Road or track: which is more harmful?
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IS LORRY racing on an enclosed track more damaging to the public reputation of the road transport industry than a 7,500-mile rally through six countries, with each stage of the 23-day dash from Paris to Dakar, Senegal, timed? Heavy lorries need to be capable of more than 100mph to keep up with competing cars and motorcycles. Only a third of the competitors reach the finishing line without disqualification.
DAF certainly takes the event seriously and has built two special lorries to take part in it. They are vaguely reminiscent of a sawn-off 125 train, with two engines developing altogether 760bhp, one driving the front axle and the other the rear axle.
Pegaso, another enthusiast, with a tenuous link with the legendary Hispano Suiza, has entered a stock-model 3046 four-wheel-drive 220bhp truck. It is driven by Carlos del Val, who runs a service station and an hotel and restores vintage cars and has, somewhat against his will, become a motor sporting celebrity, partly as a result of his Paris-Dakar forays.
DAF's cult figure is Jan de Rooy, who in 1983, when the maker withdrew from the event, gave up car rallies and committed himself totally to DAF and the Paris-Dakar bender, entering a 3300 DKX 4x4 at his own expense. This year he is driving a completely new double-Dutch outfit, with Joop Roggerband at the wheel of one based on last year's entry.