Paris to Dakar,,,,,,,THAT BMW X5!!!

Submitted: Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 00:22
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I've been fascinated with the Paris to Dakar event ever since it started 20 years ago. I always wanted a bash at it but I'm too old now.

However a useful substitute has been that ABC programme featuring the actor, Charlie Boorman ( he played one of the BAD Jedi in Star Wars 3). I've enjoyed every minute of it.

But what really amazed me with tonight's episode was that 'you beaut, race prepared by manufacturer AND a desert racing specialist, all the latest gizmos, BMW X5. This is the support car for the 3 lads on motorbikes. It's not actually in the race.

They had big probs getting the bloody thing to start in London and had to call in a BMW electronics engineer to faff around with for 2 days. Now it craps itself in the middle of the Sahara Desert with a broken rear wishbone. It's only done about 3000 kms of desert work in stuff that didn't look much worse than some of the places you lot get to for a weekend of fun!

And this is the cruncher,,,,,,,,,the wishbone is aluminium!! It looked like a toy part when they pulled it out. Thin and twisted. No wonder it did only 3000 kms before going KERRRUNCH on it's bum.

,,,,,,,,,and what price are these German excuse for a 4WD? God knows but if it's more than 10 bucks it's robbery,,,,,,,,,or is that 'rubbery'??

Bilbo
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Reply By: Exploder - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 00:29

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 00:29
German Cr*p, It wouldn’t have happened if it were an Explorer I tell ya LOL

I just caught the end of it on the ABC, man some of that sand looks soft, or maybe that are just running their tyres at 50Psi I don’t know.

Reckon it would be sick fun doing it in one of those Trucks thou, that or a Patrol with a 6.5 fitted
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 08:21

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 08:21
Exploder, have a look at the canning Stock Route DVD in the shop.

The Exploder in that destroys the rear air suspension & has to leave the group for an easier way out.

No offence, and I've been a Ford fan since the late sixties (yes I have owned Holdens) & I wouldn't touch one of these if you paid me!

As for doing the Dakar!!! Bike, Buggy, 4wd or Truck would do me! Just to be there would be the ultimate tag along trip!! 8 )>
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Follow Up By: Exploder - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 11:39

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 11:39
It was a Joke bro.

Anyway Failures happen to any car, and the air suspension system on the Explorer isn’t designed for that sort of abuse, there is no way I would take a stock one on a track like the canning, but if it was set up rite I wouldn’t have any doubts it would do it.

Some people I know did the canning a wile ago, One of the GU Patrols Utes, busted 2 shocks, stuffed the rear springs and all the lights on the dash stoped working, same guy owns a Explorer as well, he sold the Patrol kept the Explorer and brought a V6 Courier.
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Reply By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 00:38

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 00:38
Hi Bilbo, I red the book " Race to Dakar" and there is more about the BM. They cut a lot out of the film. To be fair they didn't have enough time to prepare the car before the race and there was a fair bit of half stuff done.
The book is much better than the film..... well worth reading.
I'm sure you got the link to the Dakar web-page and watch the race starting on the 6th. If it all goes to plan we are going to Dakar to watch the 2008 Race. Only 382 sleeps :-)

Reiner
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Reply By: Bilbo - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 00:51

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 00:51
Reiner,

I read the book that led into Charlie Boorman doing this Paris to Dakar. It was entitled, "The Long Way Round" where he and Ewan McGregor (also Star Wars actor) did 'The World Lap" on motor bikes. It was damn good read too.

BTW - How will you actually watch a 6000 km race without actually being part of the whole thing? i.e following the race across the desert?

