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Archive for January, 2013
Dakar Rally 2013: Wrap up
Jan 25th
The Final Moments
The last moments of the 2013 Dakar saw all the competitors and service crew converge at the final podium in Santiago, Chile. After years of preparation by teams and competitors the final moments of crossing the finish line was a welcome relief and sense of accomplishment for all concerned. The Dakar is the ultimate test for competitors, machinery and support crews.
GHR Honda had four out of five riders complete the ultimate test. 36,000 kilometres of racing completed by the team. 21,000 kilometres of driving by the service crews. Everything about Dakar is a test of planning and execution. Congratulations to Paul Smith, Warren Strange, Todd Smith and Brett Cummings for their outstanding achievments in this years Dakar. GHR would like to take this opportunity to thank all the support crew on the event: Simon Wade, Rob Ingram, Jake Young, Pete Wilhelms, Vern Strange, Jamie Morgan, Toin, Arja Boon and let’s not forget Glen Grundy for helping out after his mechanical problems took him out of the race! These guys and gal are the unsung hero’s at times working through the night to be able to deliver machines that are capable of running the 36,000 kilometres in some of the harshest environments on the planet. A BIG THANK YOU to you all.
The GHR bikes are the result of years of development, this years Dakar saw the team turn up with many new parts; fairings, towers, bash plates, fuel tanks; all designed and developed in Australia. To all our team sponsors, especially those who did so much R&D work; a MASSIVE THANK YOU also! The GHR Honda’s were the highest placed Honda rental bikes in the event at only their second attempt with many parts that were the first attempt at Dakar. GHR also turned up with a new quad with many Australian products, finished 7th Outright and even won a stage.
To all our sponsors and all the people who helped along the way, thank you for your input, advice and support. The products used on our bikes and quad and in our team infrastructure really must work and after so many kilometres all products proved themselves. GHR would also like to take the opportunity to thank Honda Australia for their continued support, for without their involvement the team would not exist.
We would also like to thank all the wives/girlfriends/partners and family of all involved for keeping the home fires burning. And a rather large THANK YOU to Mike Chmiel for all his work with the GHR Blog – especially answering Glenn’s early morning phone calls! Dakar planning for 2014 is already underway… Once again thank you to everyone involved and we look forward to defending our title at the Condo 750 in April.
GHR final placings: MOTO
24th #131 – STRANGE Warren (AUS)
34th #156 – SMITH Todd (AUS)
43rd #089 – CUMMINGS Brett (ZAF)
GHR final placings: QUAD
7th #274 – SMITH Paul (AUS)
Quad rider Paul Smith on the podium.
Dakar 2013 Finishers Medal.
Some of the all important crew L-R: Simon, Rob, Pete, Jake and Toin.
Brett Cummings on the podium with Glen Grundy.
Todd Smith at the finish line.
On the podium with Warren Strange.
Day 13: Copiapó > La Serena
Jan 19th
Stage 13: The last big day
In the last long stage of the 2013 Dakar it would have been easy for riders to think that the hardest days were behind them. #156 Todd Smith approached the day conservatively and was setting good times early on. By WP8 he appeared to have found a steady rhythm and was running 17th fastest. However not long afterwards he found himself with a much greater challenge before him.
“200km into todays stage the map tower broke off my bike (not from crashing), so for the remaining 200km special and 200km liaison I carried it in one hand – not fun I’m telling you! I was feeling pretty good before that too but I lost heaps of time trying to fix it. So, I think I’m still in 34th overall after a pretty low placing for todays stage. Well just one stage to go. If I can get to the finish with no more drama I’ll be relieved.”
Tenacity and perseverance saw him through to the flag but he lost an hour in the last three waypoints. Thankfully, #131 Warren Strange had a clear run and chipped away at the order to finish 23rd on the day. #89 Brett Cummings continued his upward trend, finishing 29th for the day to place 43rd overall. On his quad, #274 Paul Smith cruised along to finish in 11th place.
