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GS Trophy
2010
Day 5 of the race that’s not a race
In all likelihood no one had antici -
pated having to put the “Elephant
Turn” into practice so quickly:
A bull elephant is standing on
the trail right in front of the exit
of the game reserve. This is definitely
not on the schedule. What
no one has figured out yet that
the rest of the herd is concealed
just a short way back behind the
trees. Now what? Just wait? Ride
past him? First there has to be a
decision about who is the most
dispensable.
A South African and the American
Billy Dragoo take the risk.
The elephant is not amused in
the least. Loudly trumpeting
with his ears fluttering, he tries
to drive the two away. The “Elephant
Turn” would surely be the
wrong method of choice in this
situation. The only thing that
will work here is to open up the
throttle and keep moving forward.
Having reached a safe
distance, they now wait for the
rest of the field. The other riders
sit tight long enough until, after
half an hour, the bull finally decides
to lead his herd back into
the bush.
The first special challenge of
the day involves a change of the
rear wheels on two 800ccs – at
the edge of the trail. The speed
of the Japanese is astonishing. In
exactly six and a half minutes, the
TROPHY
GS
DAY 5
18.11.2010
tires are exchanged, the wrenches back where they belong,
and Team Japan is in 4th place. The Germans are going at it
in a frenzy. This causes a brake pad to fall to the ground, so
it must be laboriously re-fitted, costing precious seconds. As
a result, it‘s the last place for them. The South Africans need
only 5 minutes and 43 seconds for their win. The curious onlookers
(a native family with several young children) in front
of whose front door this is all taking place must be asking
themselves by the 10th wheel change what kind of sense this
little undertaking makes – if any! For them, it must be THE
event of the year. A red sand trail winds its way through the
green landscape up Ghost Mountain. For the next special
challenge in the Pongola Game Reserve, the winner will be
the rider who hits the bull’s eye. With feet firmly on the pegs,
a spear has to be raised and thrown while riding. The Austrians
and Swiss have the greatest degree of accuracy and the
best coordination.
The third competition, paddling a canoe, draws the most
Overall rankings after the 5th stage: