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GHR Honda Team Site & Blog
Say g’day to GHR’s Dakar team!
Jan 5th
#156 Todd Smith - GHR Honda
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Dakar 2013: Pictures from Lima
Jan 5th
Time for some more pictures from Lima.
The boys hired a driver for two hour tour, visiting the start area and scrutineering zone just to get their bearings. Historical sites tell part of the the story of Lima. There are some grand old buildings but plenty not so grand also. The GHR bivouac in Lima was quite comfortable. Instead of camping in a foot of dust with everyone else they took over the whole Melia Lima hotel. Management arranged a photo shoot for themselves, the underground carpark was the comandeered as pits and whenever the truck needed space all the other teams had to move their cars.
Simon, Pete, Rob, Todd and Jake playing tourists at what will be the starting point of the Dakar.
Lima: architecture old and new.
Lima: one hell of a view down the coast!
Lima: colonial architecture in a city of nearly 9 million people.
Lima: colonial cityscapes.
Lima: colonial cityscapes.
Lima: three people in this tiny taxi.
Lima: three people in this tiny taxi.
Lima: when you have a race truck you need a good tow vehicle.
Lima: not a good start for this competitor.
Lima: home away from home.
Lima: the boys out and about.
Lima: getting to know the local police, for good reasons.
Lima: main road to the warehouse holding the team container and air freighted bikes.
Lima: where to park the new GHR truck? Out the front of course.
Lima: the crew have been eating well courtesy of the local pasta house, and yes it is fresh.
Lima: but some habits die hard. The ubiquitous golden arches.
Lima: GHR reserved parking and hotel management.
Lima: the Dakar crew briefing. Hard work but someone has to do it.
Lima: the night before Dakar! Glen, Brett, Todd, Paul, a charitable local and Warren.
After the riders briefing there was total chaos. No taxis could be found. What do you do but pull over a local and give them some team stickers and a bit of cash. He did it just to help out and pulled of some radical moves in grid lock traffic including a u-turn across six lanes of traffic to deliver the boys home to the Melia. Just an example of the atmosphere over here.
Dakar 2013: Preparations
Jan 4th
Pictures are starting to come in from the boys as they settled into life in Lima and commenced the final preparations before scrutineering. The truck needed to be located along with the support car and shipping container, the bikes collected from the freight terminal and everything packed in the truck. All of the navigation gear and graphics were fitted to the bikes and quad before they were all fed through scrutineering one by one.
Pictures from Todd Smith:
Official beer. Very important!
View from the ceremonial start.
View from the ceremonial start.
The GHR war room. From left: Rob, Glenn, Simon and Jake.
Pictures from Pete Wilhelms:
The GHR service truck.
The bikes made it safe and sound.
Rob and Jake starting to unpack.
Todd Smith and his bike assembled ready to go.
The boys assembling another bike.
The container has been located.
The GHR service car.
Inside the GHR service car.
Fitting the rack units to the truck for the first time.
Final checks on the equipment.
Ready to go!
Graphics applied and final assembly done before scrutineering.
Paul Smith and quad.
Dakar HQ and scrutineering awaits.
Paul Smith sizing up the competition.
Pictures from Glen Grundy:
Scrutineering is all about waiting your turn. I think it was 5 hours for Glen.
Glen running through scrutineering.
Navigation gear all in place.
Pictures from Brett Cummings:
Paul and Todd going through documentation. Fellow Aussie Rod Faggotter in the background.
Glen's bike in foreground, Brett's behind.
Off to scrutineering!
A hive of activity at Dakar HQ.
A long time in the planning, but it's now official. Brett Cummings, #89.
Pictures from Paul Smith:
Look out Dakar, Smitty's here.
Paul's office view for two weeks.
The GHR service truck all fitted with racks, Armourboy cases and Rolacases.
Ready for service, the GHR support car.
Paul's TRX700XX quad at scrutineering with Todd's CRF450X.
Dakar 2013: Numbers to watch
Jan 3rd
As the start of the 2013 Dakar draws near, it’s time to introduce the the team properly.
This year there are four CRF450X Rallye bikes to be ridden by Todd Smith (AUS), Warren Strange (AUS), Brett Cummings (ZAF) and Glenn Grundy (ZAF). A new project for GHR is the TRX700XX quad to be ridden by Paul Smith (AUS). Providing mechanical support to the riders will be team owner Glenn Hoffmann, Simon Wade, Rob Ingram, Jake Young and Peter Wilhelms. Some of the riders have other personal supporters in tow.
Work has been ongoing since the team’s debut at the 2011 Dakar. 2012 resulted in a year off from racing at Dakar, but along side team victories at the Australasian Safari, Condo 750 and Yellow Mountain Cross Country there has been continual development in the background dedicated to the next Dakar appearance.
