It started out with a plan to de-rust a couple of rims..
We didn’t get a chance to take cutting torches to 1107 today, so Crusty decamped to my place and, while he worked on stripping out the new body, I started wire brushing a couple of four lug rims donated by my neighbor and fellow VW aficionado, Larry. By the end of the day, I’d done the two rims and five other wheels. I’m about as orange as an Oompa Loompa.
Video to come. Until then, a handful of photos.
We peaked around the Baja 1000 but.. .
Actually, since I waited a day to post this, we’re now over 20,500 downloads. Amazing.
Also, we’re within one work day of cutting the car apart. Just need to get the electrical system tagged and bagged. Then on to the Sawz-All.
Photo linked to from Planet Robby.
This post sponsored by TrailGlow.
If you can imagine it, they can light it.
Update 7: Great photo set from webventure.com.br
Update 6: Nerd-tastic Dakar timing tracker by Dutch fan Mischa Visser. (h/t to @ledakar)
Update 5: Second day recap from Autosport. And from SpeedCafe.
Update 4: First day official recap video. Live timing is active.
Update 3: Raceteevee has gone live with streaming video coverage of the race.
Update 2: Added a few more people who are live-tweeting the event.
Update 1: Links for Volkswagon, Yahoo Eurosport, Toyo Tires, Australian TV and Rally Global (Courtesy of everyone on the Race-Dezert forums)
Dakar 2011 starts Jan. 1 and like I did for the Baja 1000, I’ve pulled together resources to track the race online. Shoot me an email if you know of anything else out on the Internets –
jim@desertdingo.com
Live tracking – Not live yet
TV coverage
Raceteevee.com
Official ASO Dakar information
The official Dakar 2011 website
Mobile apps
The official Dakar app: Android and iPhone
The excellent VW Dakar app: iPhone
Desert Dingo Racing app iPhone / Android app (no Dakar stuff, but news on our race team)
Twitter
My Dakar 2011 public list on Twitter
The Twitter list in newspaper format (courtesy of Paper.li)
And here’s who’s on it (let me know if you know of others):
BenConsty, CraigBoundsDak, Dakar_Rally, dakarmitsubishi, dakarofficial, DakarRally2011, eliseosalazar, felipegana, glenn_autosport, hknuiman, ISUZUmotorsport, JacobBlackWrite, jonahstreet2010 ledakar, marhes, markmillerdakar, PLANETROBBY, powersportdaily, quinncody, RobbyGordon, SimonPavey, speed_Energy, TimCoronel_, tobymoody, WorldRallySport, and XraidTeam.
Websites posting updates
Yahoo Eurosport
Marathon Rally
Race-Dezert
Motorsport
Rally Global (Spanish)
Also check out
A good primer from MyP2PForum
SOS team on Facebook (Spanish)
Boston.com Dakar 2010 photo gallery
Nine time Baja 1000 winner Eric Solorzano saving our bacon, yet again.
Roger Norman – TT No. 8
Very good guy. Community oriented. Does the occasional VORRA race. Has never nerfed us. Also runs TrailGlow (our sponsor) illuminated number panels. First off the line and iron-manning the whole race. Pre-ran something like 5,000 miles.
Robby Gordon – TT No. 1
I’m pretty sure it’s in the U.S. Constitution that you have to follow Robby Gordon.
Josh Hall – TT No. 61
A new TT by Baja Legend Rod Hall. Should be interesting to see how it does.
Torchmate Racing – No. 601
Torchmate created the super heavy trophy we got for winning the inaugural Xtreme Outlaws 250 Reno race that’s sitting on my desk. They race VORRA.
Emily Sturgess Miller – Stock Full H1 Alpha No. 861
Racing an H1 Alpha Hummer. Does Gazelles.
Rod Hall
He’s doing seat time in the new trophy truck (#61) and and the H1 Alpha (#861). He’s in Wikipedia under “badass.”
Dennis Webb & Yolo Racing – 5/1600 Baja Bug No. 554
We’ve hung out at a previous 1000. They’re Canadian. Cool guys.
Sarabia Aja – Class 5/1600 Baja Bug No. 1645
Sarabia races with Felipe (see below). He and I yammer like little old ladies via Instant Messenger. He’s co-dogging the first 385 miles or thereabouts. Drivers are Hector Sarabia, Eliseo Garcia and Federico Montes.
Felipe Neri Sanchez & Turtle Speed Racing – No. 1214
We’ve raced against Felipe in SNORE. He and his team are great people. They beat us.
All the Class 11s, natch
Eric Solorzano, mentor and arch rival – No. 1100
Scott Wisdom – No. 1103
Matt Cullen – No. 1102
Alfonso Lacerra – No. 1101
