Dakar Rally 2010

For most of us in North America, we are engrossed in the NFL playoffs this time of year. Just an observation, I certainly enjoy the playoffs. But during the first few weeks of January, a very unusual and amazing race is takes place South of the Equator.

The Dakar Rally is probably the hardest most grueling motor race on the planet. Motor bikes, Cars, Suvs and Massive Trucks race for 2 weeks over the most difficult terrain. Last year, only half of the participants actually finished the race. Traditionally, the Dakar Race takes place in Africa, but the last 2 years it has been in South America winding through Argentina and Chile.

Anyhow, I am fascinated with the "Truck" Division. They are the scariest and baddest trucks you will ever see. They are not pickups, real trucks, massive in size.

Take a look at the "Trucks" in Stage 5 of the Dakar Rally, simply incredible.

Here is also a video from the traditional course in Africa. Scarey

So here is my one complaint, it is an international race and the USA has almost little presence and with that zero success. The Russians have been the King of Dakar with their amazing Kamaz Trucks, probably the toughest trucks on the planet. Don't believe me? => watch them in action.

I want to see a USA Truck Team with USA engineering take on the Dakar. I fear, it may never happen. Personally, it would be a dream to see this Rally, it would be incredible to drive one of those "trucks" out in the open. A thrill of a life time.

So who wants to launch TEAM USA for the Dakar Rally? Let's go!

What I am watching

Not that anyone is that interested, but I thought I would make the list for my own amusement....

Ice Road Truckers

Wrecked

Speed Channel => F1 Racing, Le Mans, NASCAR, Rolex, etc.... I am into Auto Racing

Retro TV

All Time Favorite Show, the Default when nothing is on..

I can't stand the BCS, perfect illustration

This was sent to me by my brother in TX. If you have been following College Football, this will totally make sense. If not, it is very difficult to explain, but in short, a computer determines the ranking of teams, and it is a broken system.

BCS DECLARES GERMANY WINNER OF WORLD WAR II
US Ranked 4th

After determining the Big-12 championship game participants the
BCS computers were put to work on other major contests and today the BCS
declared Germany to be the winner of World War II.

"Germany put together an incredible number of victories
beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and
continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland,France,
Norway, Sweden,Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses
came against the US and Russia; however considering their entire body of
work--including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule--our computers
deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."

Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States the BCS
commissioner stated "The US only had two major victories--Japan and
Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by
head-to-head contests--they consider each contest to be only a single,
equally-weighted event."

German Chancellor Adolph Hiter said "Yes, we lost to the US; but
we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks." Herr Hitler has been
criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn 'style points' to
enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland
was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were
incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional
forces."

The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS
commented " France had a single loss against Germany and following a
preseason #1 ranking they only fell to #2."

Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo
and the Philippines.

Old Penn State Joke

My kids know this about me, but I am not sure how many folks outside of my family do. I like College Football, and I always am rooting for Penn State, my dad's and my brother's alma mater.

Anyhow, it is football season and the Nittany Lions are looking very good, undefeated. so I thought I would pass on an old joke that my dad recently sent me. Enjoy!

After former Florida State head football coach dies and enters the Pearly
Gates, God takes him on a tour. God shows Bobby a little two-bedroom house
With a faded FSU banner hanging from the front porch.

God says, 'This is your house, coach. Most people don't get a house up
here.

Bobby looks at the house, then turns around and looks at the big house
Sitting on top of a big hill. It's a huge two-story mansion with white
Marble columns and little patios under all the windows. Penn State flags
Line both sides of the walkway, and a huge Penn State banner hangs between
The marble columns.

'Thanks for the house, God. But, let me ask you a question. I get this
Little two bedroom house with a faded FSU banner and Paterno gets a mansion
With new Nittany Lion banners and flags flying all over the place. Why is
That?'

God looks at him seriously for a moment and says, 'Paterno's not dead.
That's my house.'