Ronn Bailey announces his entrance into the Transoriental Rally...

[spalind]

No mention of RG or the ongoing issues there...If he thinks he's going to get more exposure in that rather than the Dakar substitute, he's dreaming...and if he was so worried about terrorism, well...Kazakstahn and China are not exactly bastions of human rights and personal safety...

http://race.off-road.com/race/Industry+News/Ronn-Bailey-To-Race-In-The-First-Transorientale-Ra/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/507026?contextCategoryId=32860

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Too bad a real racer from the US couldn't attempt the race. Ronn seems to be just a adventureist, not anybody we would like to have represent the USA. We would be better off with him not going. Should be quite the disaster.

I wonder if he has permission or is allowed under his contract with Robby Gordon Motorsports to participate???

[spalind]

Too bad a real racer from the US couldn't attempt the race. Ronn seems to be just a adventureist, not anybody we would like to have represent the USA. We would be better off with him not going. Should be quite the disaster.

I wonder if he has permission or is allowed under his contract with Robby Gordon Motorsports to participate???

I have no problem with people being purely "adventurists", hell, thats what most Baja, Dakar racers are...very few make a LIVING off of racing those things...I would think that this isn't going to help RB win his court case..."yeah, I'm going off racing in Russia and China but don't want to live up to the obligations I already had to support RG's efforts..." What a douche...

[Hog Wild]

Too bad a real racer from the US couldn't attempt the race.American James Embro, Dakar 2006 finisher will be racing it, on a bike.

I heard that Andy Grider was hired by Ronn to co-drive for him in the Transoriental, and that they were playing a mind game on Robby by racing in a Toyota Prius.
Oops, April fools was yesterday ;)

[FlyHiFlyLo]

American James Embro, Dakar 2006 finisher will be racing it, on a bike.



Awesome, at least there is an American that can actually finish a race.

[michael_loomis]

LOL.. well Fly.. I guess your sig definately sums it up. RB truely is a Douche. Although I doubt any woman really want him to be down there. :)

[Marty]

I wonder if the Douche Bag is going to wear his designer bullet proof vest in this race ?? Maybe I should check with his connections over there first to find out :D

[JRod]

I noticed the body of his buggy is made of carbon fiber and KEVLAR! Sounds like a really expensive race... No wonder he needs to get some money back out of RG!

Douche Bag

[DSRacing]

I noticed the body of his buggy is made of carbon fiber and KEVLAR! Sounds like a really expensive race... No wonder he needs to get some money back out of RG!

Douche Bag

Is this the same car Jimco built for him a few years ago?

[desertdirt]

ya pretty much. with a few tweaks

[Marty]

I noticed the body of his buggy is made of carbon fiber and KEVLAR! Sounds like a really expensive race... No wonder he needs to get some money back out of RG!

Douche Bag

Runn Bailey has plenty of money!!! it's all just a write off for him and it saves him from paying taxes

[b-makk]

Write-offs still cost money. So you don't pay taxes on what you spent ---you still spent the money!

[Hog Wild]

Kellon Walch will be co-driving for Ronn. Kellon and TransOriental bike competitor James Embro (Dakar finisher) spent the weekend practicing roadbook navigation on 500 miles of desert terrain from Vegas to Dumont to Parker. All went well. This was Kellon's first time on a bike since his major shoulder injury a year ago. He rode Jonah Street's 2007 Dakar bike. In the TransOriental, James will be riding the bike Jonah rode in the Central Europe Rally.

http://www.HogWildRacing.com/deathvalleyrally/2008/KellonJames/Kellon_Walch_100_1072x1024.jpg

http://www.HogWildRacing.com/deathvalleyrally/2008/KellonJames/Kellon_Walch_100_1074x1024.jpg

http://www.HogWildRacing.com/deathvalleyrally/2008/KellonJames/Dumont_Pit_100_1083x1024.jpg

http://www.HogWildRacing.com/deathvalleyrally/2008/KellonJames/Little_Dumont_Dunes_100_1082x1024.jpg

http://www.HogWildRacing.com/deathvalleyrally/2008/KellonJames/James_Embro_Kellon_Walch_100_1088x768.jpg

http://www.HogWildRacing.com/deathvalleyrally/2008/KellonJames/Big_Downhill_100_1092x768.jpg

http://www.HogWildRacing.com/deathvalleyrally/2008/KellonJames/James_Embro_100_1097x1024.jpg

[RacerX1]

Is there a good website to check results, etc, for this race? I believe it started today. Wanted to check on Mr. Embro. :)

[Hog Wild]

Is there a good website to check results, etc, for this race? I believe it started today. Wanted to check on Mr. Embro. :)Official website is here, with live tracking:
http://www.transorientale.com/
James is #56

His friends talk here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350885
and maybe here:
http://www.sundaysocialclub.org/49291.html

Tracking shows they have moved from the start to a spot somewhat North of Moscow.