GHR times and overall placings: MOTO
23th #131 – STRANGE Warren (AUS) 46h32m32s (+04:55:14 behind leader)
34th #156 – SMITH Todd (AUS) 47h57m28s (+06:20:10 behind leader)
43rd #089 – CUMMINGS Brett (ZAF) 50h02m42s (+08:25:24 behind leader)
GHR times and overall placings: QUAD
7th #274 – SMITH Paul (AUS) 53h31m11s (+05:43:52 behind leader)
Stage 14: La Serena > Santiago
Tomorrow is the last day of racing and only 625km remain in the 2013 Dakar. A 346km special in the low-lying coastal country will decide the final standings before the podium finish in Santiago.
Stage 14: La Serena > Santiago. Courtesy dakar.com
Stage 14: La Serena > Santiago. Courtesy dakar.com
Day 12: Fiambalá > Copiapó
Jan 18th
Stage 12: Early to bed, too early to rise…
The Dakar Rally returned to Chile this morning. After a painfully early departure from Fiambalá the field trekked 392km through the lofty Andes liaison to cross the border once more. Today’s special was 319km in length – an exhausting task after their second exposure to extreme altitude in the last week. Only 130 motorcycle riders approached the start line today, roughly two thirds of those who started in Lima – and the attrition rate is much the same in the quad class. Now that the rally’s end is in sight, GHR’s strategy is geared towards securing a finish for the four riders rather than risking everything with last minute heroics. All four team riders are now resting up in the Copiapó bivouac in preparation for tomorrow’s long stage.
#89 Brett Cummings managed to climb the order from his 54th start position to finish in 35th place. In doing so he’s continued the upward trend in the general standings, now occupying 50th position. #156 Todd Smith has also capped off four days of improvement with his finish in 21st place today, bringing him to 34th overall. #131 Warren Strange is best placed of the GHR riders, holding 28th overall.
Comments from Todd Smith:
I had a good day today! Made no mistakes and I’m doing better with the nav in the dunes. I’m just focusing on getting the bike to the finish now… can’t believe we are so close to the end, 2 stages to go… up to 34th overall now.
#274 quad rider Paul Smith had this run thwarted today by a flat rear tyre, forcing him to back off for about 100km of the special. It didn’t slow him sufficiently to prevent him advancing in the overall standings where he’s now placed 7th.
GHR times and overall placings: MOTO
28th #131 – STRANGE Warren (AUS) 42h17m05s (+04:30:06 behind leader)
34th #156 – SMITH Todd (AUS) 42h51m19s (+05:04:20 behind leader)
50th #089 – CUMMINGS Brett (ZAF) 45h44m21s (+07:57:22 behind leader)
GHR times and overall placings: QUAD
7th #274 – SMITH Paul (AUS) 48h22m11s (+05:20:36 behind leader)
The penultimate stage in Dakar this year, Stage 13: Copiapó > La Serena, descends back to the Pacific coast via a 90km liaison. 441km of mixed soil, sand and dunes await in the special and the last bivouac site lies in La Serena at the end of a further 204km transport. The rally still has well over 1,300km to run.
Stage 13: Copiapó > La Serena. Courtesy dakar.com
Stage 13: Copiapó > La Serena. Courtesy dakar.com
Dakar 2013: The "rest day" was not so for mechanics Rob and Simon.
Dakar 2013: Jake Young - this is a rest day?
Dakar 2013: HRC engineers checking out the GHR Honda.
Dakar 2013: One of the HRC engineers trying the Australian flavoured 450X.
Dakar 2013: Bivouac at rest day.
Dakar 2013: Bivouac at rest day.
Dakar 2013: Bivouac at rest day.
Dakar 2013: Camp GHR at the rest day.
Dakar 2013: Camp GHR at the rest day.
Dakar 2013: Mechanic Simon Wade with factory air-conditioning.
