Jan 12th Dakar Rally Stage 9 Race Chat

Join us for the Dakar Rally on Jan 12, 2009 , right here and chat about the action during the 9th stage

Stage 9 - Monday, January 12

La Serena > Copiapo
Connection: 88 km | Special: 449 km | Connection: 0 km | Total: 537 km
We are at the first step of a decisive trilogy. The reputation of the Atacama Desert, known as the world’s driest, will be tested by the competitors. Those who hope to find dunes will be rewarded. But they will also be fed a generous helping of rocks. This stage is typical of the Dakar 2009, with numerous changes of terrain. The positioning of difficulties, with long stretches of dunes at the end, will require pilots to conserve their strength. They must show themselves to be both multi-talented and with a firm sense of how to manage their efforts.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on January 13, 2009 at 6:25am

Don't most of the top drivers from VW, BMW and Mitsubishi run Rally-Raids all year long. RG is the only one doing this is a one off.....

Permalink Reply by Mario on January 12, 2009 at 1:49pm

Right now through KM 334, Eric in the Vanguard Hummer is sitting 20th overall. That can all change as he finishes as well as others.

Permalink Reply by All-American Girl 2 on January 12, 2009 at 1:49pm

My dad just called from Copiapo. He and his friends found a place to stop and eat tacos. I think he forgets that he is not in Baja chasing Robby and taco stands are not on every corner. He said everything is looking good with the H3. They fixed the header issue last night. He was heading to the bivouac now to help out. This is the final stage my dad will follow unless RG talks him into chasing to the end. With my dad, you never know. I keep telling him things are fine at the office so that he doesn't hurry home. When he is gone, it is the only vacation I get. I will post more when I hear from him later.

Permalink Reply by jack on January 12, 2009 at 1:57pm

Great!! thanks for the "inside scoop". always love to hear from the family

Permalink Reply by Ex Desert on January 12, 2009 at 2:00pm

thanks for the info "From the source" Would love to hear tidbits about today. It must have been a wild ride.

Permalink Reply by Riverside Racer on January 12, 2009 at 2:08pm

Thanks for the update.

I'd love to hear more about what the Monster Crew are doing and seeing along the way.

Are you racing at Long Beach again this year?

Permalink Reply by All-American Girl 2 on January 12, 2009 at 2:12pm

Beccy raced at Long Beach last year and I am not sure what is happening this year. I was told that I "might" get invited. I am heading to Willow Springs this weekend for a road course school. Should be a lot of fun.

Permalink Reply by Riverside Racer on January 12, 2009 at 2:19pm

I hope they do invite you to LB and have a blast at Willow.

I loved coming down off the hill flat out all the way to turn one in my Bugeye Sprite. :-O

Permalink Reply by jack on January 12, 2009 at 2:26pm

Road course school uh? Sounds like a blast..

Permalink Reply by bighead on January 12, 2009 at 2:31pm

you going to teach

Permalink Reply by natron008 on January 12, 2009 at 3:24pm

Awesome!!! Thanks for relaying family info to the fans. With races like this we're starved for info and anything straight from the source is like gold. You guys have one hell of a family and I'm a proud fan of each of you. GO GORDON!

Permalink Reply by WJM on January 12, 2009 at 2:34pm