[Topics / DAKAR] The Dakar 2010 Race Report (Dec 29, Scrutineering)

The Dakar 2010 has officially begun. The Hino 500 Series vehicles that passed vehicle inspections on the first day will now be readied, taking any additional precautionary measures, for the race which will start the 1st of January.    

On the 29th of December, document procedures and vehicle inspections of the Dakar 2010 participating vehicles started in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Summer has just begun in Argentina, which lies in the Southern Hemisphere. Normally the ambient temperature in the daytime reaches 30 degrees Celsius under a blazing sun. This year, however, has seen abnormal weather, with many rainy days; and today’s weather was also changeable and cloudy with occasional showers. The same venue as last year’s was used at “The Rural Palace,” a building used to host local livestock fairs in the city. With the race vehicles and all parties concerned gathered, the vehicle inspection place was filled with the charged and grand atmosphere you would expect before the rally begins.

The time designated for Hino Team Sugawara was 2:45 p.m. on this day. Although the shipping schedule of the vehicles sent from Japan was delayed due to vessel engine trouble, and everybody was concerned at one stage of the game that this might delay the vehicles’ arrival time in South America, trouble was averted and time recovered thanks to overcome work on the part of the related members, so the vehicles arrived safely on the 24th at the Argentina Toyota plant located in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. There the vehicles were fine-tuned for inspection. Test-driven the day before the inspection and confirmed to be in top condition, the Hino 500 Series vehicles went smoothly through all the procedures. Although it took slightly longer time than anticipated to fit the GPS antenna provided by the organizer, there was no problem at all with the vehicles’ inspections. Car 1 was given vehicle number 516, and Car 2, 514, respectively, and their vehicle number labels were stuck on their vehicle bodies. All inspection procedures were safely finished just after 5:00 p.m.

The two vehicles then headed toward Parc-Fermes, located in the city. All the team members are now eagerly awaiting the start of the rally. Today marks the completion of all preparations for the rally the team has been preparing for all year, since right after the finish of Dakar 2009. The team began this process by considering the areas to revise, then by participating in Rally Mongolia, then changing to front engine specifications, then undergoing test-drives in Niigata. While they are feeling a sense of relief to be safely at the starting line of the rally, the team entrants and mechanics have now turned to gathering their keenest concentration and enthusiasm for the actual rally that will soon begin. 

Yoshimasa Sugawara (Car 1 Driver)
Although we are used to doing all kinds of work on site, we were all rushing to change the (GPS) antenna based on the sudden instructions given to us. We are relieved to have passed vehicle inspections. We will refresh our minds for the next two days and prepare for the start of the rally.

Katsumi Hamura (Car 1 Navigator)
Although there were wiring problems, all the rest went quite smoothly. We felt that our Hino vehicles were watched with keen interest at the venue, which gave us good stimulus before the actual race.

Teruhito Sugawara (Car 2 Driver)
We are safely at the start, due to the cooperation of many people once again this time. Everything has gone smoothly so far, other than the vessel’s delayed arrival time, so we can take the surest measures to prepare for the actual start of the rally.

Seiichi Suzuki (Car 2 Navigator)
Both the vehicles and my physical condition are good. My one concern is the frequent rain this year in Argentina. All the vehicle inspections went smoothly, so we earnestly look forward to the start of the actual race now.

Takayuki Monma (Mechanic, Hino Motors, Ltd.)
We were concerned about the delay in our schedule at one stage, but were able to avert any trouble due to everybody’s cooperation. We were relieved that the vehicles passed inspection smoothly. Now we can look forward to the actual race without thinking about anything else.

Shinobu Kitamura (Hokkaido Hino Motors, Ltd.)
We had a difficult time with the minute wiring problems we faced during the vehicle inspections, but were really relieved when this was completed. Now we just have to do our best from the 1st.

Takashi Yamazaki (Tokyo Hino Motors, Ltd.)
I felt that the work we have done since we received the vehicles on the 24th has proceeded quite smoothly – time since then has elapsed so quickly. It was really good that we were ready on time.

Jun Mizuno (Aichi Hino Motors, Ltd.)
My honest feeling is that we were all relieved by the completion of the vehicle inspections, and that we have now entered the next stage. We would like to exert our utmost effort in working for the actual rally from the 1st.

Naoya Nakano (Hiroshima Hino Motors, Ltd.)
We were really relieved when (Yoshimasa) Sugawara gave us a pass signal when he did a test-drive. As it was the first time for me to experience the vehicle inspections, I felt overwhelmed by this atmosphere of rushing here and there. I therefore did not have enough mental composure to look around at the other Camion vehicles.

 

Car 2 working on the vehicle number label.

The inspectors checking the Car 2 engine.

Seiichi Suzuki watching the pass label being placed on Car 2.

Two Hino 500 Series vehicles and the staff who are gathering their courage and
who eagerly await the start of the actual rally, with vehicle inspections safely behind us.

Car 1 headed toward Parc-Fermes from the vehicle inspection site.

 

Send the message to HINO TEAM SUGAWARA
http://www.teamsugawara.jp/cgi-bin/tsbbs10.cgi

HINO Dakar official site
http://www.hino-global.com/dakar/index.html

Refer to the Terminology page
http://www.hino-global.com/dakar/about/terminology.html