Dakar 2013: Mechanic Pete Wilhelms with Paul Smith's stage winning TRX700XX.
Dakar 2013: Crowds leaving Tucamán.
Dakar 2013: Transport scenery.
Dakar 2013: Transport scenery.
Dakar 2013: Driveway service with a smile.
Dakar 2013: Brett and Warren hiding from the 40+ weather.
Dakar 2013: Local architecture.
Dakar 2013: Dinner at La Rioja - chargrilled steak!
Dakar 2013: Jake Young waiting to use the MAN race team's press at 1.30 am.
Dakar 2013: Geoff Ohlolm going well, describing the day the floods came.
Dakar 2013 - bath time for the babies.
Dakar 2013: Paul Smith, Brett Cummings and Glen Grundy.
Day 11: La Rioja > Fiambalá
Jan 17th
Stage 11: A first for GHR, a first for Honda, a first for Australia!
GHR Honda's #274 Paul Smith, Australia's first quad pilot at Dakar in 2013, winner of Stage 11. Picture: Mike Chmiel.
34 year old Victorian dairy farmer #274 Paul Smith had ventured into the 11th Dakar stage in trepidation. The white sands of Fiambalá have a menacing reputation amongst riders, and he was aware that many Dakar competitors have been snared by them in past years. Today his objective was just to reach the finish, but his reality was to be far more rewarding when he crossed the line in the fastest time. In doing so, Paul stands as the first Australian to clench a stage victory since the late Andy Caldecott, and the first Honda rider on two or four wheels to top the time sheets at this year’s event. His finish 00:04:18 ahead of Gaston Gonzalez and 00:05:42 in front of event leader Marcos Patronelli elevates Smith to 8th overall. A high speed tumble cost a small amount of time but a quick recovery and careful navigation kept him on top at all but two waypoints.
The #274 TRX700XX quad was modified yesterday by team mechanics to optimise cooling along with the three CRF450Xs in the moto class. Extra thermo-electric fans were fitted, passive ventilation improved while surplus weight was removed. Consequently Smith was able to push harder than before in the soft terrain. It transpired that today was never as hot as expected. Recent precipitation suppressed dust for the riders but this also meant soft mud supplanted soft sand as the challenge de jour. However, fortune would have it that they were just spared the most significant result of the rainfall. Only a handful of cars made half way through the stage before flash flooding rolled through to render it impassable for the larger vehicles. Accordingly race organisers neutralised the stage at CP1 for their categories.
Comments from #156 Todd Smith:
“It was raining pretty much the whole stage off and on, lots of creek crossings and running water. In the first 50km of the stage, I had trouble finding my way and was consequently lost with about 30 other bikes. Brett Cummings eventually came along and led me back the right path. Had a fair few scares on the rough, broken track. I just focused on getting to the end of today – there were about 30 dropouts on this stage last year and about 15 bikes this year… pretty tough going. Ben Grabham caught me and passed me, so I latched on the back of him and we raced for a while. Then we caught Rod Faggotter and the three of us had a ball together to the finish. Closing in on the end of Dakar, my aim is to just cruise through to the finish now.”
GHR times and overall placings: MOTO
32nd #131 – STRANGE Warren (AUS) +03:52:37 behind leader (20th on stage)
41st #156 – SMITH Todd (AUS) +04:57:22 behind leader (23rd on stage)
59th #089 – CUMMINGS Brett (ZAF) +07:34:56 behind leader (50th on stage)
GHR times and overall placings: QUAD
8th #274 – SMITH Paul (AUS) +04:50:03 behind leader (1st on stage)
Just three stages remain in the 2013 edition of Dakar, but the race still has plenty of ground to cover. Stage 12: Fiambalá > Copiapó starts at 04:15 tomorrow morning with a 392km transport over the western border of Argentina back into Chile. Peaking early at around 3,000m above sea level, 319km of highly variable terrain snakes back into the Atacama Desert for the special.
