2009 Dakar Rally-Team Dakar USA Stage 13 Update: La Rioja to Cordoba

From Robby Gordon.com:

 

Cordoba, Argentina (January 16, 2009) – The stage 13 route was changed today due to heavy rain that made many areas along the course impassable through the La Rioja and Cordoba regions. The 13th stage began at CP4, but only consisted of 220 km rather than the scheduled 545 km.

Around kilometer four, Robby Gordon passed Giniel De Villiers and Mark Miller for the race lead. However, he was not able to maintain this position for very long. Early in the stage, the No. 309 Monster Energy Toyo Tires Hummer was forced to pull over due to a problem with the throttle. After thoroughly evaluating the issue, Gordon found that a small rock was the culprit of the hanging throttle. Even after being down for 20 minutes, he was able to salvage a 16th-place finish, ending the stage only 22 minutes, 49 seconds behind Nani Roma. The Monster Energy Hummer still sits third in the overall standings, only 1 hour, 27 minutes behind De Villiers.

Eric Vigouroux had a flawless day, piloting his No. 324 Vanguard Hummer to a sixth place finish. When the stage concluded, he was only 13 minutes, 53 seconds behind. This moved Vigouroux to 14th overall, an impressive feat.  more…

2009 Dakar Rally ~ Suspense! Roma wins Stage 13

Today’s Rally has about killed me in anticipation for the Official results.

Still waiting…Amost Official…I think.

Maybe.

Robby is 11th…no…13th…no 14th…no 16th.

Hoping for a top 20 here and no change in the overall.

Eric Vigouroux still showing a 6th place stage finish and 11th overall. Good for him!

I do know that Mitsu’s Nani Roma has won the Stage 7’18″ ahead of Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc (Nissan), and 7’27 ahead of Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit (BMW).

That’s all I know for sure…I hate that!

Be back in a bit.

2009 Dakar ~ 1 Rabbit Down, 2 to go! Robby Gordon 3rd in Stage~3rd Overall!

The Monster is on the hunt…and in tracker’s mode.  Carlos Sainz is officially out of the race. (Sorry…Yippity Skippity!) Really. I am sorry his navigator broke his shoulder when Sainz goofed up.**and yesterday Sainz thought he had it wrapped up…(sarcastic smirk on my face.)

“Carlos Sainz will not be the winner of the 2009 Dakar. On km 79 of today’s special stage, he drove his Race Touareg slap straight into a dried-out rio, and ended up on the roof three meters lower. Michel Périn got out of car 301 with a broken shoulder. The consultation of the doctor rushed to the scene put an end to the anxiety of the Spaniard who still thought he would be able to keep driving: this is where the race stops for him. ” Dakar.com…

Robby was 3rd in today’s stage and Sainz’s little mishap brings him into 3rd overall. Only a few days left…and Robby and Andy’s scope’s are awesome for the rest of the race.

I really hope that Michel Périn gets feeling better soon and am very glad no one was killed (literally).

I am off to take a look at the other Wabbit’s (VW’s) scope’s for the rest of the race.

Congrats to Team Dakar USA,

Robby Gordon and Andy Grider

for a fine day’s work 

and a whole lot of luck!

2009 Dakar Stage 10= Tough Day Good Run for Robby Gordon and Andy Grider

Robby Gordon and Andy Grider finished 2nd in today’s Stage 10 and are still standing 5th overall.

The Church of The Great Oval

Question of the Day?

What was Robby doing

while Andy had the wheel?

Dakar Rally Stage Route Change ~ Robby Gordon & Andy Grider Scope’s

Due to the low volumes of sand, today’s loop at the Copiapo has been shortend by 200km. The route chages from the original route at CP#3 and will head west towards CP5 & 6and follow the initial route to arrival.

Robby Gordon, born 2 January 1969

Overall Theme: In the limelight ***

At this time you are very certain who you are, and you are not about to let anyone tell you otherwise. You may express this energy as a strong desire to work, and indeed this is an excellent time for work, especially if you get the credit for it. This is not a good time to work behind the scenes for someone else. You are likely to have serious conflicts with anyone who tries to take credit for what you have done. If your employers do not give you adequate scope, you may very well feel very angry toward them. Beware of acting impulsively or from purely egotistical motives. While it is necessary to assert yourself, don’t overdo it. You will only provoke opposition from people who try to cut you down. Carefully planned activity, however, can bring you great success.

Mars in the 10th House becomes active in your life right now, and will be through the middle of Feb. More than any other, this influence arouses your ambition to achieve. If you can identify with a project, you will work extremely hard at it.  until it is done. It is especially important now that you find an independent project that requires your individual initiative and effort. You should try to gain independent authority in your work at this time because you are not likely to be very tolerant of other people’s authority over yourself. You prefer to be your own boss. But your energy will make an impression upon people who are in a position to help you, as long as you do not challenge them unduly. Conflicts with coworkers may arise if they feel threatened by your efforts to get ahead. You should try to play down such conflicts unless something real is at stake.

This morning you feel a desire for strong emotional contact with others. You want to be involved in relationships at this time, and you don’t care whether or not they are perfectly smooth. What is important to you now is the intensity of feeling and the interchange with another person. You should use this time to learn something about your relationships and your attitudes toward them.

This is a time of deep feelings. Today during the day you want to be surrounded by familiar people and objects that remind you of pleasant past experiences.When you are with a group or before the public under this influence, you are able to establish a good rapport. This is a good time for making any kind of public presentation.

Today during the day you have the capacity to work either with others or alone. If you work with others you will have to have a lot of independence or some kind of leadership role in order to feel that you have been given an adequate chance. Probably you will get that chance. You have a much greater desire than usual to take the initiative and much stronger feelings of courage and self-reliance. In working with others, you will be able to give them the feeling that your aims are theirs, so that they will work with you more willingly. If you have to defend your point of view when challenged, you will not back down but will argue your case with vigor and passion. Others will respect you for this even when they do not agree. You do not feel any need to make unwarranted attacks in order to maintain yourself.

Andy Grider, born 28 July 1973

Psychologically, this influence broadens your comprehension of any issue that you are interested in and your understanding of life in general as you encounter it today. You are concerned with the largest, most comprehensive possible view, and you are eager to incorporate new information into your way of looking at the world. At the same time you are intellectually more tolerant of other viewpoints, seeing them not as a threat to your views, but as a way of enlarging them. Your ability to see the larger view today enables you to plan with foresight. Where others see only confusion, you can see a pattern and come up with insights that will amaze others. In business or social activities you are able to organize very effectively, grouping people together so they can work most efficiently. This is a good time to go out and socialize, because you feel quite cheerful and gregarious. You radiate warmth and emotion toward other people, so they enjoy being with you.

This influence can signify any one of several different effects. It can indicate a time when emotional contact with friends is very important to you. If you or your friend has something very personal to say, something that touches either of you at a deeper emotional level than usual, this is a good time to say it. Contact between yourself and friends is much deeper than usual now. A related effect of this influence is to bring a female friend or friends into prominence in your life, and in general you should find it easier to get along with them now. In friendships you will probably feel more protective and supportive than usual, or you will attract someone who gives you needed emotional support.

2009 Dakar Rally ~ Correction

Dang  Dakar Tracker…

That’s why I say stay tuned for the “Official results”

Robby actually placed third with a time of  2’16″ behind the real winner of the stage Carlos Sainz.  Miller placed 2nd with  Terranove behind him and DeVillers placing 5th.

 Gordon remains fifth overall, trailing Sainz by 1 hour, 34 minutes and 17 seconds. 

Officially.

2009 Dakar Rally ~ Stage 9 Update

 

Today’s stage 9 has proved to be quite a race. American Mark Miller (VW) has held on to the lead winning the stage with a time of 4 hours, 33’36″.

Behind him by 3’53″ was Spaniard King Carlos Sainz, with Argentina’s Orlando  Terranova coming in  at 10’40″ So far… 4th with a time of 12’51″ was our own heroic Monster Hummer team of Robby Gordon and Andy Grider! Running 5th was Russian Leonid Novitskie (BMW) at 13’38″.  Giniel De Villiers (VW) at 17’30″, slowly followed for 6 th position.

More updates on the day as soon as overall standings are official.

2009 Dakar Rally-Stage 9 Astro-Predictions~ Robby Gordon-Andy Grider

Stage 9: La Serena – Coppiapo

There are 536.42 km (333.3 miles) on the menu for the 9th stage, including a 448.9-km (278.9 miles) timed section, and this is when things get serious, with fast tracks, mountains, but also some imposing dunes to get through, as well as several off-track sections to be negotiated. It will be an opportunity for the most experienced to show off their navigational skills, but also how adept they are at handling their equipment, which could be capital before a double whammy of two very difficult stages.

