THIS BATTLE WAS HARD FOUGHT.

The Dakar Rally is only thirty three and one third complete. What are we in for with the remaining sixty six percent? More Action, that's what! Robby in typical Robby fashion took what was dealt to him yesterday and became Flash Gordon again. The Old Robby is back! He passed over 70 cars, trucks, and whatever else was in his way on to a 19th place for the day. Expect more tomorrow.

The Boyz from the USA; Mark Miller is totally kicking Ass! Second for the stage today and Fourth overall! Mark, like I told you a month or so back. "If it's Robby against you; I root for Robby. If it’s us (The USA) against them; I root for us!" Chris Blais sits in 11th overall.

Is the problem from stage 4 fixed? Robby had 5 Albins transmissions waiting in the wings for him back at camp. Robby and team were to change these every 1000 miles. I was told today by somebody who is very close to the team but is not a part of Robby's organization that the bolt "officially" backed out. I'm guessing that at $20,000.00 for each transmission we don't need piss anyone off. Let's make sure Robby continues to get more of those bad ass transmissions. On that note, Cam Theroit's new car was socked out of the Baja 1000 in November with the same transmission and the bolt in question was hammered by the axle plunge. More than one person has mentioned how important it is to have the bolt torque absolutely correct and inspected after every run. Team Dakar USA welded the head of the bolt to the flange. I can officially say... It won't back out now! However, if it does snap off again, there will be zero field fix unless Robby has a spare stub axle flange and bolt. Because it would take a drill, a hand grinder and a generator to put a bolt back in. So I still will not retract my educated guess from yesterday until January 15th.

Darren Skilton Speaks; "There was incredible dust on this leg, as we were far enough into the race where the cars are now combined with the trucks in overall finishing order, so that determines the start order for the next day,"said Skiltonn. "If we’d started in front we could have made excellent time but we had to drive smart, taking no chances. We know this race has just begun. There are thousands of miles yet to cover across the roughest part of Africa. Robby passed some 70 cars before we began smelling oil. Not knowing the cause we had to stop and try to solve the problem but we could only determine the reservoir was low, so we topped up and cruised in to Tan Tan. The Hummer seems to be running fine, but we won’t know the source of the leak for sure until the crew gets on it."

New problems?

Robby and Darren used up 25 minutes of today's special parked on the side of the road to locate an oil leak. They did not discover the source of the leak other than it was coming from the engine…Duh. They topped off the dry sump and hauled ass. Yes 25 minutes! This little oil leak relegated yesterday's prediction of a win today in the crapper. Oil leak fixed and back to 100%. Robby's car has a dry sump oil system and when they said we added oil to the reservoir that means he added oil to the large oil tank that feeds the engine. A normal car has the oil pump down in the oil pan where all the oil is held. RG's 427 has an external oil pump and holds several gallons of oil in a separate tank.

Robby's "Pre-Dakar" testing at Glamis and Parker... Is being extended to Dakar 2006. Dakar 2007 will be much better; the Car will have all its growing pains worked out. Off road cars are like fine wine, they get better with age. Hope the FIA and the ASO don't decide to change the rules again.

Stage 6 preview: Tan Tan-Zourat: Southbound - The hours of sleep stored up from previous stages will be an asset when tackling this long road. The long liaison to the start of the special will take place at night, in conditions which require maximum vigilance. The first part of the sector counting towards classification will be fought out over a wide, fast track, before taking on a much sandier stretch halfway through the special.

ASO officials have determined day six will be a "marathon leg” so the morning’s start time will come before dawn. The crew, having had to drive straight through from Quarzazate; leaving just as the car was finished, has had little sleep and is now working on the car to get it ready for the early morning start.

This will play into Robby's hand. He is no stranger to no sleep.

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