America invades Dakar

[Hog Wild]

Here’s the list of Americans going to Dakar 2007, as best I know it. Also listed are two from Mexico and one form Canada. I may be missing one or two. If you know anything more or have corrections, please post some details.

---- MOTOS ----
Chris Blais * - KTM/Redbull (KTM) http://www.blaisracing.com DVR
Assistance - Team KTM/Redbull

Jonah Street * - Team Rally Pan America (KTM 525 custom) http://www.rallypanam.com DVR
Casey McCoy - Team Rally Pan America (KTM 525 custom) http://www.rallypanam.com DVR
Assistance - Rally Pan America (Ford F350 #1), Charlie Rauseo, Sid Milton, Niles Follin

Mike Krynock * - Team Rally Pan America “satellite rider” (KTM 525 custom) http://www.rallypanam.com DVR
Tim Hall - Team Heartland Dakar (KTM 525) http://www.heartland-dakar.com DVR
Dell Balfour – from Canada ( ) http://www.rallypanam.com/ridersDB.html DVR
Assistance - Rally Pan America (Ford F350 #2), Robb McElroy, Jim Radcliff

Elmer Symons - Team SSC/JJE Constructors (KTM) http://www.elmee.com DVR
James Embro * - Team SSC/JJE Constructors (KTM) http://www.sundaysocialclub.org DVR
Steve Laroza - Team JJE Constructors (KTM 625SXC) DVR
Chris Jones - Team JJE Constructors (KTM 625SXC) http://www.Dakar101.com DVR
Assistance - Team SSC/JJE Constructors (Ford F350), crew ???

Mike Kay - Team RallySoCal (Husqvarna TE 510) http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=340380 DVR
Brian Schmuckle - Team RallySoCal (Husqvarna TE 510) DVR
Assistance – Team RallySoCal (Ford F350), Desmond Mc Donald

Paul Broome - (Honda XR650R) http://www.dakarpaul.com DVR
Assistance - Whatever tools and parts that fit in this box (after sleeping bag and tent)

Terry Curtis - Team Rally Raid Mexico (Yamaha) DVR
Sunny Irvine - Team Rally Raid Mexico (Yamaha) DVR
Assistance - Rally Raid Mexico (Ford F350), Ed Coyle, Ron Mac Rae, Leticia Diaz Rivera, Juan Francisco Diaz Rivera

---- CARS ----
Robby Gordon * / Andy Grider * – Team USA Dakar (Hummer H3 #1) http://www.robbygordon.com
Driver? / Co-Driver? – Team USA Dakar (Hummer H3 #2) http://www.robbygordon.com
Assistance T4 (on the course) - ?
Assistance T5 (off the course) - ?

Ronn Bailey * / K.H. * - Team Vanguard (custom buggy) http://www.ronnbaileymotorsports.com/rbm
Assistance - Team Vanguard

Mark Miller * / Ralph Pitchford * - Team Volkswagon (Volkswagon Touareg)
Assistance - Team Volkswagon

Darren Skilton * / ? ( ) DVR
Assistance - ?

---- OF INTEREST ----
It looks like five or so Ford F350 trucks will be shipped over as "assistance vehicles" for the motos. Each will likely have 4 crew, and will follow the race "off the course" on parallel roads and highways. These assistance crews go through a whole separate adventure you never get to see on TV. If you want to see Dakar first hand, but can't afford to race it, this is the way to go (~$15,000 to $20,000).

Who's got Dakar 2008 in their sights? Probably everyone above, plus a few others I'm aware of (Me * DVR, Jim Dizney DVR, Kevin Heath *, Dennis Sletton DVR). Anyone else?

Those with a star * competed in Dakar 2006.

All those with "DVR" plan to be training for Dakar together in September at the Death Valley Rally.

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[FlyHiFlyLo]

Robby Gordon * / Andy Grider * – Team USA Dakar (Hummer H3 #1) http://www.robbygordon.com

Driver? / Co-Driver? – Team USA Dakar (Hummer H3 #2)
Not official to run 2nd Hummer. In fact Robby denied last week that there would be a second T-2...However, I know they are doing lots of Tunnel testing and Kaytech is still tweaking the engines, Last year's H-3 hasn't been in the tunnel so I don't what they are using for that they must have some sort of Chassis buck or another car.

Assistance T4 (on course) Billy Gasper/Tom "Turbo Tom" Geviss/?
Assistance T5 (off the course) - ?