GHR Honda's Todd Smith, #156, Dakar 2013
#156 Todd Smith was granted the GHR Honda ticket to Dakar this year for two reasons, partly based on form but also to provide him the same experience that younger brother Jacob had in 2011. GHR have always approached the Dakar as a multi year project, so for future campaigns it’s essential that the key riders all have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the event. Winner of the 2011 Australasian Safari and multiple navigational rallies in 2012 his outlook for Dakar is one of confidence.
GHR Honda's Warren Strange, #131, Dakar 2013
#131 Warren Strange is a highly motivated individual with extensive race experience at home and abroad. He entered the 2011 Dakar with GHR Honda and was running well until succumbing to a shoulder injury on Day 6. Not to be discouraged, Warren embarked on a rigorous recovery and training program in 2012 with a view to racing hard at Dakar again this year. In contrast to his preparations for 2011, Warren has covered monumental distances on his rally bike in the last 12 months riding solo in remote parts of central Australia. His bike fitness and familiarity with his machine are exceptional, as demonstrated by his second place outright in the most recent Australasian Safari.
South Africans under the GHR flag: Brett Cummings #89 and Glen Grundy #91, Dakar 2013
South African rider #89 Brett Cummings is the winner of the Australian division of the recent Dakar Challenge. His fourth place finish at the 2012 Australasian Safari with GHR also saw him secure this Challenge granting him free entry at this year’s Dakar. It’s a far cry from his frustrations the previous year when he sustained massive injuries only weeks before he was due to race the Safari for the first time. However in a demonstration of character and true grit, he still came to Australia to offer support to compatriot Glen Grundy and to learn what he could for next time. His training over the last 12 months has involved a numerous races on motorcycles and mountain bikes, exposure to altitude and extreme heat and constant discipline in the gym.
Also from South Africa is #91 Glen Grundy. Glen has followed the Dakar Rally enthusiastically for years, but it was only after following the race on two wheels in 2009 that he realised it was a challenge he could see himself meeting. Relatively speaking he is a late-comer to competitive motorcycle racing, but he is no stranger to adventure and it’s in this spirit that he’s entered Dakar. He has been conscientious in his training over the last two years, entering numerous races at home and abroad. In 2011 Glen’s debut at the Australasian Safari was halted by a fractured collarbone. But rather than rushing home he remained with the team for the rest of the event and came back to proudly claim his finisher’s medal in 2012. Training along side Brett Cummings for most of 2012, he’s in good stead to claim his Dakar finisher’s medal this year too.
GHR Honda quad rider Paul Smith #274, Australia's first quad pilot at Dakar in 2013
Victorian #274 Paul Smith is making history in 2013 as Australia’s first quad rider to enter the Dakar. His partnership with GHR Honda was forged late in 2011 with the decision to race the 2013 Dakar aboard a Honda TRX700XX. He already has multiple victories at the Australasian Safari, Finke Desert Race and State quad MX races under his belt supported by numerous podium places taken on four wheels in the last decade. Completing Dakar has been a long time dream but he’s seeking to make an impression beyond that.
Dakar 2013: The bikes
Jan 1st
Much work has gone into the 2013 Dakar bikes. The team did not enter the 2012 Dakar to provide maximum development and testing time before taking on the challenge for the second time.
Team rider Warren Strange raced his Dakar spec bike to second place in this year’s Australasian Safari and has covered many thousands of kilometres in testing this year.
The bikes have completely revised fuel delivery arrangements with new front and rear tanks designed by the team. All bikes will feature a new fairing design which provides the rider with an excellent view of the front wheel without sacrificing protection for themselves or the navigation gear. Airflow around the engines, radiators and tank plumbing remains excellent.
The 4 bikes were shipped to Lima by air freight to provide maximum time for final touches to fairing design and associated brackets for the navigation equipment. They’ll be stickered up by the team in the coming day.
Dakar 2013: Packing
Jan 1st
The mechanics never know what they are going to encounter each day when the competitors roll into bivouac, so it’s critical that no time is wasted looking for gear. This meant that every single tool, part or consumable has to have it’s own special place and be accounted for on running checklists. Building the new system has been a huge undertaking to build, but removes the need to unpack the container and completely repack all the gear as was the case in 2011. All the heavy gear was shipped from GHR in Mittagong at the end of October, and delivered to Lima, Peru.
