Chile offers to host "Dakar" in '09...

[spalind]

Not sure how they are gonna call it the "Dakar" if it runs in Chile (or anywhere else for that matter) but it sounds like from this article that MANY countries are climbing all overthemselves to get the race...

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=99&id=3186605

[randy s]

that boat that's got robby's stuff on it better start back pretty soon.

[Ferrari333SP]

As much as I like the traditional Dakar routes, having a new rally in any of those countries gets me really excited!

[Jack]

These other locactions make me think should the cars be otimizex for a different type of terain? I don't think the old race has to much mud compared to the amount of dunes, this will most likely change if it is run elsewere.

[derco]

Hi to all.

Well, my opinion could not be the most correct, but the Dakar, to be the "Dakar" no matter how many sollutions they find, it must be in Africa and the Sahara. In any other place is another race, not the Dakar. Look how many great races are all over the world... but dakar there is just one... and i think that rally if not dead, is really close to it.

Regards

[dfmcse]

Hi to all.

Well, my opinion could not be the most correct, but the Dakar, to be the "Dakar" no matter how many sollutions they find, it must be in Africa and the Sahara. In any other place is another race, not the Dakar. Look how many great races are all over the world... but dakar there is just one... and i think that rally if not dead, is really close to it.

Regards

I agree Derco, some folks have a really good attitude and are thinking positive about the Dakar's future. I'm not so sure, I think the ASO dug the deepest possible hole for themselves and it will be a miracle if the race is back. So even if we can have the race somewhere else, who will be the organizer and sanctioning body?

But having said that, if somebody puts together a 15 day 6000 mile rally in the month of January . . . Sounds good to me.

[the squirrel]

How about the Outback 10,000Kilo? I am sure you could find enough land in the Australian outback to run a killer race and not worry about the Al Qaida jackasses ruining the event. Not to mention the coastal scenery would be pretty awesome.

[billy1911]

then we just need to deal with the drug lords

[OffroadExit]

Hi to all.

Well, my opinion could not be the most correct, but the Dakar, to be the "Dakar" no matter how many sollutions they find, it must be in Africa and the Sahara. In any other place is another race, not the Dakar. Look how many great races are all over the world... but dakar there is just one... and i think that rally if not dead, is really close to it.

Regards

If it's not in Dakar...don't call it the Dakar Rally... thats like racing the Baja in Canada...it would not be the same

[Mark Newhan]

It is a sad day for sure. I agree with you Derco... It is not Dakar without North Africa. It would be tough to make it safer for racers, for the forseeable future. South America is not the same.

Austrailia would be good, but as someone in a different thread said, paraphrasing "to much inviromentalism down under".

A great loss at the hands of terrorism. It sucks to give them a victory no matter how small. These jacka$$e$ will get years of inspiration from this. Time for the world to unite against this scurge. Anyone still think that we can wish away terrorism?

[Hog Wild]

I want the real Dakar, but if that doesn't happen this looks pretty cool, and my Spanish is much better than my French:
Rally Patagonia Atacama: http://www.patagoniaatacama.cl/english/inicio.php
Por Las Pampas Rally: http://www.porlaspampasrally.com/

Patagonia Atacama Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i33B6LbveD0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xPxknZnL8E&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCrJaIz8jSA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZeK7PieSg0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNerHhX170k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHnjedh25HY&feature=related

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Anyone still think that we can wish away terrorism?

Yeah I hope Bush wishes to press the button his last day in office...

[Ferrari333SP]

The 1992 rally went from Tunisia to Cape Town, and that had the Dakar name attached.....surely they can attach the name to another location; call it the Spirit of Dakar Rally or something

Spirit of Dakar. I like that name. Really, if they have the rally somewhere else in the future, use that.

[Ferrari333SP]

Upon looking at those videos, having the rally take place in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil is making even more and more sense. It has all the terrain the rally could want, the security would be in place 100%, and the potential for sponsors would be real big. There are more people down there, so more media and sponsor exposure. More/different media markets, so more avenues to have the rally known. I'm really excited for the future of this rally. I don't believe the ASO has dug a deep hole at all. They have the money to put the rally somewhere, and the competitors will show up no matter where the race is held, so I'm very excited.