 

Robby Gordon, born 2 January 1969

Your ego energies are high, which means that you can stand up for yourself against almost anyone today. You have great confidence and will not easily allow someone to take advantage of you. Unfortunately this may also mean that you will get into fights and arguments. Try to remember that other people have egos too. You don’t have to defeat others in order to maintain yourself. You should be especially careful in your dealings with supervisors. They will not expect you to be as assertive toward them as you are likely to be today. You have a great deal of physical energy also, which means you can work hard and long. If you use these energies intelligently, you should be able to accomplish far more worthwhile work than on other days.

Today during the day you will keep your emotions under control, not in a repressive, negative manner, but in a way that enables you to take a more sober and realistic view of life. You are able to put up with considerable adversity and strain during this time because it gives you patience and reserve strength. While you are not inclined to talk about your feelings to just anyone, you do not evade them in yourself. You may very well go off by yourself at this time to think about and evaluate your development. If you have a problem, seek out an older person whose wisdom you respect, who can offer emotional support and suggest practical and immediate answers. You need common-sense answers now that can be applied directly.

Andy Grider, born 28 July 1973

Your energy level will be high, perhaps too high if you are not careful. Watch for signs of irritable impatience with others whenever things do not go exactly as you planned. Be assertive only when the situation calls for it, not whenever you feel like it. Also watch out for baseless conflicts with others, which you may not necessarily instigate yourself. Today you should be particularly careful of conflicts with authorities. Voice your complaints if they are legitimate, but expect a certain amount of hostile reaction to them. Also be careful that the tone of your complaint does not aggravate this hostility. What you get is usually a function of the energies that you put out. On the physical level, try to find an outlet for your vigorous energies.

This same aspect gives you a sense of discipline and self-control, which will make it easier to deal with the emotionally complicated issues in your life that you normally avoid. At this time you can deal with difficult relationships that you could not handle in the past with proper detachment and objectivity. You can reflect upon your feelings and examine them without letting them control you. Make whatever changes should be made in your personal life with confidence that you are seeing the truth clearly.

All of what is going on in your astro-world is a powerful stimulus to the mind and to all kinds of communication and interchange with others. You will be engaged in an almost continuous dialogue with others today, which should tell you exactly how you stand with respect to them and how they are reacting to you. It is extremely important that you be receptive to anything that is presented to you. If your thinking is dominated by concern with yourself and your own position, to the point that you cannot hear what anyone else is saying, this is likely to be a day of argument and unconstructive dispute. But if you are receptive, you will be able to learn much. At the same time you can promote your own ideas by making it clear to others that your ideas are not a threat to theirs and that you are willing to work with them as a team.

Today during the day all your aspects give you a pleasant feeling of restlessness, a desire for excitement but not to the point of disruption. You may feel like shaking up the people around you and jolting them out of their seeming lethargy. Or if you are not conscious of this desire in yourself, you may attract someone who shakes you up. Under any circumstances you want to be with exciting and stimulating companions. In your home and other close surroundings you are not willing to accept the same old situation. You may try to find ways to change your circumstances or at least provide some temporary excitement. It is possible that you will meet a new and exciting friend today, or an old friend will come back into your life unexpectedly. Friends may provide opportunities for advancement or for getting away from your usual scene for awhile.

Tonight you can assert yourself in a positive manner and stand your ground if necessary. You may feel more courage and confidence than usual, which you express by taking the initiative in making emotional contacts with others. You speak very directly and forcefully, but without being offensive, which others will respect you for. This is a good time to work as a leader with groups of people. You understand what is needed, and you can unify your objectives and theirs, usually by talking them around to your point of view. Whenever you talk with others, you radiate an inner excitement, as if you were ready for immediate action. Under this influence you have the capacity to start projects, although you should keep in mind that this is a short-term influence and its effects will not last long.

 

Robby and Andy can make a real showing for themselves tomorrow.

They are heading into Hummer Heaven!

GAS ON and Blood out!!

KILL THOSE WASCALLY WABBITS!!

Robby Gordon ~ Audio after Stage 7 and Dakar Rally Bath

Cough…Cough!!

2009 Dakar Rally Stage 8 Results

Stage 8 ~Carlos Sainz arrived in 3 hrs, 47 minutes and 19 seconds. Perhaps Sainz thought he was putting on a clinic today!  American Mark Miller has crossed 4 minutes, 12 seconds behind Sainz. Roma followed by 3 seconds. 

I am anxious to hear Robby’s recounting of the day’s activities. We know he got into a push and shove with a rock in a dry rivier bed early in the stage. Did he get tangled up in Quad traffic also? Was there damage done to the Hummer in the rock push and shove. Only time will tell.

De Villers has now crossed at 10’48″ with Chicherit behind him at 11’32″.

Playing “Where in the World is Robby Gordon?” again…

There he is! Crossed the finish 8th at 23’40″.

Still in good shape overall!

More as details are official…

2009 Update ~ Robby Gordon

The third to start this morning, Robby Gordon got stuck against a rock when crossing a dried river bed after 49 km of the day’s special stage. The American was able to resume after a few minutes, but Spaniard Nani Roma (Mitsubishi) was able to catch up and overtake him as a result.

Right now as it stands Carlos Sainz has crossed at KM 248. Robby was approx. 9’32″ at 180. Hopefully he has made up some time. Dieter Depping has been having a fantastic day, head to head with Sainz all morning.

Mark Miller gas passed up Depping at 248 with Roma right behind. 

This stage gas been remakably suspenseful, wiating for the Monster Hummer to show up as the Dakar Tracking ststem refreshes itself…the last to cross has been De Villiers at 7’59″. 

I am playing “Where in the World is Robby Gordon?” again. The next part of the stage is Arrival (finish) and that should go fast.

Chitcherit in the Beemer has now crossed 11’10″ behind the leader. Not looking good right now for the Hummer.

Robby just crossed 248 at 19’59″. Running 7th in the stage right now unofficially. Perhaps he can make up some time and move up a bit.

More soon…

2009 Dakar Stage 8 Astro Predictions~ Robby Gordon and Andy Grider

After a good day’s rest Stage 8 begins in Valparaiso and runs north, up the west coast of Chile to La Serena. La Serena is the countries third oldest city, with history and spirituality abounding. Many of the church in the city are over 350 years old. 

 They will run from sea level up winding fast roads with altitudes of 1000ft above sea level.The course will be very fast, on pavement and gravel mostly.

Robby and Andy’s scope’s both show a wonder for spirituality and the unknown today. 

  No wonder…they are not far from    Easter Island, where mystery  and enormous energy abound.

 Robby Gordon, born 2 January 1969

 This morning you desire experience at  a very profound level and do not like  superficial encounters. With friends  and loved ones you seek the true  meaning of your feelings for each  other. Under this influence, deep-  rooted feelings in a relationship are  often brought to the surface. This has a  therapeutic effect on most relationships, for it releases hidden energies that may be weakening the ties between you. During this time you should be careful not to set an objective for yourself and then become so obsessed by it that you lose track of everything else. Even this rather mild influence can result in a one-track mind and compulsive behavior. If this happens, it is a sign that hidden in this compulsion is a psychological energy that you should try to understand, because it could control some part of your life.

 This morning you may also experience a real conflict between feelings and reason, or you may have a very fruitful dialogue about the state of your soul, either internally or with another person. In the first instance, old habits, prejudices and childhood patterns of thought are very likely to take precedence over what you usually consider reasonable; obviously this is not a good time to enter into delicate negotiations or to engage in an important discussion. As for the other side of this influence, this is a good time to withdraw by yourself or with another person and get in touch with your feelings. As long as you recognize that your emotions are emotions rather than rational judgments, you will not have trouble with this influence. In fact, you can learn a great deal about yourself, because your feelings are very clear.

Today you will display a great deal of energy in your dealings with other people. However, the problem lies in how you use that energy, for you may try to dominate others. Or you may encounter others who try to dominate you. Do not be so concerned with your own desires that your actions are out of harmony with the people around you. Do not be so willful that you actually get in the way of your own intentions. This influence can help you, because it enables you to make your mark on the people around you, so that they accept you and let you lead or help lead them. But you must be sure that you are right and that others really are willing to accept your leadership. Otherwise you will only create needless conflict that will bring you nothing.

Today during the day this influence gives you a pleasant feeling of restlessness, a desire for excitement but not to the point of disruption. You may feel like shaking up the people around you and jolting them out of their seeming lethargy. Or if you are not conscious of this desire in yourself, you may attract someone who shakes you up. Under any circumstances you want to be with exciting and stimulating companions. In your home and other close surroundings you are not willing to accept the same old situation. You may try to find ways to change your circumstances or at least provide some temporary excitement. It is possible that you will meet a new and exciting friend today, or an old friend will come back into your life unexpectedly. Friends may provide opportunities for advancement or for getting away from your usual scene for awhile.

Today during the day there is a real danger of needless disputes, irritability, emotionalism, rash action and hastiness, which may result in harm or inconvenience later. You will find it difficult to handle other people for awhile. One of the challenges now is to successfully let off steam without making an unnecessary shambles. If you frequently feel somewhat discouraged about yourself, you should be especially careful with this influence. You may see everything that comes your way as a threat and react much too defensively. If you have a bolder and more self-confident temperament, you may be inclined to act too quickly, to be hasty and overcritical of others. Or you may be accident prone. With this influence, you are not as careful as you should be, and you might hurt yourself.