Go James!

[Code3]

That is a cool site. I was looking at the entry fees and budgets, and I though baja 1000 was expensive.

[RacerX1]

Stage 3 canceled:

Muddy waters !

Yesterday in afternoon end, while bivouac took its brands, a mini storm perturbed the rhythm of the participants of the Transorientale 2008. The hail, the lightings, the wind gusts, all the ingredients were met to distress strongly the life of the Transorientale. And when it is a matter to erect his tent; one of the one that opens itself in two minutes, the position becomes comical especially when you have the feet in water.

More:
http://www.transorientale.com/news/article.php?id=88

[Code3]

Looks like Ronn is in 18th spot.

[alan4s]

Stage 3 canceled:

Muddy waters !

Yesterday in afternoon end, while bivouac took its brands, a mini storm perturbed the rhythm of the participants of the Transorientale 2008. The hail, the lightings, the wind gusts, all the ingredients were met to distress strongly the life of the Transorientale. And when it is a matter to erect his tent; one of the one that opens itself in two minutes, the position becomes comical especially when you have the feet in water.

More:
http://www.transorientale.com/news/article.php?id=88

They really need a better English translator to work on that site! :D I was trying to read some of it over the weekend - it's a challenge to figure out some of what they are trying to say.

[bufeo]

They really need a better English translator to work on that site! :D I was trying to read some of it over the weekend - it's a challenge to figure out some of what they are trying to say.

Most of that type of article are translated with automated 'machine' translations, similar to Yahoo's Babel Fish. I'm fluent in two languages besides English and will sometimes use BF just to compare what the machine will do. The translations can be humorous and sometimes misleading—not to mention occasionally insulting. :)

Allen R

PS (On Edit) I just notice that the 'official' web site (Standings list) has Kellon listed as being from FRANCE. Whoa, that'll be a surprise to all the folks in NV. At least his bio is correct.

[mattb]

[QUOTE=bufeo;472866]The translations can be humorous and sometimes misleading—not to mention occasionally insulting. :)

Humorous, misleading, insulting... No matter how you say it.. Ronn Bailey will never be in contention.

[klaus]

Here are some pictures from the event. A friend of mine in Germany sent me the URL.
"Kahle" used to be the second driver with Armin Schwarz in the Class1 AGM team.
He is now now driving the #210 car.

http://www.hamburger-software.de/www.nsf/740e2cf5cc97268cc125667500328c6d/3a01a84a8b70e790c1257465003c21ce?OpenDocument

[mattb]

Klaus- Is that an ex-Schlesser car or a rental? Jimco? Fortin box?

[Desert Dog]

That car (210) was built by Fast&Speed from Holland and runs a Honda 3.5L V6. It is a later version (probably no. 6 or 7) of mine which is build no. 2.

[Bricoop]

sad to report:

Transorientale Rally: Two dead in the Russia-Asia Transorientale Rally

This morning, at 12:09 a.m. local time (8:09 a.m. FT 6:09 a.m. GMT), at km
120 of special stage n°6 of the Transoriental Rally, between Qaratubak and
Torgai, an accident occurred involving French motorcyclist Philippe Tonin,
a native of Nyons (on Ktm, Team JNCO-Loctite, number 42) and truck 401 of
the Team Kamaz (Vladimir Chagin, Eduard Nikolaev, Sergey Sovostin).

The Transoriental organisation is saddened to report the death of Philippe
Tonin, despite the efforts of the medical teams that arrived on site a few
minutes after the accident. The race organisers and all of its competitors
are in shock and extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends
of Philippe Tonin.

The body has been transported by helicopter from the accident site to
Arkalik and by plane to the hospital of Astana in Kazakhstan.

This sad day for the Transoriental Rally has additionally and unfortunately
been marked by the announcement of the death of Xu Lang. The Chinese racer
was declared dead this morning after the injuries that he sustained
yesterday while attempting to extricate another competitor's vehicle. The
entire Transoriental organisation extends its sincere condolences to the
family and friends of Xu Lang.

