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DAKAR!

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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 09:04 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by f1_fanz,Jan 4 2008, 12:29 PM
One of the appealing aspects to the Dakar Rally has always been the potential for violence.

Every year there's been the possibility of participants and spectators being robbed, killed, etc.

That potential has helped build the race's reputation for being only for the strong of body and mind...knowing you might not make it out alive.

I guess I don't see how this year is any different?
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 09:47 AM
  #12  
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As a casual observer of the Dakar this cancellation is disappointing. My guess is there has always been the chance for violence on certain stages of the race, but this year it was a near certainty it seems. I don't recall ever hearing the ASO receive direct threats against the race. I would rather them cancel the race than read about the first 10 vehicles that arrived in "Terrorist Country A" were ambushed and killed by Al-Qaeda. I would err on the side of caution too.
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 10:17 AM
  #13  
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They've cancelled specific individual stages in the past due to similar safety concerns. Perhaps this year the scope of the danger was simply much greater, and ultimately the competition would have been compromised if they only ran the stages they knew to be safe.
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 11:42 AM
  #14  
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The DAKAR may not be over yet. From reading on RG's fansite, apparently he is trying to lobby the other drivers/teams to at least hold a 1 day race in Portugual, if not more.
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 11:50 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by zdave87,Jan 4 2008, 03:42 PM
The DAKAR may not be over yet. From reading on RG's fansite, apparently he is trying to lobby the other drivers/teams to at least hold a 1 day race in Portugual, if not more.
STAGE 1 - 05/01/2008
Lisboa > Portim
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 12:13 PM
  #16  
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I'd be down with that. But for me at least, one of the biggest draws has always been the absolutely amazing landscapes they go through during the race. Even with the same teams and vehicles, it just won't be the same.
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 12:19 PM
  #17  
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It does seem like a waste to have approx 570 bikes/cars/trucks entered (along with the support crews) and NOT have a race of some sort.
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Old Jan 5, 2008 | 09:18 AM
  #18  
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Pack heat is my solution. Every race team should have HK MP-5s with 1000 rds on board.
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Old Jan 7, 2008 | 10:18 AM
  #19  
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Great event. Going to miss not watching this year.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/motorsport/dakar/
Euro sport yahoo has a lot of info


http://www.dakar.com/indexus.html



Hope there able to pull together a 1 or 2 day race.
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Old Jan 8, 2008 | 05:59 AM
  #20  
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No Dakar may end up being a blessing.

an event in South America would be perfect as a replacement, as would a renaissance of the Master Rally, which would see it's finish point moved from Ulan Bator to Beijing.

"The first would be in South America and the second Paris-Moscow-Beijing

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08012008/58/...considered.html

A rally in South America would be great. The return of the Master Rally would be something to see also. Wonder how long a Paris-Moscow-Beijing rally would be?
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