[bufeo]

Thanks Scott (or is it Duane???)* for posting that list. Makes for easy reading and tracking. I've given it the old CtrlC and CtrlV in my '07 Dakar file.

Allen R

*Must be Scott since I saw the same post at ADVrider.

[Chase 2]

Robby Gordon * / Andy Grider * – Team USA Dakar (Hummer H3 #1) http://www.robbygordon.com

Driver? / Co-Driver? – Team USA Dakar (Hummer H3 #2)
Not official to run 2nd Hummer. In fact Robby denied last week that there would be a second T-2...However, I know they are doing lots of Tunnel testing and Kaytech is still tweaking the engines, Last year's H-3 hasn't been in the tunnel so I don't what they are using for that they must have some sort of Chassis buck or another car.

Assistance T4 (on course) Billy Gasper/Tom "Turbo Tom" Geviss/?
Assistance T5 (off the course) - ?

Finally he's starting to figure it out! This is a better effort than all the hype of last year (which would have gagged a maggot). A super reliable H-3 along (de-tuned) with a T4 on the course will help get RG to the finish line.

It'll be interesting to see how Andy goes from thinking/navigating for himself to being a co-dawg. MANY drivers/racers don't do well in the right-hand seat, it's a whole different breed that can navigate and read notes at speed. I wish him all the luck.

Next RG needs is to learn how to hold a team together without people getting fired or quitting in the dunes.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Finally he's starting to figure it out! This is a better effort than all the hype of last year (which would have gagged a maggot). A super reliable H-3 along (de-tuned) with a T4 on the course will help get RG to the finish line.

Next RG needs is to learn how to hold a team together without people getting fired or quitting in the dunes.

Yes... more constructive comments from the O'l Chase... Hype? You’re the expert, don't read the Hype. He raced last year and raced super well right out of the box. I can't wait to see how bad he destroys the field this year. What a huge difference 12 months will make. A lot of what try’s team cohesion is performance. When RG and Darren went down with that stub axle issue the pressure cooker started. Those that could compose themselves under pressure did, and those that couldn't get their butt kicked.

You think Team Dakar USA was pumped last year? They really have a shot this year. You can’t knock RG for getting out there last year. He gained valuable knowledge. And is now a ranked team. Robby was very stressed about just getting the FIA to approve his race car and he held back a bit on the design. Was he supposed to wait ? There is those who talk about doing, in Robby’s case… He is a doer.

I can’t think of anybody in Motorsports that works harder than Robby does. Sure he got a break when he was a teenager, but he sure seems to be made from what he has built on his own over the last 15 years. Christ RG is going to have 3 Cup Teams, a Busch team, a Dakar team, SCORE teams and CORR teams next year. All built from Robby’s persistence and vision… You can’t knock that. That is fact not hype.

[scary fast hummer]

It'll be interesting to see how Andy goes from thinking/navigating for himself to being a co-dawg. MANY drivers/racers don't do well in the right-hand seat, it's a whole different breed that can navigate and read notes at speed. I wish him all the luck.

.

Well put! On this side of the pond it is the right hand seat that wins the races. Not bieng able to pre-run puts all the stress on the navigator. The drivers ability to shut up and listen-trust-act to the navigator is all important and if the two have chemistry that works between them, life is good. Without Stefan, my german navigator, I'd be sunk!

[Chase 2]

The fact that Andy was doing Dakar on a bike is a HUGE advantage as seen by most of the top drivers/nav guys. I have the utmost respect for the lead bike riders in the Dakar and Andy is one of them in my opinion. He is however, still unproven as a co-driver in a car. Dirk was RG's co-driver in the VW and they didn't get along, so it takes chemistry between the driver and co-diver even if both of them are good. BTW, I fully expect that Dirk will be in the podium with Gil this year.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

I fully expect that Dirk will be in the podium with Gil this year.

So do I ... Right behind Robby

[ShaneR]

Ronn Baily will be at Dakar again this year also with full time people not a rented deal like he has done in the past.

[Hog Wild]

Ronn Baily will be at Dakar again this year also with full time people not a rented deal like he has done in the past.

Interesting! I just added him to the list above. Do you know who his co-driver is this time? Is his car being prepared here (Vegas?) or in France? Nice car prep photos on his website!

Does anyone know for sure if Mark Miller is indeed going to Dakar, and on Volkswagon team? I don't have any solid info on him.

Darren, can you fill in some details on your plans? Are you really going? Who's your co-driver? Did I miss anyone in the list above?