As part of the 2008 Transoriental Rally, a terrible accident occurred
yesterday morning in Russia at 7:25 a.m. local time (5:25 a.m. FT - 3:25
a.m. GMT), on the route of the special stage. The official Chinese driver
of the Team Zhengzhou Nissan, Xu Lang, stopped to help another vehicle that
had got stuck. The towing cable broke and struck Xu Lang full force in the
face.

Assistance was rendered very quickly by the surgeon who had been aboard the
immobilized vehicle, and later by the Transoriental's physicians. The
medical helicopter arrived 10 minutes after the accident. Suffering from
multiple neurological injuries, Xu Lang was transferred to the hospital in
Orenburg (Russia) in serious condition. Well-liked by all, this fine
professional racer succumbed to his injuries this morning.

Zhengzhou Nissan and the Team Dessoude, all deeply affected by this
tragedy, extend their sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[RG1Baja]

let him go flop on his own...

[Hog Wild]

At the moment, the tracking shows Ronn and Kellon made it through the Special yesterday, but not to the bivouac. So, either they turned off their tracking, or they are stuck at the end of the Special. I think I've seen this same thing happen before, so I suspect they turned off the tracking. We'll see if they magically appear at the bivouac when the next stage start time approaches.

On another note, I've been watching James Embro much more closely. He's the only American on a bike in this rally. Here's what I posted on another forum:


The competitor #56, USA’s James Embro, who rides a KTM, didn’t start the special stage today.James is fine, though thoroughly disappointed that he paid good money for this event. He called me last night (mid-day for him). He's now riding along (on his bike) with the assistance vehicles. He says the race is unbelievably poorly run, and is putting everyone at unreasonable risk. Plus several other disturbing issues. Here's a few examples:
- Lack of adequate emergency services by the race organization.
- Disrespect to those who have died along the way.
- Disrespect to James personally.
- Lack of fuel for the bikes (several times now), leading to serious protests by the whole bike bunch.
- Assistance routes that were far worse than the race course, leaving racers without support in the bivouac until the middle of the night.
- At one bivouac, not one single race official arrived there until ~9:00am the following morning, after the scheduled start time.
- Scary small food and water supplies, and disrespect to those who take “too much” water.
- Inadequate gap given between the start of the bikes, and the start of the cars and trucks.
- Often there are no race officials at the major checkpoints.
. . .

So, even though James and the bike are fine, he doesn’t want to put himself at unreasonable risk. He’s not sure at this point if he’ll continue following along with the assistance vehicles or strike out on his own China tour.

Given the negative view from many of the competitors, James doesn’t see how this race organization will find any support for future events. And he now understands why the factory teams didn’t come. He looks forward to doing Dakar again, which he says is run 100 times better than this Transorientale fiasco.

[bufeo]

Thanks Scott. Informative and very interesting.

Allen R

[Will_Higman]

Thanks Scott. Informative and very interesting.

Allen R

X2

:)

[RacerX1]

Scott, just reading up on your post. Man, that really sucks and sounds scary. I know James does have a good mechanic with him (our friend Bret Leef). I hope these 2 can sort things out and work with what they're dealt with. Wow - what a bummer. Please post any more news that you receive. Thanks Scott!

[RacerX1]

I heard that James withdrew? I also heard that Ronn Bailey is out?
Is any of this info true?

[Hog Wild]

I heard that James withdrew? I also heard that Ronn Bailey is out? Is any of this info true?Yes, and sort of yes. James withdrew as soon as he entered China, per the comments I made earlier. He's following the race via the assistance route (paved highway). Ronn had problems a day or two ago, and had to skip one or more checkpoints to get help from his crew. It appears he's still following the race course with the others, though probably excluded from daily official scoring. I think they may allow competitors to continue on the race course even after they are officially out of the race. And I think they do that to allow the competitors to continue having fun despite some earlier problems. This is obviously not nearly as hardcore as Dakar. In Dakar you are thrown out for all kinds of reasons, and competitors are generally not allowed to even follow the assistance route once they are disqualified.

[desertdirt]

just so its all clear. ronn did officially finish the race. while not under the exact circumstances that he would have liked to he started every special on time.

[alan4s]

I thought I recognized that dude in the stupid Castrol commercial:

http://api.ning.com/files/i4eCLRdEsZlxIa5HNsqU6YcZLBOKvDiYkQPfcpDQThhDxeQY4C j48O1cKzRaMYse5kHnl9ON8aOyS2uOrv89T6MCL5g42r9t/Bailey_alias.jpg

[RGFan]

DANGER DANGER, THAT'S MY NAME!!!!!(lol)