Bring on 2009!!!!

[Hog Wild]

Upon looking at those videos, having the rally take place in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil is making even more and more sense.Ok, it's not exactly right, but it would be one hot rally! :)

[Shotdsherrif]

then we just need to deal with the drug lords

No, you won't. That's mostly just in Colombia and parts of Bolivia. Trust me on this, I'm Colombian.

As for the rally itself, I don't think I'm very well versed on the history, but while the name: Dakar is cool and the logo is awesome ... I mean, if its not gonna happen, its not gonna happen. Maybe best just to move on ... the thrill of motorsports challenge and frontier spectacle is still very much there no matter where you decide to race. I don't know, you guys tell me ... is it an accident that at same time that RG is opening up the world of Dakar to a wider American audience, NASCAR also stands on the cusp of huge worldwide exposure with some very high profile names from F1 flocking over here? (like my boy Montoya!) ... seems to me like its a good time for motorsports in general, despite these setbacks.

Dakar is still worth fighting for, don't get me wrong ... but the fight is now geopolitical, not just about racing.

I know for a fact that Latin America would welcome this. It would be good for them. And they are VERY Catholic down there ... Islamic extremists will need to tread very carefully - if at all. Seriously, I can't think of a place less suceptible to that form of terrorism right now ... except maybe China.

[dustyhusky]

I have to agree with Derco.

The Dakar is so much more than just a long rally. The Sahara remoteness is just not possible to duplicate. The images from the helicopter just cant be found elsewhere. Also-the idea of leaving safe Lisbon to cross the unknown desert is like waiving goodbye to Portuguese sailors 300 years ago, knowing some wont return.

Chile or the Gobi desert or whatever can over time be promoted into a very good rally, but there wont be the 'edge' that is the Dakar, nor will there be the history, nor the legacy.

The world has many far off and remote rallies already, but none come anywhere close to having the stature of the Dakar Rally, in part because they dont capture the public's imagination.

[Triple B]

I would also like to throw this out there.......the South America women are way better looking then the North African women........It never hurt to have a little eye candy during the TV brodcast. :D

[Triple B]

As for the rally itself, I don't think I'm very well versed on the history, but while the name: Dakar is cool and the logo is awesome ... I mean, if its not gonna happen, its not gonna happen. Maybe best just to move on ... the thrill of motorsports challenge and frontier spectacle is still very much there no matter where you decide to race. I don't know, you guys tell me ... is it an accident that at same time that RG is opening up the world of Dakar to a wider American audience, NASCAR also stands on the cusp of huge worldwide exposure with some very high profile names from F1 flocking over here? (like my boy Montoya!) ... seems to me like its a good time for motorsports in general, despite these setbacks.

Dakar is still worth fighting for, don't get me wrong ... but the fight is now geopolitical, not just about racing.

I know for a fact that Latin America would welcome this. It would be good for them. And they are VERY Catholic down there ... Islamic extremists will need to tread very carefully - if at all. Seriously, I can't think of a place less suceptible to that form of terrorism right now ... except maybe China.

Well said

[spalind]

I would also like to throw this out there.......the South America women are way better looking then the North African women........It never hurt to have a little eye candy during the TV brodcast. :D

Any way to get the race to end on the beaches of Brazil would be a BIG plus in my book!!

[big oly P.J]

Is ASO talking about the distance of the rally of this point? Will if be shortened? Hope not.

[aquafreer]

For the ASO, competitors and sponsors alike a new rally similar in style and intensity to the Dakar makes alot of sense and could be very positive for all involved ,wether in South America ( Chile, Argentina , Brazil ) or China ... more energy focused on a top notch rally will be priority #1 instead of dealing with Islamic Terrorists ... put the real Dakar on a shelf to be ran again when conditions in N. Africa become more favorable ... creating a new and exciting rally should get everyone fired up !! My vote for a greater South American rally !!

[Lance T]

I would also like to throw this out there.......the South America women are way better looking then the North African women........It never hurt to have a little eye candy during the TV brodcast. :D

Dang straight! I would love to see a bigger multi country race in S.A.
A lot of us here speak the language. I'm supposed to head down there next year for a Megavalanche race...just need to drop 30lbs.

