Stage 7 – Iquique to Antofagasta, Friday, January 8th
Philip has made it half way to the rest day! It was the longest special test of the rally yesterday at a whopping 600kms so lots of tenacity and biking skill were required to get him through. This was made even tougher by the fact that he took a fall on Thursday over the handlebars due to another rider driving into his front wheel(we’ll save the expletives!). As a result Philip’s roadbook got smashed up so he had no navigation for the rest of the stage and it took him all day and into the evening to finish in a cloud of dust generated by the other vehicles. Not a pretty sight! But, as an eternal optimist he faced Friday with gusto as we all expected. In addition to huge sand dunes he had to face huge blocks of dry salt that he hasn’t experienced before which meant he had to lower his speed in some sections to just 10km/hour – tedious or what?! We heard from him at 3am Irish time(midnight in Chile) last night and he was in and finished and happy to be looking forward to a day of relaxing today. He was planning a trip to the medical centre to get the blisters and welts seen to(par for the course in Dakar) and get massaged, but his physical strength and aerobic fitness have really stood to him in the past week. His mechanical support team have been excellent to date also and the bike is also holding up well. Brian and Barry have been providing untold moral support and met him at every CP point on Thursday with water and petrol for him. He said that it was just great to see them every time he got through another part of the stage and it really helped him along to continue to try to navigate(minus his roadbook) with just common sense mostly! We are so excited for him to get this far, we’ll keep you posted again on Sunday when the next 7 days of endurance begin!
January 9th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Gary here in a very warm Northern Ireland(not)
I would like to pass on good wishes to PN keep her lit mate, stay safe…
January 9th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Well Done Willy!!!!
Was looking a bit worrying there last night ….but you came in and now you’re half-way there….You didn’t call yourself “Phil the Skill” when you were a kid for nothing!!!!!
Keep it up there’s absolutely no stopping you now!!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON IRELAND!!!!!!!!!!
January 9th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Mister Noone, we’re all rooting and tooting for you chum! Fair play for the persistence, drive, commitment, talent and skill – go for it! You deserve to make it and whatever the outcome you have put a smile back on the face of IRELAND… See you for a pint on your homecoming – we’ll have the ‘bunting’ out! Suzanne, Lance, Ned and Arianne.x
January 9th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Philip,
Absolutely brilliant…. keep up the hard work.
Kind Regards
Gordy
January 9th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Philip, delighted to see you doing so well. keep it going dude! Hughie.
January 9th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
ONE MAN, ONE MACHINE, ONE MISSION!
Go, Willy, Go! The whole of Ireland is cheering for you. You’re on the verge of becoming a national hero. Get Irelands’ kids to aspire to be the next Philip Noone. Strangers in bars will buy you drinks. Hell, even Pender might buy you a glass. Win the Dakar not just for yourself, BUT THE WHOLE OF IRELAND!!
GO, WILLY, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 9th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Hey Philip, well done on getting this far!
Don’t waste your day off now and make sure to learn a few tango moves.
Dry dressings on those blisters!
adh mor ort!
Imelda
January 9th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Willy,
Keep it going fella. You’re some man for one man! Go on ya horse!
Cogie
January 9th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Yo Willy,
Great to see your ranking going up,you must be chuffed with what you have achieved so far!! Hope you get to the finish line in good body and health!
Jeez Mon you have me thinking about two wheels now…..I wonder if the Vespa like could get going again…Wonder what time Jack Nolans is open till…………………………..
Mark,Julie and Louis.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Well done Phil,a hard day yesterday,really well done,keep it safe and enjoy the rest of it and keep the Irish flag flying
Ciaran
January 9th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Well done bro,
We’re all so proud of you. Up Ireland!
Go neiri an mbothar leat! Stay safe.
Love Katherine
January 9th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Fair play to ye lad, keep her lit man. Up here in New York watching on the tele and following your progress on the net.
)
Great to see a paddy giving her laldy.
There’s a bunch of us up here from home routeing for you, we do a bit of rallying often alongside the rallymoto guys, if you feel the need for another roadtrip check out some of the events over here.
Hopefully when the dust settles youse will get a chance to post up some of the video from your battle with the desert, as the only coverage we get is of the top guys, (yawn).
Everyone knows the real stories are with the privateers.
I hope the “sudacream” hold’s out till the end for ye (can only imagine
Fair play
B Kirby (Kildare)
January 9th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Excellent job Philip,
I have all of our friends and relatives here in the U.S. watching your progress.
Here is a quote from my friend Dave, an avid Harley rider: “I’m proud of Phillip and I don’t even know him. We’re cheering for him. Thanks for keeping us informed, Tom”
January 9th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Feeling positive vibes here in co. down!
Go Phillip Go..
All Ireland cheering you on
January 9th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You’re up to 87th?????? Good man, son. I never thought, as I sped into Eaton Bray on my, eh, Yam 80, that I’d inspire such heroics from Nooner’s little brother. GO, WILLY, GO!
January 9th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Well done Philip, you have done your country proud. Best of luck on the final stages.
Ken Mc G.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Willie
Well done on gett this far…my God your in the right place…a nightmare back home…
stay safe!
Rory
January 10th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Good on ypu Philip keep her lit we are all shouting for you here in Mallow.
Enjoy your days rest
January 10th, 2010 at 1:57 am
Just found you on the results list. Great to see the Irl there after your name. keep it up, I’ll follow you all the way.
January 10th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Delight for you hilip that you’ve made it to the rest day. You are doing an amazing job. Keep it p and you’ll see the finishers medal. Fingers crossed for you. Well done to your mechanical support team. Your all doing a great job.
Best of luck with the second half,
Eric.
January 10th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
And so the second half begins.
Stick with it Philip, were all screamin for you here, Keep the focus. one day at a time.
January 10th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Philip,
Just checked your progress on Stage 8, nice to see that you are up to 74th at CP3, keep up the great work. Your Irish fans in Charlotte, North Carolina are very proud of you and look forward to you crossing the finish line in Buenos Aires on the 16th.
Best Wishes Always!
The O’Reilly Clan
January 10th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Hey Philip! M.Carmel here just letting you know we are becoming obsessed with your progress! Thinking of you and so proud! Personally, though, I’d rather ride my bicycle across Iowa! Love ya. mc