moved top South American because of the fears of terrorism, and now this year stages are canceled due to weather. Yes, at a time when every self respecting mall cruiser has a snorkel and 12 jillion candlepower light bars rain has stymied our intrepid racers and their robust machines. The worst part is that I'm sure it's not the competitors or even the organizers. Like so many things today I imagine there are a group of lawyers that put a stop to this. It really disappoints me to think that such an incredible test of endurance could one day be reduced to an uncomfortable drive in the country. If anyone needs me I'll be in my garage putting a spare tire and jerry cans on the Fiat so it will be ready for next year when it will probably stick to paved roads.

Get off my lawn

agreed. I think the largest rant i have about the dakar rally, however, is that I can't get coverage of it on TV. Same for WRC. I'm not a huge fan of the way rally has gone in general, but it's still rally and therefor kicks ass, i just have to watch it years later on youtube in some random language

^ That

Follow along. It's berkeleying hard. Only about 50% of the competitors finish. They cancel stages for weather not due to riders/drivers, but because the helicopters can't fly. They've been using helicopters for safety for a very very long time and they have saved lives. They're important.
If you can find a particular competitor to follow, especially a malle moto guy and read what they write, it's not easy. Not even a little bit.

Lost the thread when they moved to SA. Are they even covered in the press?

Rufledt wrote: agreed. I think the largest rant i have about the dakar rally, however, is that I can't get coverage of it on TV. Same for WRC. I'm not a huge fan of the way rally has gone in general, but it's still rally and therefor kicks ass, i just have to watch it years later on youtube in some random language

Just cause I really like a lot of you guys but refrain from posting now...

Coverage in 1080p is readily available through torrents. They are out there.

Additionally, there is a utility called XBMC/Kodi http://kodi.tv/

This allows you to stream virtually every SINGLE TV SOURCE IN THE WORLD. And yes, that includes eurosport HD.

Finally, you can email me at aevokes@shaw.ca and I can help you get files Sometimes all ya gotta do is ask and somebody will give ya a hand...

I'm not familiar with the sources you're referring to, but some people prefer to watch things legally. If the sources you mention are actually legitimate, please feel free to ignore this comment.

Switch to watching the Isle of Mann TT. It's the last race in the world "they" haven't berkeleyed up yet.

In reply to HiTempguy:

Thanks for the info!

Duke wrote: I'm not familiar with the sources you're referring to, but some people prefer to watch things legally. If the sources you mention are actually legitimate, please feel free to ignore this comment.

But there is no legal option. A great quote I recently came across: piracy is a distribution problem.

NBC Sports has a half hour a day on it. On US cable....

I agree its not the Dakar it once was, but im still in love.... Its still an insane challenge, finishing is a feat, with sponsorships etc placing is a possibility.

Mischa has about the BEST (better than the ORG) tracking for live timing and results. http://trackingdakar.nl/ And you can tell it which drivers/riders you want to see, timing by WP etc.

As to weather cancellations, its been a literal mosson, I too dont like it, but a couple FEET of water on the ground makes the stage nearly impassable to everyone. And I think after the saltgate issue of last year the ORG is a little leary. They ate a lot of E36 M3 for that.

Keith Tanner wrote:

Duke wrote: I'm not familiar with the sources you're referring to, but some people prefer to watch things legally. If the sources you mention are actually legitimate, please feel free to ignore this comment.

But there is no legal option. A great quote I recently came across: piracy is a distribution problem.

Yea, out of all things to get a person's panties in a bunch, stealing bits with no inherent value that doesn't cost someone any money for a product you literally can't buy even if you wanted to is... uh... interesting logic.

However, NBC Sports Network is providing 30 minutes of Dakar coverage per day. But it doesn't have Carlton Kirby so WGAF. I guess Duke does (whether he can even get the show or not is another question):

http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2016/01/04/watch-2016-dakar-rally-coverage-starts-tonight-530-p-m-et-on-nbcsn/

In reply to HiTempguy:

I have tried several times to use a torrent, I have yet to be successful. I guess I'm not smart enough to figure it out.

Rant #1 Why is it still called the Dakar Rally when its being held in Incas Rally territory?

Rant #2 US coverage of all motor sports other than NASCAR is pathetic.

Keith Tanner wrote:

Duke wrote: I'm not familiar with the sources you're referring to, but some people prefer to watch things legally. If the sources you mention are actually legitimate, please feel free to ignore this comment.

But there is no legal option.

So? Does that magically make it not piracy?

Keith Tanner wrote: A great quote I recently came across: piracy is a distribution problem.

I agree to a limited extent. Sometimes, as in this particular case, it IS a "distribution problem". Many many other times, it's an "I don't feel like paying for this" problem.

Can you believe they cancel stages so people don't die? Bob Costas!

Already had a handful of spectators injured in the first stage.

Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote: In reply to HiTempguy: I have tried several times to use a torrent, I have yet to be successful. I guess I'm not smart enough to figure it out.

I could probably help with that... if you'd only use that email address I posted earlier ;)

Appleseed wrote: Switch to watching the Isle of Mann TT. It's the last race in the world "they" haven't berkeleyed up yet.

Every time I see the TT I think 1) who let's them do that? and 2) who would want to do that? The slow-mo shots of guys cresting hills at 150 and getting sideways next to a brick wall makes me realize how tough and fearless I am not.

The Hoff wrote: Can you believe they cancel stages so people don't die? Bob Costas!

Pretty much. Get a snorkel, some wipers and drive accordingly.

I don't mind the half hour recaps on TV. We've become spoiled by how accessible coverage for most events have become but a daily program beats the old days when it was easier to find u damaged skin mags in the woods than Dakar news. I don't have much TV time most days and I follow a number of teams on Facebook so I read up on a lot of what happens during the day.

Wally,
You might like this.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_Dakar

https://youtu.be/Q4g3BauJmOw

Maybe you'd like the "Budapest to Bamako" rallye?

http://www.budapestbamako.org/en

My biggest problem with the rally now is that is way too WRC, compared to what is was just a few years ago. Watching video this year, it looks to be mostly fireroads...

carczar_84 wrote: My biggest problem with the rally now is that is way too WRC, compared to what is was just a few years ago. Watching video this year, it looks to be mostly fireroads...

I completely agree, it's far too WRC this year so far (I hope). There has been nearly no off piste driving/navigation. Last year was better, and it had a lot of road driving as well. There was quite a few drop outs on today's stage however. Really long, and parts are starting to break.