DAKAR 2012 - Final Thoughts

[hp_lovecraft]

The coverage here was excellent. I found this forum while trying to google updates on the Dakar.
Obviously, a win for RG would have been best, but if you look at the waypoints that he was leading, it shows that he did great:

Waypoints led (by driver):
Gordon 22
Nasser 17
Roma 17
Peter 15
Holo 5
Novi 1

Waypoints Led (by vehicle):
Hummer 39
Mini 38

If you didn't know the results of the race, someone looking at that data might assume that Gordon and Nasser finished #1 and #2 overall. But Nasser dropped out 1/2 way through, and Gordon finished #4. For both, the problem was mechanical issues. The waypoints not led by Hummers were because they suffered a fault beyond chaning a tire, causing them significant time.

But I don't care. It was a great race, and great videos, and like I said, the coverage here really made up for the lack otherwise.

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[Will_Higman]

Thanks to Mark Miller and Will Higman for their valuable input here during the rally. I can only imagine how hard it was for MM to have to lurk here instead of participating, yet he answered everyone's questions. Good luck to MM where ever he goes next year. I have always enjoyed Will's insight from his earlier trips, and it sounds like he is ready to go back.

I would like to thank you all for all your input and comments. It was fun to follow the Dakar here on RDC and it was great to share my thoughts with you and read yous as well. Thanks to Mark Miller and Will Higman for their professional input and point of view.

CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR!!!

Thanks to Mark for sure I know how hard it must have been to be at home this year and I am glad he didn’t give up on the RDC community.

I am ready and have always been ready to go back but there are very few seats and opportunities to do so. After competing in the rally twice and being close a third time I promised myself that I would only go back if I am actually in the race. I love all the hard work and dedication that it takes to be a Dakar Finisher and I still feel like I have the skills to get it done again at any level. I am staying focused on the business end of things and hoping for something to click.

Thanks to everyone here on RDC for making it fun to follow the rally from home.

[Short Bus]

2) RG made some progress on learning what pace it takes to win DAKAR while keeping his equipment alive. (Thanks Nasser) I don’t know how well Bob Gordon and RG work together but he seems like a natural to manage this team. He was always a smooth driver and a finisher which is certainly what’s needed at Dakar. And maybe he can keep RG focused and talk him down when “KMA” RG shows up. (“KMA” RG is entertaining, but rarely improves a situation

I was thinking about this as well. With the experiences he has had with ASO, he needs someone whose job is to take care of all the dealings with them. Bob, would do a good job, but he is too close to Robby. Someone that has worked with ASO on other teams may have better luck keeping them in line. Maybe someone from VW's old team?

[manicmechanic]

I was thinking about this as well. With the experiences he has had with ASO, he needs someone whose job is to take care of all the dealings with them. Bob, would do a good job, but he is too close to Robby. Someone that has worked with ASO on other teams may have better luck keeping them in line. Maybe someone from VW's old team?

Darren Skilton, to use fewer words.

[kaw500]

Final thoughts, so many from a great two weeks;
Quinn, ouch. Jonah a real gamer. Nasser, the Qatar Quitter. Mini's, are for girls. Decent TV coverage each night. RG, what's left to say.

Thanks to all on the RDC forums I have been following DAKAR for 30 years, the last 8 on this board and each year it just gets better.
IMHO this board has some of the most knowledgeable, passionate. arrogant, irritable, and informative race fans anywhere.

Now the post DAKAR depression, what am I supposed to do next week? Work while I'm at my desk?

I look back on this years event and can only imagine the thousands of stories, the stones it must take to keep going.

Here's to 2013, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

[randy s]

stephane peterhansel is a great, great racer....too bad he's such a loud mouth weenie...i'm glad i'm not french..

[jo maoma]

props to this guy right here. my first trip to baja (and the start of my addiction)
was to crew for him when he soloed the '05 500, he saw it as the first step to his
dream of getting to dakar. he finished his dream today and i'm proad to count
him as a friend. top US finisher...

[randy s]

kudos to andy grider for standing up on his hind legs and not layin' down for any bullchit in the biggest event of it's kind on the planet. that took balls and that there is a man of principle and we should be very proud of him.

[pdailey]

kudos to andy grider for standing up on his hind legs and not layin' down for any bullchit in the biggest event of it's kind on the planet. that took balls and that there is a man of principle and we should be very proud of him.

I would love to hear the whole story on this. Ohhhh to be a fly on the wall.

[randy s]

props to this guy right here. my first trip to baja (and the start of my addiction)
was to crew for him when he soloed the '05 500, he saw it as the first step to his
dream of getting to dakar. he finished his dream today and i'm proad to count
him as a friend. top US finisher...

how cool is that? congratulations