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Rahier
with the pole of the Motorama TWT
(Rallye Optic 2000 Tunisia - 1999)
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GASTON
RAHIER,
an important
contact
(by
G.Ferri) |
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I
write these complimentary memories to a champion that leaves us not a
lot of time later Fabrizio Meoni and Richard
Sainct. Also of Gaston, as of Fabrizio and Richard, I can say to have
been friend, and it has struck me as his death is passed a lot in mute.
Considered how much entered today still it records the page 1999 of my
site to him devoted, I have decided to put online, besides few modest
lines, some documents and photos related to our meeting that I have jealously
preserved in my personal file just today
Back to Two West Time's Homepage
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Preface
What do I do sat in front of “petit Gaston”
to the bivouac evening in the full carrying out of a ralleyraid
and being from him consulted on as I interpret this note of the
road book, as it will be the stage of tomorrow, if fast or very
guided?
Yet it was everything real. I was really me and Gaston Rahier he
stay really there, sat in front of me. It was the edition of the
1999 of the Optic 2000 Rally of Tunisia.
Everything started in the autumn of 98 when I was not let me escape
that was perhaps the best occasion of my life in motorcycle sense.
A big sporting and advertising hit.
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 "
sat in front of me "
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Baja
Espana Argon - editions 1997-1998 (the knowledge)
I had had the opportunity of knowing
as soon as Gaston to Zaragoza, to the thin one of the Baja Aragon
‘97. That edition was really a test to elimination. In only
one stage we crossed more than 900 kms.! I
Gaston
in full action |
Me
in a big puddle of water |
employed 17 hours and a handful of minutes arriving
later to the 2 and half of the morning and classifying me 3° in
the class 400. Gaston arrived in 2.a position but very early respect
me in terms of schedule. We exchanged some word to the awarding, nothing
more
The following year my experience of
Spanish Bajas was decidedly improved and I took sides strongly me
to the departure in the Baja of the Bajas of a good physical form.
Practically in the class 400 the competition lived on the duel between
me and Gaston. In the first three quarters of competition the duel
happened to distance on the times of route of the various sectors.
The clash he did direct in the last part of the competition when we
found again there to contact. Rahier shinily knew what our situation
was, me, for the exaltation of the moment and the emotion of my Spanish
assistants that didn't want to influence me communicating my exact
position, I was convinced to have to remain the Belgian to the finishing
line to achieve a good result, perhaps the podium.
The last 100 kms. were unbelievable. When I reached Gaston I understood
from his way of driving that he was bothered. He knew to be able to
win the 400 classification, but victory could smile him only if I
had, we say this way, “wrong anything”. It was a real
duel of guide. Gaston preceded me and obviously I drove in his dust.
I became me account that the fox was drawing very unnatural
trajectories so that I had a wrong perception of the curves and the
brake ones. At times he waited to the last instant to bend, at times
he aimed toward a different footstep in comparison to that signaled
on the ground for then to suddenly change direction. But I didn't
fall there, by now I knew the morphology of that terrestrial. When,
with a little discovery ratiocination, I realized that following him
to a distance of 200 meters I would have had such a border to allow
to advance him to me in classification, I left him go checking to
distance.
Even victory was mine! Gaston just
gone down by the motorbike came and
Gaston
and me after the arrival |
shaking me the hand he told me “et
enfin tu as gagné!” (In
the end you won!). The Spanish television was there and interviewed
him, even if the competition was won by me. . .
We returned all together to the park closed , us and our respective
teams assistance, where we lingered there to eat some fresh watermelon
and to toast with some good wine and to chatin a friendly way . From
that moment Gaston began to call me “chef.” (boss)
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Motor
Show Bologna 1998 "the signing"
My XR 400 were exposed in the stand of Aquarama (group SIAL)
manufacturing of systems of washing for motorbikes (Motorama), that
had been my principal sponsor during the competitive season and that
it had to the epoch a French filiation. Aquarama France that was in
negotiation with Gaston, concessionary Husqvarna
of Creil (Paris), for the sale of a washing system.
The history of our duel came to out the Aragòn and, accomplice
the manager of Aquarama France, it didn't want a lot to synthesize
a beautiful advertising proposal to be worth both in Italy that still
more in France: to propose to Gaston Rahier an engagement for the
Rallye of Tunisia of the following year. There was in general a phone
call between me and Gaston on the details at the end of which its
intention almost definitely confirmed me to participate. Thanks to
a jewel friend as Piero Bottero of Prime Recuperi
Mondovì, that with enthusiasm he brought me to Lione (Fr) to
meet Gaston, we could discuss the details of the project. The only
doubt consisted for him in the model of Husqvarna to use and the relative
one to seem of the house of Varese. Rahier delivered me the documentation
and photos that had to serve for the communications with press and
sponsor (a lot of which reproduced in this space).
With Aquarama were found a financial agreement, bike to use’s
problem was resolved of with Italy. Gaston Rahier would have raced
the Rallye of Tunisia 1999 with the colours of my team:
The Aquarama Two West Team !