Stage 12: Fiambalá > Copiapó. Courtesy of dakar.com
Stage 12: Fiambalá > Copiapó. Courtesy of dakar.comDakar 2013: Spectator videos
Jan 16th
The wonders of the digital age mean anyone, anywhere can be a trackside Dakar spectator of sorts. Here are some lo-fi videos from ground zero.
#1 – For those watching the SBS broadcast, these two characters will seem familiar. They were the two helmetless locals astride a dirtbike chasing Nasser Al-Attiyah’s buggy, the passenger with video camera in hand.
#2 – No need to speak french to appreciate this one. For all the obstacles encountered at Dakar, this simple water crossing proved too much for some.
#3 – Some raw footage of the riders finishing one of the sand dune stages.
Day 10: Córdoba > La Rioja
Jan 16th
Stage 10: Survival of the fittest…
Today’s stage between Córdoba and La Rioja was the last in the Argentine mountains for this year’s Dakar and the special more closely resembled an enduro or WRC stage than postcard Dakar dune country. Still, it was heavy duty exercise from the outset on the riders’ bulky, fuel laden machines. Meandering soil tracks flanked by dense scrub wore down even the fittest athletes as they negotiated blind corners at speed for near on 5 hours. River crossings offered fleeting moments of respite from the stinking heat and dust but tacked yet another hazard on to the running list of potential show stoppers in the roadbook – the prospect of drowning an engine.
#156 Todd Smith was the fastest Australian on the stage today, spending most of the special in the top 20. #89 Brett Cummings stayed out of trouble finishing 30th for the day, and #131 Warren Strange was less than three minutes behind in 33rd on stage. #274 Paul Smith muscled his TRX700XX through the stage in just over 5.5 hours, safely within the top ten times throughout today.
Comments from Todd Smith:
“Had another good day today, put in a pretty solid stage and came in 17th which puts me into 39th overall. Even though there were fewer bikes in front of me today I still had to battle a fair bit of dust. It was a tiring stage, very hot but everything went well with no crashes! Have to tackle the Andes again tomorrow and we are back in the dunes… 4 long stages left, hopefully all goes well!”
Comments from Paul Smith:
“What a hot one. Nearly 50 degrees I’m told, and I struggled with it. Still got 9th though. Tomorrow is the nightmare stage of Fiambalá. It could take out nearly half of the remaining competitors with 50+ degree hot weather and quicksand-like terrain. I don’t care for results tomorrow just want make it through.”
GHR times and overall placings: MOTO
31st #131 – STRANGE Warren (AUS) 34h10m51s (+03:23:47 behind leader)
39th #156 – SMITH Todd (AUS) 35h12m51s (+04:25:47 behind leader)
56th #089 – CUMMINGS Brett (ZAF) 37h23m26s (+06:36:22 behind leader)
GHR times and overall placings: QUAD
12th #274 – SMITH Paul (AUS) 39h27m32s (+04:55:45 behind leader)
Stage 11: La Rioja > Fiambalá means a shorter distance for the riders, but all anticipate an exhausting return to sand dune country. The 256km north bound liaison will deliver the first bike to the start of the 220km special at 09:15. Race organisers estimate that the lead group should finish the stage in approximately 3.5 hours but the soft sand and inhospitable conditions will tax the rest of the field to breaking point as the day warms. To give them the best prospects of a trouble free run, the mechanics will make some bodywork modifications to boost engine cooling while all four riders are resting outside of the bivouac this evening. Tomorrow will definitely be an important factor in the final outcome for the rally.
Stage 11: La Rioja > Fiambalá. Courtesy of dakar.com
Stage 11: La Rioja > Fiambalá. Courtesy of dakar.com
Vale “Big Al” Wall
Jan 16th
Vale "Big Al" Allan Wall
It’s with great sadness that GHR must acknowledge the passing of an other significant figure in the team’s history. “Big Al” Allan Wall had visited the Hoffmann family home to wish Glenn well just days before the team left for South America but it wasn’t supposed to be goodbye. Last night he succumbed to thyroid cancer after sudden turn 4 days ago. His presence at all GHR events and tours in the early years will never be forgotten, nor will his contributions every second weekend during the six month build up to GHR’s first three Safari campaigns. While his direct involvement with the team decreased after 2007, his friendship continued all the way to the end. Thanks Al.
