Here's some interesting info regarding the 2015 DAKAR.
http://www.elmartilloracing.com/blogs/el-martillo-racing-and-robby-...

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@MJ, I was thinking more along these lines ....A lifelong passion for business, self-employed for decades with a career achievement of taking our company public on the Toronto Stock Exchange and at all times creating sustainable business’s and empowered employees.

J.R. All of that is great, but WTF does it have to do with RG winning the Dakar? Maybe nothing?

Maybe nothing, maybe more than we see on the surface. Very intelilegent buisness people with the Capitol to make a team into a viable threat are priceless. Bruce I am just trying to look at it from outside the box. Who knows ...lol

Or this ..... Calgary racer Matt Campbell, at the tender age of 63, is off to the famed Dakar Rally in January as principal driver of a multi-national team.

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His birth certificate suggests a man who should be managing his retirement funds, and perhaps wondering where he left his favourite slippers.

At 63 years old, the last thing you’d expect a guy of Matt Campbell’s age to do is avoid creature comforts to plan an off-road assault on South America.

But that’s exactly what Campbell is doing — and even then, this is no mere recreational drive for the adventurous Calgarian, who admittedly likes driving in the dirt.

Already a champion Baja desert racer, Campbell — who also happens to be the boss of one of Canada’s largest agriculture and construction equipment networks — has now entered the toughest motorized race on the planet.

That's exactly what I mean Jr . If we go by Bruce's way of thinking El Martillo racing is the equalivent to some local Friday / Saturday nite dirt track racer . These guys are for real , they've raced everything from Dakar to Baja . I ain't saying they're the greatest thing since sliced bread but they ain't exactly novices either . I've got a good feeling bout this . As much as I think Robby is superman I know in reality he needs as much help as he can get . Especially when you consider the sheer number of cars the Minis bring vs just Robby on his own .

One could say this about the El-Martllo racing crew.They have heart! They finished the DAKAR as rookies!They finished DAKAR! yes, they may be amateurs? and not in the hunt,but ,big butt, they showed heart.IMO

For those like Bruce, you have no freaking clue! For one, RG's first attempt with his own Dakar team ended in a DNF. He's had a few good runs, but more times then not he has bad small issues that have become bigger issues. RG built a second vehicle as a "Buy a Ride" deal. The second car was never built to be a true teammate. It was built to pay bills and give on track support if needed. So far that has not worked for RG.

So this last Dakar Matt Cambell a total Dakar rookie, who had a dream took on the challenge and finished! Non of the experienced American programs finished! So I think Cambell has learned a lot and will alter the Jimco to be better next year. It makes since to team up and share resources, why not? Both teams bring there own race vehicle, support trucks & crews. But what they can share is having an on track support truck, share crews, which could allow guys to rotate and rest. RG said his guys were over worked this year. Btw Matt's crew were as Green as he was to Dakar.

So if these two teams could figure out how to support each other yet race there own race and have there own goals, why not? It's better then RG funding a two car team and selling the drivers seat. Lets face it Matt's goal is going to be to finish and finish better then 2014 and win the Score class. Robby's goal is to win overall.

Why are so many so blinded by Thinking RG can do all and better without anyone else? It has not nessiearly work at Dakar yet. So why not partner up with another well self funded team and look to share resources for the better of both teams. I assure you Matt's team will pull there own weight and bring as much if not more to the table as RG does. BTW how many know Cambell stopped & helped Robby I believe on two stages of Dakar. One time was when Robby broke all the wheel studs. Matt gave him some wheel studs. He'll RG Buy a Ride teammates have driven right by him, yet Matt a competitor stopped snd helped him! Hmmm! Go figure!

I'll be honest I figured Dakar for Matt was a one & done bucket list deal. I knew part of his Jimco Dakar build was also with the idea of this car to be his future prerunner. Well guess what! He finished his First effort at Dakar and wants to go back and be better! Matt's not arogent. He knows his potential and would probably love nothing more then to see RG be the first American to win Dakar, and maybe on the way he can with the Score class. BTW Matt is Canadian who splits his time in Canada, the US & Mexico.

So get over yourselfs and thinking Robby is some god who will do better then everyone else. Because facts are facts and Matt kicked RG, BJ & Chicherts asses as he finished and they all DNF'ed.

Sorry for the rant, but come on and give some credit where credt is due!

Nikal - I like your rant and you said it like it is... The guy finished his first Dakar and wants to go back; feels there's merit in joining up with another team and if this works out, its all good.

RG and Matt obviously have a passion for Dakar and both want to do better. In the end, whatever happens, we'll be observing closely.

Question is - can RG function with a teammate? As we all know he's quite capable to take on things by himself and likes to go it alone, and he likes the recognition of "doing it my way". This may be something totally different - but good. Maybe he'll accept a joint effort.

He's up to his armpits with the SST Series, and this could be a good fit. Wouldn't it be great again to see him give the big teams fits at Dakar?

Still much too soon to tell what happens, but planning is everything and we're only 10 months away....

It's the end of Feb,first of March and Robby's talking DAKAR.that's 4 or 5 month's ahead of last,as my memory serv's

Good rant. Apology not needed.

"....facts are facts and Matt kicked RG, BJ & Chicherts asses as he finished and they all DNF'ed."

There's a big difference between trying to finish the rally and trying to win stages. Following tracks versus making tracks. Surviving the course versus attacking the course. I'm not dissing Matt's accomplishment, good on him, but with RG, Chicherit, and other seeded drivers, there is a different mindset going in.

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