spoedvark
Grey Hound
Interesting report!!!
A ride which not many of us will do or go through.
Thanks for sharing!
A ride which not many of us will do or go through.
Thanks for sharing!
6 DAYS IN THE SAND! :) My 2000km CHALLENGE in the EMPTY Quarter!
- Thread starter Kenisis
- Start date
bmad
Race Dog
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Messages
- 3,557
- Reaction score
- 9
- Location
- Gauteng 1150ADV
- Bike
- BMW R1150GS Adventure
Good stuff so far :thumleft:
This is why I love this forum, the ride reports...
:ricky:
This is why I love this forum, the ride reports...
:ricky:
Excellent, you captured the tension perfectly. I just hate that pre-race fiddling bullshit - Its virtually impossible to avoid, so kudos to you for enjoying it in the pool - the best thing you could have done. In Brazil we fiddled with our bikes for no less than four days, and we also had to change the jetting on our carb's for the ethanol fuel.
Also I don't know why but there is always some rule that the pilots are unable to conform to (in this case the helmets), and then at number 99 they let it pass.
Come on now, where is the next section?
Also I don't know why but there is always some rule that the pilots are unable to conform to (in this case the helmets), and then at number 99 they let it pass.
Come on now, where is the next section?
Motties
Race Dog
Eish, missed this RR completely. Looking forward to some lekker reading :thumleft:
Kenisis
Race Dog
D - Day – Sunday 1st April
PROLOGUE – DIST 2.83 Km
I had a nice and early start to the Day by waking up in the Hotel at 6:00 am and going to fetch my Mother in law from the Abu Dhabi airport and returned to the Hotel where I booked her into her own room for the night. I then left my family with some instructions to go and buy me some odds and ends and I went down to Rally HQ and the Gecko Honda Service area and quickly check my bike over. Everything was amazingly in perfect order as I hadn’t buggered it up. Sean and James were busy with their bikes when I got to them.
I was to find out that there were 15 bikes that were cleared late on Saturday night and the teams were then allowed immediate access to prep their bikes for Scrutineering which was held at 5:00 am in the morning. I had a little Déjà vu of the Dakar at that moment and Thought of the SA boys and their bikes. It was great to see that the organizers made a special effort to get all the competitors bikes through. Well Done Guys, Keeping the Rally alive!
We stood around for a while and then headed off to the Hotel for the lunch. I must admit that I was keen for a beer to calm the nerves. Luckily I kept the craving away!
After lunch most of us loaded our bikes on trailers and trailered the machines through to Marina mall where we were going to have the PROLOGUE. A hand full of competitors rode their bikes through. I was happy to trailer my bike as it would save on the rubber!
If you have ever been through Abu Dhabi you would know that the traffic is not the nicest and I had to contain myself from using any hand signals or shouting any profanities at the poor drivers on the roads. In hind sight it was probably just my nerves playing up.
We arrived at an empty plot of land next to the Marina mall that had a track demarcated on it. I quickly off loaded my bike and was instructed to park the bike in Position no 50.
The idea was that we were supposed to go off in order. I then went back to my car to gear up. Wearing all the ATTGAT that I have it takes a little while. We were due to start at 3pm but in true Arab Style the show only got on the road at 3:15.
SWAMBO and I
We all patiently lined up at our motorbikes and watched as Mohammed ben Sulayem who took to the circuit in his Ford rally car that he had many successful rally wins in. Wow what a show. The car was loud and initially spluttering and backfiring tremendously. Enough so that two poor little kids infront of me crapped themselves every time it back fired.
Mohammed ben Sulayem
Now the time has come and the first quads and then motorbikes are to tackle the course. The aim of the prologue was to get the starting times for the first day. Suddenly there is this very real realization that it is about to begin. Wow what a feeling. I thought to myself “what ever you, do not FALL!” With international TV and all there. I don’t want to be Eurosports fall clip for the week like Quinn Cody`s clip from the Dakar!
I got onto my bike and when I pressed the happy button, Nothing! I had left the fuses in from the morning and there wasn’t enough power to turn the motor fast enough for it to start! I won`t go into the details on my head but it instantly reminded me of what happened to a fellow Dog at just such and event. The guy in front of me went onto the podium and I then pulled the kick started out and gave one kick and she purred into life, my first thought then was “I LOVE MY HONDA”
I was summoned to the Ceremonial podium and when I got on top I could hear the commentator calling my name and mentioning that I am from South Africa. I must admit I did not hear much after that as my Stomach filled with butterflies! A cold sweat came over me as soon as I was summoned by Mohammed ben Sulayem to be set off.
As I pulled off the Podium towards Mohammed ben Sulayem I noticed that there was a nicely worn groove where all the guys before me had spun away. Much to Mohammed ben Sulayem`s disgust I pulled up 2 feet to the right of that groove (I have no idea why he gave me that shitty look! Maybe one day I should ask him?). I after all wanted a clean launching pad to get going!
I knocked my bike into Second gear and lunged forward into the tank and waited for the countdown.
Five
Four
Three
Two
One
I pulled off like a deamon possessed! It has to be one of my best starts ever. The season of motocross paid off. :thumleft:
Click on Picture to watch Video
Ok, I know it looks slow but I remember it being a lot faster on the Bike! My Story and I am sticking to it!
I was so focused on the pull off that I nearly overshot the first corner! Decisive braking and all was in control.
Click on Picture to watch Video
I managed to get around the Circuit without any problems and made it to the end. Passing through the timing markers I felt like I had just passed another mile stone in my Challenge!
I was then confronted my Marie who was the Riders representative and she issued me with the road book for Leg 1 of the rally.
Here is a Picture of Sebastien Hussieni who was the fastest around the circuit and was going to be opening Leg one for us. Well done Seb!
We packed up and headed back to rally HQ and began to colour in my road book. I had been given some tips about what to do but in all honesty I pretty much had no idea what I was doing.
Now came time to load the road book into my Holder. Thank fully I had Justin Taylor in our camp and he gave me some advice and helped me or rather he loaded and I watched how it is done! I then took my bike to the filling station and filled her up for the first stage.
I sat around for a while and then we all decided that it would be best to trailer the bikes to the start. Sean arranged for one of the French guys to take my bike through the next morning and I was to ride with Sean and Jamie!
I then returned to the Hotel to start my first of many Hydration sessions, and I do not mean drinking Beer!
Leg 1 to Follow…………………………………………………………..
Some Random Pics.
PROLOGUE – DIST 2.83 Km
I had a nice and early start to the Day by waking up in the Hotel at 6:00 am and going to fetch my Mother in law from the Abu Dhabi airport and returned to the Hotel where I booked her into her own room for the night. I then left my family with some instructions to go and buy me some odds and ends and I went down to Rally HQ and the Gecko Honda Service area and quickly check my bike over. Everything was amazingly in perfect order as I hadn’t buggered it up. Sean and James were busy with their bikes when I got to them.
I was to find out that there were 15 bikes that were cleared late on Saturday night and the teams were then allowed immediate access to prep their bikes for Scrutineering which was held at 5:00 am in the morning. I had a little Déjà vu of the Dakar at that moment and Thought of the SA boys and their bikes. It was great to see that the organizers made a special effort to get all the competitors bikes through. Well Done Guys, Keeping the Rally alive!
We stood around for a while and then headed off to the Hotel for the lunch. I must admit that I was keen for a beer to calm the nerves. Luckily I kept the craving away!
After lunch most of us loaded our bikes on trailers and trailered the machines through to Marina mall where we were going to have the PROLOGUE. A hand full of competitors rode their bikes through. I was happy to trailer my bike as it would save on the rubber!
If you have ever been through Abu Dhabi you would know that the traffic is not the nicest and I had to contain myself from using any hand signals or shouting any profanities at the poor drivers on the roads. In hind sight it was probably just my nerves playing up.
We arrived at an empty plot of land next to the Marina mall that had a track demarcated on it. I quickly off loaded my bike and was instructed to park the bike in Position no 50.
The idea was that we were supposed to go off in order. I then went back to my car to gear up. Wearing all the ATTGAT that I have it takes a little while. We were due to start at 3pm but in true Arab Style the show only got on the road at 3:15.
SWAMBO and I
We all patiently lined up at our motorbikes and watched as Mohammed ben Sulayem who took to the circuit in his Ford rally car that he had many successful rally wins in. Wow what a show. The car was loud and initially spluttering and backfiring tremendously. Enough so that two poor little kids infront of me crapped themselves every time it back fired.
Mohammed ben Sulayem
Now the time has come and the first quads and then motorbikes are to tackle the course. The aim of the prologue was to get the starting times for the first day. Suddenly there is this very real realization that it is about to begin. Wow what a feeling. I thought to myself “what ever you, do not FALL!” With international TV and all there. I don’t want to be Eurosports fall clip for the week like Quinn Cody`s clip from the Dakar!