Day 09: San Miguel de Tucamán > Córdoba
Jan 15th
Stage 09: No rest for the wicked…
With the designated rest day already fading like a distant memory, the 2013 Dakar is rolling once again. Resumption of the pre-dawn routine prepared the riders for their 176km liaison before 5.00am. Stage 9 to Córdoba was to be the longest of the rally and certainly made its mark on the standings. The arduous sea of sand dunes encountered in earlier stages has been left behind for the time being and the rally is firmly within grasp of the Argentine mountains. In their stead was an equally taxing special threaded though forest on 593km of dusty, rock-laden soil trails. They remained untouched by the rains from two days ago and so it was that dust played a major part in the outcome today. GHR rider #156 Todd Smith was in the thick of it, forced to pick his way through it due to starting well down the order for the day.
GHR times and overall placings: MOTO
“Following a welcomed rest day, Stage 9 proved to be a big one – 593km special with about 250km road section. It was another tough day, taking us up and down hills, around a heap of corners, all on really slippery roads. It was challenging, mainly because I started in 81st position and had to ride in more dust than I have ever experienced. I had lots of quads and other bikes to catch and pass… I ended up 19th in the stage so hopefully will get a better run tomorrow.”
By virtue of their earlier start positions today, #131 Warren Strange and #89 Brett Cummings were spared the worst of the dusty onslaught and their top 40 finishes will mean the same tomorrow.
The rest day refurbishment of his TRX700XX allowed #274 Paul Smith to push hard on the stage and he was clearly out to make an impression on the standings. Crossing the line 07:25 behind the stage winner, his 5th place finish brings him up one place in the overall.
GHR times and overall placings: MOTO
31st #131 – STRANGE Warren (AUS) 28h54m02s (+02:56:50 behind leader)
42nd #156 – SMITH Todd (AUS) 30h15m11s (+04:17:59 behind leader)
60th #089 – CUMMINGS Brett (ZAF) 32h09m53s (+06:12:41 behind leader)
GHR times and overall placings: QUAD
12th #274 – SMITH Paul (AUS) 33h53m46s, 5th on stage (+04:47:27 behind leader)
Stage 10: Córdoba > La Rioja
Tomorrow the course will remain on mountain soil. Stage 10: Córdoba > La Rioja breaks the southward journey into Argentina, turning north-west with a 37km liaison, a 357km special and a final 242km liaison to the bivouac.
Dakar 2013: Stage 10 Córdoba > La Rioja. Courtesy of dakar.com
Dakar 2013: Stage 10 Córdoba > La Rioja. Courtesy of dakar.comDay 08: Salta > San Miguel de Tucamán
Jan 13th
Stage 08: The best laid plans…
After the lofty, exhausting Stage 7 and lonely “marathon” bivouac, it’s understandable that the riders were already thinking about being reunited with their crews. But nobody was quite prepared for the chaos that was Stage 8 before they were. Torrential rain forced the hands of race control and they enacted a last minute route revision. The network of dry river beds that were to play a part in the passage to San Miguel de Tucamán were now rolling rivers. The revision discarded the first section of the special, but navigation in the now shortened stage still caught a large portion of the field including the lead group. GHR riders #156 Todd Smith, #131 Warren Strange and #89 Brett Cummings all lost time when they strayed from the correct path. Cummings recovered well to finish the stage 16th and Strange arrived in 51st place, but it was Todd Smith who suffered the greatest setback with a heavy crash on top of the navigation issue. Having elevated himself to 8th fastest on stage, his push up the order was foiled and he had to settle with 74th. In contrast #274 Paul Smith banked another solid run and closed in 13th place.
