In reply to jimtitt:
> The quickest one was his 1988 Daf Turbo Twin XL with two 600hp engines and all the stuff. He volountarily limited it to 220kn/hr but there's a legendary pic of him overtaking Ari Vatanens works Peugeut at over 200km/hr.
Thats the jobby! Vatanen would have been laughing like a drain; and i'd have loved seeing him drive one of those.
> Unfortunately his team mate jumped a dune a few days later at over 200km/hr and the truck rolled six times, killing the co-driver and seriosly injuring the other two so Jan DeRooy retired from racing and the T4 trucks banned.
> The Kamaz would be faster nowadays with 1150 hp but they are speed restricted to 130km/hr (the cars to 180). The bikes will be next, the rules dropped them to 450cc to slow them down but they are still running 170 in the sand (my old 950KTM which they won with twice) goes up to 220 no problem which is why they slowed them down.
I've never got on with big off road bikes; an ex g/f used to be pretty handy at enduro riding, and i would have a go on her DR350. Only rode her DR800 twice, and it just seemed it was trying to spit me off all the time. That bike was a "challenge" to ride, and truth be told, she didnt like it much either. faster on the smaller stuff.
> There's a good film clip from those days of the massed start off the beach at Dakar (I think) where the trucks just outdrag all the cars, probably pissed the rally-car manufacturers well off!
Yes, that final stage mass start was spectacular. Might have to consult youtube it to watch again!