No it wouldn't be "Dakar" but that it would be something new and I would definitely follow the race.

[Dezertpilot]

I would love to be able to go to S.A. for an ASO sponsored rally. I am getting more excited about 2009. Would love to be able to go on vacation and watch the rally at the same time:)

[Shotdsherrif]

I've been planning a trip to Chile - this place called Valle del Nevado - where there is supposed to be amazing snowboarding ... in August!!!!!

And YES, on the female population of S.A. If they make a race happen down there, a side effect could be a lot of guys coming back with wives!!

Hey Motojojo7 ... where you at in Colorado? I'm from California but find myself living in Westminster, north of Denver right about now ... ???

[Hog Wild]

According to Charlie Rauseo of team Rally Panam, ASO has decided on South America for Dakar 2009, in January when it's summer down there.

Source: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6069215&postcount=207

[michael_loomis]

dont get me wrong.. im all for a new rally in a new home.. but NO off road race has the allure and 30 errr 29 year history of the (formerly Paris/)Dakar Rally. Do you think sponsorship will be the same for any OTHER rally? I dont believe it will. Hope I'm wrong.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

No Matter where they run it it will still be totally tough. One good thing is no 14 hr plane ride.... And all Africa experience will be null as far as navagation... It will be an epic adventue I'm sure...

[PackMule]

According to Charlie Rauseo of team Rally Panam, ASO has decided on South America for Dakar 2009, in January when it's summer down there.

Source: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6069215&postcount=207


Here's the RallyRAIDio call from Charlie with the word that his info came straight from the ASO office, and a few words about the "make up" rally in Europe, as well as the team's plans for the rest of the year:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/rallyraidio/CharlieConfirmSA.mp3



Enjoy!


Nate

[dustyhusky]

It says here that the Chilean Secretary of Sports says the Government of Chile is doing all they can to get the rally. They are putting together a formal proposal to ASO, and it will include the idea of a rally that also goes into Argentina. They are leaving it up to ASO to decide the start and finish location in their plan.

They also say they are formally putting it out there that they do want the rally.


El Estado se la jugará por traer el Daka
El Subsecretario de Deportes, Jaime Pizarro, reiteró que el Gobierno hará todo lo posible para que el próximo rally Dakar pase por nuestro país. Al respecto, también se debe destacar que en las últimas horas cobró fuerza la idea de albergar esta carrera en conjunto con Argentina.

La opción de albergar alguna de las etapas del rally Dakar 2009 le agrada hasta al Estado. Esto queda claro al escuchar las últimas declaraciones del Subsecretario de Deportes, Jaime Pizarro, quien confirmó las ganas del Gobierno de ayudar para que esta tradicional competencia llegue hasta el país.

"He recogido la inquietud de las federaciones (motociclismo y automovilismo) y nuestro ánimo es satisfacer los requerimientos de ellos. Hay que tener claro que esta es una carrera que sin el apoyo país es nula", comentó el ex futbolista.

Por su parte, el director del Servicio Nacional de Turismo, Óscar Santelices, anunció que ya trabajan en el escrito que le enviarán a los organizadores, la Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), para formalizar el deseo de Chile de que nos incluyan en el trazado del próximo año.

En opinión del personero del Sernatur, "acá lo más importante es lo que decida la organización francesa. Nosotros estamos preparando una carta para manifestar nuestra propuesta oficial". Según este funcionario, la candidatura nacional posee mucho elementos positivos, como la estabilidad, la infraestructura, y la variedad de terrenos.

/Deportes/Otros/dakar_santelices_0108_1_l.jpg Además, Santelices reconoció que existe la posibilidad de cobijar la carrera en conjunto con Argentina, tal como ocurre cuando se disputa el rally Patagonia-Atacama. "No descartamos contactos con autoridades trasandinas pero todavía no las iniciamos", aseguró.

Según este empleado gubernamental, no tiene nada de malo que los argentinos ya se hayan desplazado hasta Francia para promocionarse porque esto beneficia directamente a Chile.

"Ellos ya viajaron con una carta, pero en ella nos incluyen a nosotros, lo mismo haremos en nuestro documento. Decidir dónde parte y dónde termina es trabajo de ASO, lo primero es traerla a Sudamérica", contó.