I got onto my bike and when I pressed the happy button, Nothing! I had left the fuses in from the morning and there wasn’t enough power to turn the motor fast enough for it to start! I won`t go into the details on my head but it instantly reminded me of what happened to a fellow Dog at just such and event. The guy in front of me went onto the podium and I then pulled the kick started out and gave one kick and she purred into life, my first thought then was “I LOVE MY HONDA”
I was summoned to the Ceremonial podium and when I got on top I could hear the commentator calling my name and mentioning that I am from South Africa. I must admit I did not hear much after that as my Stomach filled with butterflies! A cold sweat came over me as soon as I was summoned by Mohammed ben Sulayem to be set off.
As I pulled off the Podium towards Mohammed ben Sulayem I noticed that there was a nicely worn groove where all the guys before me had spun away. Much to Mohammed ben Sulayem`s disgust I pulled up 2 feet to the right of that groove (I have no idea why he gave me that shitty look! Maybe one day I should ask him?). I after all wanted a clean launching pad to get going!
I knocked my bike into Second gear and lunged forward into the tank and waited for the countdown.
Five
Four
Three
Two
One
I pulled off like a deamon possessed! It has to be one of my best starts ever. The season of motocross paid off. :thumleft:
Click on Picture to watch Video
Ok, I know it looks slow but I remember it being a lot faster on the Bike! My Story and I am sticking to it!
I was so focused on the pull off that I nearly overshot the first corner! Decisive braking and all was in control.
Click on Picture to watch Video
I managed to get around the Circuit without any problems and made it to the end. Passing through the timing markers I felt like I had just passed another mile stone in my Challenge!
I was then confronted my Marie who was the Riders representative and she issued me with the road book for Leg 1 of the rally.
Here is a Picture of Sebastien Hussieni who was the fastest around the circuit and was going to be opening Leg one for us. Well done Seb!
We packed up and headed back to rally HQ and began to colour in my road book. I had been given some tips about what to do but in all honesty I pretty much had no idea what I was doing.
Now came time to load the road book into my Holder. Thank fully I had Justin Taylor in our camp and he gave me some advice and helped me or rather he loaded and I watched how it is done! I then took my bike to the filling station and filled her up for the first stage.
I sat around for a while and then we all decided that it would be best to trailer the bikes to the start. Sean arranged for one of the French guys to take my bike through the next morning and I was to ride with Sean and Jamie!
I then returned to the Hotel to start my first of many Hydration sessions, and I do not mean drinking Beer!
Leg 1 to Follow…………………………………………………………..
Some Random Pics.
:hello2:
Welcome to the club. ;D A kak feeling you just cannot beat.
Welcome to the club. ;D A kak feeling you just cannot beat.
Kenisis
Race Dog
Its difficult trying to explain to some one what a panic :eek7: you have when it happens. I had visions of pushing my bike around the prologue!
ROOST
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2011
- Messages
- 200
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Jeffrey's Bay
- Bike
- KTM 1290 Adventure R
Insane!!! keep the good stuff comin!! :drif:
Awesome stuff, can't wait to follow this one!!!
:thumleft: :thumleft:
:thumleft: :thumleft:
goingnowherequickly
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2010
- Messages
- 395
- Reaction score
- 0
- Bike
- KTM 640 Adventure
Fantastic!
Waiting eagerly for the next installment...
:ricky:
Thanks for the report
Waiting eagerly for the next installment...
:ricky:
Thanks for the report
Dirt Junkie
Race Dog
Awesome
keep it coming
keep it coming
WP
Race Dog
:happy1: :happy1: :happy1: :hello2:
Kenisis
Race Dog
Thanks for reading Guys. You would not believe me but writing this is making me re live the whole experience.
I hope it transfers across and motivates at least one of you to come and join us next year! :deal:
I hope it transfers across and motivates at least one of you to come and join us next year! :deal:
bmad
Race Dog
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Messages
- 3,557
- Reaction score
- 9
- Location
- Gauteng 1150ADV
- Bike
- BMW R1150GS Adventure
Great stuff so far... but where is the next instalment >
>
>
Kenisis said:
:thumleft:
Kenisis
Race Dog
bmad said:Great stuff so far... but where is the next instalment >
I am swamped with work at the moment, I'll try and get the next installment out in the next day or two!
Similar threads