Bilbo
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Follow Up By: F4Phantom - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 09:17

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 09:17
I just finnished watching the DVD the long way around. boorman and mc gregor rode bmw road/trail bikes after KTM refused to help and they went quite well as did the stock pajero. On the video they show som russian 6x6 trucks crossing the most wild rivers, and those things are so damn capable its not funny! Excellent series.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 12:36

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 12:36
The Long Way Round is an outstanding TV series too, I was rivetted and u can get it on DVD also.
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Reply By: Member - Darren T (VIC) - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 01:27

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 01:27
Did you see the shorts at the end of the show for the next episode?
Looks like the new wishbone cr*pped out as well, same as the first.
What surprised me was they are made from cast aluminium. I know V8 supercars have some cast aly parts, but they aren`t designed to bounced around the dunes of a desert all day.
Maybe its just a wrong choice of vehicle for the application?
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Reply By: madcow - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 07:25

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 07:25
Don't know if you saw the highlights for next week but it broke again! Good series and The financial manager bought me the Long Way Round DVD set last xmas and it was very good!
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Reply By: Ozrover - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 08:09

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 08:09
I've got the DVDs for both The long Way Round, & Race To Dakar. In LWR that goose Ross rolled a support Mitsubishi in the middle of Mongolia!

In RTD the Beemer was under prepared to start with, & I suspect the breakages later (yes it does break again) may have something to do with his driving.

But what about the poor mechanics! they travel all day to get in front of the race, then have to work most of the night to repair/prep the bikes for the next day, then have to constantly try to fix the Beemer X5.

Bluddy hard work if you ask me! 8 )>
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 09:14

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 09:14
Hi Bilbo and others,
The Dakar is no walk in the park race. No excuses for lack of preparation for the BMW.
I have been following the Dakar for over 10 years now and anyone that has also followed it will know how tough it is.

I don't know if many of you know it, but on the second episode, they did an interview with South Aussie, Andy Caldercott from Keith SA. Andy was one hell of a rider and paid the ultimate price for his love and passion, he sadly was killed in a high speed crash in the same 2006 Dakar race. Andy was a magic man on a bike, and when he first competed a number of years ago, came 3rd overall in the Bike section as a private entrant, with no back up like the boys have on the TV show. In 2005 Dakar, he rode over 8 hours with a broken ankle.

At short notice in late 2005, he was asked to be a factory rider for Repsol KTM, never to set foot back in Australia.

My thoughts go out to the community of Keith and his family for a true Aussie Battler and one hell of a bike rider.

Stephen
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Reply By: Member RayJen Paj05 (NSW) - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 09:22

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 09:22
Paris-Dakar won by Mitsubishi Pajero 11 years running.

"Long Way Round" supported by NP Pajero all over NE Europe's worst terrain!

Need I say more?? :-))
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Follow Up By: disco driver - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 12:27

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 12:27
Yeah, but those Pajero's are about as similar to the road going models as the V8 supercars are to the standard holden/commodore you can buy from the dealer but no where near the same prices.
Eg; the holden Supercar gearbox alone will buy a new holden, Ford is about the same.
They jusy look something like the road going versions to use as advertising.

Disco
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 13:15

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 13:15
Hi Disco Driver,
Sure, the Pajero's that have won the Dakar are not your stock standard Paj, just as the BMW, Nissan and other hi spec vehicles that run in the same class. If you also know your facts, you will also see that the Pajero also won the production class also in the Dakar, with the same vehicles that you buy from your local car dealer.

Everyone loves to bag out other vehicles, for some reason or the other, but the Pajero is one HELL of a vehicle.

Stephen
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Follow Up By: Off-track - Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 00:31

Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 00:31
Still means very little in real world terms because of the indepth and very experienced Mitsi Dakar team. Tojo and Nissan are not that serious on Dakar. One plus the Paj does have in Dakar is their smaller and lighter dimensions.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 09:01

Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 09:01
Hi Off Track,

Have you ever followed the Dakar Race??????? From you comments, you have not!! From Your Quote "Tojo and Nissan are not serious on Dakar" is very far from the truth, as you have never followed a series.

The last 2 Dakar Races, Nissan have spent millions of dollars on vehicle set ups and driver training, getting drivers like Colin McCrae, world champion Rally driver, to try and topple the strangle hold that Mitsubishi has on the Dakar. Try as they have, the quality of both Mitsubishi Vehicles and their driver team still has made them clear winners in the Dakar.