Resulta bueno recordar que el Dakar 2008 acaba de cancelarse por culpa de algunas amenazas terroristas. Por esto, las autoridades a cargo del evento tienen muchas ganas de salir de África, debido a que no están dispuestos a perder todos los millones de dólares que acaba de irse en esta ocasión

[randy s]

Dang straight! I would love to see a bigger multi country race in S.A.
A lot of us here speak the language. I'm supposed to head down there next year for a Megavalanche race...just need to drop 30lbs.

No it wouldn't be "Dakar" but that it would be something new and I would definitely follow the race.

cept, of course, they run part of it thru brazil, where portuguese is spoken. strangest language on earth. i was riding in a cab in lisboa. the cabby did'nt understand english. i did'nt understand portuguese. his brand of castillion spanish was as bad as my brand of border spanish, which was good, but not worth a darn in spain. we communicated fairly well. a very strange exchange.

[dustyhusky]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/racing/wires/01/10/3010.ap.car.dakar.rally.0292/


Time will tell. Africa, it seems, has its supporters...

[RacingOne]

This will make it fair for all the competitors, they won't have it in there back yard. They will all have to ship there trucks and support vehicles in and fly the race cars in. Just make sure the boat has a good record of not braking down at sea.

[BenStock]

Chile Bowl?

Aren't there rallies held in South America and Australia already? Doesn't seem like it would be too difficult of a notion to expand on those already established courses.

[Icon 1]

I would be excited to see the Dakar continued and if anouther country is the logical safe choice as long as the international TV programing continues with the same or better coverage. Than so be it. I hope it would be only a temporary solution. And if we ultimetly ended up with 2 Dakar level off road rallys that would be a great responce from the off road racing world to those that would threaten these races to their own evil gain.

[Lance T]

I've been planning a trip to Chile - this place called Valle del Nevado - where there is supposed to be amazing snowboarding ... in August!!!!!

And YES, on the female population of S.A. If they make a race happen down there, a side effect could be a lot of guys coming back with wives!!

Hey Motojojo7 ... where you at in Colorado? I'm from California but find myself living in Westminster, north of Denver right about now ... ???

Valle Nevado is a sick place! Shotdsherrif, you have a PM.


cept, of course, they run part of it thru brazil, where portuguese is spoken. strangest language on earth. i was riding in a cab in lisboa. the cabby did'nt understand english. i did'nt understand portuguese. his brand of castillion spanish was as bad as my brand of border spanish, which was good, but not worth a darn in spain. we communicated fairly well. a very strange exchange.

I'm from Costa Rica and have several friends that speak Portuguese. Communicating can be interesting but it is easier than French...IMO.

[Infidel Racing Team]

Yeah I hope Bush wishes to press the button his last day in office...

Honestly, I really have a hard time thinking someone really means this.....:mad:
You must be a teenager or someone with a miserable and meaningless life to consider this seriously.....

Do you have children? Have you ever seen a child in pain? Imagine how much pain and suffering a bomb would cause to innocent people....

No matter how ****ed up a country is, the bomb has never been a solution....

Actually using the bomb would make you worse than any terrorist...It would mean that the US is willing to kill innocent civilians in order to make a political point or solution...

That actually would make the USA the biggest terrorist threat this world has ever known.....

Thank God, no one with half a brain considers this to be a feasible solution.....

[Ferrari333SP]

I think he was joking.....


But it helped us in WW2. Instead of having potentially tens of thousands of US troops die in an invasion of Japan that we weren't sure would work, simply dropping the bomb saved U.S. lives, led to Japan's surrender, and ended the war. Beyond this I'm not delving deeper.

[SANDlessNSeattle]

OK boyz back to DAKAR dicussions......

[Hog Wild]

Posted on AdvRider.com: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302074

Dakar set to move to South America

By Toby Moody Tuesday, January 15th 2008, 09:53 GMT


After the cancellation of the 2008 Dakar Rally following terrorist threats, it appears that the route for 2009 will be completely new, moving continents from Africa to South America.

