Product Description

In January 2006, 230 people raced in trucks, cars and motorbikes from Lisbon to Dakar in the 28th annual Dakar rally - the most dangerous race in the world. Taking part was a team of three bikers: Matt Hall, Simon Pavey ...and actor and bike nut Charley Boorman. After his celebrated trip round the world with Ewan McGregor, documented in the No.1 bestselling book LONG WAY ROUND, Charley was keen for another challenge. Racing in the Dakar had always been a dream of his, and so it was the obvious choice for a new adventure. Supported by Australian champion biker Simon Pavey and experienced British biker Matt Hall, Charley attempted to do what many professional bikers have failed to do -- to compete in the Dakar rally, the most challenging race in existence. His book details his extraordinary adventures, and those of his fellow bikers, and also explores the history of this most dramatic and romantic of races. From Portugal through Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Senegal, it also provides a unique look at the countries hosting the rally. It is an exhilarating and fitting sequel to LONG WAY ROUND.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #170742 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
'Boorman is well on his way to becoming the Michael Palin of motorbikes' TIMES2 'The history of the rally and Boorman's own personal experience of this great endurance test makes for an exhilarating read' WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY

About the Author
Charley Boorman was born in 1966 and grew up in Ireland. He has appeared in films including Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, Karaoke and The Bunker. From 1998 to 2002, he ran a British motorcycle team with Ewan McGregor, winning the Superstock Series with David Jeffries.

Customer Reviews

Not just for bike fans
Finally,a book on the privateers of the Dakar rally. Although this book is about Charleys' adventure he brings in the stories of other lone riders;their stories and tradgedies. This is no macho event. The women have a high finish rate and come from all walks of life. As he asks other riders throughout the rally what motivates them, there are a variety of reasons but perhaps the most apt, is that in an increasingly sanitised world it is one of the last tests of mind over matter on the planet.

An inspiring read about pushing yourself to the limit
As I write, the 2007 Dakar Rally is in full swing. It is the world's most gruelling and challenging off-road endurance race for motorised vehicles. One motorcyclist, South African Elmer Symons, has already died in this year's race and last year's claimed the life of Australian Andy Caldecott.

So when actor Charley Boorman finished the 20,000 mile road trip from London to New York (the long way round via Russia) with his best mate Ewan McGregor in 2004, the Dakar Rally seemed like the next logical challenge. But, as Charley was soon to realise, there's a big difference between riding a route you've organised yourself to racing along one that has been designed to test your off-road navigational skills, your physical capabilities and your mental strength to their absolute limits. It has often been compared to climbing Everest or sailing around the world it is such a difficult feat to achieve.

This book charts Charley's attempt to tackle the Lisbon to Dakar route, via the deserts of Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Senegal, with mixed -- and often heart-breaking -- results. It is accompanied by a seven-part TV series, now on DVD, which looks at Charley's pre-trip preparation and planning through to the actual two-week 10,000km race.

But this is no solo attempt. Charley is clever enough to form a race team comprising two accomplished enduro motorcyclists, the unflappable cool-headed Australian Simon Pavey and determined first-time Dakar Rally racer Englishman Matt Hall. He also has a brilliant race support crew headed by producer Russ Malkin (who also managed the Long Way Round ride).

I loved the book. It's easy to read and highly entertaining and gives you a slightly different perspective to the TV series. It's written in a very chatty style and conveys Charley's fears and doubts quite clearly -- there is little room for ego here!

However, as with Long Way Round, I'm not sure the book would make the grade as a stand alone read without the TV series -- you really need to SEE the terrain and the riding conditions (all that dust, all those dunes and cars barrelling out of nowhere) to fully appreciate the difficulty of the challenge.

All in all, this is a wonderfully inspiring read about pushing the human mind and body to its limits. And you don't have to be a bike nut to appreciate it.

True Boy's Own stuff!
I got this book at the Edinburgh Book Festival after a talk by Charley on the Dakar rally (hence in advance of th eofficial release). It's a wonderful story of his follow up to a Long Way Round, where he entered the 2006 Dakar Rally. It details his trials & tribulation and the pain & emotional rollercoaster that took place. If you like bikes, you'll love this.