2012 Dakar

[signguy]

While I'm not really up to speed on the Dakar, I had the pleasure of meeting James Embro about 2 weeks ago at my office. A decent guy... with some serious skills to match. For you dirt guys, he owns a place called TheRaceShop(.com) over in Alpharetta and will be entering his 3rd or 4th Dakar....

Anyone looking to support and keep up with a local guy... his blog is at http://s97452794.onlinehome.us/

[MX Tuner]

James is a great guy. He usually starts off a bit conservatively and gets faster as the race goes on. I believe he finished one section in the top 10 overall one year. Not bad for a privateer against factory bikes!

[motodog650]

Thanks Tony, Cool info. I've followed the Dakar pretty closely for several years now. You can follow with live timing at:

http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

NBC Sports Network (Old Versus TV) will air 30 minute update shows starting on Jan 2nd (or 3rd).

[signguy]

Isn't he partially backed this year by KTM?

[ugar-6]

Dakar is crazy, it's like the Isle of Mann for dirt. People die at that thing. Unfortunately, it doesn't get the coverage that it deserves.

[ugar-6]

Thanks Tony, Cool info. I've followed the Dakar pretty closely for several years now. You can follow with live timing at:

http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

NBC Sports Network (Old Versus TV) will air 30 minute update shows starting on Jan 2nd (or 3rd).

Cool, thanks Scott. That's more coverage than usual.

[motodog650]

Isn't he partially backed this year by KTM?

Looks like he is tied in with Alfie Cox (former bike competitor from S. Africa) Racing who is in turn connected with KTM in some way.

[Dan43]

There is no 2012 Dakar. There has not been a Dakar since 2007. Dakar is in Senegal. Senegal is in Africa.

Starting in 2009 they have run a race with the same format in South America. Not sure what it should be called, but it is not the frakkin Paris to Dakar or Dakar Rally.

[MX Tuner]

There is no 2012 Dakar. There has not been a Dakar since 2007. Dakar is in Senegal. Senegal is in Africa.

Starting in 2009 they have run a race with the same format in South America. Not sure what it should be called, but it is not the frakkin Paris to Dakar or Dakar Rally.

Don't tell these guys that..... http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html#

I'm not sure what James' level of help from KTM is. I believe the Alfie Cox/KTM outfit supplies pit support/spares for privateers like James.

[Dan43]

Don't tell these guys that..... http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html#

I'm not sure what James' level of help from KTM is. I believe the Alfie Cox/KTM outfit supplies pit support/spares for privateers like James.You completely missed the point I was trying to make. I gives nary a damn what they say. If it is in South America instead of Africa then it is not the Dakar.

[KTM Rider]

the folks involved in this event, who dont even know you exist, likely dont give a damn that you dont give a damn.....:-)

I suppose the World Series doesnt exist either since its only American teams?

[Dan43]

the folks involved in this event, who dont even know you exist, likely dont give a damn that you dont give a damn.....:-)

I suppose the World Series doesnt exist either since its only American teams?Is it the 24 Hours of LeMans if they run it at Watkins Glen?

Is it the Baja 1000 if they run it in Dubai?

Is it the Daytona 500 if they run it at Twin Ring Motegi?

Calling a race in South America the Dakar is frakkin silly. Move the race, change the damn name.

[cliff0529]

Is it the 24 Hours of LeMans if they run it at Watkins Glen?

Is it the Baja 1000 if they run it in Dubai?

Is it the Daytona 500 if they run it at Twin Ring Motegi?

Calling a race in South America the Dakar is frakkin silly. Move the race, change the damn name.

With LeMans and Daytona, I'd agree with you, but those types of motorsport are far more mainstream and people would still follow it. However, you could move Baja to Arizona or Nevada and still call it the Baja 1000, because people associate that name more with a type of race than a place. Baja is flat-out desert racing, Dakar is a much longer, more varied terrain race. I agree with Frank, I doubt they care what you think and I'd say that probably 95% of the rest of the world couldn't care less if they continued to use the Dakar name. Heck, for much of the world, if you said "Dakar" most people would think of the race and not "Oh, you mean that town in Senegal..." most wouldn't even know Senegal was a country!

For what it's worth, I think they have dropped the Paris from it, since it's no longer a Paris to Dakar race.

[Dan43]

However, you could move Baja to Arizona or Nevada and still call it the Baja 1000, because people associate that name more with a type of race than a place.Calling a race in Arizona or Nevada the Baja 1000 does not in fact make that race the Baja 1000. You can only have a Baja 1000 if you run the race in Baja.