Autosport.com understands that ASO, the organisers of the event, have signed a deal with a promotion company in Argentina to have a fresh start, therefore distancing themselves to the terrorist problems that eventually stopped the 2008 edition earlier this month.

A return to the traditional January 1st start date looks to be on the cards, with the rally taking over the former Rally Raid World Cup event in Argentina, The Pampas Rally. The route looks to go to Chile and back.

Other routes that have been investigated include Dubai, but this may be too short. Paris-Beijing was favoured by Mitsubishi and KTM, but the conditions may be too cold for a January running.

Paris-Beijing is being run this year by former Dakar winner Rene Metge, but concerns of high costs reportedly were problematic. Australia has also been looked at too, but it seems Africa is out of the running for a while.

ASO had discussed running the event in 2008 just in Morocco, but intelligence ruled that out with terrorists close to the Mauritanian border.

It also has become apparent that the terrorist threats made directly to ASO following the murder of four French tourists near Nouakchott, Mauritania were specific towards the rally, and made by groups that intelligence sources say were heavily armed and organized.

With a bivouac at night of upwards of 1500 people, the consequences could have been unthinkable.

There was to be a bivouac in Nouakchott for two nights as it was to be the venue for the rest day, meaning that people would naturally wander off into the town from the bivouac, potentially putting themselves in danger.

[Hog Wild]

Something I posted on AdvRider.com yesterday regarding the cost of Dakar, and other issues:


I’m not sure if having the rally in South America would be any cheaper for North Americans than a Sahara Dakar. For North Americans it’s about the same distance away, if not further (look at a globe). And most of the other (non-travel) expenses would likely be about the same. In fact the cost may even go up a bit for some who can afford it since there are probably a lot more opportunities for hotels along the route in South American than in Africa.

One thing South America would do is level the playing field between the Europeans and those traditionally coming from further away, such as Americans, Asians, South Africans, Australians, etc. For those, equipment and supplies had to be prepared two months ahead of those coming to the start by land due to the shipping issue.

Another thing that would be quite different is the amount of dunes. I’ve been flying around Argentina and Chile in Google Earth, and the biggest dune anywhere in South America (that I could find) is only about 20 miles across in any direction. Even if they crisscross that one place several times, we’ll only see one day of big dunes. They are fairly tall though. It looks like 200 to 300 ft elevation changes from the bottom to the top of some dunes. That height is on par with Glamis and Dumont. I never did find any other big dunes besides that one place in Argentina.

There is plenty of barren desert though. It actually looks like some really fantastic terrain if they cover Chile and Argentina. But to get 6000 miles, they have to go across the whole continent and back, or zigzag around a bunch.

There would be one big benefit for those of us in North America. The rally would be going on during our daytime hours. So we wouldn’t have to stay up all night to catch live information. And now with Nate’s Rally Radio, we’d be all set for some really great LIVE entertainment! Nate, are you saving up your vacation time?

Another thing that would be different is the opportunity to spectate much if not all of the rally. There are a lot more good roads and decent size cities across South America than in the Sahara. I think the Lisboa Nomads need to start saving up for a grand ride in South America chasing the whole Dakar 2009!!!

[RGFan]

Just the opinion of an outsider, but I think logistically it is an advantage for the North American teams, not because of travel distance for them persay, but because of the travel distances for the European teams. Most of the European teams are able to drive their support vehicles down for the start of the event, now they will be boating down for the event, having to deal with the same deadline issues that RG and others have had to deal with. It by no means is a debilitating blow to them, but it adds a few more logistical issues that have not had to be dealt with before right before their "biggest race of the year". As for TDUSA, a drive over to Long Beach sure beats shipping them out to Georgia IMO.

[Ferrari333SP]

Assuming there aren't as many dunes, and a lot more open spaces, Robby and his Hummer should have a lot more opportunities to open the trottle and speed past the competition! Wooo!

[spalind]

Autosport.com is reporting that an Argentina to Chile and back to Argentina Dakar to start on 1/1/09 is a signed and done deal...announcement soon to follow....

South American "Dakar" a done deal... (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64687)

[randy s]

will the factory teams and european privateers go to south america? if they don't, i can't see where it would be that big of success. who would participate? any input from sr. mark miller would be nice.

