Dakar Classic 2022

[Rodger]

Last year the Dakar Rally started a Classic class and it had 20 or so entries but this year the class has really taken off with 123 cars and 19 trucks. Of the 123 cars 42 are LCs ranging from a BJ40 through HJ61, various 70 series, numerous 80s, some 90s and 95s and several 100s and many of the teams are husband and wife. All the vehicles are pre-2000.
The Classic runs slightly less demanding routes and is more about average speeds, depending on the era of the vehicle, rather than flat-out speeds but it is still tough.

With the costs of being in the main classes being astronomical even for privateers on bikes, the Classic class is breathing new life into the Dakar as it is designed to be more affordable, etc..

Spanish TV has nearly 2 hours of coverage per night of the event but in the UK I think you may get half an hour.

Rodger

 

[Rodger]

Just to clarify the LCs that are in the Classic:
1 x BJ40
1 x HJ61
1 x LJ70
1 x 71
3 x 73
2 x 78
23 x 80
2 x 90
4 x 95
4 x 100

A bit of something for everyone.

Rodger

 

[Jacob100]

Thanks Rodger for giving me something to watch around the campfire.

 

[bones]

Ace it's Dakar time!

 

[Mick W]

List of Toyotas in the Classic starting today... hope the coverage is better than last year

#702 90 series
#706 HDJ80
#720 100 series
#724 HZJ78
#725 BJ40
#735 80 series
#738 HJ61
#743 80 series
#744 90 series
#750 80 series
#752 HZJ78
#754 100 series
#756 95 series
#758 HDJ80
#765 ?
#768 HDJ80
#773 BJ73
#778 HDJ80
#780 HDJ80
#782 KDJ95
#786 HDJ80
#788 HDJ80
#790 HDJ80
#792 HDJ80
#794 HDJ80
#797 HDJ80
#798 HDJ80
#805 HDJ80
#808 HDJ80
#810 HDJ100
#814 HDJ80
#815 VHZJ73
#818 HDJ80
#823 KZJ95
#824 100 series
#826 HJ70
#829 HDJ80
#830 BJ71
#834 HDJ80
#836 HDJ80
#838 KDJ95
#839 HDJ80

 

[Rodger]

765 is a BJ73 and currently leading the Classic, although today's stage for the class has been cancelled because of rain and flooding.

Rodger

 

[Grimbo]

Classic list probably explains where all the good 80's have gone ;-)

Like rallying in the UK the classic events are attracting a bigger following than the main events.... and with good reason , the vehicles look better , sound better , and are more fun to watch.

I grew up with rallying and competed , navigated and serviced on many events in the 90's not to mention being chase...ahem...."management" car driver on events and if not involved spending hrs watching in cold/wet/ snowy forests around the UK.... and yet I struggle to tell what make the current crop of WRC car is as it flies down a stage... they look the same and sound the same...
No grumble of a 6R4 , no banging and howling of a quattro driven by a beautiful French woman hurling 600hp sideways down a forest track , no Gp A Cossie popping and banging.....not to mention the Manta's and BDA escorts...... the stage times may be quicker now by many seconds but the sport like F1 has lost spectator appeal ....

Classic Dakar can only be a growing field .... buy that LWB 6R4 or Peugeot 405 T16 while you can.... ;-)

 

[Bob]

I have to agree wholeheartedly Grimbo. The lure of Rally events for me as a lad was that the cars looked exactly like what you would see in the neighbours yard, or the supermarket car park, or at the least in the roped off corner of your local dealership. We had rallies go down the bog lanes where I grew up, with Mantas, Novas, Corollas, and especially Mk2 Escorts all the go, and it was brilliant craic, especially when I was sent down on the tractor to tow them out of the bog after they took a wrong turn. Of course the top stuff in WRC then was as far from production cars as today's.. but it seemed different at the time

It's great to see the cruisers out in whatever non Dakar 'Dakar' that's on.. hope it grows.

 

[Mick W]

Had trouble finding any decent video (using YouTube currently), the official daily update doesn't even mention the classic event nor include it in the website live links. Shame

 

[Dave]

Grimbo, do you follow VHS Rallies on the youtube? All the old stuff on there.

 

[Rodger]

765 was only leading its class....
But 808 an HDJ80 is leading the General Classification of the Classics.

Because the Classic is a Regulatory rally it appears that they can't give the same info for General Classification which time elapsed but positions are given under each vehicle but with 146 competitors it takes a bit of working out and there are even a few photos....

On Spanish TV coverage has been extended from 2 hours to nearly 4 hours...... per night!

 

[Higgy]

I managed to glimpse about 2 seconds of an 80 doing about 12mph In the highlights On stage 2....

 

[Raj]

Which channel is broadcasting this rally

 

[Higgy]

If you have apple TV, Watch it via Eurosport, Or the other way round... Either way you have to pay/subscribe..... Its not on Anglia or Granada like the old day's any more..... Or just watch highlights on You Tube.....

 

[Raj]

Thanks Higgy.

 

[Rodger]

You can catch it on TDP Dakar online from Spain.

Now they are doing the rankings for the Classic and there are 2 LCs in the first 4 - an 80 and a 95 - on Dakar.com

The Spaniard who persuaded the Dakar organisation to start the Classic class, he's known as aka Livingstone, ran an original Dakar winning VW 4x4 from the early 80s last year but this year he's driving the BJ40 because that was the first diesel to finish the Dakar in the 80s.

To date. no withdrawals in the Classic class.
The stage today was 555kms with 219 special. The classic class runs a parallel route.


Rodger

 

[Rodger]

Today, Saturday, is the rest day and is the half way point.

The bike class is being led by Sam Sunderland (UK) on a GasGas.
In the car class there are 4 Toyotas in the first 5 positions and LCs are first and second in the production class.
And in the Classics a G320 leads an HDJ80 by one point - lowest point system - and they have 120 & 121 points respectively whereas the guy in last place has over 91,000 points. Another 80 in 4th place.

The BJ40 rolled yesterday coming off a dune and had to be pulled upright and dug out. With slight damage to a front wing it carried on.
The 95 (No 756) has retired.

Rodger

 

[Dave_S]

Some starting to come through now on YouTube...

 

[Dave_S]

 

[Dave_S]

80 series in this one...