These are the posts from the Gumball rally in 2004. Please keep
in mind, I was running on no sleep, and very high stress situations,
and in some cases trying to use arabic keyboards to write. It was a
challenge just to post these messages at the time during the rally as
just getting access to the internet in places like Marakesh at 2 in the
morning was a challenge.
We
made it and no major problems so far. Things are 100% insane here in
Paris. Race starts tommorow and all of Paris is watching as we parade
down champs elysee for all to see. Its like a friggin movie as there is
press everywhere and fans. We are so busy prepping for the start, and
honestly I now see where we can really have some problems now that I am
here and see things. Here what Im going to do. I will going to write a
blurb every couple of days to keep and post to for you guys. I have a
European cellphone that takes pictures. I will occasionally take a
picture and send to you direct from cell phone. The picture sucks but
you will get an idea. The truth is I may not ever got to email again
because I see lots of problems and things are just friggin nuts. I have
never seen so many crazy and eccentric people in my life. So if I don't
email don't assume Im dead or in jail, somebody -will call if it gets
that bad.
Thanks and see you in couple weeks. Hope you get things under control cause I really got my hands full.
Thanks,
Robb
-------------------- Never underestimate the power of other peoples ignorance!
Posts: 209 | From: EVERYWHERE | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged
Things
are literally insane. I hava just come off a 14 hours straight drive
myself with no breaks except for gas and am now have gone literally
without sleep for almost 40 hours and running on pure adreniline. 180
of us started the rally at the Effifel tower ran through Paris South to
Aubon, ran through Borgeouax then strait to Madrid full out. People
have been arrested many broken down , and tickets for some.
We
made it to Madrid right at the deadline at 12:00 today and then had to
run for 5 6 more hours straight to Marbella where I type now for the
crossing at the Straight of Gebralter. I never met such a collection of
crazy eccentric people and think I myself have gone mad with no sleep
and running at my safe limit.Proud to say up until 30 minutes out of
Madrid we beat an Enzo Ferrari and a 360 Modena. Car is running great
although we broke both shocks running so hard through the mountainous
bumpy areas.We beat about 2 thirds of the cars to Madrid. Fans lined up
throught the roads we were taking in all countries and waited for us at
all hours at toll boths , highway crossings etc. Some of our friends
including one with a 150k custom made Chevy SSR flown here for the race
already broke down and many have had to abandoned it do due mechanical
problems. fortunaltley everybody helsps each other and a caravan of
famous guys called Yahoo Boys I think ( japanese version of
Jackass)picked him up to take the rest of the way in a Winnibago.
Things
are hectic and we cross into Morroco in 8AM tommorow morning. The
reaction of so many exotics racing through cities has been amazing and
its almost like we are part of some famous racing team with all the
fans and press. Many police are cooperative and just want to see the
cars. Without GPS we would have been dead and lots of things that could
have gone wrong did to others.
I am exhasted and am going to
sleep now for about 6 hours rest before the second big run into
Morroco. Things are quite hectic and my plan to email pictures didnt
work because of some cell phone problem.
will post again when I can
Rob
-------------------- Never underestimate the power of other peoples ignorance!
Posts: 209 | From: EVERYWHERE | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged
posted May 07, 2004 07:25 PM
Hello all-another insane run today. Cars loqded onto the ferry and the
king of Morroco had all police escort us into highway and full
permision to speed. people lined up along highways to cheer us
on_donkeys cemels everywhere-a few accidents-We fist raced to
casablanca then marrakesh-speaking no french or aarabic was a problem,
finding checkpoint which was ricks cafe-ran late after pulling over to
help an enzo that blew a tire-we patrched it up - and the air
compressor was handy-just now got in after 12 hours_running back to Fez
to_lots of stories-crazy ones-tensions high with all the stress-gas is
a problem and if we can make it the 600 miles to fez we should be home
free- now - 2:30 am and i get up in 4 hours to leave so gotta run
bye all
Robb
-------------------- Never underestimate the power of other peoples ignorance!
