Chris Birch Dakar Updates

**Ktmboy** · 29th December 2011, 16:16

As most of you know our extremely popular and legendary Chris Birch is attempting the Dakar race this year. Start is New years day and I'll post updates as they come through.

The official website is http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html
Quite a good site too.
In the mean time Chris sent the following.

Hi all

Welcome to my Dakar email update list – please advise if you do not wish to receive updates.

I’m in the very last stages of Dakar prep – which involves fundraising trail rides, wondering what paperwork is considered ‘essential’ for sign on and scrutineering, sorting out the right kit – and worrying if the container will get there on time! We had a few freight hiccups so I did a ‘repeat’ shop over the weekend in case my stuff doesn’t get there – another sleeping bag, stationery, air mattress, nutrition goodies... but it looks like the container will end up there late, but in just enough time for me to grab my stuff for the start.

I’ve also been on a couple of rides on my trusty KTM950 which has been great fun – though I would be well over riding by the time I come back in January so managed to fit some in this month.

I fly out tonight, have been doing a last ditch effort to pile on the weight before I go so that I have something to lose! Luckily we had a very nice Christmas day with a ridiculous amount of food so I am feeling pretty good.

I’ll be in touch with Mon as often as possible (she has made me promise at least a minute each night by satellite phone!) and she will update everyone as soon as she hears from me.

Thank you to everyone for the messages of support over the last few weeks, it has been great to see that there are a lot of people around the world cheering me on!

And while you enjoy the New Year, remember this number: 8,373 - the number of kilometres covered between Mar del Plata and Lima, with 4,406 kilometres' worth of special stages for motorcycles! Suddenly a 23km test doesn’t seem bad at all...

Cheers!

Chris Birch

Hows this, one special stage is over 400km and they start at midnight!!!

**Ktmboy** · 31st December 2011, 10:01

Chris arrived safe and sound in Argentina on 27th December, and Iain, Darryl and Chris had to hire a taxi to Mar del Plata – 600km! – as there were no hire cars available.

Chris phoned today and had this to say ...

“I finished scrutineering – just four and a half hours! The bike is mint, pretty much new – it’s Cyril Despres from last year, and the KTM guys have been really helpful, This is a total rich man’s sport, I don’t quite feel like an outsider but maybe a bit of an imposter??

I had to blag my way through a bit of the process, like when they asked for a 12000 euro deposit for something – yeah right! It makes the ISDE look like a Waitemata 2 man club day ... this is BIG. It is amazing, there is so much going on and I am blown away by the scale of it!”

So, all is looking good for the 1st, he is feeling ready to race.

**paturoa** · 31st December 2011, 10:14

So it starts on Monday NZ time?

**Ktmboy** · 31st December 2011, 15:29

Correct. A day behind us.

**Crisis management** · 31st December 2011, 15:43

Thanks for posting this Tony, looking forward to watching Chris' progress!

**Cary** · 31st December 2011, 17:47

Originally Posted by Ktmboy

This is a total rich man’s sport, I don’t quite feel like an outsider but maybe a bit of an imposter??

OR, a real guy who wants to take on the toughest bike race on the planet!!

KTM factory ride next year........

**Ktmboy** · 1st January 2012, 00:47

Originally Posted by Cary

OR, a real guy who wants to take on the toughest bike race on the planet!!

KTM factory ride next year........

Yeah, thats the way I read it as well. Humble as and as humble as can be.
Guess thats what makes us Kiwis unique.

**krad_nz** · 1st January 2012, 01:10

Wow, I hope they have good footage of the racing.

Good luck CB!

**K6K** · 1st January 2012, 20:32

There are some good preview videos showing the reccy teams checking out the new Peru sections.
The terrain looks fantastic, but very very tough.

There are 6 parts below is a link to part 1

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/...enge-pt-1.html

**Crisis management** · 2nd January 2012, 05:15

I think he's slacking, only moved up 71 places in the first stage... 110th starter, 39th finisher.

**takitimu** · 2nd January 2012, 09:19

Here's the link to the 300EXC Birch is auctioning

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-436444403.htm

**k14** · 2nd January 2012, 10:01

Originally Posted by takitimu

Here's the link to the 300EXC Birch is auctioning

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-436444403.htm

Hmm, wonder if that will cover the whole bill...

**takitimu** · 2nd January 2012, 10:08

Originally Posted by k14

Hmm, wonder if that will cover the whole bill...

From chrisbirch.co.nz

Chris is hiring a bike from KTM Austria and needs to raise about 10,000 euros for when the invoice comes in February! We'll stall them for a bit with 'what bike? what is the Dakar thing you speak of??' but eventually we will need to hand over some cash. So this auction is a really big part of that for us.