The True Paris Dakar Story Tribute to Thierry Sabine!

[Marocatlasgib4x4 Club]

36 years old,

36 years ago, on January 14, 1986, Thierry Sabine, the creator of Paris-Dakar, disappeared. But also Daniel Balavoine and their companions in the infidelity:

Nathaly Odent (journalist), François Xavier Bagnoud (pilot) and Jean Paul Le Fur (radio operator), all died before Gourma-Rahous, in Mali during the 8th edition of Paris-Dakar 1986.

Thierry Sabine was 36 years old, he offered adventure to those who followed him and a dream to those who stayed in the cold of January.

Daniel Balavoine was 33 years old, the poetry of his texts spoke about freedom, the world in which he lived. His songs are still current.

They are no longer among us but all generations know them.

The 44th edition of the Dakar rally that ends today in Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with that time..... Some will say that you have to evolve, live with your time, your time... Since last year ASO the organizer has established a category called "classic". Exceptional set for this second edition with no less than 150 competitors. Cool.... But that's not new my friends! Of course we admire the showcase, it shines with its shine despite being a stank.... But no, sorry, Dakar is the African capital of Senegal!

Africa, the cradle of life, the cradled of raids rallies!!! Thierry Sabine's trail continues, the road to Lake Rose is still open thanks to the friends of

The Africa Eco Race by Jean Louis Schlesser and René Metge.

It is also thanks to the rally of the Pionniers de Pascal François (the man who created the discipline of the historic raid rally) giving these magnificent engines a second life, allowing them to take back the track in a mind close to the first s years. You will see that the future has a past and that the past has a future!

Thierry Sabine's spirit is in Africa, Daniel Balavoine's is just the same. Their dreams, their passions, their struggles still dwell in us. We need to keep hope and courage as they taught us!

That's how it goes, for 36 years, without them, agitation takes back its rights, pilots and machines return to the African continent, some in Mars now, others in September.... Following Thierry Sabine's footsteps allows to remember all the companions who stayed on the edge of the track for living their passion. It's all about keeping connected with Africa, experience an extraordinary adventure amidst great landscapes when local people meet. The West really needs to learn from this beautiful continent....

In a few years, I am convinced that the RDP Dakhla Classic (Rallye des Pionniers) will arrive in Senegalese soil. This is also why I accepted the request of Pascal François, his organizer. In the current context, difficult to project... Let's keep hope, believe in our dreams, let no one stop us from achieving them. Daniel is no longer here, we would need him so much, the flame doesn't have to go out. Its up to us to take our destiny in our hands and move on without them...

Those who loved these characters so much that life abandoned in the glory of an African sunset don't need these reunions. They will never fill the 13140 sunrises that separate them. We, we need some of these. Every year it's the same music, that call of the desert....

The extraordinary sounds of their legend speak louder than the wind.

[Marocatlasgib4x4 Club]

They were the ones who showed us the country and we followed them in Morocco, there spirit got us were we are today as a 4x4 club!