Dakar Rally.co.uk

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East Anglian Daily Times, 21 December 1999. 'Rallying to the Cause'

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RALLY driving is a tough sport for the competitors even in this country Add in to it rough terrain and extremes of temperature to test man and machine and you have the Paris Dakar Rally. A Suffolk duo are planning to take on the elements to start the new millennium as David Vincent reports

Dick Partridge’s interest in long-distance rally driving was sparked one day when he saw a video of spectacular car crashes and it included footage from the Paris-Dakar Rally.

Now the Suffolk driver is about to tackle his sixth African rally event which ranges from blistering desert heat to near freezing nights.
Partridge, 40, from Akenham near Ipswich, and driving partner Keith Parker, from Shotley Gate, listed as pilot and co-pilot in the event which is a mark of its history and tradition.
“I’ve had five starts and one finish and twice got about half way. We finished in 1997 so now I have no excuse for going again -but I am.
“I don’t know what it is really.”
The first race he attempted was in 1998 with Chris Louis, who then went on to make a career as a speedway rider, of course.
“When we did that first one we had no idea what it was about. We were pretty green.”
But Partridge had become hooked on the event and competed again in 1989 accompanied by Andy Davey, then in 1990 with journalist and author Matt Dickinson in the co-pilots seat.
Since then it has been with the help of Keith, a motor engineer who is crucial in preparing their race car and keeping it going through the punishing 10,000km plus marathon.
Partridge didn’t initially intend taking part this time and was aiming to compete in the five day Atlas Rally instead, but that was cancelled.
He said: “I was half way there in terms of preparation so I thought ‘why not do the Dakar again?’”
The race partners have to be in Paris with their race car on December 27 for scrutineering and to take part in a grand parade through the centre of Paris and past the Eiffel Tower on December 28 before the race vehicles are shipped to Africa.
Dick said: “There are 140 cars competing, 200 motorbikes and 60 to 70 lorries as well as support vehicles.
“The Parade will be a spectacular affair through Paris.”
The race itself begins on January 6 (later than usual because of Millennium Celebrations) from Dakar in Senegal.
And the Suffolk-based team’s car, with the number 347, will be the 97^th to start.
The route then winds its way through Senegal, Mali, Burkina, Faso, Niger, Libya, and Egypt to a finish near Cairo, close to the pyramids.
He added: ”We have several people coming out to see the finish including Ray of Orwell Motorcycles who has been a long term sponsor.”
Several local companies have helped with support including Goddards and Healeys printers who have been involved every time.
But their effort was still a shoe -string affair compared to other competitors. “If they are spending £1 we will be spending a half penny” he laughed.
“We are pretty resourceful. We get the best out of what we have got.
“We just persevere. We don’t complain or whinge about it. It makes it more of a challenge really.
“If we got more support in the future we would really do a good job.”
Each car now has GPS beacon to allow their position to be pin pointed by satellite in the event of a breakdown or emergency. They still navigate with a map and compass though. Although the racers are following a similar route sections could be 10km wide.
“We were stuck for three days in the desert in 1989,” he said.
Any long distance race is a test of man as well as machine, of course.
“Initially the target is to finish each stage before it is time to start the next one,” explained Partridge.
“In 1991 we had to start one stage before getting to sleep from the day before. It was a downhill spiral then and we went out the next day.
“To go overland long distances is very interesting. Fatigue is a big test especially when things go wrong. You intend to find your limits in something like this.”
And he is ready for questions about ethics of using so much in case in a poor area of Africa.
“We asked some searching questions about the morality of the race. The local African people seem to like the race and welcome us. Hundreds of children line the route and cheer us. And I think it is helping the local economy in some way.”
There were dangers through and last time some drivers were stopped and robbed. They had to be cautious and accept they were not in Western Europe, he said.
Last time Keith had his pack, clothes and sleeping bag stolen.

Suffolk duo race in insurance ‘write-off’

When Citroen and Peugeot used to compete they spent millions on their teams and sent spare parts out to the half way point, Dick Partridge said.
In contrast his race car, an Isuzu, was an insurance write-off they had to rebuild for racing. It may not look too different, apart from the paint job and advertising logos, but inside it is unrecognisable.
The inside panels and fittings have all gone, to reduce weight and make space for spares. And the side windows have been replaced by plastic in case of need for a quick, emergency exit in the event of a crash.
He said: “We have stripped it down to the basics. ”There is nothing on the floor except a coat of paint. Last time Keith’s shoes melted!
“The biggest killer in the race is weight. We go with what we must have but can’t take everything.
“We will take an alternator but not a starting motor. We couldn’t get by with out it.
“We will take spare wheels and inner tubes, plenty of filters even a piece of drive shaft. If we can repair things rather than replace them.
“Keith is crucial in keeping us going. It is amazing how you can get by.”
Last time they broke a tracking rod and rigged up a temporary replacement with a section of jack handle until the next stop.
They have to find space for large quantities of drinking water and spare fuel, of course, and emergency rations.