Whether held in Africa or South America, the Dakar Rally, first run in 1978, offers an enduring challenge for the adventurous.
The Dakar Rally: the greatest test of man and machine? It certainly tested Mark Thatcher and his Peugeot 504 in 1982, when he got lost and wasn’t heard of for six days, but the Dakar is much more than a footnote in the life of a prime minister’s son.
Getting lost on the Dakar is not so much a rite of passage as a daily occurrence for even the most experienced and best-prepared teams. First run in 1978, the Dakar attracts those on a quest for perilous adventure. If the Monte Carlo Rally is a 100m sprint, then the Dakar is a marathon.
The Dakar was created not for the glory-chasers of Formula 1 or the Monte Carlo Rally: it was one man’s attempt to share his would-be spiritual awakening, to foster the realisation that the human race is one team and that as much unites us as divides us from those of different cultures. When faced with nature at its most unfettered, we see ourselves in a new light.
One man: Thierry Sabine
The ‘one man’ in question was Frenchman Thierry Sabine: while competing aboard a motorbike in the Abidjan-Nice Rally in 1977, he got lost in the Libyan desert with no compass, food or water. Fortunately he was found after three days, but he was now in thrall to the silence of the desert and wanted to share his new obsession with as many people as possible – and thus was the idea of the ParisDakar Rally conceived.
His idea attracted at least 170 competitors to the start line (differing but official Dakar histories list both 170 and 182 starters!) in Paris on Boxing Day 1978. The phalanx of cars, motorbikes and trucks faced a 10,000km challenge, their pilots having to navigate their way through Algeria, Niger, Mali, Upper Volta and Senegal.
A total of 74 competitors made it to the finish on 14 January 1979, with Cyril Neveu the victor aboard his Yamaha. The best-placed car was a Range Rover, in fourth position.
この記事は Truck & Driver の March 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Truck & Driver の March 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Well forked Daf
Remember, we like to cover all sorts of different trucks here at T&D – like this impressive new CF rigid complete with Moffett Mounty forklift
King of the hill
Moving heavy equipment off road calls for a truck with plenty of power and traction, which is why M&J Plant chose a mighty 6x4 FH16 750
Time Machine 2015-2019
It’s the final part of our series on the history of UK haulage. Let’s look back at those innocent times before that pesky virus turned up
Original and best
There are few trucks which have been customised to the level of the Scania 143, but let’s not forget that the standard product was pretty awesome just as it left the factory, like this rare 420
GOING ALL THE WAY
Simon Rogers got behind the wheel as soon as he was able to, and nearly 30 years later, his company is going from strength to strength, with a striking all-black, top-spec Iveco S-Way 570 the latest addition to the fleet
Abnormal loads
In the distant past, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, truck drivers were a very different breed, made from sterner stuff than us mere mortals
Range change
After a gap of 13 years, Renault trucks have reappeared in the unique colours of MacRitchie Highland Distribution. T&D takes the high road to Inverness to meet owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie
Cutting a dash
Freshly showered and munching a healthy egg and cress sarnie in Gloucester North services, Chris has a Foden update
Air we go!
On Saturday 29 May at 6pm, 240 drivers gathered with their trucks at South Mimms Services for a parade to raise vital money for Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance
A Cutt Above
From coal to turf to fencing and loads more, there’s not much the Calcutt fleet hasn’t transported over the years
