m0lt3n said:
Buff said:
This XC Rally is in its 4th year and has been marketed extensively on social media. There comes a time when people just need to get off their backsides and enter instead of sitting on the sideline being spoon fed off the stories of those who have done it... sorry, just MHO. I also believe what detour did is pretty spectacular and I personally don't think there's too many others with the fitness and skill set to match him. Locally I know of about 5, the likes of BJ Vosloo and Byron etc. Lets hope a few more come next year and prove me wrong ;D
I am one of the guilty ones on my backside. I don't know how you guys make the family logistics work but in the end its all a case of how badly you want it and making the priorities line up. Currently I have no rally experience, no racing experience and will have no one I know there, I will also be going alone, and not be falling in with a previous team or anything, that's my reality. If there is 10 or 30 litre class bikes also doing something like this it will be a lot easier for someone like me to just fall in.
I know its been marketed extensively, but having the likes of the two names mentioned join in will be worth a whole marketing campaign in itself.
I read your comment with interest and I don't want to hijack the thread too much , but seeing as it was raised.
I was the media officer for Tankwa and was involved with the social media side etc. The event was marketed quite late compared to some other events mainly because of how many races were in the year from WCOC. It is a growing event and we didn't want it to go from 30 or 40 riders to 150. The area is very heavily under drought and we were also sensitive to the impact of the event. This year was the 1st year introducing the live satelite tracking etc.. so this was really just the next step from last year. This is the 4th year I have been involved and every year there is something done a bit better than last year.
Because of injuries there were some Dakar participants and National trophy winners who could not take part, but, big names draw big names .. people are complex though. If you have a Dakar entry competing then the weekend worriors dont want to come because they doubt their abilities, if the Dakar entries don't come then people want to know if the event is even worth attending, so its always trying to find that middle ground which attracts new riders with little rally or navigational experience. My focus has always been on the development of riders who can ride a bike, they just need the confidence to compete in a rally.
This will continue to develop next year with a Junior Tankwa, roadbook training weekends and a qualifying round before next years event which will attract riders who always wanted to ride a rally but are not quite sure what to expect. It will also give them an opportunity to learn how to plan for these events, what is expected and how to give yourself the best chance of finishing.
Preppng for , and doing a rally takes a lot, family and work have to be juggled, you have to prep the body and mind and bike for the event, its not cheap and its far away.. you have to get all of those in alignment to get a rider onto the line, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Even myself, i planned as best I could but in the end my bike just wasn't ready and there were a few guys who just didn't get their prep work done..
As for going alone.. don't let that stop you, Just like there was a Honda team and a Droomers team there is no reason why people cant put together an independent team.. a group of riding buddies who ride together from time to time can, with effort , make up a 3 or 4 man team and work together to do the event, you are always welcome to come camp with me, I am more than happy to help you prep and if you want any training rides in the year when you have time, just give me a shout and ill happily do a few training rides with you.
:thumleft:
