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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:41:29 PM EST
[Last Edit: FlashMan-7k]
FROM:
https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2023/11/an-instant-baja-legend-wouter-jan-van.html More pics and text at the link above. --------- Saturday, November 18, 2023 An instant Baja Legend, Wouter-Jan Van Dijk from the Netherlands via Australia where he became a naturalized citizen... raced the Baja 1000 with nothing but a backpack. No team, no sponsors, no support crew, no pre run.  The start of this story is when he posted a question on Facebook, one month ago, to the Pro Moto Baja Racing page:  Then he flew to the states from Australia, bought a used KTM 500 in San Diego on Craigslist, that had 70 hours on it, rode it to La Paz and entered the Baja 1000. Now it has 48 more hours on it, and will probably end up one of the most famous bikes to complete the Baja 1000! At tech inspection he was denied entry due to bald tires and missing safety equipment. He also needed to get a gps tracker and new tires, he somehow gathered everything he needed and took the green flag.  He got help from random pits, even being fed tacos at one stop. He finished the Ironman Moto class (riding the entire race solo) having never ridden in Baja before and no prerunning. Zipties were needed:    IRONMAN 2023 Baja 1000. Wouter Jan VanDijk. @scoreinternational https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2291363441056031&set=pcb.2291364551055920 https://jalopnik.com/heres-every-cool-thing-i-saw-at-the-start-of-the-baja-1-1851026429/slides/21 https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/741x-baja-1000-amazing-story.278753/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/383531946646632/ https://www.instagram.com/wouterjanvdijk/ |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:46:00 PM EST
[#1]
That's one cool dude.
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VA, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:46:01 PM EST
[#2]
That's great. I went to the Isle of Man solo with just some tools and my gear. A rented bike was delivered from N. Ireland by a team from there. Made some friends that handled my pit stops.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:48:14 PM EST
[#3]
Damn
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:48:41 PM EST
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By USMC2671: That's great. I went to the Isle of Man solo with just some tools and my gear. A rented bike was delivered from N. Ireland by a team from there. Made some friends that handled my pit stops. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:49:07 PM EST
[#5]
That’s awesome
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:49:44 PM EST
[#6]
hellyeahbrother.jpeg
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:50:44 PM EST
[#7]
What a bad ass
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:51:31 PM EST
[#8]
thanks for posting this op, hell of a story
what an absolute unit |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:52:41 PM EST
[#9]
We need more of this in the world. Awesome story. What an adventure to remember.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:53:23 PM EST
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By USMC2671: That's great. I went to the Isle of Man solo with just some tools and my gear. A rented bike was delivered from N. Ireland by a team from there. Made some friends that handled my pit stops. Now THAT is a story that needs telling |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:54:51 PM EST
[#11]
That's awesome.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:55:29 PM EST
[#12]
This to me, is the epitome of racing. Hell of a dude.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:55:42 PM EST
[#13]
What a fucking man. Much much respect
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Posted: 11/19/2023 8:57:21 PM EST
[#14]
Fucking awesome
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:02:14 PM EST
[#15]
Goddamn!
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:02:37 PM EST
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Bophades: thanks for posting this op, hell of a story what an absolute unit The site it came from is a worthybookmark and full of neat content, not just car stuff. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:02:58 PM EST
[#17]
Mouse did it solo on a bike, but who knows how much preriding he did.
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FL, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:05:09 PM EST
[Last Edit: TotalNovice]
[#18]
Dutch-Aussie propaganda.... I couldn't do it, so he can't have either
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USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:08:45 PM EST
[#19]
KTM would be remiss if they didn’t offer him a sponsorship, new bike and a support crew for next year as well as buying that obviously kick ass bike from him to display in their ads. No doubt he is an incredible rider, but for a bike to take that much punishment and come out the other end shows it must be a good one.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:11:03 PM EST
[#20]
That's hard. What a rock star. Glad he was able to finish. I can't imagine what kind of toll that takes on a person. I've watched several videos where individual riders on a team had trouble completing their sections due to exhaustion.
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OK, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:19:28 PM EST
[#21]
Hell of a man
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:33:21 PM EST
[#22]
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:34:19 PM EST
[#23]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By USMC2671: That's great. I went to the Isle of Man solo with just some tools and my gear. A rented bike was delivered from N. Ireland by a team from there. Made some friends that handled my pit stops. Sounds like a great story. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:37:05 PM EST
[#24]
Very impressive!
