Niles can work on the bikes anywhere. It's quick and clean and seemingy effortless. The best ones make it look so easy.
Charlie's email tag line is "fun fun". So far I think the guy really lives it. Dez, Niles, and a little bit of our other rider, David Schwarz.
Jonah works on the timing unit. These are the only electronic nav the rides have, and it's just for emergencies and logging (like a black box) that records lcoation and speed for possible penalties is speedlimits on liaisaon stages (riding public roads to go between times, race stges). Vehicles leave one minute apart and race the clock.
The timing unit itself. It's got a name, which I don't remember.
Power harness for various rally raid gear. And those sexy Öhlins forks.
A Russian rider exits scrutineering
Jonah and Niles (with Charlie in tow) await their go with the scrutineers. it seems like most teams get a little edgy during the process.
A car goes through the process nearby. This isn't NASCAR. There is a huge variety, from factor teams to home made super cars to smaller ventures
I finally met Shawna! The Canadian Film girl, filming.
Inside the car being poked and prodded
In racing, there are often limints. You get two gear boxes, you get only one of some things. Other parameters are measured and then sealed with a clamp like these. Each has a number, and at the end of the even they'd beter oe there! The tool crushes them, kind of a cold weld.
Brian has passed scrutinnering. I swear to God he totally smiled after this shot.
A handful of quads racing. The one on the right has a thumb-throttle.
She's looking over all these events, and guarding parc ferme.
Jonah returns from today's "ceremonial" special stage. They rolled eight miles through the city to give the locals a chance to line the streets and throw cats and gourds (true stories from Africa!). Bikes then go directly to parc firme.
David comes in fromthe special stage.
Not only easy, but probably kind of fun, too.
Beached bikes in parc firm. Great way for spectators to check out the scene. Trucks & cars were elsewhere.
