Buzzin Motor Sport

The Dakar Rally 2012

The Dakar Rally is now in its 33rd year and for the fourth consecutive year was held in South America.  The event started on the east coast of the continent in Mar del Plata, Argentina before moving through Chile onto the west coast and finishing with the final three stages being held in Peru, culminating with the 14th stage and award ceremony being held  the Peruvian capital of Lima.

This year’s Dakar Rally 2012 got off to a sad start when motorcycle rider Jorge Andrés Boero died following a crash towards the end of the first stage. This was the 21st fatality in the history of the Dakar Rally event.

Norway’s Pal Anders Ullevalseter won the final stage from Pisco to Lima, with Marc Coma in second place.  But the 33rd Dakar Rally was won for the fourth time by Frenchman Cyril Despres. His overall lead was enough to gain him a fourth title even though he could only manage a lowly 10th place on the final day.  Red Bull riders Marc Coma and Helder Rodrigues finished in second and third, respectively.

Following his fourth victory in the Dakar Rally Cyril Despres admitted:
‘This is without a shadow of a doubt the toughest Dakar I’ve ever raced in.’

Depres has previously won the Dakar Rally in 2005, 2007 and 2010; and came second in 2003 and 2009.

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Cyril Despres Wins Dakar Rally 2012

The Dakar Rally is an infamously wild and exciting race and this year the Dakar Rally 2012 has been as exasperating and exciting as ever before. It is an unprecedented fixture and renowned spectacle in the motor sport calendar. This year the event is 33 years old and for the fourth year running was held in South America.

The Dakar Rally is as much about endurance as it is skill as the riders race from coast to coast over the South American continent through deserts and across mountains as they head from Argentina across the Andes to Chile and Peru.

As the race comes to a climax it has been great to follow some of the leading riders in through their personal blogs.  The likes of the Giniel De Villiers, Marc Coma and Cyril Despres have all been a great read along the way. The Frenchman Cyril Despres first began riding Enduro in 1998 and in 2000 entered his first Dakar Rally.

This year’s Dakar Rally come to a close as the race completed its 14th and final stage from Pisco to Lima, and with it Cyril Despres won his fourth Dakar crown by winning the Dakar Rally 2012.  He finished ahead of fellow Red Bull riders Marc Coma and Helder Rodrigues in second and third, respectively.

Previously Depres has won the Dakar Rally on in 2005, 2007 and 2010; and came second in 2003 and 2009.

Steve McQueen - the King of Cool

MidAmerica Auctions, the world’s largest seller of antique motorcycles, will host the 21st Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction and Races Jan. 12-14, 2012, at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

500 antique and classic motorcycles will be up for auction, including three motorcycles owned by legendary actor and biking enthusiast, Steve McQueen. Serving as guest of honor is his widow, Barbara McQueen, who will share memories of her famous husband and sign copies, Steve McQueen: The Last Mile. Joining her will be Steve McQueen’s biographer Marshall Terrill, who will sign copies of his 2010 book, Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool.

Barbara McQueen’s photographs record a behind-the-scenes life of personal pleasures and enthusiasms. They include hitting the road in Steve’s pickup trucks, visiting collectors’ shows and swap-meets, driving 700 miles to view a rare World War I motorcycle, flying a vintage mail plane, and generally ducking out of Hollywood life.

The life and career of Steve McQueen is a classic example of the American dream made real: of a small town boy from abroken home triumphing over adversity to become one of the richest and mostsought-after superstars in the world. McQueen lived every day as if it were his last, and by doing so he lived an extraordinary life, both on screen and off.

Barbara McQueen’s “Steve McQueen: The Last Mile” tells the story of a simple love affair with life. Barbara, who had carved a very successful career for herself as a fashion model, met Steve McQueen in 1977. Together for less than four years, these rare and private photographs share Steve’s rugged, blue-eyed features him in a relaxed and uninhibited setting, doing the things he loved. Barbara’s photographs show a tough guy at peace but who retained an inner strength. In one particularly striking shot his hair is wild, his beard thick, and unkempt, and he is looking over his shoulder with a troubled vulnerability. Barbara catches him unaware perhaps in a deeply pensive mood.

