OMG, it worked! Thanks, that's an amazing site! Here's the story-Originally Posted by WyrreJ
Garland’s teeth were chattering on the start line. Not just from the cold, which rarely topped freezing, but from nerves. Bruce has competed and succeeded in just about every race Australia has to offer, and a few around the world, but nothing compared to the mighty Paris-Dakar.
It is 5.30am, Paris. Over 200,000 roaring fans flank the start line, all silently praying for the sun to rise and warm their snap-chilled bones. Further up the road, they gather 50 deep at intersections, hoping to catch a glimpse of the parade of 4WD technological giants.
This was nothing short of culture shock to Garland, whose usual onlookers include his family, mechanics, and a few stray Brahman cattle. Had he been a Frenchman, Garland would have been accorded rock-star status. But he was an Aussie, the first ever to compete in this race of races.
The Bell racing team had given Garland the assignment of driving their Vehicross. But unlike his Australian campaigns, driving was his only assignment - a task Garland believes should not be separated in any way from the nuts and bolts task of vehicle preparation. Bruce had been instrumental in the preparation of his wildly successful Holden Jackaroo in Australia - but here, the Japanese were in control. Despite their lack of success in previous rallies, they wanted no input from the race-hardened Garland.
Nevertheless, the Japanese were proved right in the opening stages as the talented Garland guided the ill-prepared Isuzu to the head of his T1 class.
The shocks alone for the Vehicross cost AU$24,000, yet were so poorly valved that the Isuzu bounced rather than articulated over the rugged terrain.
While in France the crowds barely thinned, with 55,000 onlookers trekking six kilometres to view the first special stage. What they saw was a quagmire. While the race book read 8 kilometres the odometer on the Vehicross registered 14 kilometres at the end of the stage, with more wheel spins than the SummerNats.
After some impressive stages in the Sierra Nevada, dodging crowds who played chicken with the vehicles, the troupe crossed the Mediterranean by ferry.
Africa Garland could handle. The scenery and terrain unfolded in front of him to look more and more like Australia. The Rocky Desert was a lot like Sturt’s Stony Desert although the snow capped background of the Atlas Mountains gave away the distant locale. Despite having the Pajero of Strugo biting at his heels, Garland maintained his T1 lead.
By this stage, Mitsubishi Team Manager, Ullrich Brehmer was getting worried - the Vehicross scenario was one outcome he hadn’t yet canvassed. So in a show of respect Brehmer invited Garland out to dinner to scope out his competition. Would the Aussie in an Isuzu steal Mitsubishi’s T1 crown?
Edging into the mighty Sahara, the Vehicross encountered ergs for the first time. Ergs are fields of small lumpy sand dunes which have to be handled with an excellent balance of momentum and navigation. At one point the Vehicross lost momentum and bogged in the treacherously soft sand. With no team help on hand Garland had to pay locals 500 francs to extricate the Isuzu. Despite this setback the Bell Team Vehicross still led the class.
Later in the race punctures were encountered but turned out to be the least of Garland’s problems. In the stage between Quarzazate and Smara competitors had to drive between specially placed markers. Why you ask? Landmines - and lots of ‘em. Two years ago these landmines claimed the lives of two drivers in their Citroen truck.
Garland often found himself skirting on the wrong side of these markers, navigating proving difficult under the blanket of choking desert dust stirred up by the lead pack of T2 Mitsubishis.
The stage from Zouerat to El Mreiti would be even tougher. The edge of the desert is littered with human graves and camel carcasses. This is the real Sahara. The biggest dunes, the softest sand and one other catch - no support vehicles allowed - not that support vehicles would ever make it past the first few kilometres of this inhospitable area.
Break down here and say goodbye to your $100,000 plus race truck. The sweep chopper simply hovers above your vehicle, asks whether you want a lift back to camp or whether you want to try and fix your truck yourself. The purpose of this is really a legal waiver of responsibility, and to pick up drivers. Tough country, tough competition.
The leading big dollar teams like Mitsubishi change most moving parts for this punishing stage, essentially setting off with fresh vehicles.
The other Bell Team Vehicross entry had in previous stages suffered from a broken gearbox and front differential. Garland therefore suggested that at the very least these obvious weak-points be replaced in his car. Further ignoring his advice the Bell team refuse to have these new parts fitted, and Garland subsequently set off in the same car that had left Paris.
Just 100 kilometres into Leg 8 the front diff exploded. The Vehicross limped along for another 30 kms in 2WD in the dunes getting bogged on numerous occasions. Soon after the right hand driveshaft gave up the ghost, forcing the Aussie into retirement.
Garland is not bitter, but is glad to have competed in the magnificent Paris-Dakar. Yet he vows if he competes again, the same mistakes won’t be made.
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