Robby Gordon 2013

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by Southest US Thumper

I say play because it doesn't seem that they will actually ever let him win, though I wonder if that would all change if he could convince a manufacturer with a strong European presence, Ford comes to mind, to field a factory team of Pick Em Up Trucks or SUV "Look Alike" buggies.

Robby said it yesterday, he needs the other cars to get used up and he would still have a chance for the win. If the two cancelled stages had been "raced" we'd have a completely different Dakar right now. Peterhansel agreed in his interview yesterday, the fewer race miles he puts on his car the better his odds are of winning.

There is no reason they couldn't have held everybody at WP4 yesterday for 3 or 4 hours while the water receded as it always does. As it was they were in camp by noon, I want to see the race run and teams dragging in at midnight expected to be at the next start by 5 am. Like Robby said, this "race" is supposed to be difficult and this isn't.

[Strong Bad]

Originally Posted by larryboy

Robby said it yesterday, he needs the other cars to get used up and he would still have a chance for the win. If the two cancelled stages had been "raced" we'd have a completely different Dakar right now. Peterhansel agreed in his interview yesterday, the fewer race miles he puts on his car the better his odds are of winning.

There is no reason they couldn't have held everybody at WP4 yesterday for 3 or 4 hours while the water receded as it always does. As it was they were in camp by noon, I want to see the race run and teams dragging in at midnight expected to be at the next start by 5 am. Like Robby said, this "race" is supposed to be difficult and this isn't.

The fact is that RG has lost time to the leaders on every stage. deVillers had passed RG yesterday and got screwed because of the cancellation of the stage. SPH has almost an hour lead and there is no reason from him to take chances and throw the race away. Even if he had a problem. he still has "water carriers" on the mini team that would pretty much prevent losing enough time for RG to get ahead. You don't win The Dakar waiting for your competition to DNF.

"I would be leading if I could get my 5 hours back"
"I could win if those 18 cars ahead of me broke"

Really???? WTF????

[larryboy]

Halfway on the stage and Robby is out front, tracker must be broken.

[larryboy]

After 222 km, American Rebel Robby Gordon boasts a lead of 2’13' over Stéphane Peterhansel, and 4’17' over Nani Roma. Fourth placed Giniel de Villiers trails Gordon by 6’10', seventeen seconds ahead of Orlando Terranova. Following them, Carlos Sousa and his Great Wall are in sixth, 8’48' behind the stage leader.

[Shawnee Bill]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

The fact is that RG has lost time to the leaders on every stage. deVillers had passed RG yesterday and got screwed because of the cancellation of the stage. SPH has almost an hour lead and there is no reason from him to take chances and throw the race away. Even if he had a problem. he still has "water carriers" on the mini team that would pretty much prevent losing enough time for RG to get ahead. You don't win The Dakar waiting for your competition to DNF.

"I would be leading if I could get my 5 hours back"
"I could win if those 18 cars ahead of me broke"

Really???? WTF????

Really, yes really.
I'm pretty sure there hasn't been 18 cars drop out at this point, and sure that more won't drop out before it's over. And maybe some of them have even lost over 3 hours in a stage
REALLY????

It's a RACE, and if I remember right ( that's subject to error for sure) Robbie drove right around deVillers yesterday, then the favor was repaid, that happens in a LOT of races. Problem is the race was "neutered" before that happened.

SPH is ahead and breathing easier now because Nasser dropped out. Really????



.

[larryboy]

First to the ASS, we'll have to wait and see if his time holds up.

[RedRocket]

The other night while watching the NBC report 33 vehicles went out in one day. This late in the race I think attrition certainly still is an issue.
As much as I'd love to see it I wouldn't be betting on Robby for the win.

[Tork]

7 Seconds , hope it holds .

[larryboy]

Dang it, Roma got him...oh well, tracks to follow tomorrow.

[Strong Bad]

Originally Posted by Shawnee Bill

Really, yes really.
I'm pretty sure there hasn't been 18 cars drop out at this point, and sure that more won't drop out before it's over. And maybe some of them have even lost over 3 hours in a stage
REALLY????

It's a RACE, and if I remember right ( that's subject to error for sure) Robbie drove right around deVillers yesterday, then the favor was repaid, that happens in a LOT of races. Problem is the race was "neutered" before that happened.

SPH is ahead and breathing easier now because Nasser dropped out. Really????

You actually think all of the top Minis will all DNF in 2 days as well as the de Villers' Yota and the rest of the 13 cars in front??? Really???

Nasser making it as far as he did was a total fluke, he and Carlos both amazed everyone in the off-road industry that they got as far as they did. Most of the money was on them being gone by day 3.

[Yossarian™]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

Nasser making it as far as he did was a total fluke, he and Carlos both amazed everyone in the off-road industry that they got as far as they did. Most of the money was on them being gone by day 3.

Not saying you are wrong, but where are you getting this info?

[davesupreme]

they never really did say what killed Nassar's buggy. water pump?.... water pumps on chevys ain't exactly rocket science.... you could probably change one on that car in minutes....

[Shawnee Bill]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

You actually think all of the top Minis will all DNF in 2 days as well as the de Villers' Yota and the rest of the 13 cars in front??? Really???

Nasser making it as far as he did was a total fluke, he and Carlos both amazed everyone in the off-road industry that they got as far as they did. Most of the money was on them being gone by day 3.

The likelihood of more than just a few of the top 20 that have made it this far dropping out or loosing many hours is very slim. We all understand that. Robbie understands that better than we do, with that in mind replay his comments about those ahead of him having problems. He said when he flipped over his chances of placing high were gone. Everybody understands that. So does he roll over and play dead or keep charging? You think he should hang his head in shame and wave everyone by that is higher than him in the overall? That ain't happening.

Nasser making it as far as he did was not a fluke, like him or not, the guys good, he built (had built) a good buggy.



.

[bajaboundmoto]

Originally Posted by Strong Bad

Nasser making it as far as he did was a total fluke, he and Carlos both amazed everyone in the off-road industry that they got as far as they did. Most of the money was on them being gone by day 3.

TOTALLY!
So why is it "Demon" can't put something together for races up this way that works so well and hold up? I haven't been looking at RDC but I can imagine there's similar sentiment there.
Include me in the "amazed" group.

[DesertSurfer]

The one constant of the ASO (Dakar Rally Organizers) is they make each race tougher then the last. This race will go down as the most challenging in logistics. And for that reason... and as I've said before... anything will happen. Robbie knows if he continues to increase the pace, he can attempt to expose other drivers weaknesses. This was evident with the lack of pit crew for the Qatar team. One bad roll over or bad transmission could strand a top driver and neutralize them, including - Peterhansel.