Comments from Todd Smith:
“Had another tough day at Dakar. The first part of the stage was cancelled from all the rain we had the night before, so we had to ride it as a liaison. The second part of the stage started off on nice fast roads and off piste sand flats until half way, then we had to ride up a flowing creek. I was doing well but I got lost with a heap of riders lost a lot of time there. It’s the rest day so I’m going to recharge the battery and see if I can do a bit better in the last 6 stages.”
GHR times and overall placings: MOTO
33th #131 – STRANGE Warren (AUS) 22h18m12s (+02:21:39 behind leader)
49th #156 – SMITH Todd (AUS) 24h06m06s (+04:09:33 behind leader incl +00:15:00 penalty)
65th #089 – CUMMINGS Brett (ZAF) 25h31m48s (+05:35:15 behind leader)
GHR times and overall placings: QUAD
13th #274 – SMITH Paul (AUS) 27h04m42s (+04:26:07 behind leader)
Tomorrow is the precious rest and recuperation day for the riders. With no racing they’ll take the rare opportunity to sleep in and spend the day out of the saddle. Meanwhile, the service crew will work on the bikes and quad in preparation for the second part of Dakar 2013. It’s from this point on that engine changes, penalties and injuries will start to mix up the order, and as Stages 7 and 8 demonstrated it only takes a little upset to dramatically change the shape of the rally.
Day 07: Calama > Salta
Jan 12th
Stage 07: Doing it tough all on their own.
The route to Salta provided no real technical riding challenge but it certainly wasn’t an easy day. The 218km special was a fast-paced dash along the mountain roads and tracks. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the day was the “marathon” status of the stage, meaning there was no service or contact with support crew. Extreme altitude deprived lungs and engines of oxygen for much of the day, upsetting progress for many as altitude sickness and asthmatic fueling took their toll. Combined with the frosty temperature and poor weather during the 585km liaison legs, it made for a formidable day with no creature comforts in sight at the end. The bivouac sleeping quarters consisted of a space on the floor of a gymnasium.
There’s been no direct contact between the riders and the service crew since they are in different bivouacs in accordance with the marathon day rules, but Glenn Hoffmann has called in from one of the service cars. The Audi support car has been struggling in the conditions so most of the uphill transport was driven in limp mode at 20kph with the hazard lights on and warning lamps blinking. The truck made it over the top in 12 hours. The crew have a evening of relative quiet before moving again tomorrow to the bivouac San Miguel de Tucumán that will serve as home for two nights and designated rest day between them.
GHR times and placings: MOTO
35th #131 – STRANGE Warren 19h43m53s (56th for stage, +02:15:36 behind leader)
46th #156 – SMITH Todd 21h22m00s (38th for stage, +03:53:43 behind leader, +00:15:00 penalty)
68th #089 – CUMMINGS Brett 23h07m00s (37th for stage, +05:38:43 behind leader)
GHR times and placings: QUAD
13th #274 – SMITH Paul 24h08m42s (9th for stage, +04:00:09 behind leader)
Sadly there was a fatal traffic accident on the non-competitive liaison leg en route from Calama to the start of the Stage 7 special at 08:23 local time. 25 year old French #106 rider Thomas Bourgin was killed when his motorcycle collided with a Chilean police car. It was his first his first Dakar Rally and the exact circumstances of the accident are still under investigation. GHR Honda’s thoughts go out to Thomas’ loved ones and team mates.
Stage 08: Salta > Tucuman: We understand that due to a sudden deluge of rain there will be last minute alterations to the first section of the route. The terrain is unknown due to the imminent route change, but the bikes and quads were scheduled to cover more than 700km for the day at moderate altitudes. The original special was to cover 492km of highly variable ground including a 111km neutralised road section. In completing the only marathon leg for the 2013 rally, riders will need to balance the urge to push for positions against the risk of breaking their machines.
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