[Hog Wild]

will the factory teams and european privateers go to south america? if they don't, i can't see where it would be that big of success. who would participate? any input from sr. mark miller would be nice.Many of them already do go there. Lots of big and small teams do the Patagonia-Atacama (Por Las Pampas) Rally.
http://www.patagoniaatacama.cl/english/inicio.php
http://www.marathonrally.com/news/por_las_pampas_alphand_won_the_stage_the_bikes_sta rt_tomorrow.7756.0.html

From what I'm hearing, ASO is basically taking over that rally, probably making it longer and tougher, and moving it to January 1st.

Check out the videos from the past event:
http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showpost.php?p=386594&postcount=11

[michael_loomis]

South American Dakar... S.A.D. Get it??

[Ferrari333SP]

South American Dakar... S.A.D. Get it??


There is nothing "S.A.D." about it. I think it's going to be one exciting rally. I'm really looking forward to it, the exciting scenery and the competitors alike.

[Hog Wild]

ASO is under tremendous pressure to put on an incredible 2009 rally, otherwise the event could loose significant support. My thought is they will put in a lot of extra effort to make the 2009 Dakar rally more challenging and inspiring than any in recent memory. They have to do it, and I believe they can succeed. From everything I’ve seen, the huge deserts and mountain terrain in Argentina, Chile, and neighboring countries looks fantastic. There is plenty of wide open and varied desert, some very tall dunes, and plenty of unique challenges not seen in the African Dakar. The more I look into the coming Dakar, the more excited and motivated I get about competing there. The nay-sayers can stay here and watch it on TV. I want to go 6000 miles across South America, and race through some of the most amazing and remote terrain on earth. Bring it on!

[randy s]

Many of them already do go there. Lots of big and small teams do the Patagonia-Atacama (Por Las Pampas) Rally.
http://www.patagoniaatacama.cl/english/inicio.php
http://www.marathonrally.com/news/por_las_pampas_alphand_won_the_stage_the_bikes_sta rt_tomorrow.7756.0.html

From what I'm hearing, ASO is basically taking over that rally, probably making it longer and tougher, and moving it to January 1st.

Check out the videos from the past event:
http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showpost.php?p=386594&postcount=11
hey sr. wild. on that site they had a grand total of 28 entrys. bikes, cars, and trucks. sounds more like extreme camping. jus kiddin', but that is'nt a real big entry list. i guess i was expecting it to be alot larger of an event. looks cool though.

[dfmcse]

ASO is under tremendous pressure to put on an incredible 2009 rally, otherwise the event could loose significant support. My thought is they will put in a lot of extra effort to make the 2009 Dakar rally more challenging and inspiring than any in recent memory. They have to do it, and I believe they can succeed. From everything I’ve seen, the huge deserts and mountain terrain in Argentina, Chile, and neighboring countries looks fantastic. There is plenty of wide open and varied desert, some very tall dunes, and plenty of unique challenges not seen in the African Dakar. The more I look into the coming Dakar, the more excited and motivated I get about competing there. The nay-sayers can stay here and watch it on TV. I want to go 6000 miles across South America, and race through some of the most amazing and remote terrain on earth. Bring it on!

If the ASO hasn't already lost its support and pulls this off, AND the teams show up I'll be happily surprised. If they succeed, they will owe much gratitude to the competitors & sponsors for coming and supporting the ASO. I hope you're right and we see 500 plus teams competing in a 6000 mile rally.

Doug

[michael_loomis]

There is nothing "S.A.D." about it. I think it's going to be one exciting rally. I'm really looking forward to it, the exciting scenery and the competitors alike.

I mean SAD that Dakar as we know it is bye bye. definately not bagging on a new rally.

[scary fast hummer]

Well, at least we have the gringo lingo down (tres tacos, por favor y dos cervesas mas frio. Pardona me, donde esta los banos?!)and wont have to learn french:D

I would love to go to the Atacama. The only downer is that North Africa is so much closer for me here. That bieng said, I'm still racing in Morocco, Libya, Tunesia and Egypt. Not all at once of course, but when I can. Guess I'll have to move back home to California so I can do the SCORE 1K and then ship the beast from Cabo to Chile! Okay, maybe someday...