Race to Dakar 10pm - 11pm tonight

[ovenpaa]

As ever he comes over as being fallible and human, I find myself becoming quite a fan of CB because he is a normal person, trying to prepare for the hardest race in the world. We were 5 minutes into the first episode and my wife announced she would be buying the DVD. I have a feeling it is going to be a very enlightening series.

 

[GS TRV]

This time seeing him all bruised up and falling off the dune I thought that it was goiung a bit too far, next thing he'd be a quadraplegic or worse. QUOTE]

Steady on !!

 

[Pat Creagh]

Safety First!!!

BMurr,
Not the kind of thing I would have expected from a fellow Reb...
If Charlie wants to kill himself on telly for our entertainment, more power to ya boy.
Some years the Dakar claims a victim or 2 but it is usually at the sharp end where the good guys are racing that the serious sh1t happens.
I'm sure he will look back on the experience fondly but when he was in the midst of it was hoping he was at home with his wife and kids.
It seems to be the way the human psyche has developed.
Do you ride a bike yourself?
Wouldn't a nice car be a much safer form of transport???
Why don't we all stay at home in the comfort and safety of our beds until we die of chronic bedsores?
We are Men, not pussies...
Pat.

 

[Twotter]

Not bad tv but if anything I thought that CB came over as a bigger whinger than in LWR.

 

[short001]

Missed it - do Sky repeat it (like they do everything else)?

Had a scan through the EPG but couldn't see it - anyone know?

Sky must have been miffed that he fell off and broke his thumbs after 3 days........

It's on again on Saturday, 11pm I think.

 

[plasins]

I'm with Twotter on this one. He was bad enough in the LWR whinging how hard it was......of course it was, that why Thomas Cook etc don't organise all in deals.
I admire him for doing it, but just shut the .... up! and just do it!.....or not!

 

[B Murr]

BMurr,
Not the kind of thing I would have expected from a fellow Reb...
If Charlie wants to kill himself on telly for our entertainment, more power to ya boy.
Some years the Dakar claims a victim or 2 but it is usually at the sharp end where the good guys are racing that the serious sh1t happens.
I'm sure he will look back on the experience fondly but when he was in the midst of it was hoping he was at home with his wife and kids.
It seems to be the way the human psyche has developed.
Do you ride a bike yourself?
Wouldn't a nice car be a much safer form of transport???
Why don't we all stay at home in the comfort and safety of our beds until we die of chronic bedsores?
We are Men, not pussies...
Pat.

I know, I know. I've done a couple of hundred thousand miles on bikes myself and had my fair share of risk taking. I don't ride at the moment but intend getting back on the saddle next year despite protests from SWMBO. Having two young kids has changed my perspective on a lot of things in life and this is one of them, hence the connection with CB and he having young kids too. Before when I took risks it was my ass on the line, that seemed fair enough. Now its also my kids who share the risk. I know that our bodies are fairly tough and can put up with a lot of abuse, however I've also seen a few that died or were severly maimed through that little bit of bad luck in an accident. Maybe I've gone all soft with having kids but to be honest I'd rather be soft than hard. Another example happens when I see some inebriated street person trying to crawl into a sopping wet sleeping bag on a cold night, a pitiful sight, I always think that that was a little boy or girl once , the world fuc*ed them up but that little child is still there in some sense. You see what I mean, I've gone all soft and sentimental, WTF.

 

[Dillinger]

If anyone else missed the first episode, it is being repeated on Sky 2 tonight at 11pm. That's Saturday 21st.

TJ

 

[Ash]

in 2004 i had the misfortune to take a flying lesson whilst rider a rather large st1100.end result two knackered arms.i was told youl never ride again,two years later summer 2006 i went around europe on my modified rs1100 it was hard yes.three weeks ago i bought a new love a r1100gs and with some mods i hopefully can ride again.you are on this planet a short time you can be gone in one second- ride charlie ride- l only wish now id tried more when i could.i take my hat off to all you boys/girls who venture far and wide.what does gs mean.go for it

 

[Namastebuzz]

Short & Dillinger : cheers, I'll set the Sky+.


Ash : good on you.

There are too many people who sit around wishing they could do stuff, reading touratech catalogues and buying GSAs and actually do bugger all.

Sure, CB has carved a nice little niche for himself on the back of being EMcG's pal but so what? He's doing stuff that many of us would love to do and getting paid for it. Good luck to him.

 

[grandtrousers]

Went to see Charley Boorman at Williams Manchester on Thursday and was very impressed by the guys honesty. He admitted his acting career was going nowhere and how lucky he was in having a best mate like Ewan McGregor who basically threw him a lifeline when they did Long way Round.
Race to Dakar is significantly different in that the training was extremely tough for a guy who is no athlete, the hazards are ever present and lets not forget, is probably the worlds most dangerous race.
He was very upset about not being able to finish as he thought it would not be very good for television but still gave tremendous support for his team mates and when you consider the severity of his injuries and the way he carried on for some time afterwards then you really should give him some respect and consideration.
Charley has no airs or graces and comes across as a likeable ordinary bloke (I have met him several times). Sure people will be jealous but on the whole he does a bloody good job, works hard at it and must spend a fair bit of time away from his wife and kids.
It seems a great shame that people always want someone to crucify, but ask yourself why before slagging them off. If the prospect of riding the equivalent from London to Edinburgh in sand every day for fifteen days, with the added danger of being flattened by lunatics in cars and trucks seems a little daunting then perhaps you might want to respect rather than call him.
Top bloke.

