Dakar – lessons from the longest race on earth. Part 9

Did you ever set out to do something out of your comfort zone, and you are unsettled by it, and it’s challenging, but once you are there and it seems to be going well, a feeling of satisfaction comes over you?  You are proud of what you are doing?

You never know what you can do if you do not try.  

I took stock of where I was. In Saudi Arabia, in the most remote locations, racing in the longest race on the planet. Pinch me. I’m actually here doing it.

Ted was doing great with his duties, taking enough footage, interviews, and setting up GoPro cameras on the car each day so we could make a movie later.  The question is – how will it end?  I guess that part was my job.

South Racing continued to wow me.  I became great friends with my mechanics, the cooks, and the whole staff.  At Dakar, everyone is in the same boat.  We are all talking at dinner about our day, the challenges, and our problems.  Egos are out the door by now.  We are all helping each other however we can.  

Stage 6.  A long one today.  A whopping 925 Kilometers.  270 km liaison, 336 km special, and 260 km liaison back.  That’s far.  The liaisons were very cold sitting there at the speed limit on the road.  But during the day, it was perfect – cool – no sweating. 

Today, ALL DUNES!  

Today was the day to see if I had shaken the dune curse for good.  We started the special in the dunes, watching cars launch up over the first high crest and disappear.  Our turn.  Let’s go!  

I did great!  I did not feel sick all day.  Up and down.  Up and down.  Up, up, up, and doooooown.  Early on, I followed an “ultimate class” car closely.  I learned some lines from him.  It’s an advantage to follow another guy because you can see how fast his car disappears over a crest.  If it’s a gentle slope on the other side or a sharp downhill, you can see it and ride the crest appropriately yourself.  After 30 minutes or so, we were on our own. 

We got the four-wheel drive figured out – good thing because in this soft sand, we needed it.  After 200 km, we had to stop to add water to the engine again. The problem was not getting fixed.  We were thinking it was a head gasket.  They had changed the radiator, hoses, and all kinds of things to try to fix it, yet we were still losing antifreeze.   

At one point, the car would not go over 90km/hr.  But Dennis found a low gear switch that was engaged.  

We were in the dunes for the last hour.  Our lights were not good like the lights we have in Baja.  But here they don’t expect you to be out at night for too long.  In Baja, you are racing sunset to sunrise.  Dennis told me something surprising – he had never navigated at night before. I probably had 100 hours of night racing experience.  It didn’t worry me – but these lights seemed like 2 candle-power.  Geez.  

I was really happy about my driving.  The dunes were tough.  Another South racing car aborted the day when it got dark.  He would not drive in the dunes at night for how scary it can be.  He was out of the Dakar Rally for that.

My mechanics were thrilled that I went six days without a flat or any major damage.  They say it is a Dakar record.  Put me in the record books, coach!  Hey, it’s something!…..

We finished 110th on the day, 19th in our class – the best yet.  We are in 107th position overall for all four-wheel vehicles.  

We got back to the bivouac at 10 pm.  I got to bed at 12:30 am.  Late.  Here’s the great news.  There is a “rest day” – no racing for a day in the middle of the rally.  Tomorrow was a rest day! We were near Riyadh and could perhaps go to the city for a visit.  But there was no way I’d have time.  There was much to do, including REST!

I had finished the first half of the Dakar Rally.  Many did not. I had the terrain and the driving figured out.  There was no terrain type they could throw at me now that I was not comfortable in.  At least I thought…

I was tired and grateful.