Dakar 2008 - Cancelled!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Milliethemutt
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Wow, this really sucks.
 
I was looking forward to the first major event of this year. I guess the WRC in Monte Carlo is up next, but yeah this sucks.
 
This is why I hate Terrorism.....AAAAAAARG!!!!!!!

This sucks harder than Paris Hilton.....When she's acting.
 
They should equip every vehicle with some kinda weapon. Then It shall be the terrorists' plans that need to be cancelled

dbuggy3.jpg
 
Muzaffar Musa
1. I already posted the link above (with the actual statement as well)
2. Its 2008. Why does it say 2007 canceled? :confused:
Click to expand...

Because 2007 will forever be the last year it had been run.
 
I don't think that'll happen.

Anyway, I was supposed to go tomorrow see the guys leaving Lisbon, headed to Dakar.

It won't happen, but since I did just that both in 2006 and 2007 I just want to share with you guys that it is awesome just to see them leaving.

Knowing that they are headed to Dakar, and that many will not reach it, there's a sort of "heroic" feel about it, it's hard for me to explain. You have to just watch them leave, the hundreds of cars, bikes and trucks, to feel it.

And if you have to name "heroes" among these "heroes", you will pick the bikers. They really risk their lives each day, in each stage.

Their bikes are HUGE (not just tall), the guys fully equiped and riding them look like giants, and it is really impressive to see them go by (usually, they leave Lisbon in packs of several bikes, I guess they like to have company on the road and between stages).

I just found this movie on youtube. Don't like the music, but the images are overwhelming (specially around and after 2:55). Hope you watch it and understand what I'm trying to say :)




EDIT: The crashed bike shown at the end of the film is Andy Caldecott's. He died in the 2006 edition (after winning one stage).

Here's a pic from him riding that bike:

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The scenes at 2:55 and 3:17 were awesome.
 
GilesGuthrie
I'm sad.[/quote]Trust me Giles, you're not the only one.:(
[quote=Motominded;2876515]http://www.raid-live.com/dakar/en/index.shtml

read......
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/the video
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The Raid-Live link will come in handy for the next few days, IMO. From what I'm reading of the reactions from some of the participants so far, they're respecting the decision of the organizers and are regretful and disappointed that all the time, money, resources and effort gone into this years Dakar are now all for naught. Who knows how many of them will be back for Dakar in 2009 or in future years? :(
 
Wow, i just read this...I'm really shocked that this had to happen, maybe they could do a Paris-Lisbon-Paris sometime...

At least it may be ran next year, but thats the first month of the year gone down the drain..
 
WHAT! But, I just read about its start in the newspapers today!

A brutal shame, if you ask me, despite the fact that the event was difficult to organize, to start.
 
AP
SANTIAGO, Chile -- The Chilean government will back a proposal to bring the Dakar Rally to South America after terrorist threats forced the cancellation of the off-road endurance race traditionally staged across the Sahara desert.

The head of the Chilean Tourism Service, Oscar Santelices, said a formal letter will be sent next week to the France-based rally organizer Amaury Sports Organization expressing Chile's interest to host it.

Santelices told local media, however, that no financial support would be committed.

Chile's deputy sports minister, Jaime Pizarro, also said the government would be interested as "the idea appears on the line with the official policy of hosting important international sports events."

The reaction in Chile came after the Spanish sports newspaper As reported that South America was being considered as an alternative to the African territory, and that the epic motorcycle, car and truck race, staged annually since 1979, could cross through Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

In Chile, the rally would go through the northern Atacama desert, the world's driest, where a local rally called Patagonia-Atacama is staged annually.

Local media reported that across the Andes in Argentina, organizers of the annual Rally of the Pampas are also interested in hosting a portion of the Dakar Rally.

Carlo De Gavardo, a Chilean motorcycle rider who has competed in the Dakar Rally several times, said a major advantage for South American countries hosting the rally is the security they offer in the territories where the race would be staged.

He said a decision on the new site would probably be made in February, and that other likely alternatives are Australia, Russia and China.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
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http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=99&id=3186605
 
I'm sure that'd tick off European fans, but less than cancelling outright, for at least they could race. Perhaps the Baja Boys could be accommodating and let them run their vehicles in the 1000 this year, too. the big trucks would be most difficult to get there, as I dont' think there's enough room on the Baja course.

Even moreso, the Baja competitors could more easily get their trophy trucks, buggies and such down there. Who knows if they'll let 'em in, (Field Fillers, maybe) but I think it'd be cool...
 
Yeah, but what's a Dakar Rally without Dakar being a part of it?:indiff: IIRC, the route in 2000 didn't go to Dakar, but the Great Pyramids in Egypt. No sweat off my back there. I guess they wanted to do something extra special for that year.

Also, I believe the Rally one year not only ended in Dakar, but started there as well and had a East-then-West race route. :idea:Maybe another go at such a route or one that goes South to South Africa and back North to Dakar is in order?
 
I've been watching the recap programs on Eurosport this week. It went to Cape Town once and also to Dakar and then back to Paris once but I haven't seen anything else. Only up to 1994 at the moment though. So if it was after that it will be on over the next few days.
 
Yesterday I saw the 1996 edition on eurosport ...

Anyway, the events were as follows (source: wikipedia)


1979 - Paris - Dakar
1980 - Paris - Dakar
1981 - Paris - Dakar
1982 - Paris - Alger - Dakar
1983 - Paris - Alger - Dakar
1984 - Paris - Alger - Dakar
1985 - Paris - Alger - Dakar
1986 - Paris - Alger - Dakar
1987 - Paris - Alger - Dakar
1988 - Paris - Alger - Dakar
1989 - Paris - Tunis - Dakar
1990 - Paris - Tripoli - Dakar
1991 - Paris - Tripoli - Dakar
1992 - Paris - Syrte - Le Cap
1993 - Paris - Dakar
1994 - Paris - Dakar - Paris
1995 - Grenade - Dakar
1996 - Grenade - Dakar
1997 - Dakar - Agades - Dakar
1998 - Paris - Grenade - Dakar
1999 - Grenade - Dakar
2000 - Paris - Dakar - Le Caire
2001 - Paris - Dakar
2002 - Arras - Madrid - Dakar
2003 - Marseille - Charm el-Cheikh
2004 - Clermont-Ferrand - Dakar
2005 - Barcelona - Dakar
2006 - Lisbon - Dakar
2007 - Lisbon - Dakar
2008 - Lisbon - Dakar
 
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