Sarge
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- St Louis, MO
Has an XJ ever done the Paris-Dakar rally? Possibly even as a chase vehicle?
Sarge
Sarge
The Dakar
- Thread starter Sarge
- Start date
Lou
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- ToronNo/Hamilton
Don't know, but if you're interested I think there's a thread somewhere on here where some of the 
riffraff were pondering the idea of running it. Or was that Baja.
I don't remember...
...Old age just isn't what it use to be.
riffraff were pondering the idea of running it. Or was that Baja.I don't remember...
...Old age just isn't what it use to be.2offroad
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Concord NC
look here to start, i have not seen one on tv but the coverage of THE rally-raid sucks.
http://www.dakar.com/2003/us/
http://www.dakar.com/2003/us/
Sarge
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- St Louis, MO
Was pondering it as a chase vehicle for a bike. Got a bud who has considering riding the rally on his GS. Not a bad choice, the bike was actually designed for it. But the chase vehicle has to follow their rules which are difficult to get thru. I do know it would have to have the ability to get about 550 miles of range going tho.
Sarge
Sarge
8Mud
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Central Germany
This is mostly just talk and innuendo. Jeep wanted to break into the Paris Dakar in the 80´s. One of the reasons, they hooked up with Renault (among others). The Japanese where willing to throw in some large bucks, for the chance at recogonition. Jeep tried it through a partnership with Renault, (not the only reason but one reason for the partnership). The French generally being anti-American anything, blocked Jeeps entrance through rule changes, and politics. Jeep even had an independant team try and run, never did hear the final results, of that effort, but never saw a Jeep on the TV. They did mention, a few Jeeps, that were allowed to run as spectators/tag alongs and there were a few European independant Jeep entries, not really serious contenders.
One independant that won, the medium truck portion, of a Paris Dakar. When asked about the difficulty of the trip, answered the rally was difficult, the politics will kill you.
Walker Evans and Granitelli both tried to run. Niether made it for one reason or another. I´d guess the French made it just to darned difficult to participate.
One independant that won, the medium truck portion, of a Paris Dakar. When asked about the difficulty of the trip, answered the rally was difficult, the politics will kill you.
Walker Evans and Granitelli both tried to run. Niether made it for one reason or another. I´d guess the French made it just to darned difficult to participate.
Sarge
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- St Louis, MO
Well I know it's possible. An American ad exec decided to do it, bought a G-Wagon and modified it big time and ran it. Wrote a book to recoup some cash and made a decent read. Decent enough that I've wanted to do it one way or another since then.
Sarge
Sarge
8Mud
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Central Germany
Here in Europe, they cover it pretty well, on the sports channel, everynight, clips and updates. I tended to follow the trucks, more than the car sized racers. The classes seem to be dominated, each by a different manufacturer. With some experimentals mixed in. The add exec. probably knew someone high up in the program.
One truck racer, UNI-MOG, independant, won one year and showed for two more. Said he was giving it up, the politics were killing him. He said there is a reason sabotage is a french word. Guess if you were going to do it, I´d be prepared to leave everything behind. Wouldn´t count on much help, as an independant or with a small team, if you got in serious trouble. Wouldn´t count on the French for anything, but a rock, if you where drowning. Elbows to the kidneys, tieing your shoelaces together and bad mouth.
I´ve thought about going down, never had a dependable ride I was willing to walk away from and leave. Putting up the bond for various countries, customs regulations and such is a pain. I researched it with the local auto club, most of there info was outdated. The local auto club was willing to quarantee the bond, for some countries and not others. If I ever go down there. I´m gonna try and take enough money to pay off the uniforms, but not so much to draw undue attention to myself and become a target. And have my back pack handy. Third world takes on a whole new meaning in North Africa. I have wheeled through the Balkins and the middle east, tuck in with some truckers, no big deal. North Africa is a whole other can of worms.
One truck racer, UNI-MOG, independant, won one year and showed for two more. Said he was giving it up, the politics were killing him. He said there is a reason sabotage is a french word. Guess if you were going to do it, I´d be prepared to leave everything behind. Wouldn´t count on much help, as an independant or with a small team, if you got in serious trouble. Wouldn´t count on the French for anything, but a rock, if you where drowning. Elbows to the kidneys, tieing your shoelaces together and bad mouth.
I´ve thought about going down, never had a dependable ride I was willing to walk away from and leave. Putting up the bond for various countries, customs regulations and such is a pain. I researched it with the local auto club, most of there info was outdated. The local auto club was willing to quarantee the bond, for some countries and not others. If I ever go down there. I´m gonna try and take enough money to pay off the uniforms, but not so much to draw undue attention to myself and become a target. And have my back pack handy. Third world takes on a whole new meaning in North Africa. I have wheeled through the Balkins and the middle east, tuck in with some truckers, no big deal. North Africa is a whole other can of worms.
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