Dakar dreams
By TMX Archives on 14th Feb 06
After spending the last nine months helping to prepare for Steve Malone's 2006 Dakar attempt I decided to write my own account of the pre-event prep and then the rally itself. After spending the last nine months helping to prepare for Steve Malone's 2006 Dakar attempt I decided to write my own account of the pre-event prep and then the rally itself. But there's one small flaw in my plan - I didn't end up going to Lisbon to start the greatest adventure of my life.Instead I started another great adventure - her name is Harriet and she was born on January 20. But when times are hard there are always your parents to fall back on. So my dad Charlie was off to Dakar as the spannerman for Steve...It all started when Steve made the decision to ride the Dakar back in April 2005. He asked me if I wanted to go along and, well, I couldn't really say no - but then news of the aforementioned little Harriet's arrival in nine months time put a stop to that so in came dad and for the next few weeks the research started. The various people we spoke to were very forthcoming and without some of the information we would have really struggled.Entries have to be in by June so Steve was on his own sorting out the paperwork and legalities. You'd be surprised by the amount of paperwork there is for the Dakar - forget the usual one sheet of A4 for club meetings. For my dad and me there wasn't much to do but once Steve had decided what bike to ride then things got interesting.The bike decision was a tough one for Steve from the start but past experiences eventually pointed him in the direction of the KTM 660 Rallye - a custom-made mount for the big desert races - so Steve committed and bought Patsy Quick's KTM from last year. Weekly riding sessions commenced for Steve as well as regular trips to the gym so everything was coming together.When the confirmation of Steve's entry came through the preparation stepped up a gear and we could go ahead and start to organise the assistance package and the rest of the logistics.The assistance package is as important as the entry itself. There are many ways in which you can approach this - you can join an assistance crew such as Rally Raid or Patsy's Team Desert Rose for example. If you have your own mechanic they will take them along and provide facilities for the use of the rider and mechanic. You can also buy a complete package where the bike assistance and spares are all inclusive - many people opt to take this route as the preparation is made easier.As part of Steve's preparation a trip to Morocco was planned for September so the bike was stripped and received a good fettling plus a spanking new paint job and some stickers so she really looked the part. But Morocco was an eye-opener for Steve who found the sand hard going on the 660 due to the bike's weight. After a few modifications it began to handle better but on the Thursday of a week's riding in the desert the engine ground to a halt and that was that.After riding a 250F for the rest of the week and really enjoying the experience, a seed had been planted in Steve's head which was to flourish into a fully-prepped KTM 525 with all the trimmings. Steve headed home and, with his desert experience prominent in his mind, decided to switch to a KTM 525XC.The 525 presented a daunting challenge and the level of modifications involved required long hours and a lot of technical knowledge. Luckily, the main bulk of the modification came as a kit from Meca Systems, a French company that specialises in long distance enduro kits and components. So using a bit of personal judgement we fitted the kit along with all the compulsory equipment that was supplied by the organisation and some extra components. Through the short days and long nights of November and December the bike build progressed and at the same time Steve progressed with the logistics, insurance, ACU forms etc...After a few testing days and final tweaks the bike was ready and so was Steve. Boxing Day soon came around and it was time to say farewell to Steve and dad as they headed off to Lisbon - my part was done (or so I thought).Over to Charlie for the rest of the tale...LisbonSteve and I arrive in Lisbon late on Boxing Day - the rally doesn't start until December 31 and we have a few days to do some final preparations before Steve's allotted scrutineering day of December 29. The excitement and buzz that we experience in Lisbon is awesome - it's worth doing the race just for that part of it.Scrutineering takes most of a day - we'd be told that it's one of the hardest days of the Dakar experience - but the team find it exciting and very well organised. After seven hours the end is reached and we pass the first of our four milestones which are:1) Get through scrutineering2) Get into Africa3) Reach the rest day4) Finish.Stage 1On the morning of the rally nerves are high and Steve has an early start time. The day's stage is only a short one, although longer though than previous years. It is made up from mainly muddy tracks helped along by the rain that's falling - you don't usually associate rain with the Dakar! Steve makes it through the stage and is looking forward to his last night of sleep in a normal bed.Stage 2The second stage is similar to the first but this time the rally heads up into hills and over to the coastal port of Malaga in Spain. Steve makes it through the day with no problems.Things seen today: A 500cc air-cooled XT Yam!Stage 3Steve gets off the boat in Nador and goes straight into stage three after sleeping during the crossing while I head across the Moroccan landscape for 14 hours. The assistance approach we've taken is to join forces with the guys at Rally Raid so I head to the first bivouac with three other crew members in a Land Rover Discovery.This is Steve's first African stage - mainly rocky tracks and wadis which are dry river beds. The day is average in length - a total of 672km - and heading for Errachidia the competitors have their first experience of dunes. I arrive at the first African bivouac and set up camp, unloading the tent, sleeping bags and kit. Steve pulls in to the bivouac and it's out with the polish and a fresh set of wheels.Things seen today: 14 VW Touaregs, a Harley Davidson sidecar and the 500 XT Yam!Stage 4The next day we're off to Quarzazate just south of Marrakech - the rally progresses some 639km and the going is getting tough. The assistance route is also totally off-road so it's a long day for all, especially when the home-made extra diesel tank ruptures and there are four mechanics and 60 litres of diesel slopping around in the back.After