It's a much harder race than most people think it is, especially without pre-running and no sleep. Had a family friend who used to race a Jeep and later on trucks, my dad used to co-drive with him before he suffered a fatal heart attack while racing. When I got older, I was on his race team doing chasing, mostly. I chased him a few times the whole way, from Ensenada to La Paz, without sleep. By the time we got to La Paz, I was exhausted. And I wasn't even racing, just chasing and pitting. I can't imagine doing it solo on a bike like that. This guy has balls of steel! Thanks for posting this, OP, it's one hell of a story. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:38:44 PM EST
[#25]
Some old dudes like Ron Bishop have Iron Manned it many times.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:41:33 PM EST
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Bourbonator: Mouse did it solo on a bike, but who knows how much preriding he did. Can someone explain what "preriding" is for those of us who have never touched a bike before? |
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NS, CAN
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:42:21 PM EST
[#27]
Balls- he has em.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:44:31 PM EST
[#28]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By USMC2671: That's great. I went to the Isle of Man solo with just some tools and my gear. A rented bike was delivered from N. Ireland by a team from there. Made some friends that handled my pit stops. Who in their right mind would rent you a bike for that |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:49:06 PM EST
[#29]
Epic
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:49:25 PM EST
[#30]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By USMC2671: That's great. I went to the Isle of Man solo with just some tools and my gear. A rented bike was delivered from N. Ireland by a team from there. Made some friends that handled my pit stops. Ok, that is easily the second coolest thing I've read today.  |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:50:12 PM EST
[#31]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By GordonFreeman1: What a bad ass |
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AR, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:50:56 PM EST
[#32]
Over in Aussieland its pronounced barjar
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:51:23 PM EST
[#33]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By cmw: Ok, that is easily the second coolest thing I've read today. I wouldn’t say second. I would say equally cool. Isle of Mann is dangerous as shit. Both are very impressive. |
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NC, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:56:00 PM EST
[#34]
This is worthy of a documentary. Everything from the final decision to make it happen to the checkered flag needs to be retold. I'd watch it.
Just impressive. |
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OR, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 9:59:34 PM EST
[#35]
Was following this on one of the local single track pages. Dude is a stud for sure. More balls then brains as well.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:00:03 PM EST
[#36]
That’s fucking impressive! A true Sportsman!!
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:01:12 PM EST
[#37]
In for full details about a guy just showing up and doing the Isle of Mann.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:01:41 PM EST
[#38]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By drfroglegs: Can someone explain what "preriding" is for those of us who have never touched a bike before? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By drfroglegs: Originally Posted By Bourbonator: Mouse did it solo on a bike, but who knows how much preriding he did. Can someone explain what "preriding" is for those of us who have never touched a bike before? Riding sections of the race before the race. Helps get a feel for things and make a strategy. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:02:27 PM EST
[#39]
Damn cool adventuresome dude. With that pack on his back his shoulders had to really be hurting by the end!
Tough dude! |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:03:18 PM EST
[#40]
I mean isn't that like a Tuesday in Australia though?
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:05:02 PM EST
[#41]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By slappomatt: I mean isn't that like a Tuesday in Australia though? From the Aussies I've met? Yes, indeed. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:10:27 PM EST
[#42]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By drfroglegs: Can someone explain what "preriding" is for those of us who have never touched a bike before? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By drfroglegs: Originally Posted By Bourbonator: Mouse did it solo on a bike, but who knows how much preriding he did. Can someone explain what "preriding" is for those of us who have never touched a bike before? It's a racing thing that happens in almost all forms of racing. It's when you slowly go over the race course and look at what the lay of the land is / where the dangers are /etc. VERY important in offroad racing, and the baja races have this thing where locals make pits and traps for the racers and than hang out to watch them wreck. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:10:32 PM EST
[#43]
Wouter? I hardly know her!
F’in badass. I love this story. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:12:08 PM EST
[#44]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By drfroglegs: Can someone explain what "preriding" is for those of us who have never touched a bike before? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By drfroglegs: Originally Posted By Bourbonator: Mouse did it solo on a bike, but who knows how much preriding he did. Can someone explain what "preriding" is for those of us who have never touched a bike before? My friend George Erl would take the front wheel off his bike and put it in his Cessna 172 (think that’s the one) fly from Santa Ana to somewhere in Baja, unload it and run a section of the course and then return. He had encyclopedic knowledge of that place which was necessary in the days before GPS. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:21:24 PM EST
[#45]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Bourbonator: Mouse did it solo on a bike, but who knows how much preriding he did. He also had a full chase crew. Not to dimish his race. Crazy, crazy hard. |
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:23:58 PM EST
[#46]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ricky_45: That's one cool dude. Definitely, |
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SC, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:23:59 PM EST
[#47]
damn living legend for sure.
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:24:48 PM EST
[#48]
For those of you unfamiliar with the race, check out the doc "Dust 2 Glory"
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:29:36 PM EST
[#49]
That shit is insanity. What an accomplishment.
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FL, USA
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Posted: 11/19/2023 10:31:09 PM EST
[#50]
Props to that dude's dedication to the dream and making it happen.
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