Paris Dakar Racing VXs

[bartmanS4]

After someone on the VX FB page asked about more info on the '98 Paris Dakar VX I went into obsession mode and dug up some cool images. Turns out there were two VX's in the race neither of which finished.
Akihiro Saka (JAP) retired after the 14th stage and Bruce Garland (AUS) after the 8th stage. Saka's highest finishes were 10th and 13th in the 2nd and 3rd stages. I assume that these stages were the class wins that I've heard about but I don't find any info about that. Interestingly enough Saka's VX was RHD and Garland's LHD.
I uploaded most the photos I found of these two VXs and another one from the Baja 1000. See the gallery links below.

Saka Paris Dakar VX (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3330)

Garland Paris Dakar VX (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3331)

Hanawa's 1999 Baja 1000 VX (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3332)

[ahdoman]

Great shots! Those pics are very timely for me since I'm in the process of building skid plates. It's nice to see those detail shots.

[David Wiltshire]

I'll have to dig out my photo of one re-fuelling at the Paris -Dakar

[bartmanS4]

Great shots! Those pics are very timely for me since I'm in the process of building skid plates. It's nice to see those detail shots.

I'd love to have a set of those composite skid plates! Probable cost a fortune.

I was trying to figure out what transfer case they have in them but none of the shots show it on the 5 speeds. The Geolandar has the TOD but is also an automatic.

[VXorado]

Those a great pics... wonder why they didn't or couldn't finish the race?

[bartmanS4]

Those a great pics... wonder why they didn't or couldn't finish the race?

This from the only write up I've seen says front diff and gearbox:

"...The other Bell Team Vehicross entry had in previous stages suffered from a broken gearbox and front differential. Garland therefore suggested that at the very least these obvious weak-points be replaced in his car. Further ignoring his advice the Bell team refuse to have these new parts fitted, and Garland subsequently set off in the same car that had left Paris.
Just 100 kilometres into Leg 8 the front diff exploded. The Vehicross limped along for another 30 kms in 2WD in the dunes getting bogged on numerous occasions. Soon after the right hand driveshaft gave up the ghost, forcing the Aussie into retirement."

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showpost.php?p=64755&postcount=14