Needless to say that I was really happy of it and proud incredulous
for long time
PARIS MOTOR SHOW : The Presentation of the Team (Pars feb.99)
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Between
me and Gaston the segr. FFM Bartelemy. Next to Rahier Gianni
Beltrami
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Gaston
in conference
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The official announcement happened on the occasion of the Motor Show
in Paris in February 1999. In the ideal frame of the French expo the
national specialized press and the presentation it was summoned it
happened in two moments, in the room presses and even near the stand
of the French Motorcycle Federation. I continued to be incredulous.
Gaston was bright and obviously attracted the whole attention. His
return in an African rally after quite a lot years of absence made
a lot of news in France.
To Paris it followed the presentation of the Team in Italy, on the
occasion of the press conference of presentation of the Rallye of
Tunisia, happened to Mondovì (CN), that saw in the same room
two legends of the Dakar, Gaston Rahier (2 victories) and Cyril
Neveu (5 victories).
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THE
PREPARATION
Initialled on the contract it began the phase of preparation of
the Motorama Two West Team. Gaston made some specific applications:
first to have his mechanic (Olivier) that from 15 years it followed
him and some other technical details for tires and mousses.
The rest was everything one
bustle of wears between Italy and France for the necessary measures
and testings. The Belgian didn't leave anything to the case. For
the competition overall he sent me a chart
measures to which to follow for the wrapping. About the helmet
was particularly happy because of the same brand from him used to
the Dakar years before. Some small problem he did me with the boots
and the gloves. Particularly for the gloves it told me: “You
don't find that in the right glove there is a seam that when you
brake produces a lot of bother” . . a seam. . . when
you brake? Boh! it was evident that we were of two different planets.
He also caught me one day that phoned and ask
me if he could wear the sweater of the Husqvarna during the competition,
I understood later why. |
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RALLY DI TUNISIA '99 -THE VIP'S PARTY-THE RACE
Verifications
to Nice Rallye Tunisia 99
The
first time that Gaston wore our jacket |
To
supper: Gaston, me and in the background Bruno
Gozzarino |
tO
A ttach adhesive to the motorbike of Gaston Rahier!!! |
Gaston
with the colours TWT |
In accord with Aquarama our Team organized on the occasion of the verifications
of the rally a VIP party with a sideboard hospitality to which we invited
pilots and journalists as valid occasion to celebrate the re-entry in the
world of the rallies of a great champion. It was a beautiful party, Gaston
made him attend half time as a true diva, but when he arrived it was a true
celebration. So many champions there were present among which Richard
Sainct, Jutta Klindsmith, Luc Alphand, Jean Louis Schlesser, Oscar Gallardo,
Matteo Graziani.
Of the competition found here link
a brief chronicle. Of that edition I care to remember the premature disappearance
of a great: Flavio Agradi.
What
now interests me to observe is that Gaston Rahier was not an easy character
to manage. So much fascinating, so much thorny. Between us they are not
missed the attritions for his decisions he took against every logic (for
example he had decided that our structure had to also support 5 (!) his
French-clients lined up with the Husqvarna, thing that I emphatically
had to bring back to a simple collaboration). the promotion done in France
before the competition already resulted rather ambiguous, it was not understood
if the Belgian were enrolled for the Husqvarna France or for Aquarama
Two West Team. Also in this case an energetic intervention was necessary
from Aquarama France.
At times The celebrity of Gaston during the carrying out of the rally
revealed it bulky. There was no day that samples some talent of Sainct,
De Gavardo, didn't come to make visit to “petit
Gaston” with inevitable succession of television cameras and journalists
that they often hampered the normal jobs of preparation of the motorbikes.
My great friend sponsor and assistant Bruno Gozzarino
and me we had to accept of good degree the performance of non anticipated
assignments that the presence of the great champion it behaved additionally
us.
However a memory of Gaston I bring him indelible in my mind. April 15
th 99 my clutch abandoned me next to El Sabria (footstep of the carts).
Only to the dusk, thanks to a medical helicopter, I reached the I camp
out of El Borma where to few a terrible sandstorm would be instigated.
Gaston was the first one, together with my mother to come to meet me,
to know about my conditions and, with unexpected way, he caressed my face,
aware of my state of mind, as to tell me “don't give up boy, it
is Africa”.
As today I memory its little eyes to hand me an instant of humanity.
Gaston thin well his rally.
After our experience together we still felt there some times, by letter
or by phone link.
Then one day arrived the news of its disappearance
as soon as after the two great champions link.
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| more
over "Petit Gaston" |
The
unbelievable curriculum of Gaston Rahier
(typed and sent me from his office) |
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Gaston
was also risked around 4 wheels and not only in the rally-raids.
Here he is during an endurance race.
(photo that him has delivered me personally)
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A
postage stamp devoted by the mails Belgian to the champion |
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A
gold quartet of DAKAR's epoque
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1987:
commemorative postcard |
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Gaston
BMW 1987's WALLPAPER (1024x 768) 91 kb |
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