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- Rolacase and Armourboy cases installed
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- Rolacase and Armourboy cases installed
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- Rolacase and Armourboy cases installed
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- Dakar engines built and run in
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- Engines built and run in
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- Engines built and run in
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- Bikes packed and ready for shipping
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- Rob starting to pack his spares
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- Armourboy cases will carry all bulky tools and spares
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- Armourboy cases filling up
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- Modular racking systems
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- Modular racking systems
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- Modular racking systems
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- Armourboy case filled with spares
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- Small components being packed in Rolacases
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- Head mecahnic Simon Wade with his creations
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- Nearly ready to go!
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- Armourboy cases
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- Rob packing his Rolacases
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- Armourboy cases
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- Rolacases
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- Honda oils ready to go
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- Just some of the stockpiled tyres
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- Racking frames in production
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- Modular racking frames
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- Snug fit in the container
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- Warren Strange looking the part in his very white tshirt
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- Weighing the Armourboy cases
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- Bagged wheels and tyres atop the racks
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- Cases everywhere!
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- Loading the tyre bags
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- Second layer of racking in place
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- Bike stands
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- Rob’s is this big
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- Simon’s is this big
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- Simon is not impressed
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- Paul Smith’s Dakar quad
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- Nearly full!
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- A job well done
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- Setting off on the first leg of the long trip to Lima
Dakar 2013: New partnerships with GHR Honda
Jan 1st
Once again it is Dakar time, and GHR Honda want to acknowledge some new partnerships for 2012-13.
A small army of mechanics and support crew work relentlessly behind the scenes to keep riders and machines in action at Dakar. None of this is possible without thorough planning and safe carriage of all tools, spares and equipment. The planning stage began many months before the personnel gathered in Peru this week.
After GHR’s 2011 Dakar campaign, it was clear that a larger truck was required and the faithful MAN truck used that year was sold to one of GHR’s new supporters – the Coconut Car Racing Team sponsored by the Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort. Another larger truck was sourced through a contact in Europe and a new strategy devised for transport of the heavy equipment and spares. This time around the team chose to build special modular rack units that could be prepacked at home and installed as complete units in the truck body in Peru.
All the gear based in Australia had to be inventoried, sorted and packed into some form of recepticles and it was earlier this year that Australian businesses Armourboy and Rolacase offered support with their specialised equipment cases. Armourboy’s utility cases have provided the team with a standardised case system for bulky items and tools, while the Rolacase “multiple storage systems” have solved the problem of keeping small parts and spares safely organised in portable units. These two systems were integrated into the rack design. This new delivery system will not only save valuable time in the days immediately before the start of the event but also reduce the set up and pack up times each day the service crews need to move.
Kevin and Elvis from Armourboy, along with Glenn Hoffmann and Jacob Smith's Safari winning bike from 2012
Elvis from Armourboy trying Jacob Smith's Safari bike for size
Dakar 2013: Not long now!
Dec 27th
Once again GHR Honda are mounting a campaign on the toughest race in the world, the 2013 Dakar Rally. This video shows the official reconnaissance team completing the road book checks and gives a snapshot of what’s in store for the five GHR competitors next week. Not long now!
Safari 2012 – Leg 7
Sep 29th
Australia’s toughest offroad event, the Australasian Safari 2012 has been run and won again by GHR Honda’s Jacob Smith aboard his CRF450X.
Two short beach stages concluded the approximately 3,500 competitive kilometres and brought the field south to Geraldton. 24 year old Jacob Smith dominated from day 1 and never looked back until the race finish. With one previous win and multiple podiums, Jacob’s experience and a cool head allowed a measured ride from the very beginning and by the end of the race his 31 minute lead had become unassailable.
Jacob Smith: “It’s a weird feeling this time around. I’ve been in this position before but I really wanted to do it for myself this year after missing the gig to Dakar. I haven’t had the best season to my standards this year and a lot of people have been talking about my form. I had a point to prove this week and I believe I could have done it no matter who was here. I had no issues, no crashes, this bike did everything it was supposed to and at the end of the race I feel great. It’s really satisfying this year.”
Following Jacob into second place is 47 year old veteran rider Warren Strange who had approached this race as a testing ground for his GHR developed CRF450X Dakar Rally bike before his second attempt at Dakar next year. Despite his policy of not taking risks, Strange finished over one and half hours ahead of third place.
Warren Strange: “I’ve done this event before but this is by far my best result. I feel like I got lucky this year with some absentees who’d normally be standing where I am but the bike was beautiful to ride and made all the difference.”
South African rider Brett Cummings (29) finished in fourth place overall, but importantly took out the Dakar Challenge – a sub-category victory at Safari which will pay his entry to the 2013 Dakar Rally. It’s an especially pleasing result for Cummings after he was unable to start Safari last year through injury, making this is his first multi-day navigational event.