MidAmerica Auctions have on display and for sale Steve McQueen’s Husqvarna, which he rode for the cover of the August 23, 1971 issue of Sports Illustrated as documented by factory and dealer bills of sale. Also available for auction will be two other Steve McQueen motorcycles – a 1938 Triumph Speed Twin and a 1940 Indian Four Cylinder. A 1970 Bell motorcycle helmet that was owned by McQueen will also be auctioned.

Barbara McQueen will be at the opening event dinner on 12th January and available through 14th January to sign books and greet fans.

Ultimate On Road Supercar Experience Days

So what are you getting the man in your life for Christmas this year? Or if you are a man, what are you hinting at getting from your loved one?

Among the obligatory wildly coloured socks and whacky but useless golf-related stocking-fillers there is at least one big present or gift that will stick out from the rest as something I really wanted or maybe a surprise, something I’d never thought about but is a perfect gift for a man surrounded by gadgets, CDs, clothes etc.

For my brother’s 40th birthday, the family all chipped in to send him on a full-day rally car driving experience.  I was fortunate enough to accompany him and experience the thrill, for what turned out to be an amazing day never to be forgotten.  Set alongside the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit he was taught how to accelerate and steer into corners and drive like a maniac around a figure of eight dirt track complete with potholes and bumps that shook you up more than the Saw theme park ride at Thorpe Park.  The real thrill, for both my brother and I came at the end of the day when we were each in turn driven around the track by the ex-pro turned advanced driving instructor, with his foot to the floor as he calmly explained what he was doing resulting in my white knuckles and fixed grin as I forgot to breathe throughout two laps of the circuit!  The drive was exhilarating and the experience of that special day will always be with me.

Since then, I have noticed a growth in so-called ‘experience days’ and it’s no wonder as they make for great gifts. Imagine the sheer excitement of driving one of the fastest, most prestigious supercars in the world. You don’t have to be a ‘petrol head’ to dream about driving a Ferrari, Lamborghini or, my personal favourite, a Maserati.

Companies like Cars On Demand offer the ultimate supercar driving experiences.  Their On Road Supercar Experience offers individuals the chance to drive the car of their dreams.  The Experience includes a full safety briefing, a demonstration of the car and then the ‘drive of your life’ with a choice of a one hour drive to a full weekend tour.

Cars on Demand Supercar Experiences

Cars On Demand have six cars at each of its three offices in Yorkshire, Northamptonshire and Surrey. The supercars to chose from include a Ferrari F458 italia, Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder, Mercedes SLS AMG, Ferrari 430 Spyder, Maserati Grancabrio and Porsche 911 Cabriolet.  Supercar Day Experiences start from just £79.95 for a one hour Porsche 911 drive to a full day with a Ferrari F458 italia at £1099.95.  The full day experiences include continental breakfast and lunch. All prices include VAT, fuel and insurance.

This looks like a bucket-seat full of fun and I for one will be showing this to my partner with the biggest hint I can muster.

The MotoGP 2011 season finale took place in Valencia yesterday where Casey Stoner won the Spanish Grand Prix with a photo finish as he pipped Ben Spies to the chequered flag.

The race got off to a bad start when Alvaro Bautista clipped Andrea Dovizioso’s back wheel on the first corner.  The collision also took out Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden and Randy De Puniet.  Fortunately, no one was injured.

The Valencia Grand Prix was Casey Stoner’s 10th victory of the season.

All riders paid tribute to the Italian Marco Simoncelli who was killed in the previous meeting, the Malaysian MotoGP.

Valencia MotoGP – The Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana – Round 18

1 Casey Stoner (Aus) Honda 48mins 18.645secs
2 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 48:18.660
3 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Honda 48:24.581

MotoGP 2011 Driver Championship Standings

1 Casey Stoner (Australia) Honda 350 points
2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 260
3 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 228
4 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 219
5 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 176
6 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Ducati 139
6 Marco Simoncelli (Italy) Honda 139
8 Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 132
9 Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 109
10 Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) Honda 98