Dakar 2014. First racing day

Sergei Dolya writes: “So, the preparations are over, Dakar 2014 has started today!

On the first day of the race, we had to overcome several hundred kilometers along with rally cars. Due to inexperience, we did not set our priorities right: we took more time to shoot the launch than we should have, and as a result, we ended up in the Dakar caravan at the rear. But now we have photos of the start and finish. This stage ended in San Luis, a small Argentinean town in the foothills. In the afternoon, we have already talked about the results of the race, and now the photo report ... "

(Total 37 photos)

Source: Journal / sergeydolya

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2. Early in the morning, when the Rosario police took over for a new shift ...

3. ... we took up our journalistic post. Where yesterday was the podium, and today the start of the race is scheduled

4. Despite seven in the morning and Sunday, the embankment was filled with people. Not as much as the day before, but still. In some places there were tents and mattresses - many simply did not go home after the podium, but spent the night in the open

5. On the one hand, the townspeople stretched out in a string ...

6. … on the other hand, the cars of the rally participants. We specifically came to the car category: motorcycles left even earlier, and trucks had to go later

7. And here are some of our guys on the Mini

8.

9. The person at the start wrote down the numbers, time and, to the general applause, gave the start to the participant

10. On the first day, the cars had to drive a little more than 800 kilometers. Of these, about a third of the way is on a special highway, where we do not have access

After picking up our things from the hotel, we set out on the road.

First, it was necessary to set up Tripi - a special navigator that should be used to travel from one camp to another. With the help of Tripi, the organizers monitor our movement, control that we do not enter the racers' track, do not exceed the speed limit, etc.

11. Arriving at the camp, we were a little puzzled by the fact that there was no one left in it: no technicians, no riders, no organizers

12. I had to set up the device myself. Although all the maps and routes are already laid out in Tripi, it is not very convenient to use it. The screen only displays the next road maneuver and the distance to it - a kind of electronic legend. It is impossible to look at the map in perspective. From the data, the navigator shows the speed, distance traveled and the upcoming pass. And he treacherously pawns us to the organizers every time we break the speed limit

13. To be honest, Tripi didn't inspire much confidence. Just in case, we peeped into a regular iPad and the road legend that we were given along with the navigator

14. Half an hour later we left Rosario on the track

15. There were crowds of spectators along the road! Many drove up in their cars, pulled out chairs and cots, and sat under umbrellas.

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17. At that time, motorcycles and cars had already passed, people were waiting for trucks. Let me remind you that everything happened on a Sunday morning

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19. After 200 kilometers, we suddenly realized that we were running out of fuel. According to Tripi's legend, it turned out that the nearest gas station along the way was 150 kilometers away. We decided to move out of the way for a while. The navigator on the iPad found a gas station in a neighboring city, where we went

20. Arriving at the point, instead of refueling, they found this picture. Before the flight, I specially downloaded the navigator for Argentina and Chile into the iPad, giving, by the way, 1300 rubles. After a short winding around the city, and explanations on the fingers with the locals, we finally found a column in another place

21. While circling in search of a diesel engine, I saw road dealers. A curious feature: on our track they sell soft toys and towels with naked women, and here they sell soccer balls

22. Judging by the car thermometer, the temperature rose to 38 degrees. The air conditioner in the car didn't work. At the end of the road, we stopped in the shade to recover.

23. Of course, in every settlement we were met by people. You just have to wave your hand and you see that you brought happiness and joy to a person for the whole day!

24. The first mountains began to appear at the entrance to San Luis

25. And the first inhabitants

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27. For the Dakar bivouac, they stupidly fenced off part of the mountain, the track and some kind of autodrome

28. This is what one tenth of the camp looks like. Bivouac is a no less spectacular part of Dakar, in the next posts we will return to it

29. Arriving at the camp, we went to look for the cars of our guys. Technicians rested in the shade after a long journey

thirty.

31. Hungry, we went to the field canteen. In the chill-out, fans were installed in front of her, which sprayed cold water. Very refreshing after the heat

32. Having calculated the time, we went to the finish line of the stage to wait for the riders. About twenty minutes later Roma drove up

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34. Overtook the guys to remove the car from the body

35. Operator Lesha is working at full speed - in every sense of the word

36. "Lucky Cat" came 41st - this is a good result

37. Konstantin comes to his senses after the race

In the comments they say that I don’t shoot Kamaz on purpose. Friends, there are about one and a half thousand cars here along with technical staff on the territory of several football fields! I just haven't found where Kamaz is yet.

Tomorrow we are waiting for the next stage. Stay Tuned!