Brett Cummings: “Today I was supposed to be taking it easy but you can’t ride slow in the sand. I had a big crash in the second stage today but I’m fine. The whole event was awesome. I learned so much coming to this race. Todd and Jake (Smith) gave me a lot of advise and the organisation and people were wonderful. I’m so pleased I came back.”
Compatriot Guy Henley placed ninth overall and put a fourth GHR Honda CRF450X in the top ten. Also from South Africa is journeyman Glen Grundy (48) who successfully conquered Safari after bowing out due to injury last year. 2011 Safari title holder Todd Smith also finished but was way down the order in last place due to time penalties.
In the quad division, Paul Smith had stamped his authority on the race early on and finished on his Honda TRX700XX more than an hour ahead of his nearest rival.
Paul Smith: “I was supposed to be taking it easy today but I cleaned up a sheep on the beach! I pulled over and picked him up, moved him to the bush and watched him run off. But I did it. Today was pure just enjoyment and I’m ready for the second week. Can we go again?”
Team owner Glenn Hoffmann brought his prototype buggy home in 17th place amongst the auto division in the vehicle’s Safari debut.
Glenn Hoffmann: “It’s been a great event for GHR. The results are superb and having the new bike bike come second with a client is very pleasing. Yes it’s been unfortunate for Todd but I guess it was just Jake’s turn this year. Paul did his thing and topped the quads and the buggy went well. Personally the course was enjoyable and from a team point of view we couldn’t has asked for more without getting greedy and taking all three. But that’s motorsport!”
Final results for GHR:
MOTO
1st – #2 SMITH Jake – 24:56:25
2nd – #7 STRANGE Warren – 25:27:11
4th – #8 CUMMINGS Brett (D) – 28:39:18
9th – #23 HENLEY Guy – 29:06:08
21st – #22 GRUNDY Glen (D) – 38:00:25
27th – #1 SMITH Todd (D) – 50:58:27
QUAD
1st – #92 SMITH Paul – 30:52:19
AUTO
17th – #178 HOFFMANN Glenn – 43:14:40
Tonight the riders all get to relax and reflect on another year at Safari. It’s been a very successful event for the team and is the fifth time in six Safaris that Honda bikes have won the event.
Safari 2012 – Leg 6
Sep 29th
At the end of Leg 6 – the penultimate day of the Australasian Safari and the last long day of racing – GHR Honda’s Jacob Smith is closing in on a second Safari victory. For the last two days Smith has been riding a defensive race, with team mate Warren Strange less than 30 minutes behind. The 429km course retraced some ground covered in Leg 2 but this time in reverse, and the riders found markedly changed road conditions since their first passage on Monday. American rider Mike Johnson is reportedly doing well after his crash yesterday.
Rider comments:
Jacob Smith: “Today I did what I had to do. I struggled to get into it early on, but I remained careful. I really wasn’t riding flat out anywhere, but at the one point I when was riding hard there was a seriously close encounter with an emu. It was nearly race over after it appeared from nowhere and brushed the front wheel and my leg as I passed by. Scary stuff, but other than that I had a clear run. Tomorrow morning we have an 18km section and then a reverse of the first stage as we run back to Geraldton. I still have to get through the day but we’re so close.”
Paul Smith: “I had a real go in the first stage. It was just like a roller coaster ride so I loved it. Up and over the crests of hills and then down into sandy corners, this is was plain good fun. I caught up with Heath Young who started in front of me. He had an issue with his starter motor in the second stage, but my lead was so secure that I spent the day riding with him and tow starting him. I rode behind him just in case he needed help. In the third stage I started to hear a noise in the rear end of the bike so we switched roles, him riding behind to watch out for me. We worked with each other and enjoyed the ride. I know nobody is going to break my lead by out riding me and we’re happy with our positions. After all the ground we’ve covered we want us both to finish and that’s why this event is so good.”
Brett Cummings: “The first and the second stages were really good for me. I’d caught up to 4th outright and I was determined not to take any chances. I was concerned about some engine noise at the 100km mark in the last stage so I crossed my fingers and toes and rode gently to the end. The route is certainly rougher now, but it was cleared out having had the cars down it earlier in the race. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Leg 7 will bring the riders home to the finish line in Geraldton via two short beach sprints once they leave Kalbarri.
GHR positions at the end of Leg 6:
MOTO
1st – #2 SMITH Jake – 24:17:16
2nd – #7 STRANGE Warren – 24:46:16
4th – #8 CUMMINGS Brett (D) – 27:00:28
9th – #23 HENLEY Guy – 28:42:53
21st – #22 GRUNDY Glen (D) – 37:02:52
27th – #1 SMITH Todd (D) – 50:13:16
QUAD
1st – #92 SMITH Paul – 26:11:12
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