 

[Captain Pugwash]

Went to see Charley Boorman at Williams Manchester on Thursday and was very impressed by the guys honesty. He admitted his acting career was going nowhere and how lucky he was in having a best mate like Ewan McGregor who basically threw him a lifeline when they did Long way Round.
Race to Dakar is significantly different in that the training was extremely tough for a guy who is no athlete, the hazards are ever present and lets not forget, is probably the worlds most dangerous race.
He was very upset about not being able to finish as he thought it would not be very good for television but still gave tremendous support for his team mates and when you consider the severity of his injuries and the way he carried on for some time afterwards then you really should give him some respect and consideration.
Charley has no airs or graces and comes across as a likeable ordinary bloke (I have met him several times). Sure people will be jealous but on the whole he does a bloody good job, works hard at it and must spend a fair bit of time away from his wife and kids.
It seems a great shame that people always want someone to crucify, but ask yourself why before slagging them off. If the prospect of riding the equivalent from London to Edinburgh in sand every day for fifteen days, with the added danger of being flattened by lunatics in cars and trucks seems a little daunting then perhaps you might want to respect rather than call him.
Top bloke.

Never met the guy,but he certainly seems a genuine bloke.

Ewan McG always comes across as a bit of a twat,but Charley Farley seems pretty ok.

Well said !

 

[Twotter]

Went to see Charley Boorman at Williams Manchester on Thursday and was very impressed by the guys honesty. He admitted his acting career was going nowhere and how lucky he was in having a best mate like Ewan McGregor who basically threw him a lifeline when they did Long way Round.

Having seen a few of the films he's been in I'd have to agree with him

Race to Dakar is significantly different in that the training was extremely tough for a guy who is no athlete, the hazards are ever present and lets not forget, is probably the worlds most dangerous race.

I understood that taking part in the Dakar was a lifelong dream for CB. Personally I'd expect him to have done a bit of research on the subject and so have a good idea of what he was going to be letting himself in for. Let's not forget that he effectively volunteered himself for the project.

He was very upset about not being able to finish as he thought it would not be very good for television but still gave tremendous support for his team mates and when you consider the severity of his injuries and the way he carried on for some time afterwards then you really should give him some respect and consideration.

Of course he's upset. Can you imagine what his cv looks like ???

Bit part actor
Obi-Wan Kenobi's mate
Dakar bike racer (retired)

Where does he go from here ???

Charley has no airs or graces and comes across as a likeable ordinary bloke (I have met him several times).

He must have annoyed that producer chap then because he comes across as a right whinger on telly.

Sure people will be jealous but on the whole he does a bloody good job, works hard at it and must spend a fair bit of time away from his wife and kids.

I don't think it's jealousy, more annoyance that he keeps getting in the way of an interesting tv prog on bikes. Time away from his family ??? Let's not forget that he chooses to do so.

It seems a great shame that people always want someone to crucify, but ask yourself why before slagging them off. If the prospect of riding the equivalent from London to Edinburgh in sand every day for fifteen days, with the added danger of being flattened by lunatics in cars and trucks seems a little daunting then perhaps you might want to respect rather than call him.
Top bloke.

Like you said at the beginning he got lucky with his mate and has been in a position where a bike manufacturer and a tv producer think he's marketable in a certain role. In this case he talked himself into a corner and had to go through with it. Ultimately he couldn't see it through and this enhances the view that he's really a bit of a failure. The good news is that he's a personable chap in the flesh.

Personally I'd rather watch Simon Pavey

 

[JDH]

Hmm, bit harsh imho, but with some valid comments.

 

[Graham G]

It's a TV programme and needs that little human drama to broaden its appeal.

As for CB being a bit of a 'failure' (as quoted by Twotter - you're not in the RAF or army are you? You seem to have that mentality) I don't think anyone who has a go is a failure.

I did the Off Road Skills Course down in Wales in July and Charlie was training to be an instructor. He was a really nice guy, but boy he must get fed up with people talking about the LWR. For some their life will be clearly planned, for others it may be round the houses. Actor - RTW Biker - Off Road Instructor good on him.

On the bike and not in the armchair - that's the first part of the acid test.

 

[Deadskin]

It's a TV programme and needs that little human drama to broaden its appeal.

Personally i'd prefer more of charlie on the bikes instead of in the mirror
but loved the enduro bits

 

[Ash]

manny fagnet.
i think your having us on ive seen them dunes as u call them by the m1 in nottingham.markham moore i think

 

[Twotter]

As for CB being a bit of a 'failure' (as quoted by Twotter - you're not in the RAF or army are you? You seem to have that mentality) I don't think anyone who has a go is a failure.

As it goes I was in the RAF but I've been a civvy for going on for 11 years now

 

[Uinneag]

Charlie's undoubtedly an enduro legend

Sorry she's been at the sherry again

 

[Corkonian]

Twotter - Pavey hasn't finished every rally he's entered either