 | Patsy and Clive on the 2006 Dakar finish podium |
19.Jan.05 Yes she’s done it ! Finally after all the blood, sweat and tears Patsy has achieved her goal of being ‘the First British Woman to finish the Dakar Rally.’
There were emotional scenes as friends and family greeted Patsy on her arrival in the grounds of the Meriden Hotel in Dakar at the end of the penultimate stage on Saturday evening. Although covered in dust and tired she felt very relieved to have made it so far but said that although the final stage is mainly a formality and should not be a problem, she couldn’t completely relax until she was on the finishing podium.
Then finally on Sunday morning after a short blast down the beach then around the famous Lac Rose, Patsy together with a trusty riding companion Clive ‘Zippy’ Town rode their bikes up the ramp to the podium to receive their finishers medals. Joining them there were Team Desert Rose mechanics Clive Dredge ( Patsy’s Husband ) and Martin Wittering.
 | Ewan Mcgregor congratulates Patsy |  | Patsy and Clive arrive back at the Hotel |  | Patsy is congratulated by her sister Angie |  | Patsy and Clive at the finish |  | Patsy and Clive with their Dakar medals |
The 2006 Dakar had its fair share of dramas for Patsy but this time the luck was there.
Among the first to congratulate Patsy was her sister Angie and actor Ewan McGregor, who had also flown out to the finish to support fellow ‘Long Way Round’ companion Charley Boorman who had also took part in the 2006 event.
14.Jan.05 17:45 Patsy and Clive have reached DAKAR!!!! Please save the champagne until tommorrows finish and we know they have finished the race..... Or get some more if you couldn't wait!!
08.Jan.05 8th January Rest Day Teamdesertrose.com Report by Chris Evans Well finally we have made it to the rest day in Nouakchott - the furthest we have ever got on the Dakar in 4 attempts. But it hasn't been easy! We had the problem with Zippy's wheel breaking up early on in Africa that very nearly put us out and then last night we had another nightmare. Everything was going OK on the Atar Nouakchott stage. It was hard work but we were getting there when the nut holding my front sprocket broke off 60 kms from the end of the special. It was impossible to fix the problem so the only solution was for Zippy to tow me. It was an absolute nightmare in the dark in the dunes and in all it took us 5 hours. I have never looked at my trip metre so much in my life. From the moment we first saw the orange flashing light of the end of special to actually getting there took us 1 and a half hours. The guys manning the control at the end of the special couldn't believe their eyes when we finally got there - and they have seen a few things in their time. Then Clive and Martin came out in the assistance 4x4 to the end of the liaison to help us in. Now they are putting new engines in both bikes while Zippy and I are trying to rest. My wrists are killing me and my left knee is very swollen after the bike fell on me while I was being towed but hopefully we will be ready to go tomorrow morning. I think tomorrow will be a really tough day - the hardest of the rallye - and if we get through that I will be a lot more optimistic about our chances of getting to the end. One thing is for sure - we would have got as far as we have it is hadn't been for our Meca System 525 EXC. They are so much easier to ride than our old 660 Rallyes especially in the dunes. Very occasionally the extra power of the old 660 would be usueful but 99% of the time we are better off on the 525 we are really pleased with them. Report 2 by Andrew Neri. An anxious night for those of us tracking Patsy's progress on the dakar.com website. She seemed to stop with 80km to go and Clive carry on.... I am pleased to report that both Patsy and Clive made it in just after midnight after "the most unbelievable day', which is a story of struggle and determination. Patsy did crash with 80km to go, which effected her tracker but also left her with a sheered off front chain sprocket bolt and oil pouring from the engine. Unable to repair the engine was this the end of the line ? No ! Clive unbelievably towed Patsy behind his bike through soft sand and camel grass in the dark for 50km before the reached hard ground. Patsy described it as "very scary", moving yards at a time before Clive's bike would get bogged down in the sand, digging it out and starting up again. This went on for an amazing six hours and all the time they were worried that they were putting too much stress on Clive's engine the electric start had already failed and he was having to kick start it and all this after riding 400km through what Patsy and many other Dakar veterans described as the "toughest sand day they had every known" Patsy said they both had never felt so exhausted and were obviously very relieved to make it to the end of the special. "Its was very emotional and there were a few tears" she said. Even the race organisation staff at the end of the special could not believe that they had managed to get through under tow in such difficult conditions. So 'rest day' today and for Patsy and Zippy a chance to catch up on vital sleep. But for Clive and Martin the Team Desert Rose service crew, an engine change and full overhaul for each bike. Ready to start all over again tomorrow. Patsy did add that she would have liked to send more reports back, but with the early problems and running way down the order it was too difficult. But even after the ordeals of the last few days she feels good in herself and is ready for whatever the Dakar wants to throw at her. 09:30 Patsy and Clive finished yesterdays stage early this morning and are on a rest day with the rest of the competitors.
07.Jan.05 12:44 Spoke to Clive briefly on the Sat phone. Patsy and Zippy are in good spirits and feel confident. The KTM 525 Rally bikes are working well and after the early set back with Zippy's rear tyre losing them 7 hours, they have kept to their planned strategy of riding at a steady pace to conserve energy, knowing that there is always 1 or 2 longer, harder days before the rest day. And it looks to have paid off.
Patsy has never made it to the rest day in her previous attempts and it will be a big mile stone. Unfortunately the last few days did see the end of the race for 2 of the Team Desert Rose supported riders. Colin Askey (164) who crashed in the dust and although physically OK could not repair his bike to finish the special, and Steve Holland (165) who was stuck out in the dunes on stage 7 and did not get in to start today. (reason unknown at the moment).
Hopefully will get to speak to Patsy on the rest day and get a full report.
Cheers Andrew Neri
02.Jan.05 21:00 Just spoke to Patsy. Not had a good day, problems with Zippys rear tyre. He had to ride 200km with no tyre. At the end of special now where the assistance car will meet them to change the tyre so they can ride the last 121km road section. Not a good start and it puts them way down the order but lets hope all the problems are out of the way now.
Andrew (Neri)
 31.Dec.05
Early wet start for the podium, excellent turn out from the locals. The special didn't quite go to plan, an 'off' early on and a fuel problem. |
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