|
|
|
#91
12-12-2010
|
||||
|
||||
|
I received a friendly warning that the police were checking bike speeds after some complaints. I rode conservatively to the Pink Lake selective. Where another line of riders greeted me again. John on the quad was just behind me and I wasn?t sure if that was a good or bad thing. I knew they kicked up a truck load of dust in the bush but I wasn?t sure what they were like in the sand. Bloody quick was the answer as he quickly rounded me up in the open sand. The spread of weight of the quad made it easier to power down and they were well suited to the conditions.
 I was taking a wide line in search of clean sand, John was even wider and disappear quickly over the next dune. I did my best to keep up, but backed off when a couple of the now known drop offs came up. I finished the stage with a pump of the air. It was an awesome feeling to have finished and then the sudden realisation that it was all over hit me. Bugger that I wanted to go and do it all again. I felt like I?d finally worked out how to ride sand, bulldust and navigate, well kind of anyway.  I rode back to ceremonial finish. Dave came in front wheel wobbling everywhere. The other bikes were in finishing order and we all soon headed under the arch to cheers of the crowd. The pointy end results are on the website and KTM had a trifecta. Dave Schwartz was unlucky to not get a podium on the 570 berg finishing 4th. It was all over now. The months of preparation, the days of racing and the feeling of achievement made me smile. There was a constant question from most during the post event festivities, would you do it next year? Bugger next year lets go again now! If the moons align and I can I?d love to have another crack next year. Realistically it will be 2 years time before I can hit the safari again, so Condo will have to give me my nav race rush. I now feel part of the safari family and I?ve made some good friends. I was never going to win unless there was a padbury, but the front runners would have to be down for sometime for me to pass them. So as the tag line asked ?Are you tough enough?? if you have an ounce of adventure you in your blood I?d say yes for sure, just do it. Pos Veh # Crew Vehicle Cat/ SS15 SS16 SS17 SS18 Pen Total 25 12 Phil Penalurick CRF450X M2.2 24:34 03:25 03:18 25:50 36:13:01 28 88 John McTainish WR450 M1.2 26:46 03:52 03:37 27:25 36:13:47 37 49 Hammer BergFE450 M1.2 34:46 04:18 03:30 30:18 42:29:08 31 47 Sequent XR400 M2.2 41:38 04:28 06:26 45:37 43:53:15
__________________
1. It is far easier to ask for foregiveness than to ask for permission 2. Only the depth that varies....see #1 
|
|
#92
12-12-2010
|
||||
|
||||
|
John Mctainish with a final blow in competition
 Ze from Brazil  SA 24 Hr Legend and all round nice bloke  Smokin KTM Boys  hmmm 
__________________
1. It is far easier to ask for foregiveness than to ask for permission 2. Only the depth that varies....see #1
|
|
#93
12-12-2010
|
||||
|
||||
|
Fantastic write-up mate.... and great work on finishing...
That last day was a bugger - I'd never ridden big dunes before and was totally psyched out before I even started the day, especially on a relatively low-power XR fighting my, ummm, more portly dimensions. I picked it up fairly quickly, but dropped the bike four times on the first trip through, and twice on the second trip. And that rock, well, what can you say. I'd blame the fact that it wasn't in the roadbook but the T-car probably didn't see it either. One spectacular flip (in front of the wife who'd flown in to see the last stage and finish), a buckled front rim and two broken ribs - riding 3,700km to crash 23km from the finish sucked, so back onto the bike and slow and steady until the finish. As I'm sure you know Richard, crossing the flying finish of the last special stage was one of the highlights of my life. I've hardly ever had a smile so bloody large...! Final standings: John McTainsh - 22nd Richard (Hammer) - 33rd Dave (sequent) - 34th Bring on 2011...!!!!
|
|
#94
12-12-2010
|
||||
|
||||
|
thanks for the writeup hammer. top stuff
the safari circus IS something else altogather. seems as hammer and sequent lined up at the hillarys start  so they would finish... the event and the efforts of the compeditors get:  awesome effort all.
|
|
#96
14-12-2010
|
||||
|
||||
|
Great read Hammer! Looks like you've got the bug now! Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to some video... (Hint hint)
 I think there is a whisper about a revival for Team Husky, with Ecks as support crew again for 2011... Geez I hope so! 
__________________
Work to live, live to ride!
|
|
#97
14-12-2010
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
1. It is far easier to ask for foregiveness than to ask for permission 2. Only the depth that varies....see #1
|
|
#98
15-12-2010
|
||||
|
||||
|
Here is some more pics
Service locations were usually remote
  Some bikes and cars looked as good at the end as they did at the start    
__________________
1. It is far easier to ask for foregiveness than to ask for permission 2. Only the depth that varies....see #1
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Linear Mode
