The Poduim awaits
After being blocked out my massive crowds we have finally got the podium. The celebrations await.
Final stage done for Giniel
We’ve parked up just after the end of stage, Giniel’s is through and just getting a final clean for the podium. We’ve just had a shower and a smarten up, now waiting for the other cars and then on the road for the very last stint of the 2012 Dakar
Day 14 – Podium here we come.
Today was a short stint of only a 250 klm. We got up usual time and were left with a quick and easy pack which was great. We were loaded and on the road only 9 minutes late – this year’s best. I had been given instructions on which fuel station to go to by Snoppy as he had already been into town the day before, so we found the fuel station and did a fuel fill. Should have been easy going but the woman at the office seemed to have a problem understanding the card machine and after bout 20 attempts she finally got it! On the road it certainly seemed we were getting closer to a mass civilisation as it was just small town after small town but progressively getting larger. Good crowds in each one with cheering and clapping going on, it is also a Saturday so everyone was out to see the rally come through. We found another fuel station about ¾ along the route and found a tap with reasonable water pressure for the first time in about a week and a half. We made the most of it and filled the water tanks to maximum. A local trucker and some of the staff came and sat with us for the wait so we shared are packed lunches with them, huge language barrier but we all managed somehow!
Then on the road again for the 90 klms stint or so. We had been asked to get the truck cleaned for tomorrow, but then been told the pressure washer service was at biv so just headed straight there. On arrival we were greeted with a festival type atmosphere. There were people everywhere. Brass bands playing, gift being given out, including free Peru condoms!! That’s a weird one and first!! We spent about an hour waiting for the cleaning service, then after parked up to let the truck dry before hitting the dusty pits again. That was a licence for the crowds to ignore security and come over for photos. To be honest the security then started joining in and everyone was very well behaved and were waiting turns for photos so it was a very cool vibe. We ended up staying there for about half an hour just interacting with everyone. Then off to the pits and set up before the cars came in. We set up a nice but minimal camp as we were actually going to try and pack as much away as possible in the right trucks tonight to save time in the docks. Different things have to go to different places, i.e., South Africa by air, Europe by sea and some stuff back to Argentina by the Artic.
Shortly after we were done the cars started rolling in. First Giniel, 2nd on stage, finishing 3rd overall, what a result, we all clapped as they all drove in, Then Lucio, 4th on stage and 5th overall, and shortly after Duncan, he had lost a bit of time over the last two days but had still kept it in the top 10 at 10th. We couldn’t have asked for more. The team’s aim was for a car to be in the top 5, we got a whole lot more. The cars were still gone through with the usual fine tooth comb. Duncan had also got some body damage during the day so panels were replaced and then re-stickered ready for the podium. Everyone also set too re arranging things as best we could to get things in the best place for the final pack on Monday, and monies and pre ending plans were sorted out. There is still a show case stage of about 30klms tomorrow, so it still had to be planned properly for. It would be gutting for something to go wrong on the final home straight.
Finally Scott and Glyn called a meeting. You could feel the teams vibe as we were given the instructions for tomorrow along side the praise, and pride that we all had knowing we were going to be celebrating on the podium. It’s a great feeling, and one that I’ve dreamt about for years. And were going to be up there 3 times – how cool is that? With praise came the warning off not getting carried away with the moment. We have a Toyota party arranged after the day’s events and then the Redbull after party after that, VIP style hopefully!
We were sent off after that for dinner and told to have a few beers but be sensible. Two very busy, fun packed and important days ahead. I won’t get time to write up big blogs over the next two days until I get home, and then I’m going to be rather busy with more important things anyway! So, expect lots of quick updates, excited, sober and mind blowing for me to begin with, then possible a bit more nutty and drunk as the evening goes on. Cheers for following me and please don’t stop as 2012 holds a lot in store for me, Courtney and the Race2Recovery crew. Bring it on………..
Day 13 – Gear stick techno
We were due to get up at 7 even though we weren’t leaving till 10. Except, since the clocks going back another two hours, everybody’s timing seems to be off, including Albert’s as he was up again and before 6, and he had got up, and then put his phone in the cab which went off at 6? Could I find it – no, could I turn it off – NO. I was up! So relaxed mornings get up, a bit of packing, a nice leisurely breakfast and then load up. We still had loads of time after to stand around, chat and sort bits out! The reason we were being held back was the road we were taking was a very windy costal road and if we all hit at once with race vehicles they would be an accident!