removing everything in the car - including the carpets - we add a couple of inches of fresh desert sand, re-pack and head off. When Steve reaches Quarzazate we realise that Mr Sheen isn't up to the Sutty-inspired damage to his bike, done while trying to avoid the terrible dust clouds created by the top cars and trucks as they catch him up.I'm up all night repairing and polishing - there's nothing worse than setting up your bed and then putting it away without using it.Stage 5Early start for both of us as we head off to Tan Tan and the next bivouac. Steve has a good day with little problems over the 819km stage. Dust and sand are the main challenges. The Discovery heads over the sand with no problems but the other assistance vehicles are having a few difficulties.Things seen today: Charlie Boorman with both arms in casts - I wonder who'll take him to the bathroom?Stage 6From Tan Tan the rally heads to Zouerat and into Mauritania. The riders start in the early hours of the morning and have a challenging road journey at night to reach the border and the start of the stage. Again it's a good day for Steve but the clutch master cylinder is weeping (this becomes a problem later on). Still, Steve makes it through and the routine bike polishing resumes along with a fresh drink of oil and new filtersStage 7Leaving Zouerat heading for Atar the rally has a killer day - 521km of mainly sand dunes. Through the wizardry of computers and phones without wires, operations centre Cheshire (our kitchen) tells me that Steve is stopped 85km from the end with no spark. I feel useless and despondent but for Steve it must be worse. All the parts to repair the bike are with me and there's no way to get to him or the bike. This is where I realise that, because of timing, two car mechanics and one bike mechanic in one car do not mix as I want to go one way and they want to go the other!Stage 8So what do I do? Car one way, Steve the other! Around me are people all in the same boat or worse. The start time for today's stage has been extended allowing for people to come in and rest. Stage seven has cut the entry list by a third! With no drive or adrenalin some of us are low. After 24 hours of sulking I decide to help Tom Classen (South African) and Mick Hughes (Australian) - both riders have paid for assistance but seen little of it. Mick comes in with a look on his face that will stay with me for a while - he's in agony from a broken leg and has just ridden 10km after the fall! Apart from helping him off his bike no more assistance is required.Rest daySteve should be picked up today after two lonely nights in the desert - picture Tom Hanks in Castaway sat talking to his helmet! Nine months of work down the Swannie. Now Tom has the sole attention of my cloth and polish but does he deserve my luck?First job I do for Tom is the air filter and what do I find? The airbox is full of sand and Tom is saying the engine is making strange noises. A KTM 'engineer' says the engine is okay and a little sand is acceptable - complete b******s! Just as we are debating his comments, South African star Alfie Cox and Ralph his mechanic walk by and Alfie's verdict - "that man should be shot with a ball of his own s**t" - seems to say it all.Tom gets the last spare engine KTM have and at 11am we start to strip and rebuild his bike. By 1.30am the following day he's ready to start on time at 4:30am. During the day Steve catches up with us and it's really good to see him - he tells us that by the time he was picked up he had collected enough camel grass as firewood for two further days and had told them to come back later!Stage 9Steve's with me as we watch the start in the dark. Later that day he heads home while I carry on - not what we had planned at the start of our Dakar adventure! That evening Tom's engine's fine but the brakes require some close attention.Things seen today: Tall young Swedish girl on a quad (quads aren't that boring) and 500cc XT air-cooled Yam.Stage 10The rally pushes on and heads for Mali, next stop Kayes. Tom arrives late but still in the rally. With a large grin he says "I now have brakes and an engine for the first time in the rally". The bike looks very dusty though! By this time the bivouac is half the size it was at the start.The food is amazing and there's lots of it. Toilet facilities are rush mat walls with a hole in the ground. And there are showers! One bucket of water per person but - health and safety note - do not put both feet in the bucket at once or you will fall over!Things seen today: Wet horizontal car mechanic near the showers, 500 XT air-cooled yam!Stage 11From Kayes we march on to Bamako. The desert landscape has changed and trees are abundant. Small villages start to pop up so speed limits for the riders come into force.How much luck can one guy have! After the days stage Tom comes in and, after a good polish, I reckon the bike's ready. While re-fitting the sumpguard I notice that the main bolt on the rear shock linkage is hanging out - so it's tools out again after another trip to KTM!Stage 12 and 13Bamako to Labe, Labe to Tambacounda. There is no assistance allowed in Labe (they have to polish their own bikes) - this is called the marathon stage so we go straight to Tambacounda. Here we are again - waiting, thinking the worse and hoping for the best.Ian Peberdy's waiting for Mick Extance, Alex Poppy's waiting for Patricia Watson Millar and I'm waiting for Tom. Mick loses an hour due to his rear mousse braking up but makes it, then in comes Tom - smiling as usual - followed by Patricia Watson Millar.Stage 14The last proper day on the rally and we head for Dakar. There are navigation problems for most as the road book (the pace notes that depict the route) became very confusing but all remaining British riders make it to Dakar.So that's Mick Extance, Nicky Plumb, Patsy Quick and Clive Town safely here plus the other riders/machines we've adopted on the way - Tom, Patricia Watson Millar (Brit/German), Tall Swedish Girl On Quad (Swedish) and the 500cc XT air-cooled Yam (Japanese)! To sleep in a bed for the first time in a while feels strange and still going to the bathroom with your head torch when there's an electric light feels even stranger!Stage 15Lac Ros. The finish! Just 110km around a lake with flamingos, crowds of people, corporate marquees and a big party. The sense of achievement for all the finishers is written across their faces. For now this is the end but in just one month they'll all start to think about next year? Perhaps on a well-polished 500cc XT air-cooled Yam!Words by Eddie and Charlie Holmes Photos by Maindru Photo/Charlie Holmes