...yes, it's begun. The circus has left Lisbon and will take a few more days before they hit the deserts in Africa. Volkswagen has so many Touaregs in the race this year, it looks they want to win whatever the cost, they even entered an American team. Beating the Mitsubishi's and Luc Aphand will be a major achievement. Kleinschimdt has switched to the diesel BMW that did very well last time. For the bikes, nobody seems to be able to challenge KTM, aswell as Kamaz for the trucks. Cann't wait for those helicopter camera shots over de Sahara...

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2011 Prius

It's great stuff, I loved to watch any parts of this rally. There's isn't really anything that compares and I doubt that many here can actually relate to it.
I wonder if there is any channel at all to show some of it, I'm not a TV person, so I wouldn't know.
Here's a little Wiki-info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakar_Rally

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Ohh,makes me so horny when you're condescending.

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What a feeling, ain't it? Now, that I did on purpose.
Guess we should be out there blasting through the sand dunes instead.

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Any Peugeot's?

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

I am sure there will be. They have been rally contenders for years. I can't see them having no entrants.

I stand corrected. I checked the lineup and saw one Renault and no Peugeots.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

from '87 to '91 I think,Peugeot led the field,several years later it was Citroen's turn,2-3 years running?

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Howdy All,
TV coverage is pretty dismal here. I haven't heard of anyone showing it.
I don't think MBZ runs a factory backed Unimog. I think they might have an ML, but not sure.

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Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

I remember seeing footage many years back and it struck me as very dramatic. It seems to be very challenging for drivers and vehicles.

For example driving during darkness must be incredibly difficult, they start sections before dawn and you better stay on the sandy pista.

The end comes somewhat heroic when vehicles enter the finale along the stretches of West African shores.

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No MB factory team, but I'm sure there are MB's among the amateur competitors.
The scale of this rallye has become enormous, like 10 helicopters & 20 planes>>

http://www.dakar.fr/2007/DAK/presentation/us/r1_4-les-chiffres.html

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2011 Prius

That could change soon: there's an American biker doing very well, and favourite Volkswagen has an American driver. Daily coverage here, on various channels. The footage is -again- awesome.

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2011 Prius

If Lance would be in the race on a sand bike we'd have coverage from start to finish.

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So how is Gerard de Rooy doing?

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Seems just the thing for him to do now he's retired, actually.
Luc Alphand used to be a champion downhill skiier.

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2011 Prius

Terrible. He's driving a GINAF now, that let's him down all the time.
He also got a time penalty of a couple of hours for some reason, so he's no longer a contender for the podium. Looks like he's a bit over the hill. His son Gerard is doing fine so far. Lots of other Dutch truckers in the race aswell btw. (Hans Beks, Hans Stacey).

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2011 Prius