When it got about half 9 the queues and barging had already started, it was going to get messy again. We were meant to be leaving in number batches, main trucks (600’s), then chase cars (800’s) then motor homes, back up vehicles etc (1000’s) – yea right! The usual happened, everyone at once. Now the guy at the gate did try and stop a few people in the wrong order, which added to the chaos as they were then waiting in the way. I cheated and drove into a gap that didn’t have a queue started in it yet, but was then started, and was also let in by one of our other 8×8’s so got a good position. I didn’t nudge anyone this time but did threaten it! We got out pretty quick which was a surprise to be honest. We speed out as quickly as possible and back up the hill we came in on. We hit the first station possible as they were all empty and then cranked it up. We only had just over 500 klms toady but I had been warned there weren’t fun ones!
To begin with it was just rolling gentle hills through the desert, then we got to the coast and it was nice flowing coastal road, then back in to the desert for awhile, then it got serious. I don’t think I’ve ever changed gear so many times in one day in my life. For I guess a 80 klm length of coast we must of done 300 klms of road, it was turn after turn, after hairpin, after turn, after tunnel, after turn, up and down, then back again – you get the jist!! It was becoming annoying in the end even though the surrounding’s were amazing and I normally love that sort of road. On a bike or in a suited car – brilliant, but in 25 tons of truck, no. I was changing gear so often i think u could of made a good dance tune out of the noise. Things were going from one side of the cab to the other as I had to keep so much momentum in the corners and I was starting to get worried about popping a tyre or getting a weight shift on the truck and it having a pop at rolling over. The other thing was overtaking, I didn’t really do any as I was slow, only the odd local’s artic that was in crawler gear and not to bad to pass, but some of the moves to take over me were unbelievable! Pure blind faith. We stopped about half way along the route when the road was close to the sea, and the mini bus just happened to be behind us, so they stopped too. Photos were taken, a bit of banter was had and we pushed on again. I was so happy then we finally pulled over a hill and the road straightened out to an open dead straight road. It’s usually the other way around. It then just became a mission of gathering enough speed on the down hill to make it to the crest of the next. Still about 150m klms to go but at least my right arm was getting a rest from the gear changing now.
We passed the end of stage and could also see in the distance this massive dust cloud that was bivouac! As we got closer the crowds and amount of parked cars started growing. We were in the middle of nowhere, on a hill, in a dust haze. It didn’t look inviting, and to be honest it wasn’t. It reminded me very much of Atar in Mauritian, and even some of the small shanty like towns we had driven through during the day had done too. It turned out to be just like it to begin with. Everyone had there ski goggles on before they got out of their cars it was that bad. We parked the trucks in an L shape to block the wind as much as possible and it was decided that tents weren’t a good idea for today. Luckily it did go away after a while and turn into quite a nice evening, thank god!
Again we had a brilliant day, Giniel had done 3rd on stage, so kept his 3rd nicely but Robby was gaining on him and had stated on TV that he was out to get him and the spot, he’s won the days stage so he is pushing hard. Lucio had got a 6th and kept 5th and Duncan had too kept it the same and kept 8th. It was a quiet evening as far as the team went. We were the opposite end of biv to the main area so the team natural split at different times and places when it came to eating and with the wind from earlier everyone just seemed a bit knackered and wanted to get on to the final day. I went to bed reasonable early about half ten and I don’t think they were that far behind me!
I’m not sure how the next couple of days blogs will go as it’s the end of the rally pretty much tomorrow. One more stage then Sunday will be a very short showcase stage and then the podium. It will get very hectic, with wrapping everything up packing and then party after the podium. I try and right today’s (Saturday’s) post next bur it is starting to get late! The tomorrow will just be updates during the day 
Morning procedure
It’s a beautiful morning, the sun is already mega hot, and they 8×8 is getting a nice cool drink for the day ahead.
Day 12 – The world is watching us!!
