Red Bull Romaniacs 2008

[nhrider]

http://www.enduro.gr/index.cfm?Action=Details&cat01=1&CPid=2685

The last one on the roof makes me sick...no thanks.

 

[SpeedyManiac]

I've been here at the Romaniacs doing a media gig for Shane Cuthbertson (Canadian racer, ended up 9th overall in the Pro class). It is definitely gnarly. I'm thinking of racing the expert class as this stuff is more similar to what we ride in western Canada, but there's no way I'd race Pro (yet). Some of the Pro lines are flat insane. Shane was saying on day 3 there was a hill that it literally took 6 guys to LIFT (not drag, lift) up the top part of the hill. Even Geoff Aaron had to team up with another racer (Forrester, BMW factory racer) to get up the hill.

So yes, Romaniacs is THE toughest race in the world.

 

[gasgasman]

So yes, Romaniacs is THE toughest race in the world.

That would be a true statement, since the Last Man Standing has gone bye bye.

 

[SpeedyManiac]

Shane raced the Last Man Standing last year. Most of the competitors have done Erzberg, Last Man Standing, etc, etc, etc. Talking to all of them, I guess the 2008 Romaniacs was on a whole new level of tough. I couldn't believe, but that's the truth.

 

[gasser]

Is there not going to be any more LMS events?

 

[gasgasman]

Doesn't look like it.

 

[SpeedyManiac]

From what I heard talking to Red Bull athletes, they wanted to change venues this year (specifically, they want to move the LMS to Utah) but they couldn't get things organized in time. I'm guessing it will be back on the schedule next year.

 

[TooFastTim]

Local lad Chris Birch had a decent ride

 

[kim]

Well, if you call 3rd decent.
Very primo excellento in my book.

He is also doing "Roof of Afrika" in a couple of months.

 

[TooFastTim]

Is he?

I haven't spoken to him for a while. I wonder where the money's coming from?

He'll walk the roof.

 

[kim]

I presume you know that Chris Birch won the "Roof".
By a margin of about 50 minutes or so......

Happy new year

kim

 

[BIG TOOL]

Two things come to mind... First, does this finally answer any doubts as to the durability of the BMW in the rocks? second, Those guys are tough as nails!

 

[Eugene]

To all the guys in the US who don't know it, there is a SUPER INTENSE sporting rivalry between South Africa and Australia/New Zealand. This rivalry extends to all competitive sports known to the human race. Good fun most of the time!
Chris Birch, who is apparently a New Zealand trials champion, came to the Roof of Africa this year and whipped all the local heroes butts!! Plain and simple, and what makes his achievement even more incredible is that this year's race was deemed to have been the toughest one ever (and thats 45 years!)
Part of his preparation in SA consisted of 2 weeks in my playground around Benoni, SA where we have everything from fast flowing river crossings, lots of disused quarries for Erzberg-style riding, huge mine dumps with all sorts of different sand types, etc.
It was really amazing to walk into the pub where we normally all park for our riding and to meet the man himself. What a down to earth, humble riding god he is.
Just a pity he was on a KTM (a "satelite" team, Roost Racing not the official Pro Action team)

 

[SpeedyManiac]

I met Chris in Romania and can echo what Eugene said. Chris has amazing talent, yet is still very humble. He raced the ISDE in Greece (finishing with a gold medal, I believe), then a week later he finished 3rd at the Romaniacs while battling a nasty flu, then finished off the year by thoroughly whipping everyone at the Roof.

Now if only we could get him on a GasGas...