Rally Pan Am

NEWS

January 21st, 2007

The Finish!

Well, we made it here. Casey finished well, and we also helped get our ragtag group of riders from the US to the finish line.. It was a tough race, with Jonah going out, but we carried on.

We were glad to help Steve LaRoza and Chris Jones get here to Dakar, where Steve was met by his wife, daughters, sister, mother, and uncle.. There are Larozas everywhere! Chris was met here by his wife Spice, who put the bug in his ear to do this race three years ago in Tierra del Fuego.

Paul Broome was resurrected on the rest day (and proposed to his girlfriend Susan there as well), and continued on to finish strong. He had given up in the morning heading to the race day, but summoned up some more strength and carried on. Once we got him to eat and drink, he was much happier.

All four riders displayed Elmer Symon's race number on their bikes in the final stage around Lake Rose, in a fitting tribute to someone who wanted to get here more than anything else in the world.

This race went nothing like we planned, but I guess that's part of what the Dakar is all about. Banding together with a group of likeminded people to get through it and get to Dakar..

Congratulations to Casey, Steve, Chris and Paul. Godspeed Elmer.