Bogley

[the_amazing_fartman]

The amazing fartman has come out of the shadows and is upset at this saddening announcement. :bootyshake:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_re_af/car_dakar_rally


PARIS - The annual Dakar Rally was canceled Friday on the eve of the race across the Sahara Desert because of terror threats and the recent killings of a French family in Mauritania blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was the first time in the 30-year history of the automobile, motorbike and truck race that it has been called off. In a statement, organizers blamed international tensions, the tourists' Dec. 24 murders and "threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organizations."

The race's central appeal — its course through African deserts, scrubland and savannas — is also its weak point, making it difficult to protect thousands of people as they cross remote regions.

"No other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken," organizers said.

France, where the race organizers are based, had urged the rally to avoid Mauritania after the four family members were killed in an attack blamed on a terror cell that uses the Mauritanian desert as a hideout.

Officials say the cell is linked to the Algeria-based al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa, which has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks, including the Dec. 11 twin suicide bombings at U.N. offices and a government building in Algiers, which killed at least 37 people.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner praised the decision to cancel the rally.

"In our opinion, in a complicated geographical context — and above all in a context of insufficient security — it seems very wise to have chosen security," he told France-Info radio.

In the past, terrorism fears have forced organizers to cancel individual stages or reroute the race. In 2000, several stages were scrapped after a threat forced organizers to airlift the entire race from Niger to Libya. Several stages were also called off in 2004, reportedly because of terror threats in Mali.

The race, organized by the France-based Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), had been due to start in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday and finish in Dakar, Senegal, on Jan. 20. Eight of the stages were to take place in Mauritania. Some 550 car, truck and motorcycle drivers were expected for the 5,760-mile trek.

Cyril Neveu, a five-time Dakar winner in the motorcycle category, acknowledged that the race could have been targeted by terrorists.

"It is a big caravan of more than 3,000 people," he told French broadcaster I-Tele. He said he respected the organizers' decision but added: "Many are going to be disappointed."

"Providing security from the first to the last competitor is an onerous job," Neveu added. "One cannot say that there was zero risk."

French ministers had discussed safety at the rally at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, and French officials had met with race organizers to discuss the risks.

Only the father of the slain family survived the Dec. 24 attack, in a town 150 miles east of the Mauritanian capital as the family picnicked on the side of a road.

That attack was followed up be another four days later, when three Mauritanian soldiers manning a checkpoint were killed. Mauritania is a largely peaceful Islamic republic that has been rocked by the back-to-back attacks.

Authorities have blamed a terror "sleeper cell" linked to the Algeria-based al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa for the murders of the family. Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa claimed responsibility for the killing of the soldiers.

The Mauritanian government had announced last week that it would mobilize a 3,000-man security force to ensure the race's safety. The country's foreign minister complained that canceling the race was not justified.

"We have taken every measure to ensure that the rally goes forward without incident," Foreign Minister Babah Sidi Abdallah told RTL television station.

Mauritania's police force has been tracking the killers of the four tourists, recovering the car they used and arresting a woman who allegedly helped them secure a boat to cross into neighboring Senegal.

[accadacca]

That BLOWS! :angryfire:

[double moo]

Excuse me for going non PC for a moment... but some towel headed bastards deserve to die over this one. Killing innocent tourists as a way to threaten an international race is just plain chickenshit.

[denaliguide]

that sucks!! but theres only 43 days til daytona. :haha:

[Iceaxe]

There is some real manly racing coming up in just a couple of weeks....

I'm thinkin' me and the family might head down to Laughlin....

[donny h]

Cancelled? That just sucks.

the_amazing_fartman wrote:
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said "blah blah blah blah blah we surrender blah blah blah blah blah terrorism wins blah blah blah blah blah"

I wish I could say that surprises me.

[donny h]

Just like I suspected, the Brits think the Frogs folded like a bad poker hand.

post #51:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298737&page=4

I hate to bash the French, just because it's poltically popular, and I'm not a conformist, nor a joiner, I'm the classic lone wolf type.


That being said, the French are completely frigging useless. Tits on a bull useless. I mean totally useless. Jeebus if anyone sucks more than the French, it's the Saudis.

Denmark makes bettter cheese, and California makes better wine. The swine in Italy kick French ass. French cows suck like a... a... a lot is how much French cows suck.

France, I spit in your general direction. Your father smells of elderberries.

Give Robby Gordon an AK-47 and a few Stingers, and we'll run that damn race, screw the French.

The Brits have our back. The French have snails.

[/url]

[Iceaxe]

donny h wrote: Give Robby Gordon an AK-47 and a few Stingers, and we'll run that damn race, screw the French.

Robby with a stinger is a scary thought.... :lol8:

[Iceaxe]

Robby Gordon, on cancellation of the Dakar Rally due to terrorist threats:

"I'm extremely disappointed in the ASO. I can completely understand their decision to not go to Mauritania or not want to put competitors in an awkward or dangerous situation. That I understand 100 percent. But for them, as many years as they've been doing this rally, not to have a backup plan, a B plan, a C plan, a D plan, what if this is going to happen… Why didn't we run 10 days in Portugal, on the same course? Something."

[donny h]

Iceaxe wrote: Robby Gordon

Robby is very vocal, he's been a thorn in the side of ASO like no one else has. Good for him. He's not popular with NASCAR brass either, another reason to like him.

Which makes me wonder what he thinks of the latest official/unofficial rumor, that the race has been moved to South America, and will be held in Jan of 2009.

Patagonia, anyone?

[Iceaxe]

Looks like Chile is the country going after the race.....

Chile wants the new Dakar Rally

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The Chilean government will back a proposal to bring the Dakar Rally to South America after terrorist threats forced the cancellation of the off-road endurance race traditionally staged across the Sahara desert.

The head of the Chilean Tourism Service, Oscar Santelices, said a formal letter will be sent next week to the France-based rally organizer Amaury Sports Organization expressing Chile's interest to host it.

Santelices told local media, however, that no financial support would be committed.

Chile's deputy sports minister, Jaime Pizarro, also said the government would be interested as "the idea appears on the line with the official policy of hosting important international sports events."

The reaction in Chile came after the Spanish sports newspaper As reported that South America was being considered as an alternative to the African territory, and that the epic motorcycle, car and truck race — staged annually since 1979 — could cross through Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

In Chile, the rally would go through the northern Atacama desert, the world's driest, where a local rally called Patagonia-Atacama is staged annually.

Local media reported that across the Andes in Argentina, organizers of the annual Rally of the Pampas are also interested in hosting a portion of the Dakar Rally.

Carlo De Gavardo, a Chilean motorcycle rider who has competed in the Dakar Rally several times, said a major advantage for South American countries hosting the rally is the security they offer in the territories where the race would be staged.

He said a decision on the new site would probably be made in February, and that other likely alternatives are Australia, Russia and China.