Tonight you feel quite good, and you enjoy being with congenial people. Probably it would be best to be with old friends whom you know well and with whom you have already established strong emotional ties. But you will not be closed to new acquaintances. You make it clear to those around you that you are concerned for their welfare and that you will help them out if they ever need it. And the chances are that they feel the same way about you. This influence denotes a time when you and your friends support each other and feel that you belong together. This is a good time for any sort of group activity, because by working together you all will feel that it is a group effort from which everyone will benefit equally. 

Andy Grider, born 28 July 1973

You will probably encounter tension today between your personal needs and your public and professional duties. You may feel that you are being pulled in two different directions that are almost impossible to pursue simultaneously. Events that happen today emphasize the polarity in your life, so that you have to distinguish continually between “myself” and “them,” subjective and objective, conscious intention and unconscious impulses, public and private. At its worst, this influence can be quite difficult, and you may feel as though everything were breaking down. It all depends upon how much you have de-emphasized emotion and feeling in favor of rational intellect. On the other hand, if your feelings and your conscious intentions have taken the same direction, this can also be a day of high energy and achievement.

 This influence will bring forth your innermost subconscious fantasies. Tonight you may spend considerable time daydreaming and not accomplish very much, but you will probably feel that it has been worth it. Dreams can be very refreshing to the spirit. At times we all need to withdraw a bit from the real world and encounter our inner selves. Now you have great sympathy for others. You are able to put yourself in their place and know exactly how you would feel in such a situation. You want to help others, with little thought of any benefit to yourself. This is one of those influences that makes you truly selfless, not merely in appearance. You may work to help people whom you consider less fortunate than yourself. There is often a strong interest in psychic or spiritual subjects under this influence.

This influence stimulates your drive for personal freedom, and if you feel free and unencumbered, you will probably behave quite irresponsibly in other people’s eyes. The more you feel that people are trying to hold you back or make you toe the line, the more you will resist. The same applies to relationships.  On a very different level, this influence can manifest itself as a feeling of spiritual disquiet, a mood in which you question your fundamental goals and aspirations. And, indeed this is a good time to look at your life in this way. What you learn will be very important to you.

Today during the day you desire experience at a very profound level and do not like superficial encounters. With friends and loved ones you seek the true meaning of your feelings for each other. Under this influence, deep-rooted feelings in a relationship are often brought to the surface. This has a therapeutic effect on most relationships, for it releases hidden energies that may be weakening the ties between you. During this time you should be careful not to set an objective for yourself and then become so obsessed by it that you lose track of everything else. Even this rather mild influence can result in a one-track mind and compulsive behavior. If this happens, it is a sign that hidden in this compulsion is a psychological energy that you should try to understand, because it could control some part of your life.

Tonight you experience something like your personal “new Moon,” a time when your mind and body are recharged for the month ahead. Your feelings may now be very strongly influenced by the larger emotional patterns that dominate your life. Usually this influence is felt as a burst of energy in which will, physical vitality and emotions all work together harmoniously. The split between mind and feelings that often plagues us all is not noticeable now, and your relations with others, particularly in interactions with women, will probably work more smoothly than usual. This is an outward reflection of your inner harmony. Group efforts are very favorably affected by this influence, because it gives you greater sensitivity to the feelings of people around you.

2009 Dakar Stage 7 Summary &Rest Day in Valparaiso, Chile

The crowds at Valparaíso welcome The Rally Raiders!

    

"Camp Dakar" at Valparaíso, Chile

Tomorrow is a well needed rest day. Stage 8, a very fast, winding route along the coast from Valparaiso to  La Serena take them up the racers up and along the western coast of Chile. They are in territory they will never forget.Valparaiso, which means Paradise Valley, will be a lovely, historical place for the rest.

Former Leader Nasser Al-Attiyah has retired from the Dakar Rally after missing a waypoint during the sixth stage .  I said the flies will be dropping soon and there are now 2 big flies out of the way. Stéphane Peterhansel  had a fire issue which ruined his chances of winning. Fly #2 Down.

RE Al-Attiyah: Sven Quandt, sporting director of BMW TEAM X-Raid, said: “We had a problem with the radiator. In spite of the work of the mechanics, the overheating engine was still too much of a problem at the entry to the (sand) dunes. Nasser had the choice between engaging in sand or going around. He chose the second solution but he missed several waypoints which, in accordance with the rules, means an automatic exclusion.”

Summary of stage 7 from Dakar.com…

Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) has won the 7th stage, picking up his 3rd stage victory of this 31st Dakar, 3.41 ahead of his American team-mate Mark Miller (VW) and 4.13 in front of American Robby Gordon and his Hummer. As a result, in the general standings “El Matador” Sainz has taken the lead, 9 short seconds ahead of his South African team-mate Giniel De Villiers and 13.53 in front of the Race Touareg belonging to Miller, putting the 3 Volkswagens in the first 3 places! Worthy of note, the 9 times winner of the event Stéphane Peterhansel again suffered problems today. After a fire in the engine of his Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, the Frenchman has now lost all chance of grabbing a 10th victory on his 20th Dakar. In the Open category, Robby Gordon (Hummer) was again victorious and is the undisputed category leader in the general standings. Finally, in the Production category, Japanese driver Jun Mitsuhashi (Toyota) won the stage, but still only managed to claw back 10.20 on Frenchman Nicolas Gibon (Toyota) who retains a solid lead in the category in the general standings.

In the Bikes, Chilean Francisco Lopez (KTM) has won the 7th stage, picking up his 1st success on the Dakar, 3.57 ahead of the leader of the general standings, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) and 5.21 in front of France’s Cyril Despres (KTM). As a result, in the general standings Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) carries on opening up a gap at the top of the rankings, with a 51.22 lead over American Jonah Street (KTM), still leader in the marathon category, and a 52.31 lead over Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), leader of the 450cc category.

In the Quads, Argentine Marcos Patronelli (Can Am) has won the 7th stage, picking up his 1st success on the Dakar, 14.01 ahead of Uruguayan Luis Henderson (Suzuki) and 20.22 in front of Poland’s Rafal Sonik (Yamaha). As a result, in the general standings Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha) is way out in the lead, 2:27.32 ahead of Patronelli and 2:38.27 in front of Polish rider Sonik.

2009 Dakar Stage 7~Update Robby Gordon~5th Overall

 

With a great day behind him Robby Gordon placed 3rd in today’s Stage 7,4 minites and 13 seconds behind the Veedubs, placing him 5th overall. 

Saintz (VW) took 1st with Miller (VW) behind him by 2″41. Roma (Mitsubishi) followed at 5″37 and De Villiers (VW) behind him at 7″48′.

Congrats to the Monster Hummer Team Dakar USA on a fine run.

Tomorrow is a rest day.

More information the today’s stage later on!

2009 Dakar Stage 7 ~ Update

And the flies continue to drop. 

After a fire in the engine of his Mitsubishi after 57 km, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel reached the 91-km mark on the day’s special 10.40 behind the provisional leader, Spaniard Carlos Sainz. The title holder had to stop again after 80 km due to his engine overheating…Darn!!

As of right now Robby is having a pretty good day. He had second best time after 91km and still hanging up there in 5th at 139.

For those that wanted to know why I didn’t post scope’s yesterday…It’s because, I just didn’t.

Remember you can follow Dakar live at Dakar.com.

The best place to chat about Robby Gordon and Team Dakar USA is PlanetRobby.com

No worries…more later!

GAS ON 309

2009 Dakar Rally Stage 5 Update

 

Today was the best day so far in the raid as The Monster Hummer proved it’s power.  Robby Gordon and Navagator Andy Grider placed 3rd in Stage 5, which moves them up to 7th overall.

 

From RobbyGordon.com:

Team Dakar USA Stage 5 Update: Neuguen to San Rafael                  

 

San Rafael, Argentina (January 7, 2009) – Today’s 506-km special from Neuguen to San Rafael was one of the most difficult thus far in the Dakar Rally. The competitors were confronted with sand dunes, long off-road sections and very technical segments.  Luckily for Team Dakar USA, it was one of the most complex stages, allowing Robby Gordon’s driving abilities and Andy Grider’s navigational skills to shine. The duo ended today’s special in third place, only 4:12 minutes behind.   

Team Dakar USA started today’s stage with a renewed sense of optimism; they knew that Hummers would perform well on the hyper-technical route. Up to this point in the Rally, the stages have been had very fast sections, which is not ideal for the Hummers. In 2007, the A.S.O. changed a rule that affected the Team Dakar USA race vehicles, forcing the team to run a smaller restrictor and gear ratio. This ultimately took about 15 mph away from the race vehicle’s top speed. Therefore, the Hummers are better on the curvy, technical segments than on the fast straightaway sections.

