Club meeting at Porsche Centre Willoughby - Ride The Dakar
Our September guest speaker is Christophe Barriere-Varju, Australia's most prolific Dakar competitor.
Christophe Barriere-Varju has met and overcome many challenges and dreamed many dreams on the road to becoming one of the world’s leading off-road motorcycle racers. Born in France, raised in West Africa, and completing his education in California, Christophe started racing at the age of 14, winning legendary status around his hometown of Abidjan in the Ivory Coast for his aerial acrobatics, skills and speed on a motorcycle. He once competed before a crowd of 220,000 spectators (a world first) at the West African Motocross des Nations, which he won five times. The name “Barriere” is known all around West Africa. An inspiration to thousands of fans of all ages, Christophe is renowned for his impeccable riding techniques, and he has trained many riders in Africa, California and now an accredited motorcycle coach in Australia. He lives and trains at Port Stephens, NSW.
With the support of Motorcycling Australia and Hyundai, Australia’s Christophe Barriere-Varju won the hearts of worldwide fans by completing the 2010 Dakar Rally as a privateer racing and taking care of his own mechanics every night on his KTM motorcycle, purchased from KTM Austria.
In a race deemed the most dangerous motorsport event in the world, competitors arm themselves with huge teams of mechanics and assistants – but not for Barriere-Varju.
Defying the Dakar demons and fighting sleep depravation, Barriere-Varju, wearing Australian made ZacSpeed protective clothing and racing gears, took on the Dakar Rally head on, with a trunk of spare parts, a tent/sleeping bag, his Mountain Khakis shorts, some spare wheels and his toolbox, and set out to succeed in the toughest and heavily mediatised race across 190 countries.
Followed during his epic journey by filmmaker Simon Lee and his JVC HM100E HD video camera, the emotionally charged “Dream Racer” documentary will reveal unique behind the scene views starting six months before the event until crossing the finish line in Buenos Aires. Lee created a daily blog (http://dreamracer.tumblr.com) during the event that saw every continent follow and join Christophe’s journey as he endured scorching temperatures and hardship of the driest desert on earth, the Atacama Desert. The Dream Racer documentary will show race footage from mounted cameras provided by sportscamera.com.au. The Dream Racer film is already attracting a lot of interest from investors and will begin production in the coming weeks.
Despite suffering a torn abductor on day 2, injury to his sacroiliac on day 6 and a torn tricep on day 11, Barriere-Varju and his mean 2010 signature boxing ‘roo, designed by kittysdrawings.com, continued to climb up the rankings in the heart stopping race, finishing in 56th position overall from more than 180 starters.
Christophe will treat us with a wonderful trailer for his documentary of his 2010 Dakar race "The Dream Racer". Film maker Simon Lee will also be onhand to answer questions about the making of his documentary.
"French/Australian business consultant Christophe Barriere-Varju attempts to race the Dakar Rally without assistance or mechanic. Frustrated ad man Simon Lee dreams of making a film (Dream Racer) that, unlike most ads, people may actually want to watch. But when they join forces, barrier upon barrier rise before them: the struggle to find the funds, relationship guilt, the birth of a new baby, the death of an old friend, the extreme challenge of the world's most dangerous motor race. On their roller coaster journey across South America, these two men will prove that whatever the dream you're chasing, you can't ever stop believing."
Don't miss this one!
