Thursday November 10th 2005
It’s an early start for the team, leaving Dubai to travel to Abu Dhabi for the ceremonial start which is being held at the Emirates Palace – it’s up at 5:30ish and wheels are rolling at 6:00am.
The palace oozes in splendour, plenty of professional staff and politeness by the bucket full but unfortunately as one member of the team found out, it’s lacking toilet paper in the toilets.
Once the Saluki has gone through the start the team begin a carefully orchestrated game of logistics. Streaky and Dave head to the official start. Ard, Craig, Mark and Nicky to the service point whilst Paul is heading for all the points. Plans will change tomorrow as we’ll have more space in some of the support trucks having emptied most of our belongings at the camp in Moreeb Hill, Liwa.
Team Saluki, vehicle number 208, are starting in 16th position after yesterdays prologue placing them nicely to begin the challenge.
At the service point it seems the whole team is waiting for the Saluki to make an appearance. Gayle, Carol, Bob and Roger Harrison all join us there. Several of the other cars come in and head either straight out again or pop in for a quick service. A motorcycle passes the checkpoint leaving a long trail of sand dust billowing behind it – something familiar looms out of the dust – it’s big, it’s boxy and it’s moving, fast.
The Saluki at the service point has climbed into sixth place – an increase of ten places from their starting position this morning. Mark and Tim head for the service vehicles to top up on brake fluid. Thirty seconds later, a quick check for leaks and a top up on fluid and the Saluki is back out on the course doing what the Saluki does best - hunting down the prey.
The service crew, their work done for the time being, head for the crossover point on the track just before the finish line for this stage. The Saluki comes powering over the horizon and drives directly towards and then below us through the underpass and heads for the finish line.
Back at the bivouac, Team Saluki get the unofficial posting of 5th place.
Meanwhile the service guys have to get on with fixing one of the fuel pumps, locating the source of the brake leakage and the hundred or so other checks they have to make on the vehicle to ensure it’s ready in the morning for the next stage of the Challenge.
If you haven't already checked it out - our Iritrack system should be up and running for tomorrows stage - Click here to follow the progress of car 208 for the whole rally.
Regards
Team Saluki -
www.teamsaluki.com