“Today, the course was very challenging. The No. 309 Monster Energy Toyo Tires Hummer drove through the sand dunes with ease, and Andy did an excellent job of navigating us. Honestly, I think that this is where we made up the most time throughout the day. We were having a great run until we lost another power steering belt. The ratchet strap that secures the spare tire to the race vehicle came loose, causing the belt to fail. Without the belt, the race car cannot perform as it runs the alternator, water pump, and the power steering pump. We quickly replaced the belt and got back on the track. All in all, I am happy with today’s performance. We were able to close the gap on the new leader, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah. We moved up to seventh overall and are just trailing by 41:48 minutes,” commented Gordon on today’s special. “In my opinion, the race has just started. There is more than enough opportunity to make up the 41 minutes.”

“Given the fact that this is Eric Vigouroux’ first time in one of the Hummers, he is doing a great job piloting the No. 324 Vanguard Hummer. If he had not encountered the problem with the power steering bracket, I would estimate that he would be in the top-20. It is just unfortunate that the part broke. He started today’s special from 62nd. He is still making his way to the finish, but he is currently 33rd. There is still time for him to make up the lost ground,” commented Gordon, owner of the No. 324 Hummer.

The Dakar Rally will travel from San Rafael to Mendoza tomorrow for stage 6. Stay tuned to robbygordon.com for more Dakar highlights. 

 

Robby’s daily updates from each stage so far, are finally up at the site. Check out yesterdays Stage 4 which ran from Jacobacci to Neuguen.

Photo Credit: Ramses Rally Journal

“I am disappointed that we rolled the Monster Energy Toyo Tires Hummer today. Luckily, the damage is minimal and can be repaired this evening before tomorrow’s special. Once it happened,Andy and I jumped out…(Read the rest of the suspense!)

Tomorrow’s scopes for Stage 7 coming up!

Congrats to Robby and Andy!

2009 Dakar Rally ~ Stage 5 Astro-Predictions_Robby Gordon and Andy Grider

The #309 Team Gordon/Grider in the Monster Hummer took 10 in Stage 4 today and are now standing in 9 place overall.

Here are the scope’s for tomorrows stage 5.

Robby and Andy both have some very opposing aspects for Stage 5 but they will also balance the positive and the negative, tho it may not be the smoothest day between Driver and Navigator.

Robby Gordon, born 2 January 1969

This morning you are very sensitive emotionally, but the impressions you receive through your sensitivity may not be very accurate. You have vague feelings about the circumstances and people around you, and you may feel very confused, because you aren’t sure whether you are being realistic or unduly suspicious and fearful. Misunderstandings with others are very likely, because you tend to feel that others have unfairly criticized or hurt you, although they have done nothing of the sort. Or you may feel that someone dislikes you for the flimsiest reasons. The reason is that this influence activates your subconscious complexes, which take over your moods and perceptions. Instead of reacting to the reality of what you see, you react automatically to the subconscious process set off by what you see. 

This is a time when you emotionally identify with your possessions or whatever you value. This can lead to a very strong attachment to material objects and a general attitude of possessiveness about them, which can be a problem if someone needs to borrow something of yours, for instance. Or you may unconsciously identify with your own value system to such an extent that you feel every challenge to it as a direct challenge to yourself. You may have to defend yourself in areas where you really have nothing at stake. Traditionally this influence is considered to be a bad time to spend money, because your attitudes toward possessions are so conditioned by unconscious drives that you are not likely to make an intelligent decision about buying something based upon your real needs.

During this time your feelings make themselves more noticeable than usual – even small embarrassments become extremely uncomfortable. Therefore, if you should make any mistake today, you should not immediately accuse yourself for it, as it is probably not as serious as it seems. This sensitivity, though, also gives you a good feel for the weaknesses and sensibilities of others, so that you can be very tactful and accommodating about them.

Andy Grider, born 28 July 1973

This can be a very pleasant time. You feel at ease with yourself, benign and rather self-indulgent, which is fine as long as you don’t have work that must be done. A problem may arise if you have a disagreement with a loved one or friend. Instead of defending your own position when you have a perfect right to, you may compromise on issues that really should not be compromised. If you have a difficult negotiation to transact, avoid doing it during this time. The negotiation may succeed, but the results may not be to your advantage. Daydreaming is also a characteristic of this influence, which is fine unless it interferes with necessity.

Today during the day your feelings and emotions are much more intense, but at the same time your sensitivity is stimulated. You feel everything much more powerfully than usual, and you are not likely to take your feelings or anyone else’s lightly. It puts you in a serious mood and makes you seek the most powerful and intimate encounters with another. Sexual relationships may be considerably enriched, because this influence enables you to get past the superficial levels of communication.

Tonight you experience a time of inner and outer equanimity. You can stop and take stock of yourself without feeling completely caught up in the usual turmoil and rush of events. Even if your affairs are not going too smoothly, this influence will provide a breathing space. If you have been feeling harried, you now have at least a brief opportunity to take it easy. And if you are relaxed, you will feel even better now. Your relationships with groups and friends are quite good during this time. You are able to understand other people’s needs without losing sight of your own desires for fulfillment. Opportunities may arise from unexpected corners that will improve your life in small ways at least. In general you will benefit from being out in the world today and having as much contact with others as possible.

It is unfortunate that this influence is so brief, because it gives you such a pleasant sense of well-being. Tonight you feel very warm and friendly to the people around you, and you are willing to offer emotional or physical support to anyone who needs it. You are generous and giving. People will warm to you, and you should get from others exactly what you give, that is, warmth and affection. You are likely to attract basically happy and positive people with whom you will have an enjoyable time. This is not the result of a “Pollyanna” view of reality that refuses to recognize trouble and pain in the world, but of a real sense of belonging and oneness with others. In a very important sense you feel that helping others helps you. On another level this influence indicates a concern with the general welfare.

Tonight you are very sensitive emotionally, but the impressions you receive through your sensitivity may not be very accurate. You have vague feelings about the circumstances and people around you, and you may feel very confused, because you aren’t sure whether you are being realistic or unduly suspicious and fearful. Misunderstandings with others are very likely, because you tend to feel that others have unfairly criticized or hurt you, although they have done nothing of the sort. Or you may feel that someone dislikes you for the flimsiest reasons. The reason is that this influence activates your subconscious complexes, which take over your moods and perceptions. Instead of reacting to the reality of what you see, you react automatically to the subconscious process set off by what you see.

 

The Hummer 2 is out of the picture today. That is a loss of a support vehicle and man power should the Monster Hummer need it.

They have some challenges coming up…only about 6000 Km’s to go.

Keep on, keepin on!

2009 Dakar Update

Unofficially, Dakar.com tracking shows Carlos Saintz (VW), Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW), respectively, with 53 seconds between them at KM 419. Having not crossed 419 yet, at KM 368  Robby Gordon and Andy Grider were running 6 minutes and 19 seconds behind Saintz.

Things change so quickly so stay tuned!

2009 Dakar Rally Stage 4 ~ Astro-Predictions-Robby Gordon and Andy Grider

Dakar Stage 4

STAGE 4 : JACOBACCI – NEUQUEN

488.48 km are on the program of stage 4 including 459.38 of timed route on the same type of terrain as yesterday. Patagonia and its pampa await the contenders for a new fast special stage that might also be treacherous with many potholes and boulders along the route too, without forgetting a few ’rio’ crossings as well – the equivalent of the African ’wadis’. The participants will still have to check the wear of their tyres in this new special stage that should – again – be a follow-up to the fascinating battle for the top raging between Volkswagen, Mitsubishi and a surprising BWM.

 

Robby Gordon, born 2 January 1969

Positive thinking

Valid during several weeks:

This is an excellent time for making plans for the future and creating organizational systems, as well as for all other intellectual and mental efforts. This influence opens up and sharpens your mind so that you see, even if subliminally, all the possibilities inherent in a situation. This enables you to turn it to your best advantage. Also this influence gives you a well-founded feeling of optimism, which in turn creates the well-known “power of positive thinking.”

This morning your personal needs and career needs are balanced, and there will not be as much tension between them as at other times. Also your emotions are in tune with your intentions so that you can go about your business with complete oneness. There is less of the feeling that two sides of you are struggling for mastery over the whole. Under this influence you have a great ability to relate to others on an emotional level, because you feel your emotions so richly yourself. You are sensitive to others’ needs, and you understand how you can use their moods and sensitivities for positive ends.

Today you feel very much in harmony with yourself and able to do whatever you have to do single-mindedly. Your energies flow with less resistance, and life seems to be easier now. As a consequence, you can relate to people more easily, for others perceive your inward harmony and are drawn to you because of it. Obviously this is a good time for any kind of group activity. You are able to relate your own interests to the interests of any group you are working with, so that everyone will gain from what you do.

