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Team 9 Log
East African Safari Rally 2003
Team Log
Leg 9, Dec 19
They made it! After an exhausting event and breaking a
total of 11 shock absorbers our team reached the finish line. Their overall
rank is position 8 out of 53 teams that started 10 days ago.
Congratulations!
So far our team was lucky concerning animals on the
track, however in the last section today our team encountered several cows
on the track - during their attempt to pass by them one of the cows actually
attacked the car and with its horns did some considerable damage to the door
and back fender.
Leg 8, Dec 18
It's about time - for this event to reach its end
(just one more day of rallying ahead). In the opening section it just took
about 10 kilometers until the first shock absorber gave up. Our team cannot
seriously compete for time anymore. At this point the goal is just to see
the finish line.
Leg 7, Dec 17
Today the teams reached Tanzania. Unfortunately we
were not able to establish contact with our team.
Leg 6, Dec 16
"Some of the sections here are so brutal that in
Europe you would not even drive them with a tractor." And as a result our
team joined the fate others faced earlier - they are out of replacement
shock absorbers. Now they are trying to fit-in some of a beach buggy...
Unfortunately they had an even bigger problem: in
section two the car started to stink - oil. The expansion oil tank run a
leak. As a result more then 10 competitors were able to pass by our team in
that section.
However, they are confident that until tomorrow
morning they will once again have a running car. Even if that means to only
catch a limited amount of sleep.
Rest Day, Dec 15
Finally some 'real' time for the service...
Leg 5, Dec 14
The early morning section was challenging - deep mud
holes, and through the misty fog the sun came up - right in front of us
limiting visibility. We 'lost' a few shock absorbers (again). In any case we
were able to climb up the ladder and are now at position six.
Leg 4, Dec 13
Today our team had a swim: The track of one section
today went right through a deep area of water we were the fourth car at that
spot and somehow the other must have managed to get through there -
unfortunately the front of the Porsche started swimming - and in the back
the tires did not have no grip anymore.
We had to get out of the car and it It felt like the
water was almost one meter deep in some spots around the car. We attached
ropes to the car and with the help of a 4-wheel drive jeep and many locals
we were able to get out.
We still had some 40km to go to complete the stage so
after we got the car started again, we did not waste much time getting all
the water out of the car again. It felt like driving a half-filled bath tub.
Every time we braked, the water rushed forward, splashing up the dashboard.
Overall we must have lost more than half an hour, so we fell back to rank
10.
Leg 3, Dec 12
We completed the longest stage today: 176km (about 105
miles) in which we were able to overtake 4 other teams and completed in
under 2 hours. We were able to move up to an overall 7th position. No
technical or navigational problems today other then the exhaust system
getting a little louder than usual. Will check into it during the overnight
stop. Unfortunately we had some problems with the service car, the 4 wheel
drive mode would not disengage and so the gearbox overheated after a while.
Leg 2, Dec 11
Lost a screw on one of the shock absorbers right after
start. Replaced it. We also took a "little detour" in one of the stages
loosing a few minutes.
Leg 1, Dec 10
We hit a stone which knocked off a brake hose, but we
still managed to come in at rank 15 at the end of day 1. After some 6 hours of maintenance, the
car is now ready for Leg 2.
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