Thursday, June 19, 2008

Day 7 - June 18, Arkalik to Botakara

Updates from David on Patricia's Rally progress. Posted June 19 2008.

692 km (No Special Section)

Yesterday's special section was cancelled, due largely to disorganisation resulting from the tragedies from the day before. This made the day relatively straight-forward for Patricia, from a riding point of view, although it seems that the organisation trucks and assistance vehicles are arriving in the camp after the riders - which is meaning all the work seems to happen between 10pm and 3am, including about 3 hrs for sleep!

The good news is that the Assistance Van was repaired yesterday, with a new shock absorber.

Story on the death of No 42 seems to be that the truck saw him, sounded the Sentinel and he heard that. The impatient truck came up close behind him, as he tried to manoeuvre the bike out of the deep rutted track they were on. He was climbing the side of the rut, but didn't make it and slid back into the rut (still riding). However it was too late, the truck driver had assumed he would make it out of the rut and put his foot down in anticipation. In most places that would be called "Causing Death by Dangerous Driving", but on a Rally it is called an "accident" and not even a time penalty was administered to the truck driver. Astonishing!

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