They’ve gone and cancelled the Dakar Rally because “AQ of North Africa” has been murdering French tourists and soldiers at one of the check points.
That is about enough of what I can stand from them. “Them” being both “AQ of NA” who needs to quit fucking with sports, and with the ASO (Aumaury Sports Organization who runs the rally). I want a stop to the attacks and a stop to the capitulation to terrorists from the Euros.
Fuck the teams who don’t want to make the attempt, everyone else just get on with it.
Here, why don’t they do this: When the teams set rubber on the African continent, they are allowed to attach an LMG (for the cycle classes), a Medium MG (for the buggys and cart classes) or a Ma Duece (for the sport truck class).
Make that lump in the navigator seat do some fucking work to hold the invading pissers back. There is a reason it is called “Riding Shotgun”.
“We will wear bullet proof jackets!” joked 60-year-old Jean-Claude Auert, who will race in the quad bike category. “No, we will go without the jackets. I am not worried. I know Mauritania. I have been there during more dangerous times.
“I have been there every year for the last six years. You have to take a little bit of a risk when you compete in the Dakar rally, you have to be a bit crazy, lets stay crazy until the end!” said the defiant veteran rider.
“I am going despite the government warnings. We are 2,500 to 3,000, with 4000 security force members to help us. I don’t see what could happen. Zero risk doesn’t exist. Me, I am prepared to take the risk.”
Alas, Mr. Auert was a lost voice.
Fucking Euro weenie organizers.
Well … if the organizers have cancelled, that means the ground is open for a new event.
Same time and course, just different organizers.
And maybe different teams. Like Blackwater … and the USMC, andmaybe the SAS.
Mae it a recruiting advert, and an anti-terror campaign, as well as a televised sporting event.
Heh … give minutes off for shooting tangos ….
Rat Patrol meets Deathrace 2000!
I was thinking we could have a rally/race here in the States, sort of a Cannonball Run meets Baja/Dakar.
Don’t forget about the truck class…
I think they should all be able to mount at least a Dillon Aero
K
As I recall, they have an unlimited truck class in that race, and many of the trucks have chassis’ similar to a Bradley fighting vehicle….
I’ll bet our very own Stryker Brigade of the 25ID right here at Ft. Lewis would be dee-lighted to modify a couple of Bradleys for the race (mostly, removing the governors), and the Brigade’s Motor Maintenance Company would LOVE to have a wrench-off to decide who goes on the away team. The Brigade probably already knows who the best drivers and gunners are.
The 442 MAW (C-17) would also be delighted to take the Bradleys to Paris, the start of the rally.
The political candidate who gets behind this is probably the winner of the next election….
For the last couple of years, they have relied on the US military air lift command to fly them over the “hot spots” in C5s and C130s. Personally I would be more afraid of the desert than the inhabitants.
Also those “lumps of meat” that are the navigators are more important than you make then out to be. You can have a great driver, but if your navigator sucks, then you cannot come close to a fair driver with a good navigator. Shifting sands, best route, mechanical assistance and all that crap. That being said, they could add a third person for gun duty only and then I would want to watch it even more than I do now
Rivrdog,
It has been about two years since I have followed the Dakar, but I do not recall any class having a tracked vehicle or anything resembling the Bradly. But I have been wrong before, and maybe they have added that class.
Yes, Christopher, I know quite a bit about necessary navigator skills, but if he can’t shoot while the driver eludes attackers, he might as well be a lump of meat.
Well I was wondering if the chase helicopters could be Super Cobras or Apaches. Then that would be really fun. And yes, Phil, I will let you arm the co-driver with a gun as well. 🙂