|
|
Welcome to the Dakar Rally 2012 special newssection. To read an article just click on the specific headline below. All articles are visible for several years and under special subdomain [ COPY & CLICK HERE ] or use the SEARCH. |
|
|
 | SA-Dakar Rally: The "heads behind the scenes" at leading Team De Rooy.
|
Stage 7 had a late finish; Miki Biasion had to repair in the dunes in order to get his truck in time in the bivouac. He finished 31st at 23.55 hours and is now 6.30.00 hours behind Gerard de Rooy. The Team applied for a compensation of the starting place which request has been granted so he will start 15th. Time to talk with some heads behind the scenes of the leading Team De Rooy.
Hugo Duisters. He knew it would be a tough job, how does this 49 years old Belgian like his new job: "I’m doing well, everything runs smoothly although we had to keep on working a few nights in order to have the trucks well prepared before the start, but if it goes on like this, it’s ok. Jo’s truck needs most work as he carries more parts which results in more welding on his rollbar and chassis."
"Our welder Sjef van Houts is working quite regularly on Jo’s truck. Furthermore we do the daily jobs like changing tyres, service the vehicles and carry out checks which takes quite some time. We preventative changed some tyres as we don’t want to take any risk. Yesterday during the special we had the first 4 flat tyres that caused problems."
"Today we will also check all axles and we will change - also preventative - the necessary seals and bushings. We also changed the turbo on Gerard’s truck; it seemed to be ok but Gerard heard an anomalous noise during his last stage so we don’t take the risk. Miki also had a broken right rear axle leaf spring, we’re going to change it."
Hugo would like to touch wood but until now these were the only calamities we had. "Miki changed the clutch himself so we’re going to have a look at it again. Repairing in the desert is always less careful as it is here in the bivouac. However, it won’t be night work tonight, so we can try to catch come sleep."
Yvo Geusens: He is the Logistic Manager of the team. For a long time he was Jan’s navigator and during the last few Dakar’s he was the dedicated navigator of Hugo Duisters. "I get up in the morning and I’m always first. I do my round to see whether everybody gets up in time to start at the right moment. I awake the crew of the rally trucks about an hour and a half before they have to leave. Tom’s tent is always closed: I really have to give him a start every day."
Normally Yvo isn’t much of a talker but today he continues: "The service trucks, including the Iveco Trakker 8x8 and 6x6 leave a few hours before the start of the rally trucks for the next bivouac."
"Also our facility-truck, an Iveco Trakker 6x6, driven by Jan de Rooy, leaves before the start of the rally trucks. Normally we arrive at the bivouac a few hours before the competitors finish and we take care that the airco in the living is working and the riders can freshen up as soon as they arrive. That’s necessary as during the day it’s about 40 degrees Celsius and during the night it’s still 25 degrees Celsius."
"When the entire team is at the bivouac we make some food. Every day about 12 large cans of soup, 12 cans of rice and the same quantity of frankfurters and meatballs. The more extensive meal comes from the organisation; they have a good kitchen. In the evening Tom goes to the briefing for the next stage and as soon as he returns we discuss the route together."
"We calculate how much fuel the rally trucks need. They never fill up at a station but always from the service trucks so we are sure that the quality is good and the rally trucks don’t have to stop en route. The Iveco Trakker 4x4, driven by Toine, is always waiting at the start of the special with the last cold drinks. The same goes for the Iveco Daily that waits at the finish of the special."
When we ask Yvo whether everyone is fit he reports: "You can’t expect that everyone in a group of 37 persons is fit. Until now we were lucky, only Toine van Oorschot knew a few bad days. Rob Megens suffers an old inflammation in his lower leg but he’s doing fine", so ends Yvo his story.
2012/01/09 | 17:23 CET | ARTICLE: MR/SY/DEROOY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