[cliff0529]

Calling a race in Arizona or Nevada the Baja 1000 does not in fact make that race the Baja 1000. You can only have a Baja 1000 if you run the race in Baja.

Says you. ;)

[Dan43]

Says you. ;)Says common sense.

[rr_double_rr]

In principle, he's right. However, that excludes the owner's of the race being able to call it whatever they want so long as they have the rights to the name. If Nintendo were cool with it, and for free advertising I'm sure they would be, they could call it Mario Kart. At the end of the day though what does it really matter?

[KTM Rider]

The Dakar Rally is what it is not because of a geographical location involved in its conception but instead because of what has been over the years. That is what the race is about and regardless of where it is raced, that is what it will always be and therefore why it will be called the Dakar Rally.

The reason the same thing cannot be applied to Le Mans or Indy is because those races have been solely about the tracks....like the 'ring in Germany. Even when the Dakar Rally actually touched Dakar, the course itself was dynamic from year to year and wasnt about either Paris or Dakar.

[wbeck257]

It really hasn't been the Paris to Dakar rally for awhile -- look up some history on the routes:

Complete list of routes
1979–1980: Paris–Dakar
1981–1988: Paris–Algiers–Dakar
1989: Paris–Tunis–Dakar
1990–1991: Paris–Tripoli–Dakar
1992: Paris–Cape Town
1993: Paris–Dakar
1994: Paris–Dakar–Paris
1995–1996: Granada–Dakar
1997: Dakar–Agadez–Dakar
1998: Paris–Granada–Dakar
1999: Granada–Dakar
2000: Dakar–Cairo
2001: Paris–Dakar
2002: Arras–Madrid–Dakar
2003: Marseille–Sharm el-Sheikh
2004: Clermont-Ferrand–Dakar
2005: Barcelona–Dakar
2006–2008: Lisbon–Dakar[4]
2009: Buenos Aires–Valparaíso–Buenos Aires[5]
2010: Buenos Aires–Antofagasta–Buenos Aires[6]
2011: Buenos Aires–Arica–Buenos Aires[7]
2012: Mar del Plata–Copiapó–Lima

[Dan43]

It really hasn't been the Paris to Dakar rally for awhile -- look up some history on the routes:

Complete list of routes
1979–1980: Paris–Dakar
1981–1988: Paris–Algiers–Dakar
1989: Paris–Tunis–Dakar
1990–1991: Paris–Tripoli–Dakar
1992: Paris–Cape Town
1993: Paris–Dakar
1994: Paris–Dakar–Paris
1995–1996: Granada–Dakar
1997: Dakar–Agadez–Dakar
1998: Paris–Granada–Dakar
1999: Granada–Dakar
2000: Dakar–Cairo
2001: Paris–Dakar
2002: Arras–Madrid–Dakar
2003: Marseille–Sharm el-Sheikh
2004: Clermont-Ferrand–Dakar
2005: Barcelona–Dakar
2006–2008: Lisbon–Dakar[4]
2009: Buenos Aires–Valparaíso–Buenos Aires[5]
2010: Buenos Aires–Antofagasta–Buenos Aires[6]
2011: Buenos Aires–Arica–Buenos Aires[7]
2012: Mar del Plata–Copiapó–LimaSo with the exception of 1992 and 2003 the Rally route included Dakar for 30 FREAKING YEARS. And even in 1992 and 2003 it was in Africa. How does the location for 30 FREAKIN YEARS have no bearing on the Rally?

[wbeck257]

It really hasn't been the Paris to Dakar...


Geez...

[KTM Rider]

So with the exception of 1992 and 2003 the Rally route included Dakar for 30 FREAKING YEARS. And even in 1992 and 2003 it was in Africa. How does the location for 30 FREAKIN YEARS have no bearing on the Rally?

Were you this upset when new coke came out?

[Dan43]

Were you this upset when new coke came out?I drink Mountain Dew.

I did try a "new" Coke and the first thing I thought was "This crap ain't Coca-Cola". Apparently a hell of a lot of other people felt the same way.

[KTM Rider]

Maybe if all those same people complain then the Dakar rally will move back to Africa

[shnyhed]

Were you this upset when new coke came out?



:rofl::bowdown:

[motodog650]

Rally PanAm post from twitter: "Update on James Embro: he's back in USA, bunch of shattered bones in face. He talked to Dr, had tests, & now waiting to see."

More info at the link on the o/p on this thread.