Sandblast Rally 2008 - Part 2

Sandblast Rally Report - Shakin' it Down!

It's 11:00 pm on the eve of the Sandblast Rally and the parking lot wrenchers have all finally surrendered to sleep. No doubt we'll hear the pop and buzz of cold car and bike exhausts again as soon as the dark sky turns to pink. Today was a full day for RallyMoto rookies and veterans alike, with orientation, registration, scrutineering and a short shakedown stage filling a gloriously sunny afternoon and a cool, clear evening.

Last year, the Sandblast Rally was significant because it was the first-ever RallyMoto event. This year, in addition to having a field of 50 bikes, there is a special buzz thanks to the entry of DAKAR class rally bikes. When the Dakar rally was canceled due to security concerns just a few days before it was about to begin in Lisbon, in early January, Sandblast organizer Anders Green extended free entry to any Dakar riders. Though it certainly cannot compare to the Dakar Rally, Sandblast certainly does have it share of sand! Four Dakar-class bikes are entered in the rally, including Dakar veteran James Embro, who rolled in with style in his purpose-built Dakar F350 support vehicle:



Riding away from a setting sun, the shakedown stage was short, but the gave competitors an opportunity to get a taste of what's to come:

Mark AlbertsonJoe WarnerJimmy DoustouBen StrattonBill CongerRadek BahnikTomorrow:

The first rally bike leaves the time control at 8:31 tomorrow morning to cover 199 miles, with 69 of those miles in timed stages. Team MAX BMW is ready to go and we wish all of the BMW pilots good luck tomorrow:

Doug Morrison
Mark Albertson
Dan Dupre
Chris Olsen
Steve Mauk
Ben Stratton
Max Stratton
Jim Doustou
Joe Warner
Andrew Phillips
Aaron Gibson
Jason Adams
Keith Ciampa
Mark Danielle
Thomas Bourke
Jack O'Connor
Shawn Hamblin
Donald Lilly
Bill Conger
Ben Myburgh