Dakar?

[germancarsonly]

It looks like as of today the BMWs are too far back to have a chance of winning. The first one is 4 hours behind and that is too much to over come. Robby Gordon is an hour back in 5th overall and he knows how to pace himself in races like this. His car is much faster than any of the others entered through the off-road sections and he can probably hold his own on the pavement too. The rumors are that this is the last race for the Hummer and his shop will transform it into a Toyota for the next race. It would be cool to see an "American" car win this time then as it will probably never happen again.

[e34john]

Just realized it was in South America! Awesome.

[stormspike]

Great info on vs. I got the Dakar Highlights qued up on the DVR.

[DCColegrove]

The Dakar Rally is one insanely ball busting race... The guys I've always wondered about are co-drivers... How crazy do you have to be to ride along like that?

[mrsleeve]

thanks Jon

had no idea it was on Vs this year cool.

[germancarsonly]

Cool, so I am not the only person that thinks this is interesting.

The BMWs are very serious about winning this year and have poured Millions and Millions of Euros into their effort. Even though the X3s have stock looking bodies probably the only thing original about them is the Roundel on the hood.

I hear ya about the "pansy ass French", but the race was doomed where it had been ran for years and it just won't work out there any longer. I will plan a trip to Argentina next year assuming that this years race is a success. It's a place I haven't been to and want to see anyway. Also, it's the middle of Summer down there and that sounds good too.

>>>>> It is being carried on the Versus channel this year.

[Jon325i]

The only US network which I know of offering any kind of coverage of the Dakar is the Versus channel, although they are just doing highlight shows....not actual race coverage. Here's what I was able to find doing a quick Google....

Catch Team Dakar USA on the Versus (VS) network

*Note these are eastern standard times

DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Sunday, January 04, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Sunday, January 04, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Monday, January 05, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Monday, January 05, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Tuesday, January 06, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Tuesday, January 06, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Tuesday, January 06, 2009 10:30PM - 11:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Wednesday, January 07, 2009 1:30AM - 2:00AM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Wednesday, January 07, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Wednesday, January 07, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Thursday, January 08, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Thursday, January 08, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Thursday, January 08, 2009 10:30PM - 11:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Friday, January 09, 2009 1:30AM - 2:00AM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Friday, January 09, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Friday, January 09, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Saturday, January 10, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Saturday, January 10, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Sunday, January 11, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Sunday, January 11, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Monday, January 12, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Monday, January 12, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:30PM - 11:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 1:30AM - 2:00AM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Thursday, January 15, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:30PM - 11:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Friday, January 16, 2009 1:30AM - 2:00AM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Friday, January 16, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Friday, January 16, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Saturday, January 17, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Saturday, January 17, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Sunday, January 18, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Sunday, January 18, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Monday, January 19, 2009 3:30PM - 4:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

Monday, January 19, 2009 6:30PM - 7:00PM DAKAR HIGHLIGHTS (TV-NR)

[TDE30]

Aren't they X5s? I like watching the trucks flying over dunes and there will be a guy with a downed bike on the other side, thats crazy.

They used X5's in Dakar 2003, 2004, 2005, and (I think) 2006.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxmebNTCDk

i wonder if thats how BMW came up with Dakar yellow for the E36...

BMW has been campaigning their motorcycles in the Dakar Rally since the early 80's, and I believe they had a Dakar yellow on some of their bikes before it was used on the E36 in 1994.

[e34john]

They name some of their colors after tracks. Imola Red, Laguna Seca Blue, Daytona Violet I am sure theres a few others.

[norcalE30]

Dakar is always awesome. I recall seeing an e30 M3 in an old Dakar vid...

yeah E30s were a big part of the race back in the day... flared and dirty, with huge light setups on the hood... sweet

i wonder if thats how BMW came up with Dakar yellow for the E36...

[e34john]

Aren't they X5s? I like watching the trucks flying over dunes and there will be a guy with a downed bike on the other side, thats crazy.

[TDE30]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

nope no coverage on speed anymore its like WRC, might get a little blurb about the leader board an a neat crash replay that the world feed get for the nightly news but nothing too comprehensive.

Yup, that blows. Hearing Ralph Shaheen's twangy voice briefly talking about WRC is enough to make my skin crawl.

Oh well, hopefully BMW does well.

[mrsleeve]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

nope no coverage on speed anymore its like WRC, might get a little blurb about the leader board an a neat crash replay that the world feed get for the nightly news but nothing too comprehensive.

[TDE30]

Thanks for the update man, I used to follow the Rally back when Speed had coverage of it. Pretty intense stuff, and it's so cool to watch the driver and co-driver get out of the vehicle and start repairing it on the spot. Last I heard Volkswagen (with the Touareg) and Mitsubishi (with the Pajero) were the only serious contenders, it's good to see BMW stepping up with the X3 and doing well.

Any idea if Speed Channel is airing any portion of this? Perhaps later on?

[kronus]

Dakar is always awesome. I recall seeing an e30 M3 in an old Dakar vid...