I awoke to a knocking on the cab; it was John trying to find me. He climbed up and chatted through the window. He had just got in! Which was 4.45, or in old time 6.45 so his in at three prediction was well off. I told him to go have a word with Ricardo about the tyres, who I saw was just getting up too, while I also got up. I heard Ricardo giving a raised voice and something about it was meant to be last night and he would have to go. It was all a bit of hot air though; once I was up I just pointed at myself, then the tyres and gave a thumb up. He gave a grunt and a nod and I climbed up and we unloaded 2, then a 3rd after a bit of further gesturing and a nod! John was very relived, paid Ricardo and the tyres were rolled off into the distance. Then I turned attention back to the camp. The first thing was Lusios car! It looked like it hadnt been rolled at all, the only thing to tell you it was different was that there were stickers missing of all the new panels, amazing. The next think was, I’m starting to find it a bit less packed away in the morning now as the rally is getting closer to the end and the guys are getting low on the reserve energy. They have been doing some serious late nights, and with the pressure building due to our great positioning it only natural. It’s all cool though, once they were up, everyone jumped on it again.
Today was travelling into Peru, so once loaded I drove over to the Customs tent and got the box doors sticker’d closed so we didn’t have to do it at the actually boarder. Then picked the guys up back on route to the gate and we hit the road. The border was literally 2 klm outside of town, and we breezed though after showing our already stamped procedure cards. Then on to a long open road again. Obviously it looked just like Chile, but after Albert had climbed into the back and went to sleep it all changed. We came across a small valley and then over the ridge, it suddenly turned into a landscape like something out of Star Wars (which is Morocco) but you get my meaning. In the bottom of the valleys though was some green vegetation and then around the villages a lot of well looked after lush farm land. The roads were either up or down though, no in-between really and every corner seemed to be a hairpin! Once we were through and back on to open desert land, Albert woke and commented on how it all still looked the same!!!
The rest of the trip was much the same with sections of flat lands then massive ravines. As we got close to the end of the liaison route, we came into more of a trucker type town. It wasn’t really much more than fuel stations of varying qualities and sheds in-between. I didn’t stop at any for fuel and water as the road book suggested that there were more ahead. We then climbed a very steep section of rock face and then down the other side, and from the top we were looking down on the biv. The road book was out, which it has been a few times now. So we would have to make do with what we had! The biv was a large flat area in the bottom of the valley, absolutely no vegetation, and pretty much enclosed on all side, it was going to be another hot one. The day was hot anyway and we were turning up at lunch time. Again we were one of the first few crews there so we pitched out a nice big area for ourselves and in a nice prime spot. We went and grabbed some lunch after checking out the hospitality tent put on by the Peru people. They had gone all out to town on the building and décor. It’s the first time the rally has come here and you could see they wanted to make a big statement. There was a stage, waiters, girls, snacks and entertainment getting set up. Also lots of people in these Peru bobble hats with the string down each side, I’m going to have to see if I can score one of those!!!
The mini bus turned up as we just got back so they went had there lunch while we chilled out for awhile. It was too hot to set up on are own. Once back we cracked on with the usual set up but varied it a bit from normal to make the best of the space and to leave the artic to go at one end in case the wind picked up. I had decided the space and layout today, and I was starting to have doubt on whether I had given us enough space, once everything else turned up though I had got it just right and we had a really nice layout, which was rather handy as once the cars started coming in, so did the Media. We were overrun with camera crews and interviews. Plus a whole load of Toyota bosses and personnel had flown in to Lima and come down today for the ending, so there were people everywhere. Giniel was still holding 3rd nicely after Robby had his problems and Lucio was now into 5th with Duncan 8th. We are really upsetting a few people now. A non factor team dominating the top 10! As the evening went on we had the usual chaos with lack of water and the washing machine and shower. Team tactics were discussed in great length and the lads went through the cars as thoroughly as ever. Quite a few suspension parts were being change tonight so everything was 110%. Tomorrow is meant to be the hardest stage on the whole rally, and I think everyone is a little worried about it. I decided to skip my shower for the 2nd day in a row as water was short and went to bed pretty early. Half ten in the end. We also get a bit of a lie in again tomorrow as were not aloud out until 10 after the race vehicles have gone – not sure why, but hey ho….