Andy Grider, born 28 July 1973

Turbulence and difficulty ~Valid during several weeks:

Usually this influence increases the flow of communication and ideas between yourself and other people. However, it can also indicate serious ego conflicts and conflicts of will expressed verbally or through other means of communications.  When you have said what you wanted to say, others may be strongly opposed to it. A compromise may be necessary, but it will not be easy to bring about except by introducing a third party into the discussion. Just be careful that the third party is really neutral and that both you and your opponent are convinced of that.

During this time your emotional experiences are much more intense than usual, which is reflected in the kinds of people and situations that you are drawn to. For example, you may draw in unusually intense or powerful people who have a strong effect upon you. Very often through your emotional encounters with these people, you experience moods and feelings that are quite different from your “normal” self. You may ask if this is really you, it seems so different. And you may also desire something that belongs to someone else, or you may desire greater control over something that is both yours and another’s. In either case you must recognize that your attachment serves no real purpose and that it is a potential source of trouble.

Another influence affecting you today, normally indicates a few hours of unusually intense feelings. Tonight you will have a strong desire to know yourself and to experience life largely through the emotion. This is probably not the best time for work that requires a completely clear and dispassionate state of consciousness, but you will not feel like doing that kind of work anyway. You will want to engage your emotions in whatever you do, and you will experience a richness of feeling and inner life that is satisfying in itself. This influence is good for any business matters concerning the general public or for any situation in which you have to appear before the public or a large group. Otherwise it is not an influence that stimulates drive and ambition.

Tonight this influence is likely to increase the tempo of your social intercourse for a few hours. You find it relatively easy to verbalize your feelings. If you have a problem or situation that you cannot handle, this is a good time to take it to a sympathetic friend. Getting another viewpoint will help you. And, of course, you may do the same for someone else. Often this time is filled with news from friends or with letters and phone calls. Actually you are attracting communication from every conceivable corner of your life. This is a good time to write letters to the people you feel strongly about. But some people under this influence become so passive that it is difficult to take such an initiative. Their tendency is to allow others to take the initiative.

These scope’s all again look well for the Monster Hummer.

45 Minutes to make up. It can be done!

GAS ON!!

2009 Dakar Rally Stage 3 Update ~ Gordon 9th Overall!

 

Stage 2 camp (Ramses photo)

Well, I must say this morning was a little difficult. Not for Robby necessarily, but for those of us trying to track him. Dakar.com had issues with the tracker today and we played “Where in the World is Robby Gordon?”  for hours. Robby seemed to have disappeared after KM 196.  

Was it a problem that needed a wrench? Was he lost? What had happened? Had he gone the way of his Team Mate?  

Eric Vigneroux  stopped just 2km after today’s special stage start. France’s Vigouroux, team mate of Robby Gordon, and driver of the Hummer 2, suffered an engine breakdown on his Vangaurd Hummer. Where were Robby and Andy?

Well, he was ON THE GAS of course!

 

 

Turns out there was a tracking problem at Dakar.com thank goodness.

Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW)  followed by Spain’s Carlos Saintz (VW), Dieter Depping (VW), Giniel DeVilliers (VW), and France’s  Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi) were the first five to finish the stage.

Robby Gordon took 10th in the stage and moved up a spot to 9th overall. 34 minutes behind!

More details as the day goes on!

In the meantime catch of on Team Dakar USA’s daily activities at Ramses Rally Journal here…

Congrats again Robby and Andy!

After Stage 2

GAS ON!

2009 Dakar Rally ~ Stage 3 `Robby Gordon-Andy Grider Astro-Predictions

 

Dakar ~ Stage 3

Here are Robby and Andy’s scopes for tomorrow’s Stage 3 Puerto Madryn to Jacobacci. 

From Dakar.com

This is going to be one of the toughest stages in the Rally. Rains have hit the area hard and some of the stagee and time had to be changed. The special program is a tough one, ranging over 600 km. It will be a sign that the competitors have reached the heart of the matter, even though big problems are still to come. The entry into Patagonia, which will be accompanied by a significant change in terrain, will need new piloting abilities. The landscape is much hillier, and those who prefer long curves will find what they’re looking for. Here, orientation is done using the lakes that border the route, around ten throughout the day, and numerous pink flamingoes will be the preferred guides for this stage. 

694.56 km are on the menu for the 3rd stage, but 550.74 km of these will be timed, making it the second longest special of the rally! The route includes quick tracks without great difficulties, but the competitors will have to be careful about the state of their tires, to avoid the pitfalls encountered in the first stage. They also need to be wary of the vegetation typical of the Pampa, which will be all over the route… This special should again witness a fine struggle between the car constructors in terms of pure speed.

Robby starts at approx.  3:32am PST. Another early morning for me!

Robby Gordon, born 2 January 1969

Indirect support 

This is an excellent time for all matters. Relationships work out far better than on other days, because you are imbued with a strong desire to be warm and friendly to everyone you meet.

A perfect balance

The effects of this influence can vary considerably, but it is generally favorable for most kinds of activity. You are able to assert yourself today so as to get what you want without offending anybody. People will appreciate that you have been direct without being abrasive or pugnacious. You want everyone to have the same freedom you have to go after their own objectives, and you are willing to help them as long as they will return the favor. There is an almost perfect balance now between your need to be an individual with individual wants and desires and your need to relate to others. You can charm men or women by being genuinely friendly and agreeable, and you are concerned that your partner enjoy the relationship as much as you do.

Weak, transient effect:

Today during the day you should be careful because the energies of this influence are quite discordant and could create trouble in your personal life. The problem is that you are rather emotionally excitable and easily irritated or angered now. With other people you are far less tolerant of individual quirks, and little things irritate you. You may also be in such a contentious mood that no outside aggravation is needed to set you off. Be wary of arguing just for the sake of arguing. But on the other hand, if you feel real anger, you should release the energy; don’t hold it in. Your domestic scene may not be very peaceful under this influence, but try to remain calm, no matter how difficult it is.

Weak, transient effect:

This influence can signify a critical time in your communications with the people around you, particularly those with whom you are intimately involved. The danger is that your feelings and emotions will overwhelm your rational intellect, making your thinking so subjective that no one else will be able to relate to what you say. Nevertheless you have a strong need to communicate about your emotions. You should avoid dealing with controversy by changing your own views every time someone disagrees with them. You will tend now to change your views according to the prevailing wind, but this may result in compromising yourself if the people you have “agreed” with compare viewpoints. However, it is natural for your opinions to be in a state of flux at this time. Just be honest about admitting it.

This is a time of deep feelings. Today during the day you want to be surrounded by familiar people and objects that remind you of pleasant past experiences. When you are with a group or before the public under this influence, you are able to establish a good rapport. This is a good time for making any kind of public presentation. Friends,are important to you at this time. You have the ability to sit with them, listen to their troubles and offer a sympathetic ear, as well as good advice.

A reasonably pleasant time Weak, transient effect:

This morning you want to be with your friends and the people you love. This influence helps to ensure that you will have a reasonably pleasant time with them. Feelings of love and friendship may build in all areas of your life now, and you feel that life is richer and a little more rewarding. It is a good time to have friends to your home for entertainment. You are able to make them feel good, and they will appreciate it, for you make it clear that you care about them.

Andy Grider, born 28 July 1973

Weak, transient effect:

This morning you may feel like being alone with your thoughts and feelings. Your mood is not usually bad or depressed, you simply desire to be calm and reflective. But you are probably not in the mood for frivolity. You prefer the company of serious people, if any, and you want the conversation to be about important topics. Under this influence you may feel the need to consult someone whose higher vantage point you respect. You are able to balance your emotional needs with your sense of duty and obligation. While you are aware of your feelings, you do not let them overwhelm you. In all proceedings you are thrifty and careful. You are also very careful and thorough in your approach to any kind of work now. It is not likely that you will have to do any task over, nor will anyone else have to clean up after you.

Another influence stimulates the imagination in a very positive way. Your sensitivity to and awareness of the subtler aspects of the world around you is greatly increased, and your intuition is much stronger than usual. In your contacts with people, you have a much clearer sense of what is going on in others’ minds. If you can keep your perceptions straight in your head, you will be astonished by the insights about people that this influence can bring. However, during this time it is often difficult to keep your intuitions sorted out. Clear thinking is not one of your strong points today, and in fact you should try not to use your rational mind very much. 

Weak, transient effect:

Tonight you will meet some sort of challenge to the structure of your daily life. All of us have hidden tensions that cause us to operate in ways that we do not understand. The effect of this influence is to bring these tensions to the surface. Thus you may feel ill at ease within yourself and have a bit more difficulty in getting along with others, particularly with women. Now several small areas of your life may simultaneously reach a crisis that forces you to pay more attention to what is happening. This is especially likely to happen with situations or persons that you have been taking for granted. You should take the time to correct little problems as they arise and give them the attention that they require.

The loftier side Weak, transient effect:

This is usually a very positive influence, making you feel very benevolent and generous toward those around you. Tonight your spirit is inclined toward contemplation of the loftier aspects of life. You are not concerned with the nasty little details that make life less than it should be, although you are aware of them. But you simply cannot see any point in paying any attention to them. Emotionally you feel quite good, for this influence promotes optimism and positive thinking. At times this influence indicates self- righteousness and smug arrogance, as if you considered yourself as the embodiment of social truth and wisdom. This attitude may not be entirely conscious on your part, but it may be subtly evident in your phrasing or in an unspoken attitude toward others.

Today during the day this influence brings about pleasant feelings between you and everyone around you. It is a good time for being with friends or out having a good time. You enjoy everyone around you and they enjoy you. Similarly you will enjoy good food and drink now, but be careful not to overdo it. During this time you will tend to take things into yourself, so it is easy to overindulge. This is not a good time for getting very much work done, because it often brings out a lazy streak. One exception to this is that you may feel like working to beautify or otherwise improve your home. You need beautiful surroundings, and you will work to get them. This is a good time for love relationships. This influence by itself is too fleeting to start a major relationship, but it certainly is a help.

Looks Good!

2009 Dakar Rally Stage 2 Update ~ Robby Gordon wins Open Class Again-10th Overall

 

UPDATE from DAKAR.com :

Pending validation of the results, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) won his 10th stage on the Dakar and his first of this 31st edition, 1.14 ahead of Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi) and 1.56 in front of South African Giniel de Villiers (VW). Sainz also takes the lead in the general standings and now leads team-mate De Villiers by 2.19, with also a 3.51 lead over Peterhansel. In the Open category,Robby Gordon (Hummer) was triumphant, finishing 10th in the day’s special stage. Lastly, in the Production Category, Japan’s Jun Mitsuhashi (Toyota) was victorious.

Robby stands 10th Overall at this time.

Robby and Andy’s Scope’s for tomorrow’s Stage 3 will be up this afternoon.

Gaz SUR le sang de ~ dessus ! Tuez le Rabbit’ ; s !

       **Picture used with permission Jonas ~ Subdivme.com

2009 Dakar Rally~ Astro-Predictions ~ Robby Gordon and Andy Grider

Here are the horoscopes for the 2nd Stage of the Dakar.  Stage 2 run from Sta Rosa de la Pampa to Puerto Madryn. The special  is 237  km and connectionos 600 km for a total of 7837 km or 520.087687902369 miles.

Here the scope’s for Robby Gordon and Andy Grider. Note the stress.

Robby Gordon, born 2 January 1969

Valid during several weeks: This is a very stimulating influence that will make you feel more alive and awake mentally than at any other time. Although your thinking may be somewhat lacking in care and discipline, you will make up for this in the scope of your intuition. New ideas will come more rapidly than usual. Solutions that have eluded you will be obvious, and your vision will have considerable breadth and scope. Any new phenomenon will interest you, and the idea of traveling to foreign places will be especially appealing. If at all possible, break with your usual routine and go off somewhere, at least for the day. If you do, you will be glad for the freshness that such a break introduces into your life.

This morning you experience rapidly changing moods, which may interfere with clear perception of your goals, especially if your goals have been set without much regard for your personal needs. If your goals are purely professional or make excessive demands on your personal and domestic life, this time will be somewhat disruptive. You may feel dissatisfied with your progress, or you may feel that no matter how much you accomplish, there is always something lacking. This influence sometimes signifies tensions in your domestic life. If you have handled this matter well, you should encounter the more positive side of this influence and be able to go about your business with a remarkable sense of wholeness. You will feel that your activities are satisfying, both professionally and personally.

Today during the day you will feel much more emotional than usual. This, of course, can be either good or bad, depending upon how you normally relate to your emotions. If you are ill at ease with your feelings, you will not consciously be aware of them. But you will relate to people in automatic ways, conditioned by habit. You will respond unconsciously to small cues put out by other persons that neither you nor they are aware of. The problem here is that you are unable to see each new moment and person afresh. On the other hand, if you can handle the emotions that are aroused, you will be able to relate to others with great feeling and empathy. This influence is excellent for occasions when you and another person must relate at a very deep, intense level.

This is a time when personal and subjective considerations will override everything else, but it need not be difficult. First of all, you feel a great need to belong and to relate to your friends or loved ones. This need turns on your emotional sensors and makes you very sensitive to the feelings and moods of the people around you, because you want to fall in with their rhythms and become sympathetic with them. This is the unconscious sign of relating to a group. Thus you are emotionally right there whenever someone needs your sympathy, warmth and understanding. You are very concerned about yourself, which is fine, but don’t distort this into a state of mind in which you cannot see anybody else’s point of view. Objectivity, especially in dealing with others, may be difficult to come by now.

This morning you will meet some sort of challenge to the structure of your daily life, that is, your home life, intimate relations, routine daily contacts and so forth. All of us have hidden tensions that cause us to operate in ways that we do not understand. The effect of this influence is to bring these tensions to the surface. Thus you may feel ill at ease within yourself and have a bit more difficulty in getting along with others, particularly with women. Now several small areas of your life may simultaneously reach a crisis that forces you to pay more attention to what is happening. This is especially likely to happen with situations or persons that you have been taking for granted. You should take the time to correct little problems as they arise and give them the attention that they require.

Andy Grider, born 28 July 1973

Today during the day you will have to be quite careful, because you are emotionally excitable and impulsive. In your contacts with others you will seek excitement and stimulation, and thus you may attract people who are quite different from your usual crowd. You may even be quite upset by these new people, but you should realize that they are filling a real need in your life now. Or you may act disruptively in your current relationships. It is not exactly that you are trying to start a fight, but in talking with someone you may stir up feelings that cause a fight to begin unintentionally. Consequently this can be a stormy period in relationships. If anyone tries to restrict you, your reaction will be very negative, even if the restrictions are in your best interests.

Today during the day your closest contacts will take on a more emotional tone. You will be able to communicate your feelings more easily to your partner , a close working colleague or anyone else whom you encounter on an intimate level. Although the effects of this influence are not very difficult to deal with, you should be aware that you are likely to be so emotional and subjective in your relations with others that you may have difficulty seeing someone else’s point of view. However, this influence favors situations in which you have to be sensitive to another’s feelings or in which someone else has to be sensitive to yours. In your contacts with others you will seek warmth, support and nurture, and you will be equally capable of giving these to others when necessary.
This influence is experienced in different ways. Perhaps you are very bad-tempered at the moment, and overreact to the least sign of what you interpret to be criticism or rejection. Thus misunderstandings can quickly develop, and instead of trying to clear them up, you withdraw hurt and perhaps a bit sorry for yourself. If you can, however, estimate how much of this situation is the result of your own anxious expectations, this quality of time will help you to be empathic and understanding towards others. Then you will also find helpful words for everyone who is in a similar mood to you. Poetic and romantic music have a pronounced effect on you at this time.
Tonight is not a good time to discuss any issues that are critical to you, because you will find it difficult to maintain your equilibrium and not fly off the handle. On the other hand, if someone challenges you unjustifiably, you certainly won’t back down without a fight. The main problem is that your sense of perspective may be so distorted that you cannot tell the important issues from the trivial ones and will defend both with equal vigor. There is also the risk that you will act hastily on many matters, impulsively and without foresight or planning. All you seem to care about is exercising your will and getting your own way. Obviously with this influence, you must try to calm down and be willing to compromise on any issue that is not really central to you.

All in all I think they will do fine. I don’t see any signs of any major mechanical issues.

Good Luck!

GAS ON!

2009 Dakar Rally Update ~ Robby Gordon takes Open Stage Victory!

From Dakar.com:

20:35 – Car

Stage 1 summary

Pending validation of the results, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) won the first special stage, taking charge of the general standings, 2.17 ahead of Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) and 2.40 in front of South African Giniel de Villiers (VW). In the Open category, the stage victory went to Robby Gordon (Hummer), who finished 17th overall. Lastly, in the Production category, Italian Massimo Biasion (Mitsubishi) was triumphant.

 

GAS ON! Kill the Rabbits!

 

One year after the cancellation of the test, threatened in Africa, Dakar left its historical continent for Argentina and Chile, hosts of the rally-raid as from Saturday in Buenos Aires and until January 17.

Concerned not to revive the terrible one and expensive fiasco of 2008 and to make sure safety of the participants, the organizers decided to slice in the sharp one. And selected to cross the Atlantic. “It is Dakar! reassure Etienne Lavigne, the director of the race. I would even say that it forever as well borne his name as a name of an extreme event of mechanical sports. We find even what announced its success the discovery, the adventure and the unknown.” In 14 stages and 9578 km whose 5591 of special, the 530 crews will find indeed all the ingredients of what made the legend of Dakar of Thierry Sabine since her creation in 1979: long travelling tracks, revolving and technical tracks, dust, out-tracks, dunes sand, navigation and wadis.

The principle will be also the same one, with initially some fast stages of setting in mouth in the pampa towards the south and a more technical increase towards the Andes. Then, the competitors will ingurgiteront a dish of copious resistance by joining Chile, with dunes, fesh-fesh and the majestic Andes cordillera to be crossed twice. After one day of rest, on January 10, in the smart Chilean seaside resort of Valparaiso, Dakar will set out again full north along the Pacific, with a passage in the desert of Atacama, one of most arid of the world, before beginning again full is – and a passage to 4700 m of altitude to join Buenos Aires.

In addition to heat – announced higher than in Africa and in particular the night and the concern related to altitude, the great difference lies in the landscapes, with imposing assembly lines, volcanos, of Rios, plates, reddish deserts of rubbles and even of the cacti: in short the promise of unforgettable and sumptuous images for those which will have the time of musarder. Musarder will obviously not be the watchword for the favourites which will be undoubtedly the same ones as in Africa.

Peterhansel towards the record

In the car, Mitsubishi aims at the eighth success of sharp – if one does not take account of the bracket 2008. The Japanese stable, taken along by Stephan Peterhansel, who aims at the tenth personal success (already 6 in the motor bike and 3 in the car) and Luc Alphand, winner in 2006, decided this year to change model. After crushing the domination of Pajero, “Mitsu” leaves with the Throw. And as long as to change, the leaders of the mark decided to pass to the diesel engine to make like the principal rivals, BMW, with Guerlain Chicherit, the former king of the ski free wrinkle, and Volkswagen, led by the Spaniard Carlos Sainz and the South-African Giniel De Villiers.

This passage to the diesel could benefit the applicants “gasoline”, in particular imposing it Hummer of the American Robby Gordons or Buggys (Thierry Magnaldi). In the motor bike, where mark KTM is practically alone, the race should be a duel between the French Cyril Despres, double victorious (2005 and 2007), and the Spaniard Marc Coma (2006) which quickly will want to impose its rate/rhythm. Ultimate detail to point out the origins of the race: the drawing of the course placed on a chart coincides with that of… Africa. “A chance”, promises Etienne Lavigne, who does not know yet if the edition 2010 will find Africa or in a more durable way in the pampa will settle.

 

Eurosport – AFP

Tranlated into English…by me and Babel Fish!

Robby Gordon~2009 Daker Rally ~ Scrutineering

From MonsterEnergy.com

Scrutineering is a process that all race, assistance and media vehicles have to go through.  Officials make sure that all technical and safety regulations are met.  All persons that are riding in these vehicles need to go through an “administrative” scrutineering.  The ASO checks all your paper work, medical records and one also receives a tracking module and a rally style GPS called the “Tripy”.  Assistance and media vehicles have to follow strict speed limits and these devices help the ASO to look over teams that need to be penalized. 

The Dakar Rally officially starts tomorrow here in Buenos Aires and finishes in Santa Rosa.  The stage consists of a Liaison of 196km, a special that runs for 371km and a second liaison after the race of 166km.  The first stage will provide the opportunity to discover the length of these vast plains.  Dakar competitors have never faced such a long special.  With over 400km of rolling routes, perhaps the fastest on the program, this will constitute a real warm-up.  It will be the occasion for everyone to affront a long day that will get rid of all problems in adapting to jet lag.

I will be posting Robby and Andy’s scope’s daily along with other little tidbits.

For more information on The 2009 Dakar Rally:

Planet Dakar Race Central   (Open chat during tomorrow’s Stage 1)

Official Dakar Rally Home Page

Toyo Tires Ramses’ Rally Journal 

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2009 Dakar Rally ~ Robby Gordon 6 month Astro-Predictions

Happy Birthday Robby Gordon!

 

For the first time in thirty years, the Dakar Rally heads out of its familiar grounds of Europe and Africa to the vast open spaces of tough terrain and desert of South America.
Robby Gordon, along with Navigator Andy Grider will drive the Monster Hummer though Agentina and Chile for the Worlds most dangerous and grueling race. The Hummer 2, now called the Vangaurd Hummer will be driven by veteran French driver, Eric Vigouroux with his long time navigator, Alexandre Winocq.
 
Robby’s report was generated for 6 months starting from January 2009 with the following birth data: male, born on 2 January 1969  in Bellflower, California.
Your sun sign is Capricorn. This is the sign in which the Sun is in your birth chart. Your Ascendant is in Aries, and your Moon is in Cancer.

Pluto opposition Moon: Inner turmoil
Mid March 2008 until mid October 2010:

This influence can denote a period of extreme emotional confrontations with others in which you or they attempt to manipulate each other emotionally. For example, in a love relationship either you or your partner may use various combinations of guilt, jealousy or threats of abandonment to force the other into acting in a particular way. You may be involved in a relationship that is too possessive, in which you or your partner doesn’t allow the other any freedom to relate to other people or to be an individual. In such a situation the pressures can build up to the point of explosion, with potentially fatal consequences to the relationship.
Sometimes you are acting from the best motives. You may not even be aware that you are smothering your partner, thinking it’s just love, not a suppression of the other’s individuality, and the other may not understand what is happening either, except that something is terribly wrong. Then the partner who senses that things are wrong feels very guilty, which can poison the relationship too. And this process is not limited by any means to lovers – it can affect any emotionally based relationship. The best procedure is to be very honest with everyone with whom you are involved in a relationship and make it clear that you want them to be honest too.
This influence can also signify a period of deep inner turmoil. Your unconscious mind may play tricks on you that are quite upsetting, for you become the “victim” of inner compulsions that make no sense in terms of your current experience. They don’t make sense because they represent the reactivation of elements from your past that you have never really dealt with. Infantile patterns and childhood “programs” that you thought you had outgrown may surface now to disturb your adult ways of dealing with the world. What you must do is come to an understanding of what these patterns represent in your life. If you recognize them and give them a place in your life, you may find that these energies can be creatively harnessed in adult life. They appear to be “horrible” only because you are programmed to disapprove of them, which distorts your perception.

Pluto sextile Mars: On a grand scale
End of December 2008 until end of October 2010:

This time is an opportunity to work and accomplish on a grand scale. Also you are able to influence others and transform a situation in accordance with your views. Your energy level is very high, and you can put out a sustained effort over a long period of time. Consequently you can make great progress in accomplishing the objectives you have set for yourself.
Your ability to accomplish on an individual level is great at this time, but you can make even better use of this influence by working with others to achieve group goals. You need not fear that your own identity will be submerged, because you will emerge as the most significant and important person in the group. Your own identity will actually be strengthened by working in a group.
This influence favors any kind of work that involves making great changes and reforms in your environment. For example, you might reorganize the structure of an office, rebuild or repair a building or, on another level, regenerate and work out your own body. Anything that emphasizes rebuilding is favored.
Any activity you engage in at this time should require you to expend a lot of energy and should not be too limited in scope. You should feel that you can go until you have expended your energies and there is little else to be done. Avoid any situation that would be likely to frustrate or limit you. It is not so much that you would be harmed in such a situation as that you would waste an energy that can be extremely useful. This influence means that you will be given the opportunity to do something, not compelled to do it. If you do not take the opportunity, nothing will happen.

Jupiter square Mars: Insight and skill
11 January 2009 until 19 January 2009:

This influence gives you a great deal of confidence and makes you feel very self-assertive. Usually this is all right, but some people will express this energy by becoming arrogant and domineering. Also be wary of overconfidence, resulting in attempts to do things that are simply beyond you.
Intemperance in almost any activity could completely undo the basically positive nature of this influence. Avoid exaggeration and try to maintain some sense of proportion. If you can do all of this, you will be able to get more work done than usual, and you will do it well. You will be able to accomplish things that you are usually afraid to tackle because you feel inadequate, and you can take the initiative when you would otherwise wait for others to take the lead.
With care and planning and adequate restraint, this influence is a general sign of fortunately timed action that takes advantage of the proper moment and makes the most of it. And this is not luck on your part, but insight and skill. All of this requires preparation, however, because impulsive actions at this time are not likely to be very effective.
It may be particularly important to placate persons in authority over you. If you act precipitately, they may become alarmed and think of you as a threat, whether or not you intend to be. Of course, if you do consciously intend to be a threat, this influence could be a help, assuming again that you have planned carefully. But if you are not conscious of your intentions, you may experience opposition from your superiors without ever quite understanding why.

Jupiter trine Jupiter: An opportunity
25 January 2009 until 3 February 2009:

This influence usually represents a time of optimism and positive thinking in your life. You seem to be at a quiet point of balance that enables you to look over the affairs of your life and get a good perspective on them. Therefore, it is a good time to make long-range plans and to reorganize. You should use this time to gain new perspectives through education or travel or by participating in one of the consciousness raising activities or groups that exist now.
This is a time of psychological and physical equilibrium. If you have recently been ill in either body or mind, this influence will help tremendously with the healing process.
This is also a good time to examine your ideals and your goals, for it may be possible to actualize them in various ways now. At other times there is too much tension in your life or too much resistance from others. If you are involved in any movement for reform, now is a good time to take some positive action. Or you might become more involved in religion or philosophy, because you need to know much that is beyond the apparent order of things.
It is quite possible that you will do nothing during this time, because it gives you a feeling of balance but no drive to do anything in particular. You have an unusual sense of ease and relaxation now. This is also a good time to travel, both for relaxation and for educational reasons.
The important point to remember with this influence is that it is fundamentally an opportunity. You will not feel driven by any energies, nor will you feel any resistance to your efforts to do something. You can make great use of this time, but you have to take the initiative.

