Appears to be no Coopers in the Dakar

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 10:30
ThreadID: 64884 Views:3502 Replies:5 FollowUps:11
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Now if someone wants to correct me then by all means do so. By what I've been able to see on the SBS highlights and the official Dakar site no one is running Coopers tyres. Alright BFG is an official sponsor and I've seen them and other brands, but no Coopers. One would think with an event like this they would be there.
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Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 12:36

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 12:36
Why should they?

Sounds more like a trolling post than anything.....

Andrew
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Follow Up By: Rod W - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 12:50

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 12:50
Pardon my ignorance but whats a "trolling post" ?
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:06

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:06
Throwing posts out there as bait....

Andrew
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Follow Up By: Rod W - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:18

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:18
Sorry Andrew but I'm not baiting. Its just something that I noticed as I'm in the market for tyres and I thought I'd pass my assessment on... I'm allowed to do that aren't I?
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:33

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:33
You're buying tyres to do the Dakar rally? lol

Whether one manufacturer/team decides to use a tyre or not in a specific "race" does not reflect on whether you/i should buy them for everyday driving. If that was the case, then everybody would be driving Pajeros.....LOL

Do a search on this site, and probably many others, to gain an idea of how passionate the tyre debate can become.

Andrew
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Follow Up By: Kiwi and Grenade - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 22:25

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 22:25
Oh Andrew, come off it, even if it is trolling then so what, its interesting - coopers are bfg's oponent, just like toyo and nissan.......Id like to know why there isnt any - maybe it is a sponser thing, maybe its not
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Reply By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 12:48

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 12:48
Bet you don't see any A/T's or muddies either! My offer from the last BFG post stands. Give'm to me and I'll test them, any brand as long as they're new!

Cheers Mick
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Follow Up By: ingo57 - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:03

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:03
Dont know about the current race but know for a fact that Charlie Boorman set up his support vehicle with BF AT's a few years ago.
Tyres were Ok but the rest of the car wasnt (BMW) lol
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Follow Up By: Rod W - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:13

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 13:13
Hey Mick, just been having a look at some of your pictures... theres a lot of fascinating country out there.

I've got a picture or two of the caterpillars... I call em a moving rope. Have you ever disrupted their links or put the leader back in the pack, they get a bit confused for awhile but seem to sort themselves out and get moving again.
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Follow Up By: Member - Leigh (Vic) - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 21:24

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 21:24
Just finished watching Charley's three trip videos and whilst they were entertaining I'm not sure I'd follow in his path re trip preparation and choice of equipment. Loveable bloke though with a big heart but after that I'd make my own choices. As for that BMW X5, what a joke!! The locals involved in recoveries seemed to drive Yotas (Dakar event) and some hints should have been taken from this!! Just my two bob's worth. Cheers
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Follow Up By: ingo57 - Thursday, Jan 08, 2009 at 10:51

Thursday, Jan 08, 2009 at 10:51
Totally agree just thought It would be good comment to throw in this post just for the hell of it.

Watching that X5 snap suspension components time and time again and there race preperations were more entertaining than anything.... a lot like this post.

Still maintain BFG AT's have been used in the Paris to Dakar....hahaha

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Leigh (Vic) - Thursday, Jan 08, 2009 at 13:16

Thursday, Jan 08, 2009 at 13:16
Just loved the thin alloy castings used for the control arms..would easily fracture if hit by a rock. I reckon they are built for a completely different application and perhaps these guys have too much cash and not enough experience to draw upon. That's probably why they used AT's???? LOL. I use Coopers but would use BFG's for what I do. Cheers
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 22:54

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 at 22:54
Next you will be telling us there is no Disco 3's either :-))

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Reply By: Screech - Friday, Jan 09, 2009 at 10:27

Friday, Jan 09, 2009 at 10:27
The tyres run in these events are not standard production tyres although they might look it. They are specially made to handle the tough conditions. The testing and development for one off tyres ( particularly where it will be in show case event ) is huge and not viable for manufacturers using old technology ( Cooper etc ) to manufacture special runs. For the Australian Safari 2008 there was only 1 vehicle ( Landrover Defender which ran Toyo M/T's ) that was running standard production tyres. The majority ran BFG Rally Raids which start at about $1000 / tyre.
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Follow Up By: Rod W - Friday, Jan 09, 2009 at 10:33

Friday, Jan 09, 2009 at 10:33
Ya reckon. It was either on or the night before SBS's summary showed a truck with a well and truly staked and bugger tyre.
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Reply By: timglobal - Friday, Jan 09, 2009 at 12:11

Friday, Jan 09, 2009 at 12:11
Hi there,

I think your question is reasonable and not a troll.

The reason is very simple.

Cooper is the parent company and the brand used for their touring tyres - they sponsor expeditions and similar.
Mickey Thompson is their performance off-road brand - they focus sponsorship on Baja, their founders speciality and also extreme off-road with boggers and crawlers.
Avon is their racing and bike brand with a strong British heritage. They sponsor numerous, especially British, motor-racing events.

So the reason there are no Coopers, is because Cooper aren't in the market of super-endurance rallying. Nor are any of their other brands.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Tim
AnswerID: 343393

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