Canadian Adventure Racer Don Hatton's KTM690 Rally undergoing Preparations for Dakar2010

The day the racers fear

The day all Dakar racers fear. Scrutineering day. This year that day is December 29, 2009.

Scrutineering is where the organizers of the Dakar race go over everything with the racers. We mean everything. They review your documentation, your race vehicle, your support vehicle (if you have one), the registered members of your team. Everything. And if they find something that cannot be fixed by the time scrutineering closes you do not get to compete.

The technical inspectors review your vehicle. Does it have the proper lights, navigation equipment, adequate fuel supply, emergency water carrying capacity? Does it have the proper and authorized decals in the correct places? Are all the movable pieces, certain nuts and bolts, secured by the proper safety wire?

There is a mind boggling myriad of technical inspections any of which if the vehicle fails could cause the organizers to disallow you from competing in the race.

On top of these there are all the little things like:

     · Does the competitor and all the support team members have a valid passport good till June 2010. If not, go home.

     · Does the vehicle have the proper registration and insurance – originals only please. If not, go home.

     · Does your helmet meet current safety standards. If not, go home

There are some 18 different inspection stations that the competitor, his documentation and his vehicle must pass through to get final approval. Then they are allowed to get their time card and target time (time they will start the race on race day) and enter the Parc Ferme (secured parking area for the vehicles)

Scrutineering day. The day the Dakar competitors fear for a good reason.