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Permalink Reply by 7gason7 on January 3, 2011 at 6:14pm

Robby has driven a SCORE Trophy Truck for decades that only has RWD. The Dakar rules allow a much greater suspension travel for 2wd vehicles. More travel is a big advantage in rough roads as there are in Baja and Africa. RG felt he could use this advantage so he built a 2wd hummer based on a proven baja design for the African Dakar.

 

The rally moves to South America. RG already has millions in the development of his Africa Dakar Hummer so chooses to improve the design for the S.A. Dakar. He will tell you that he has a disadvantage in the first 3 stages of the "new" Dakar, but has an advantage on the the next 4. Case in point his stage win last year on stage 4. Problem is he needs to stay within 10 to 15 minutes of the leaders before the dunes. It hurts to say it but the reason he is 1h:06m back is driver error. He missed a turn. Sh_t happens. Chances are the top 5 will all miss a turn or 2 before it is all said and done.

 

He was going to build a new 4wd car, but chose to focus on his new Speed Energy drink and the Nascar progam. He will have a 4wd car before he runs his last Dakar, but in 2011 he is still 2wd, a much improved and faster 2wd, but still 2wd. Just watch him on stages 4,5, and 6 you will see how 2wd will be an advantage, and once again we will all sing the praises of the great and mighty Robby Gordon!

 

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Permalink Reply by R Nadeau on January 3, 2011 at 6:59pm

Great explanation 7G7.  Really appreciate all your input on the timing & scoring also.  See you at chat for Stage 3.  We all should BE POSITIVE ... the race has just begun...plenty more to follow !!!!

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Permalink Reply by George Paulie on January 4, 2011 at 7:16am

Nice thought... Thanks for answer. Exactly as he said " the race has just begun". We'll see what will happen at the end.

I look forward to the next stage. Good luck!!!

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Permalink Reply by Stefan Vapaa on January 4, 2011 at 10:26pm

There are lots of advantages to the 2wd "cars".  Basically, the rules for the 2wd cars are much less restrictive. 2wd has won the Dakar before, in '99 and '00 Jean-Louis Schlesser won in his 2wd buggy.

They may be wider, longer, and may weigh less for a given engine size. If it were 4wd, Robby would have to put the engine in front of the midpoint of the chassis. In 2wd, Robby can use any gearbox he likes, so long as it only has 5 forward gears. 4wd cars have to use FIA homologated gearboxes. Suspension travel is limited to 300mm (for rigid axle) or 250mm (all other types) on 4wd cars. There does not appear to be a limit on the 2wd suspension travel.  2wd can have bigger wheels.

But here's a big one... 2wd cars can have a system to adjust tire pressure while the vehicle is in motion. 4wd cars have to be stopped.

It is all on the FIA website here:

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulations/Pages/FIACross-CountryRa...

and specifically here:

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/C958C1C2A8CF49A4C125780200...$FILE/285_2011.pdf

But basically, the 2wd vehicles are strong in some areas and 4wd vehicles are strong in others.

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Permalink Reply by Stefan Vapaa on January 4, 2011 at 10:46pm

Replying to my own post...

Famously, here is one example of when the 2wd with greater suspension travel is an advantage:

See the 1:30 point in the vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATAKFhaLQKs

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 4, 2011 at 11:32pm

for some that are metric'ly challenged -solid rear axle 300mm=12 inchs(not the HUMMERS-independent) or 250mm=10 inchs. 33in tire vs 37's? and one tire choice for the whole rally and Robby has a 6speed transmission.In other words, the WRC portion of the race is NOT Robby's.(discounting the boulder stage 2) The Rally is 14 stages long,the idea is to stay in the hurt where your vehicle isn't good and excell where good. Chin's up alot more racing to go! Racing is maximizing compromises!

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hawker on January 5, 2011 at 5:41pm

The car is basically a CLASS 1 OFF ROAD BUGGY  Mid mounnt Engine buy the looks of it It might be a LS7 7.0Lt Chev and an Australian Built Gearbox Albins 6 Speed Sequential and Maybe ProAm Hubs ?

With a Hummer shell on Top

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Avsec on January 5, 2011 at 5:55pm

Something went wrong with the ProAm hubs.. terribly wrong

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hawker on January 5, 2011 at 6:07pm

look at the angles of the gear box placement and hub positions the axle angle mut be around 28deg+ mayby fried the axle spline or hammered a CV cage

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hawker on January 13, 2012 at 6:35pm

it has a albins sequential gearbox in it like the class 1 off road buggys use

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