By Robert Farago
January 9, 2009
Yes, it’s that time again. Time for the Paris – Dakar Rally (a.k.a. “the most dangerous race in the world”), where large trucks, cars and motorcycles drive as fast they possibly can across the African continent. Oops. Sorry. It’s the Dakar rally now, ’cause it’s taking place in South America, even though Dakar (Senegal) is, you know, in Africa. Last year, the race was cancelled due to “terrorist threats.” The fact that the race features a bunch of Europeans tear-assing across open territory– occasionally mowing down innocent bystanders (called “spectators” by race organizers)– might have a little something to do with it. About.com glibly reports that “A total of 48 deaths among competitors have been recorded since the rally began. Spectators have also been injured and killed either by competitors or their support vehicles.” In any case, the South American version has claimed its first victim: French motorcyclist Pascal Terry. The Canberra Times reports: “”Officially the result of the autopsy revealed that the French pilot Terry died of pulmonary edema… which produced cardio-respiratory failure,” Julio Acosta, chief of the department of operations of the La Pampa province police, said.” No word– yet– on any “spectator” ksi’s.
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POWERED
January 9th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Three words: Isle of Man. There have been 223 deaths over 100 years of racing, including quite a few spectators (the most recent was one rider and two spectators killed when a bike flew into a pub on the side of the road). I still wouldn’t want to see that race end, however – it’s unique, daring, and utterly astonishing to watch. The last bastion of the hardest core of road racing. Going to TT week is on my bucket list (no death comparison intended).
January 9th, 2009 at 11:55 am
JEC> I agree 100%.
If you guys want to see some guys with SERIOUS ‘HUEVOS’, check youtube for isle of man motorcycle races.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
True sport involves risk of death.
If everyone involved is aware of that, then it’s caveat emptor. You pays your money and you takes your chances.
Years ago when I regularly attended Indy, we sat very close to pit row. Dangerous? Statistically, no. Possibly, yup.
If you go to any racing event without knowing there is some possibility that you may end up quite dead, you shouldn’t be there.
Yes, it is always a bit disturbing to watch a rally car move through a bubble in a crowd. Ya gotta wonder. And yes, running over some poor sheepherder who for some reason was not made aware, is definately not part of the deal.
But the answer is to keep the sheepherder off the road. Not to kill the race.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
porschespeed:
But the answer is to keep the sheepherder off the road. Not to kill the race.
Do you have any idea how long this race is? And how flexible the concept of “road”?
January 9th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
The Dakar is truely pyscho and hardcore.
Watch “Race To Dakar” to get an idea of what’s involved in just attempting to FINISH the thing.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Do you have any idea how long this race is? And how flexible the concept of “road”?
Granted. Point taken Robert.
I still believe that it can be managed effectively though.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Just curious if there are spectator deaths in the Baja 500 and 1000.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
yankinwaoz,
As far as Baja goes, pretty much every year someone dies. Sometimes its a driver, more often it’s a support person.
Much of the risk at Baja comes from ‘booby traps’ which are placed by the locals. To be fair, most of the locals are just looking to up the intensity of the visual spectacle in their ‘hood.
But they don’t build things terribly well, or they don’t understand how it will work.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
The drivers and spectators are all nuts as far as I’m concerned, but I do admire their willingness to risk death in the pursuit of what they love. At least they lived!
January 9th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Dakar (can we still call it that?) is only a few baby steps away from what motorsport would be in mad max. The only way it could be more insane… if they raced in Mecha and were free to discharge any and all forms of weaponry upon fellow competitors. But for the time being Dakar is plenty dangerous. The truly sadistic enjoy a smattering of death with their motorsport, most settle for a helping of heightened suspense just before the sudden deceleration of vehicle/driver + immobile object coming to an agreement that the two can’t occupy the same time/space.
I’d vaguely define the Dakar’s length as a continent. Ok it used to be… kinda. Road… competitors would interpret this term as… any surface upon which tires can gain traction.
I think it is easier to herd cats than manage the “race” spectators. By spectators I mean everybody on the continent who may knowingly or unknowingly cross paths with a race vehicle.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
qfrog,
Mad Max? Really?
Reviewing the history and after talking to someone I know who has done work for one of the teams involved, most deaths are still participants.
Yes there are incidents of spectators being killed or injured. This IS tragic. But they were spectators. Do you know anyone who does not believe there is a risk standing 10 (or less) feet away from an active race course?
Still trying to find an incident of someone who was not a spectator.
There was a small child who ran away from her mother a few years back. She ran under a support truck returning from the race, that by witness accounts was going very slowly through a town. Very sad, but a standard traffic accident all the same.
I am not a fan of death. But it is inherent to the world of motorsport. In any truly extreme test of man, especially when coupled with machine, some death is inevitable and sadly, unavoidable.
The parameters of disorder are never clearly defined.
It’s racing.