Feature: craig whitney - taffy dakar
MEM .... VIDEO .... INTERMISSION.
Let's check out a BMW having a pop at the event
W
ith marshals duly briefed and sent out to
their stations for the day, the merry band of
navigators were soon mustering around the
inflatable AJP race arch which marked the start
(thanks go to AJP Motorcycles for the loan of
this…) and so began the mammoth task of
getting the riders underway.
The day consisted of a “Treasure Hunt” around a
series of pre-recce’d waypoints, with a question
set at each regarding the environs… i.e. “what
date was this building built” etc.
Many of the map references lay in the middle of
Green lanes, unadopted county roads or BOATS
(Byways Open To All Traffic) which our dedicated
team had researched and laid out in an
appropriate pattern over the preceding year. A
healthy smattering of scenic roads and tiny
unclassified tracks peppered the route as well.
We’d split the route to avoid potential conflicts
and had a few one-way sections so there
wouldn’t be any head-on situations on the trail.
The famous Sarn Helen provided many souls
with a little more of a challenge than they
expected, the rock steps down to a river crossing
in particular presenting a formidable obstacle.
The marshals here were much put upon
throughout the day escorting errant wobblers
across and offering to ride bikes up the tricky
gully on the opposite bank for those too nervous
to attempt it
A couple of Scheduled food stops were also
posted on the maps, for the taking on of much
needed nourishment and these were kept bust
throughout the day, with various light brown
bikers coated in countryside dropping by for a
much needed sticky bun and a cuppa. We had a
call out Van on standby, for any mechanical
mishaps, (again thanks to AJP Motorcycles!) but it
only had to be pressed into service once, when a
battery failed out on the mountain.