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- Catching a ride to the water crossing thanks to Meier Jurgen.
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- I think he’s tired.
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- I don’t know. I just think that’s beautiful.
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- Suzuki?
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- And so is this.
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- Co-driver headed out to winch in the dark.
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- Driver following. In the water.
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- Bent axel.
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- Denise Fawn Dambracas looking lovely.
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- Fritz does a clean and jerk on the axel.
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- Amazing crew and friends lift the axel into the back of a semi.
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- We weren’t the only ones working late.
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- Axel off and waiting for the new one.
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- More people burning the midnight oil.
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- Team Blitz were incredible.
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- Alois performs yet another miracle.
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- Alois welding, Josh watching, Miss June supervising.
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- 5:30am and still no axel.
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- Still work to be done anyway.
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- 6am and still no axel.
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- Josh and I wish I knew his name.
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- Alois checking on the whereabouts of the axel.
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- Arrived!
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- Straight from Mars apparently.
We had our share of challenges at this race. First getting the truck ready in 4 months or less, next getting the truck to Germany in time for the race, then preparing the final fixes at camp before the start, logistical and team communication and interpersonal challenges, misc. mechanical challenges, navigation challenges, language challenges..we had no shortage. But what could have been the final blow for this team was on day 4 when the $23,000 axle was bent during a long 15 hour day. After much deliberation and logistical problem solving we had a refurbished axle freighted in from Germany. We spent the entire day handling the logistics of finding the axle and arranging for delivery, the entire night was removing the old axle, discovering other problems to be fixed and waiting for the new axle to be delivered. We had come this far, we were determined to finish. Super props to team mechanics Josh Valentine and Alois Schleibinger who not only completed the task at hand, but did it with determination to get Bam Bam fixed up on on the road to a strong finish.
