Last Week - a little cruise through the desert!

Dakar Rally Adventures. 

Dean and Rachael Nuttall from Ballarat, had a wish list – to ride in lots of bike rallies the world over. Find the money, find the bike, find the team, have fun! In January 2012 they headed to South America to partake in the longest off-road bile rally in the world. Dean rode his new Austrian bike and Rachael supported his multinational team of riders. Why? To feel good both mentally and physically.

Getting ready, they rode to Ayres Rock and did the Finke River Desert Rally in NT and climbed the biggest hill in the Austrian Enduro.

They shared a common goal and looked at the Dakar Rally, 34 years in Africa, now in South America, due to unrest in Africa. During one rally, all drivers and support crew were airlifted over the warring area and then continued the rally!

Dean went to his bike in Austria and fitted it out. It was then shipped to South America in the official ship. The South African riders had to find bribe money to get their bikes to them, literally just before the race commenced.

There were 21 Australians competing for 15 days, 9000 kms and 800km per day across Argentina, Chile and Peru. All this in pursuit of greatness! Dean’s goal was to finish and he was the first Australian across the line in the top 20.

Competitors drove motor bikes, quad bikes, cars and trucks!

Rachel supported the team with passports at border crossings and camaraderie, amongst other duties.

The crowds lining the roads were a challenge, as were the snows and high altitude of the Andes and the desert sands and dunes, up to 2km high!

It cost about $150,000 to participate and riders needed to come to terms with ear plugs, GPS and the navigation system. Riders needed to trust themselves, even though others were going a different way, be aware of the environment and look after personal hygiene during this very stressful rally.

The nights were not pleasant – air temperature 35, ground temperature 40, sleeping on a thin mat was like sleeping on an electric blanket. Often they did not sleep well.

Dean had a nasty crash on day 12 and fractured his collar bone. He had to be self supported during the days and the mechanics did maintenance and repairs overnight. Rachael and the mechanics managed to sleep during the day!

At rally end, 249 out of 443 had finished.

“We rode our motor bike through deserts and over mountains for 15 days and 9000km!”