In Transylvania
Baia Mare, Transylvania, Romania, is a pretty big town of 140,000 people or so. Romania has the same cool plastic money that Australia has. The language sounds kind of pretty and reminds me of Italian. The little houses in the country, as old and run down as some can get, are still really pretty. It's 2 AM and I have to be up at 4 again. I don't mind but I am finally getting loopy. But we're racing!!
Before I forget, here is today's photo gallery!
So today in Budapest was the big start. Then there was a 60k special stage which dumped out into service park one. Another, smaller stage and then we had a 400 km liaison. To keep David from having to ride it, we yanked the seats out of my rented van and shoved the KTM 690 Rally into it. David got some good rest. We had to be there by a certain time, though the time is picked so that everyone has enough to make it. It is possible to lose during a liaison though. And carrying a bike, how great! I was told in no uncertain terms that we had a bike and a rider to get someplace on time.
Jonah finished on the day in 8th! That's nine places from his start at 17th. David moved up as well but I can't remember where he's at.
The drive was really fun. Easily the longest road trip I've driven outside of the US. After the border the roads got horrible. For the first 50km, horse drawn vehicles were everywhere, and it was VERY rural. Not rural like Los Banos or something. Rural where people till the soil with animals. We'd see a family by the side of the road threshing or whatever that is. It wasn't for another 200 km that there were even more than wee villages to go through, and at that point we were in our destination. The border is a real border and really fascinating. Definitely intimidating. I've never really driven through a border before.
People line the streets to witness the spectacle that is the Dakar. Des would hit 'em with the Ford's massive train horns. This was endlessly amusing. There are other things about it too, I talked about it before. Just exciting to be a part of it. It's where I should be, though. I felt that way in WRC, in 2004 at the Finland rally.
The Ford goes like a mother but I kept up just fine. The event went well though there were crashes. Mark Miller rolled. The service park is amazing, right in the middle of downtown. Everything but the sidewalk is closed to non-credentialed rally participants. Even late on a Sunday night, people walk up and down watching the teams. I've done it as a spectator as well. It's way, way better on the other side of the plastic tape. I'm using the van a bit to shuttle our folks around, too. I'm NOT sleeping in it as planned, instead using extra team rooms. Miro and Evan are in the room with me, Miro being rad and taking the floor. He's a fantastic co-pilot for a road trip; we had a ball today.
More tomorrow, I promise.
Comments
Ahh, the best in living vicariously. I get to stay home and not spend a dime and have practically as much fun.
Ok, no. But reading this thing is sure a nice break from work. Great stuff Rocky - keep 'em coming, but get some sleep!
Posted by: Dan Ancona | April 22, 2008 05:17 AM
Rocky, Its great to be able to track the race, and get educated on the sport somewhat at the same time.
Posted by: Justin | April 22, 2008 12:31 AM
Seeing forward to meeting you in Debrecen. Send me an SMS +36705308269 so i get your number.
Posted by: Andreas Borsiin | April 21, 2008 11:50 AM
Great stuff, keep it coming, it makes up for no TV coverage here in Australia. Say Hi to David and wish him good luck
Posted by: SafariBerg | April 21, 2008 10:44 AM