The Dakar race in put to air every night on SBS TV as well as Pay TV. The series is over 19 days, so I suggest that you watch the next series, due to start in a few days time, just to see how the other vehicle companies all try to win the Dakar.

Next time before you please make a quote, please be able to back up what you have said.

Even though I also drive a Pajero, I am still with an open mind on all comments on all vehicles, but am very quick to the defence when some does not know what they are talking about.

Cheers and happy viewing of the next Dakar.

Stephen
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Follow Up By: Off-track - Sunday, Dec 31, 2006 at 16:18

Sunday, Dec 31, 2006 at 16:18
Wow, think of that all by yourself? LOL!

btw you seem to have forgotten to mention that Nissan had only first entered as team in 2003 (or possibly 2004, no matter how much money they injected they were up against it) so they had far less experience than Mitsi in Dakar. And Colin McRae's first ever attempt at Dakar was in the Nissan . A new and inexperienced Dakar team, and new and inexperienced Dakar driver...it's a credit to them that Colin actually won a couple of stages really.

Then you have Stefan Peterhansel - an extremely experienced Dakar rider - sitting behind one of the most experienced Dakar steering wheels that bears the familiar 3 diamonds logo, and you have the brainfart to suggest that Mitsi win just because the car is that much better. ROFLMAO....tool.

Gee, and to think that I have only really followed the bikes in Dakar I still punched holes in your self-proclaimed intimate knowledge of cars in the race. Pah!

(also you might want to back-reference your comment "... have made no mentioned of what you have seen or experienced...")
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Reply By: Member - Jack - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 11:03

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 11:03
The dvd of the trip Charlie did with Ewan McGregor is also a good watch. Called "The Long Way Round" (same as the book), they did it hard there too. Charlie likes his bikes.

My only reservations is that the producer of the show (the same guy who did "One Way Round) seems to build up each impending problem as something akin to the sinking of the Titanic. Gets a little boring after a while. But the shows in themselves are preety good viewing.

Jack
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Reply By: rolande- Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 20:36

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 20:36
Isn't it suprising how quickly the spare rear wishbone arrived in the middle of no where? Easy to get spare parts often mean frequent failures.

Ask your local Nissan dealer if they have a spare rear diff in stock.

X5 not made to carry four blokes and a heap of spares. Wrong vehicle for the job they want it to do

Rolande
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Follow Up By: Off-track - Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 00:36

Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 00:36
I would be more inclined to think that because they were supported by BMW the factory would have coughed up any part they wanted in a hurry.
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Reply By: Member - Athol (NSW, 2527) - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 22:04

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 22:04
Hi Guys,
Did you know that the same guy who produced both 'the long way round' and 'race to dakar' Russ Malkin (the pom driving the BMW) also produced One for Pamela Stephenson (Billy Connelly's wife) called Mutiny or murder.

Athol
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Follow Up By: Bilbo - Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 01:12

Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 01:12
Athol,

I'm not overkeen on that guy Russ. He's seems a bit of a panic merchant and not real bright at organising things. Charlie Boorman seems to do most of it.

,,,,,,,,and if that Russ guy had a hand in producing that load of toss, "Mutiny" for that other much overrated tosser, Pamela Stephenson,,,,,,well 'nuff said eh!!

Bilbo
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Reply By: Flash - Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 22:47

Friday, Dec 29, 2006 at 22:47
When I'm out bush with no support....
Give me a live axle any day. You can have your independent suspension!
Go the Patrol!
Charlie was very brave to ride on, with broken bones in his hand and dislocated thumb! Pain must have been absolutely horrific!
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Reply By: Ozboc - Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 12:00

Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 12:00
I was actually very disapointed by this show - i think there was maybe 4 min of action ( that being actual racing ) and the rest of the programe was just talk.

would be like trying to watch bathurst seeing 10 min of actual racing - and listening to all the sponsors - pit crews - mechanics - parts supliers talk about there jobs .....

Boc
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 16:13

Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 16:13
and that's what makes it so good to watch :-) Better than watching 2 identical brands of cars do lap after lap after lap ;-)

IMO the best part of the V8 racing IS the technical aspect of the commentary......showing how the various systems works, how they achieve this and that, the digital guages of engine readings etc.

