I caught the Robby interview when he said "I didn't pre run Dakar or the Parker 400 so no worries about not pre running this course" He's the fawkin Man
Robby just ran in Happy Hour qualifying. He had the best time of the last two days until the next car went. He's #2 at the moment.
I notice that also and I thought AM line choice was better but in the end RG wins ( shows you what I know )
RG's lines aren't the best but they don't slow him much. His suspension set up is very unforgiving and you have to be totally on it, or you are swapping ends. RG always looks like he's going a gazillion miles and hour even when he isn't, it's ALMOST like he's over-driving it. Andy Mac is one of the few who can drive RG's cars. Too bad Andy Mac won't be racing much this year (if at all). Apparently, he is more into cooking and wine tasting with his lady than he is with race cars. I guess he got bored.
Part of it is the course. Andy went early, and Robby went later, so the course was torn up more for Robby
Just another reason to dislike both of those guys. I have never talked to Pete but he seems pretty down to earth. I respect Robbies talent in offroad driving (only) but he comes across as an ass. We used to always astay at the Estero Beach Hotel in Mexico and he stayed there too. He was always an ummm, intresting person shall we say.
Wow, the speeds and rigs really have evolved over the past few years. Used to have a buddy here locally in Atlanta that raced it every year, no way it would keep pace these days.
My friend who's working the course sent out a picture of him upside down, I'm on the phone so can't get it posted now. I laughed when I heard them say blown motor stopped him, well sure after running it upside down probably. Got it to load on my smugmug
RG did great in the qualifying race. He took some creative desert racing lines, cutting off the apex of some corners and some other teams took notice. His engine didn't seem to have the same HP/Torque as some of the other top cars, but he made good with it in the qualifier. On race day i was standing at the first Main Pit 40 miles into the race pitting for Shannon Campbell. The first 30 miles were choppy desert crap that was hard on the cars. Shannon was leading at RM17 and hauling ass when he came over the radio and says "Robby just passed me!". He trailed RG for a mile or two then passed him back before coming into our pit at RM 38. RG was about 5 seconds back and just trailing SC's car to see the lines/course until they got to the rocks. I also heard he got an award at KOH for punching Pistol Pete the week prior, but I can't confirm that.
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