Doing Dakar: Spectator, Team Member & Media

I had a terrific opportunity to join my friend Robb as he finally pulled the trigger and decide to make his dream come true: to compete and finish the most grueling motorsport raced in the world: Dakar.
Through the support or Robb, The Strategic Group and Darkcyd Racing I will attend the infamous Dakar Rally in South America for nearly three weeks in December 2011 and January 2012. I register as official US-based press/media for the event and this allows me access to areas on course as well as privy to the daily media reports.
While I will cover the race action to some extent on the pages of my worldrider blog, I’m going to bring the perspective of a privateer, a man with a dream, and the grueling work necessary to see that dream to fruition.
This year Dakar runs more than 5,000 miles over about two weeks through Argentina, Chile and Peru. Though some 450 teams will compete in cars, motorcycles, quads and massive trucks, it’s likely no more than 200 of them will see their vehicles arrive at the finishing line in Lima Peru. Dakar is about attrition and the course is tough. But perhaps more tough than the course is the toll the race takes on all inolvled. The toll to one’s body, spirit, and the relationships between technicians, mechanics, press, officials, friends and more.
This is a race to the finish. And to finish is to win.
So I will try to capture the excitement, the drama, the passion and the pain and the reality of what it takes to compete in a grueling 5,000 mile off-road race through some of the toughest terrain on the planet.
Stay tuned and enjoy the journey.