Andrew
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 18:04

Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 at 18:04
Too right Andrew,

If you want to watch the race, watch SBS of Foxtel, this series shows the build up involved in being a participant of the Dakar.

These guys had no illusions about winning the race, just being involved must have been a huge buzz, & having one bike finish was an excellent result for a first time team.

I've been riding dirt, road & trail bikes for going on 35 years, so I can imagine the stress, pain & trauma these guys went through.

I hope they have another go this (2007) Dakar, I'll be watching for them!
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Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 15:53

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 15:53
Ozrover,

None of the three guys are listed as competitors for 2007 on the official Dakar website, looks like not this time!

Geoff
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 20:41

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 20:41
Geoff.

Bummer!! I would have liked to see how they went at a second attempt!!

Would have been interesting! 8 )>
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Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 21:33

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 21:33
Yep, bummer it is!
That's why I went looking in the 2007 competitors list, I was hoping they had another go.

Geoff
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Reply By: Member - Ivan H (NSW) - Sunday, Dec 31, 2006 at 13:43

Sunday, Dec 31, 2006 at 13:43
Not the best car for those conditions thats for sure.
BMW use alloy in a lot of their components to acheive a perfect 50-50 weight distribution, helps their cars handle a lot better than their competitors..
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Reply By: jan&wellsy - Sunday, Dec 31, 2006 at 15:40

Sunday, Dec 31, 2006 at 15:40
I have watched both these shows and loved every minuite of them.The Long Way Around i thought was brillient - didnt realise there was a book of them though. Can you get it from most book shops or do you order it online somewhere?
Cheers Jan
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Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 16:18

Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 16:18
Hi Jan,
Your local ABC Shop stock both the book and the DVD of each series.

The local one here in Newcastle is currently out of stock on the Dakar DVD. Both are very popular Christmas gifts.

Geoff.
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Follow Up By: jan&wellsy - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 11:58

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 11:58
Thanks for that Geoff :-)
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Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 16:26

Thursday, Jan 04, 2007 at 16:26
Great series isn't it Bilbo.

My daughters gave me the Race to Dakar book for Christmas, really great to read it and watch the series too! They actually compliment each other as the two mediums paint different pictures.

What I found interesting is Charley approached the teams in the race that where running X5's looking for a new wishbone. None of them used the standard running gear or chassis. They'd actually custom made the chassis and suspension then slung a fibreglass come kevlar carbon fibre body over it!

What they also mention in the book is they thought they'd buggered the you beaut electronic centre diff come transfer case in the X5, the problem was it wouldn't go at all on sand.
Turns out they'd actually blown a turbo on the little X5 diesel and it didn't have the guts to pull in sand.

Looks like the Mum's using X5's to get kids to school know far more about their offroad ability than we do!

Geoff
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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 14:40

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 14:40
Charlie Boorman's support rider Simon Pavey, I used to race with him back in early 80s.. poor simon..
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Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 14:50

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 14:50
Someone's got to ask,

Is he poor Simon for knowing you or Charley?

geoff
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 23:11

Friday, Jan 05, 2007 at 23:11
Simon is a competitor, he was paid to make sure that twonk got to the end of the event only being a support rider.. well, he didnt, and simon did, but not as a REAL competitor..

Did a Ballards School with Simon back in about 83-84, was an experience.
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Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 14:05

Saturday, Jan 06, 2007 at 14:05
To be fair to Charley he raises your points in the book. He writes on how Simon is the better rider and far more competitive but in this instance his role in the team is a support rider.

Also Simon got something out of the deal, another finishers medal along with a couple of mechanics to do his maintenance. That's a rare commodity in the Dakar.

Simon is actually employed by BMW and runs their offroad riding school in Wales.

One of the Australian bike magazines ran an article recently on Simon and the training facility BMW have in Victoria.

Ahh, Ballard the man with the most gold medals in the history of the ISDE !!

Geoff
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