Posts: 209 | From: EVERYWHERE | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged
posted May 09, 2004 10:21 AM
Hello all-
first opportunity to write this. Yesterday was the best and almost
worst day of my life. The run to Fez and the port was the mosst
hardcore driving I have ever done. I drove as fast as I can literally
for about 10 hours straight up all mountanous terrain. We were chasing
the Modenas and keeping with them easily in the mountains because the
gearing was low. When we started a professional rally driver we know
flipped and totalled his car and injured just in front of us. Then
we had the ferraris wreck in front of us because of our pace, up the
mountains and then anothjer friend totalled his viper. We were racing
at speeds I honesty am not proud of. The level of concentration
required to operate for 8-10 hopurs with no sleep is tough. 6 cars
totalled. Out of 180 maybe 120 left.
I almost quit yesterterday
because of the crashes and I think we did terrible disservice to the
hospitible people of Morroco and the king who hosted us.
The
police were lined up strategically over the 500 mile run yesterday the
entire way to assist us and pull people over in our way. We had card
blanche and abused it. Fans lined up all across the townns we ran
through just like the WRC races. It was an amazing experience. We
finished this leg maybe top third. I will never drive at tht level
again.
Today we ran to Barcelona and missed the F1 races
because we started late with the ferry , and the cops grabbed us all
and give us each 700 dollar fines for illegal racing. Helicopters were
looking for us. Bullshit charge becaus ethey could not prove the speed
on everyone but some were clocked doing 190. we were nowhere near those
speeds as that is absuurd and dangerous.
We have met so many
fans and interesting people it has been great but seriously considering
the danger and ethics of this event. The organizer is a snobby chap how
dosnt give a shit about anything but his money and there have been
times I have wanted to take him to task.
Anyway-final run to
Cannes is tommorow.Goal is to make it in one peace and no mechnical
failures whichj have been prevelant for others. French police are
waiting for us. Real possibility ofjail for some. I will do my best not
to be one of them.
Team Saleen is doing well.
all the best,
Rob
-------------------- Never underestimate the power of other peoples ignorance!
Posts: 209 | From: EVERYWHERE | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged
posted May 11, 2004 10:26 AM
ok I anm re writing thinqs as my last post clicked out when I ran out
of time-This is a french keyboard-want to kill the hotel for this
We
missd the f1 RACE IN Barcelona because we all got nabbed as a group for
illegal racing_we had to pay 315 euro fines to be released and to get
them back we put it on the credit card and charged it back when wr
left-we also took gumball stickes and put onpolice cars and backs of
the uniforms-was crazy
got to barcelona and I ran out of minutes
on my UK mobile so I left the hotel while Mike and T checked in andf
got Lost-found mysemf at a and people noticed the car and two very nice
spanish girls helped me by taking to a place to get the card topped off
which was almost impossible on a Sunday-They joined us to afrer dinner
part with a friend who is into cars Everyone know about the gumball as
we made the news for the arrests
Run hardnext morning with our
chace van before entering France_French can hold you withiout charge
indefinatley so very scqry-we used mobiles and walkies to inform each
other abuiot the traps and severl shot radar and took pictures of us
runnning to the checkpoint- we used alternate routes and were not
nabbed-made it to Paul Piccard F& test racing track but blew a
wheel bearing so didnt run on the track- went in a 99-cab just like
tars evin same color and was great-
the run to the finish was up
windy roads and I was uin the SSr in gfront of T in thze saleen_got two
blocks from finsih anf place was so mobbed everyone was stuck in
tragffic_ran out of gas almost was on fumes but grabbed a é gallon tank
from out support vehicle- t finished and was treated like a star as a
woman with many photogrphers
The party afrter was crazy and like
a celebrity event_I dont drink as ,ost know but after what felt like a
war got drunk-allmost bought a ferrari fro, a brithish chap in my
stupid but sobered up this morning_glad to be hear alive and with no
mechqnicql issues
Guy on the motorcycle in morroco lost his leg
due to wrong blood type and no circulation horrible organization but
ill rant abiout that later-the Aya boys fro, mtv asia also got fucked
by max and have plotted real revenge-one of guys fro, uf so we hit it
off
got in small altercation today over parking spot which got broken up before it got physical-I got the spot -lol
Glad to be done and fly to london in the morning
see you all soon
Robb
For more information, please visit www.darkcydracing.com regarding the Bull Run Rally from Montreal to Key West starting May 12th and ending May 20th 2007, as well as previous rallies particpated in by Darkcyd Racing.
posted May 04, 2004 10:11 AM
