Rally Dakar: Argentina - Chile 2010 » motorsport

Tomb Raider in Copiapó.

dunerider70 — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:37:25 +0000

I remember I’ve seen a photograph of Annie Seel in „Tomb Raider“ costume but I never would have thought that since yesterday that’s gonna be her new nickname. Annie’s story of yesterday’s accident is just incredible. While driving the special stage, she realized a big hole unexpectedly and suddenly appeared in front of her. Her speed was too high to jump it and too slow to stop so… Annie just jumped from the bike which fell into a big hole 2m by 2m wide and 6 m deep. Probably a Tomb, definitively which was not shown on the roadbook. The engine kept running for a while. By throwing stones to the wheel she finally managed to stop it. Imagine what would have happened if she fell into that 6m deep hole.
A helicopter came and Etienne Lavigne personally went into the hole, securing the bike with a rope, so the helipcopter could lift it up.
Annie kick-started it, and guess what…. She ended the stage with two hours of delad, but alive and nearly no injury… She really had an angel watching over her.

This morning she just started for the 9th special stage which has been shortened from 380 Km to 170 Km. Dunes and Camel grass today, it’s gonna be tough for all competitors.

Day 4 – end of the 3rd Special Stage in Fiambala

dunerider70 — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:56:33 +0000

I just arrived in Fiambala safely, no other injuries or accidents on the road. It’s 35 degrees here, our bodies refuse to adapt so quickly to the change of climate and weather conditions. Yesterday morning it was raining and 20 degrees C

I met motorbike driver Annie Seel (#76), with SS partial qualification #57. Annie Told me it was in incredibily tough special stage. She said ” I’m sorry for the amateurs, it will be a long day for them”. Annie’s Bike also made it well, it’s not being repaired by Meccasystem mechanic Laurent.
Winner of the special Stage was C. Despres with motorbike #2, immediately followed by H. Rodriguez with motorbike #5. (Partial Classification at 15:30hrs)

Here in Fiambala the wind is blowing and the sand gets into everywhere. As I write from the Media Center of the Dakar, my laptop is covered by sand. The sand gets into your ears, nose, eyes… and unless you have ski-googles it’s really not pleasant.

Miran Stanovnik (Bike #13) unfortunalety retired from the race due to an injury on his left hand. He hit a tree, and was sutured by the Medics. Nothing serious but he can’t race anymore and he has to return to Europe tomorrow in order to get another operation on his hand. At 15:30 local time his position was #20. He was doing really well. Good Luck Miran and safe journey home.

Second stage, first special

dunerider70 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:07:40 +0000

The second day of the race was a quiet one for the Charlies. Competitors did not have many issues with this leg on the 2nd of January in Cordoba on the second bivouac, so that there was hardly any reparation necessary. Tomorrow the race goes on. The charlies will depart by Hercules Aircraft to the next bivouac in Mendoza while I will follow in the press car of Team SMG. We will try to reach the start of the special tomorrow morning at 8:00am in order to catch the first cars departing and make some nice shots. Stay tuned for more news about our work at the Dakar Rally 2010.

The Charlies in Cordoba

dunerider70 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:14:59 +0000

While I am still on the road with the press cars of SMG Team driven by Ellen Lohr, the Loctite Charlies just landed at the end of the second stage. Over 600 Km distance from Colon. When I’ll arrive this evening they will be already working and making reparations on Bikes Cars and Trucks is needed. It’s now 10:00 am here, and we are at a Shell gas station at 90Km from Colón. Still over 500 Km to go in order to reach the next bivouac where I will meet them and hear about they stories.

January 1st 2010. Official Start of the Dakar Rally 2010

dunerider70 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:33:15 +0000

Today at 14:30 Local time the fist vehicles to start will be Quads. It’s cloudy and the temperature dropped a bit. All competitors will move their vehicles from the Parc Fermé where they have been stationed after the technical checks to the Av. 9 Julio, close to the obelisk for the official start ceremony. They will then drive 317 Km up to Colon. The Charlies have made the last preparations and are now ready to depart to the first bivouac. I’ll be at the start today, photographing the event. Stay tuned for more updates from the field!

Help! Don’t stick me up!

dunerider70 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:00:52 +0000

Buenos Aires, December 31, 2009. That’s what happens here if you don’t behave well… you wanna mess with the Charlies and the Loctite people? they are gonna glue your shows with Loctite 401 and hang you up as they did with this poor visitor! You better don’t mess with the Charlies.

The Charlies are back!

dunerider70 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:00:20 +0000

Today at the Rural, during the technical scrutineering, the Charlies were there at the Dakar Village. Many visitors asked for stepping into our Loctite truck. A sunny day, 28 degrees the Argentinian mild summer is fantastic if you come from -20C. Jean Gaborit, head of the Charlies finally met our two new crew members: Martin-Daniel Gonzales and José-Luis Cornejo will be the new technicians following the whole race for 10000Km and offering reparations to competitors at the Bivouac every day. Day and Night for 15 days.

Annie Seel is back again this year

dunerider70 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:42:58 +0000

I met Annie this morning. Last time I saw her it was at the arrival of the 2009 Dakar edition. Also this year Loctite sponsored her participation to the Dakar. “After the injuries of last year” said Annie “this year I am gonna take it easy”. It’s more about the experience than about racing she said.
I’ll be there watching her and interviewing her when I catch her, so stay tuned for new information live from the field!

The Charlies are heading to Argentina

stefanolevi — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:07:06 +0000

The Charlies are all heading to Buenos Aires. Tomorrow morning at the scrutineering in La Rural the team will be united. This year I will be in Ellen Lohr team’s Press car, following the race from a different perspective. Stay tuned during this 2010 Dakar Rally on www.dakaradventure.com for updates and stories directly from the field.
And if you feel commenting my posts pls do…

The Charlies wish you Merry Xmas

dunerider70 — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:55:26 +0000

To all our blog followers & fans: we wish you a Merry Xmas and see you soon on this new motorsport adventure in Buenos Aires. Dunerider & the Loctite Charlies.