Team HUMMER Stage 7 Recap & Quotes

Antofagasta, Chile (January 8, 2010) – Today marked the longest special of the grueling 14 stage Dakar Rally for Team HUMMER. Measuring in at 641 km, the special was made even more difficult by the varied terrain that competitors had to race across. As competitors travelled from Antofagasta to Iquique they encountered everything from areas of fast off-track, to slow track, to windy track and even a salar. Stage 7, which was expected to take competitors around seven hours to complete, was filled with magnificent views of the Chilean landscape. Drivers were challenged early in the day as they crossed over sand dunes. However, the most demanding part of the stage came when competitors had to cross the salar. The salar, which spans 3 km, is an area filled with huge blocks of dry salt that requires competitors to slow their speed to under 10 km/h. Once competitors made it past this portion of the stage, it was mostly fast, open track to the finish line.

What seemed to be a great start for Robby Gordon and his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER ended in heartbreak. Gordon led the stage through the halfway point before an alternator failure crippled his HUMMER on the course, crushing his hope for another stage win. Once the No. 302 was back on course, he finished the stage in 24th place and dropped to 10th in the overall standings.

“We started off with a really good run. By the start of the second liaison, I motored by two cars and was about the fifth car on the road. I saw low voltage on the dash and switched back and forth between batteries for about 120k before the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER finally stopped running. We had to wait a long time for a replacement, which cost us a lot of time. It’s just a huge bummer. I am ready for tomorrow’s rest day so that we can reevaluate and strategize for the rest of the race. Our plan is to come on strong for the final stages and make up as much ground as possible.”

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Permalink Reply by Greg M on January 9, 2010 at 10:16am

Any thoughts about offering a diecast collectable of the Hummers or support trucks?
I think they would be a big seller. I know I would buy a some.

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Permalink Reply by Ernie Stratton on January 9, 2010 at 10:25am

Go give 'em hell Robby,no matter the outcome your showing the factory teams what a little American independant can do.

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Permalink Reply by Robby2Win7 on January 9, 2010 at 3:52pm

I think with all the video footage that is being captured during this rally, Robby should put out a DVD of his experiences. I've been dying for him to put out more DVD's...........

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Permalink Reply by Kevin on January 9, 2010 at 10:30am

strap every spare part possible to both hummers, tie down a couple of mechanics to BJ's hood and go like hell to the end.

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Permalink Reply by Bricoop on January 9, 2010 at 4:55pm

They already have a great mechanic in the Monster HUMMER Driver's seat.

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Permalink Reply by wilks7 on January 9, 2010 at 10:44am

it was just one of those days...i am sure they have a spare alternater secured somehwere to the hummer for tomarrow

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Permalink Reply by Oscar Pose Romero on January 9, 2010 at 1:13pm

Let's Robby! You can recover to win some stages the results will come later

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Permalink Reply by Blain on January 9, 2010 at 2:26pm

We just need those two BMW's to continue to chase the 3 VW's so they can't coast on through the last stages. If they push them who knows what might happen and Robby might be right back in it. Or we need the VW teamates to battle eachother like in the Tour De France last year with Contador and Lance. Maybe they will take eachother out. Keep Charging Robby, Yeah!!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Bob on January 9, 2010 at 9:33pm

Blain is right, it would be foolish to ignore the sorts of misfortunes that could befall those ahead of him. At only half way there are sure to be more interesting developments ahead.

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Permalink Reply by Mark R on January 10, 2010 at 10:47am

how does this rally actually work? are the specials the race course and the liaisons for getting from one special to the next under nonrace conditions?