Jupiter sextile Ascendant: Efforts with friends
Beginning of April 2009 until mid December 2009:

This is usually an extremely fortunate influence for all kinds of social contacts. You will benefit through others, and they will probably benefit through you. If you choose to go it alone at this time, you will waste a valuable opportunity, for you will profit tremendously from team efforts with friends. Also you will have opportunities to work on projects that may be to your personal advantage; these will come from persons you encounter every day at work or around your neighborhood, people from whom you do not expect much beyond the usual social exchanges.
At this time you will have the opportunity to expand your contacts with the larger world. Sometimes this influence is a sign of travel, but certainly you will encounter people whose backgrounds are quite different from yours and whose experience will increase your understanding of the world. Several of these people may become permanent friends whom you will benefit from knowing.
You may also benefit from old friends. You may be offered a chance to go into business with a friend, or a friend may tell you about a good chance to get ahead in some way.
At the same time, you feel benevolent and well disposed to your friends and acquaintances. You are willing and able to help those who need it, and generally you display an attitude of supportive kindness to the people around you, for you don’t want to see people in trouble.
This basic willingness to give and to help others enables you to receive much from others as well. People sense that you will conduct all transactions fairly, so they are willing to be fair to you. Actually this is always true, but you are more able to see it at this time.

Uranus opposition Pluto: Sweeping changes
Beginning of April 2009 until beginning of March 2010:

Now is the time to make sweeping changes, not only in your consciousness, but also in the circumstances in which you live. Conditions that have been developing slowly will force major changes upon you now. If you are flexible, you will be able to start a whole new phase of life, even though you may have thought that the time for new starts in your life is past. You will have a new birth of awareness, and you will be able to deal with your life unhampered by old patterns of thought that have limited you.
But if you cannot adapt and be flexible, this will be a period of great turmoil and stress as you try desperately to hold on to circumstances, possessions and relationships that no longer have any real function in your life. What you are trying to save is not something real, it is only an illusion.
The impetus for change may come through persons who present you with many upsetting surprises, all of which show that your life is no longer what is was. The key point to recognize is that this process is not bad for you, it is just upsetting at first until you get into the flow of events. It can be quite exciting and will certainly inject an element of youth into your life again, with the advantage that now you will have the wisdom to handle it properly.

I will be posting more regarding Robby and The Dakar Rally through out the day…I hate it when my job gets in the way of writing!

Gas On!!

NASCAR Tales of The Idiots

In Honor of Robby Gordon and The Upcoming Dakar Rally, I am reposting this….  Plus I am  celebrating the end of some really bad aspects… I have Astrologically came out of my “Bad Luck” phase. Officially on Dec. 12th.  It’s odd, the aspect came into my life just prior to my ankle issue and a lot of  crap has happened since. So Hurray!! It’s OVER!! Wahoo!!

2009 is going to be great!! I have nothing but great aspects now that last for years! YAY!!

Sept. 1st, 2006

I am not in Fontana as I had an accidental change of plans for the next few months on Aug. 24, while celebrating my daughter’s birthday with a couple of Margarita’s and my friend Linda. I decided to pretend I was Robby Gordon in Baja…or running the Dakar Rally without the terrorists.

Linda and I did some slightly spontaneous creative engineering on my utility wagon ( looks like a child’s wagon but BIG, usually used for odd jobs and yard work. I haul buckets of dirt and water with it, to wash gold out of the dirt). We decided to make it into a combination off road Hummer and half assed, half- luge.

The hill we were on was perfect for a good run. The first run went very well. I drove the 1/2 mile track with 2 turns and didn’t dump Linda end over end until we crossed the finish line. We hauled it back up the hill…Linda drive the second round ( I told her her name was Andy) and we were able to move the finish line another 500 Ft. We hauled it back up the hill again…a little higher…a little further…Adrenaline pumping…Ready for the next go round. We decided to alter the track course a bit. We now, being “experienced driver’s with another tequila backed confidence booster cheering us on”.( I think I had taken a Vicoden too for a head ache I had earlier). We flew down the hill…Through the first turn with flawless finesse. Then just as we were heading into turn 2, there was a caution flag for debris out. We narrowly missed the boulder in our path and careened out of control into the wall…Which was actually the side of a cabin. Flipped in the air and rolled with the wagon, myself, and Linda pinning my leg between us and another very large rock. The crack the crowds heard in the stands was my leg and ankle. The crowd rushed in to help us and remove the debris from on top of us. They lifted Linda from the wagon. Shift. Another crack. Moved my Self and the wagon back from the rock and crack again as my leg was untangled from the carnage. The safety crew jammed me down Burnt River Canyon 40 miles to the nearest hospital in Baker City OR. The Baker City OR Doctors said “Ooooh. This is very bad. We can’t help you here. Doped me up and wanted to send me by ambulance the 200 mile trip to Boise. I said, ” No thanks! We will drive and save the ambulance bill:)”. Had surgery the morning of the 26th. Now I am home and not in Fontana as planned. Crud. I wanted to drive down anyway but the Doc’s said “Nope. No way.” 
Needless to say… I should have read my ‘scope that day.

Clance McClannahan
born Jan 29, 1958 in Twin Falls ID
Aug. 24,2006

Sun Conjunction Pluto
activity period from 23 August 2006 to 25 August 2006

Repair works *
You may be concerned today with repairing something that has broken down, such as an automobile or an appliance. Or you may have to deal with a situation that has broken down to the point that it must change radically in order to continue, even along completely new lines. You may have to contend with a person who is trying to exert unreasonable power over you today, forcing you to defend your right to do things your way. The person may feel that he or she is doing this for your own good, but that is not usually the case. Avoid contact with criminals and do not go into areas where you are likely to encounter street crime. Under this influence it is just possible that you might have an unfortunate encounter.

Yup…I should have read it. Said humbly in hindsight.

Good News!! The newest Grandbaby was born 8/31 @ 2:00 AM. Chase Patrick came into our world weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz. 20 inches long. Healthy, beautiful and another little redhead like his Grama. That’s makes 4 little red headed grandbabies out of seven. Pretty good genes I say!! Welcome Little Angel!

Chase born just before The Chase! How appropriate. Mom is a Kevin Harvick fan. I am surprised Kevin isn’t his middle name.

As above so Below.  See ya again soon. I think I will knock myself out with pain pills for a few more days. The docs change the cast again on Tues. They anticipate I won’t be walking again for 8 months.

8 MONTHS!! OMG!!

Onward LugNutZ!! Tally Ho!!

P.S.** It was only 6 months before I was walking. Not pretty to look at but walking. I’ve barely a limp anymore.

Norman Motorsports’s Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler pilot Trophy Truck to Victory!

Norman Motorsports’s Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler piloted their Trophy Truck to victory early this morning in Baja California Mexico. B.J Baldwin has crossed the finish line, although I am waiting to hear his placement and time.

Robby Gordon and Andy Grider are out there…somewhere near La Salinas according to the tracker if it is correct. That’s not good.

Southern Baja’s Andre Tomba has driven over a cliff…. Report is all is ok, however the weather has hampered getting them out of the mess. Boobie traps abound and I just heard someone was flipped on his lid.

Darn locals. Maybe they think they are doing a bit of creative engineering…hope they don’t kill someone.

Back in a bit.

Robby Gordon ~ SCORE Baja 1000 Off-Road Endurance Race UPDATE

Baja 100 update from Robby Gordon.com:

4:47pm (PST) Robby and Andy Grider stopped at RM 190 for the first scheduled Fuel Stop, everything looked good and the truck is still running strong.

Remember you can watch live Baja 1000 tracking here at 2008 SCORE Baja 100.com.

An alternate Live Tracking  site ( I keep both open)  where you can actually follow Robby and Andy and the truck and see exactly where they are is here…  Robby and Andy are driving #77. B.J. Baldwin, in the #97 car, seems to be a bit behind.

One of the best sites to follow the race on is Baja Racing News LIVE!! .  With lot of links, andyou can follow him and what’s going on live in the race on his Twitter column on the blog. He also has some links to some web cams that are awesome. He is doing a great job covering the Baja 1000. Great shout’s and kudos to him! For instance it was great to know that Robby got stuck in the mud as it happened. “BAJA RACING NEWS.COM LIVE is  from Baja California, Mexico. It features BAJA RACECASTS & NEWS. Claims to be The#1 Internet Source of Baja racing info, online & real-time race results LIVE!”. So far, I agree. It is the #1 spot as far as information.

You can also listen to live race coverage on Internet radio (in English or Spanish) at Mexican Radio.

If any of you also have additional sites that cover the race well, please let me know. You share I will share:)

So…. the clock is ticking!

GAS ON!!